[quote5b53503688="O4F-Manofice"][quote5b53503688="dmorris68"]The only thing you can do is buy an analog cable tuner box with video outputs, preferably Svideo outputs. Then for audio you'll have to feed a receiver or some other speaker arrangement, since the plasma doesn't have speakers either.[/quote5b53503688]
Yep.
Thats why monitor's suck...no tuner cards[/quote5b53503688]
I disagree, I typically prefer monitors because I never use the built-in tuner nor the speakers. If I could have bought an SXRD monitor I would have, but no -- I had to pay for speakers that are disabled and a tuner (dual tuners, actually) that are disconnected.
[quote5b53503688="samz465"]Ok...Anyone know where I can get a cheap tuner, like any links or anything??
Also, I know you have this model in your bedroom as well David. Do you recomend any additional input boards that would deffinetly be good to add in the last spot?
As far as the sound, I already have this-
www.smurl.name/y73r[]www.smurl.name/y73r
5.1 Sony reciever set up so I should be ok.
I have optimum from Cable vision btw. I was wondering, if I buy a digital cable box such as this
http//smurl.name/u85j[]http//smurl.name/u85j
Would that provide me with a better cable signal?
And which is better if a tuner has both, component RGB output or S-video output for a clearer[/quote5b53503688]
That box from eBay is a digital box, if you only have analog cable then it probably won't work. If you have digital then you need to make sure it's compatible with your cable carrier first. And you probably won't be able to get any premium channels on it.
If you have an old VCR laying around, you can use that as a tuner. Hook up the composite video connections, and the audio outputs to your receiver. Or kill two birds with one stone buy an inexpensive DVD recorder (I've seen 'em for less than $80 at Wal-Mart). They're the DVD equivalent of a VCR, with a built-in tuner, plus you can record to DVD as a plus. They will also have at least an Svideo output and probably component, which will result in better image quality than the VCR's composite video output. However if you're feeding it a crappy analog signal, you'll get a crappy output regardless of what format you use.
I haven't priced stand-alone cable tuners in years, so I can't really say what's out there. They're almost out-of-style now. I'd say eBay would be a good source.
Or, here's something from TigerDirect that looks like it would work. Can't comment on the quality or anything though.
http//www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1951868&Sku=M501-1200
Oh, and I would advise against buying add-in module boards for the Panasonic, unless you can find them cheap somewhere. Last I looked they were both hard to find and expensive. I'd much rather have the added functionality of a DVD recorder for $80 than just get an analog RF tuner module for $175 or whatever they cost.