Info On SDTV And HDTV External Atsc Tuner Boxes For Use With Outdoor/indoor Antenna's

[HDTV1080P]

The following information is for people that use a indoor or outdoor TV antenna to watch TV in the USA.

Brief recommendations on what external ATSC tuner is right for you

Many people are already aware that February 17th 2009 is the scheduled date when most or all NTSC analog signals will be turned off. This will only affect people that are using an indoor or outdoor TV antenna for over the air broadcasts.
My first recommendation is that for people that currently own a low cost 20 inch or 13 inch TV with only a NTSC tuner that they should replace the TV with a new model. Currently a 20 inch TV with a built in ATSC/QAM tuner can be purchased at Walmart and other stores for under $150 and a 13 inch for under $120. Adding a converter box to an existing TV can cost the same or more then purchasing a new TV for $100-$150. For example if one chooses the cheapest converter box for around $50 and then they are going to need cables for around another $20. Plus if their TV only has one component, S-Video, or composite input that is currently in use (like a DVD player) then an external A/V switcher box needs to be purchased for $30+ with more cables for $20+ dollars. With all the add on cables and the cost of a A/V external switcher box it would be so much easier and better quality to purchase a new low cost 20 inch or 13 inch TV.
The external ATSC tuners currently available on the market offer many different types of outputs. There are basically two types of ATSC tuners on the market. The first type is called a SDTV digital tuner which is for people that own a standard 480I NTSC TV set or 480I monitor. The second type of ATSC tuner is the true HDTV quality tuner for people that own a HD monitor or older HDTV without an ATSC tuner. All of the SDTV tuners will accept a 1080I, 720P, 480P, and 480I ATSC signal and down convert the quality to 480I quality (Some models of SD ATSC converters offer 480P with 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround). All the HDTV tuners have all the features of a SDTV tuner with the added benefit of offering native 720P and 1080I quality. The electronic on screen program guide is a standard feature on most external ATSC tuners. Only a select few SDTV and HDTV external tuners offer QAM. The QAM feature turns ones analog cable ready TV into a Digital cable ready set and is only useful for people that are connected to cable TV.

Upgrading a 480I NTSC TV to ATSC 480I

480I RF CH 3-4 output only converter boxes with mono sound

Possible by the end of 2008 there might be some very cheap SD 480I ATSC tuners for under $30 or $40 that only have one RF output and no other types of outputs. I have seen specs for a Sansui ATSC tuner that offers only a RF output. This is the cheapest type of connection and offers the worse picture quality. This connection should only be used for people that do not own a TV/monitor (TV with only an antenna connector also know as RF input). This type of output on these boxes converts the ATSC digital stereo signal to an analog 480I NTSC signal with mono sound. One just places the TV on channel 3 or 4 to receive the programming.

480I composite output converter boxes with analog stereo sound

For under $50 or $60 there are several ATSC tuners on the market that offer a RF connection and a composite video output with true stereo sound. The composite connection is much better quality then using the RF connection. Audio and video are separated on different cables when composite is used. One needs too own a TV that has a video and audio input to use this type of connection. For a mono TV two RCA cables are needed and if one has a stereo TV then 3 RCA cables are needed. Also an external switch box is needed with additional cables if all inputs on the TV are currently in use.

480I S-Video output converter boxes with analog stereo sound

For around $60 some companies are offering ATSC converter boxes with an S-Video output. The S-Video output is better quality then composite video. When one has an S-Video input on their TV it should always be used over composite video. S-Video separates the color information and brightness information (Y/C). Using S-Video will bypass the comb filter in ones TV and is a nice improvement over composite. All that is required is one S-Video cable and two RCA cables for stereo sound. Of course if all the S-Video inputs are used up then one needs to purchase an external A/V switching box with additional cables.

