HDTV Tuner

[dipset420]

my tv that i just got has a built in HDTV tuner.

here is a link to the tv i got http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1138084693851


now i was just wondering do i need to buy an antenna to get hd programing from my IO cable company. and how would i use it

i will be getting an HD cable box soon but for the time being i would like some HD conetent since i wont be getting a blu-ray player for like 2 or 3 weeks.

[phloyd]

You can use Cable Card to to watch your digital cable channels on this TV. Assuming your provider offers that.

For the antenna, you just connect it to the antenna F connector on the back of the TV like for analogue.

[dipset420]

Originally Posted by phloyd

You can use Cable Card to to watch your digital cable channels on this TV. Assuming your provider offers that.

For the antenna, you just connect it to the antenna F connector on the back of the TV like for analogue.

i know i can use a cable card but you have to pay extra for that you would either have to pick it up from them or have it delivered which i can easily do with a HD cable box. and i will be getting the HD cable box probbly next week but im just saying for now until it comes do i need an antenna or not if my tv has an hdtv tuner built in

[Gremal]

I highly recommend installing an antenna on your roof and TiVo'ing HD broadcasts off-the-air. I refuse to give another cent to those robbers at Comcast or DirecTV.

[guidosarduche]

If your cable feed is currently active, just hook it up to your TV. Go into the menu and have the TV tuner scan for channels. Aside from the basic cable channels, the tuner should also pick up the local HD feeds. They will most likely register as XX.1 or 9X.1XXX.

A caveat with getting a CARDBus cable card if you go that route, make sure the tech brings at least 3 cards (they then to be a little fickle). And you won't have access to on demand and pay per view (with some carriers).

[MrBogey]

Built in HD tuners refer to ATSC tuning only. To get the locals via the tuner you'd need an antenna or some other way to pluck them from the aiur. As far as getting them from the cable company, the decrypting wouldn't be done by the ATSC tuner but rather the cablecard or a seperate STB.

For Tivo'ing HD broadcasts, a built in tuner is also worthless. Although I believe some sets allow firewire connections that can pull the video from the tuner. I'm not sure about DVRing with HD as I don't have one.

[phloyd]

Originally Posted by dipset420

i know i can use a cable card but you have to pay extra for that you would either have to pick it up from them or have it delivered which i can easily do with a HD cable box. and i will be getting the HD cable box probbly next week but im just saying for now until it comes do i need an antenna or not if my tv has an hdtv tuner built in

Yeah, you gotta feed the tuner from an antenna of some kind. A small or indoor one might do if you are close to the transmitter.

If the TV has a clear QAM tuner built in, you may be able to get the locals from your cable directly.