480I/480P Component video output converter boxes with 5.1 and 2.0 Dolby Digital output

When one reaches the under $80 level they can purchase the top of the line SD 480I ATSC tuner boxes. For example Coby offers the DTV-1000 SDTV box for under $80 that offers component video outputs. Component video outputs are the best analog connection available. Component video is even better quality then S-Video and also bypasses the TV’s comb filter. These component output converter boxes offer programming in 480I and many models like Coby also support 480P for true progressive 480P EDTV displays. Also with the digital output 2.0 Dolby Digital and 5.1 Dolby Digital surround can be heard with a surround sound receiver. Of course 5 RCA cables are required for component video. 3 RCA cables for video and 2 RCA cables for analog stereo if an external surround receiver is not going to be used.

Upgrading a 720P, 1080I, 1080P TV to true HD quality resolutions

1080I/720P Component video output converter boxes with 5.1 and 2.0 Dolby Digital output

For people that own an older HDTV’s or HD monitor they will want to purchase a true HD ATSC tuner that outputs native 720P and 1080I over the air broadcasts at full 720P and 1080I quality. A HD ATSC tuner has the option to also down convert to 480I quality and has all or most of the older connections like S-video and composite video for people that want to connect the box to a standard 480I NTSC TV. The cheapest HDTV convert box costs only $20 more compared to the top of the line SDTV converter boxes. For example the Coby DTV-140 HD set top box sales for under $100 and offers 1080I and 720P quality over component video connections. To use this box one needs to purchase 5 RCA cables. 3 RCA component cables for 1080I /720P video and 2 RCA cables for analog stereo. To get 5.1 Dolby Digital surround an external surround receiver needs to be connected to the digital output. Also if one already has their component video input jacks being used by a DVD player or another device an external A/V component video switcher needs to be purchased with additional cables.

1080I/720P HDMI output converter boxes with 5.1 and 2.0 Dolby Digital output

For under $160 the top of the line true HDTV tuner boxes can be purchased. For example the Samsung DTB-H260F offers true 1080I and 720P output using the HDMI output. The HDMI connector replaced the older DVI connection (DVI is no longer available on any current in production external ATSC tuner). The advantage of HDMI is that the quality is better then component since the signal is sent digitally to the TV or display. Also with HDMI you only need one small cable for both video and audio. Before the days of HDMI and DVI one needed to have 5 RCA connectors to connect to their TV set. Now of course a coaxial or optical connection needs to be made to an external surround receiver to hear 5.1 surround sound if the program is broadcast in 5.1 instead of 2.0 stereo. A HDMI switcher box with additional cables needs to purchased if all the HDMI inputs are already in use.

The SDTV and HDTV external ATSC tuner boxes are excellent for someone that wants to upgrade their existing TV’s. As I mentioned before if one already owns a low cost older 20 inch or 13 inch NTSC only TV it would be wiser and better quality to spend $100-$150 at Walmart on a new model TV that contains a built in ATSC/QAM tuner. The quality of the 480I TV’s with built in ATSC tuners is the same quality as using an external 480I tuner connected by component or HDMI style connections. It is nice to have the tuner built in since it takes up less space and does not tie up any inputs on the TV. Also when people purchase the external ATSC tuners and cables the price is close to a new low cost TV. In fact the price can cost more then a $100-$150 new TV with built in ATSC if an external A/V switch box and extra cables is needed. The SDTV 480I tuners can also be used with old S-VHS and DVD recorders to record in near 480I quality (not a perfect copy). Use the S-Video connection to record close to 480I quality. To record in perfect no loss 1080I and 720P quality onto an old D-VHS machine a IEEE-1394 interface is required. Currently all HDTV ATSC external tuners lack the IEEE-1394 interface (Samsung use to make one and hopefully more companies will start offering boxes with this nice feature).
When Feb 2009 hits there could be a shortage of TV’s and converter boxes to purchase. With some estimates as high as 20 or 30 million people in the US needing to purchase new equipment it could help improve the economy in 2009. Also if 20 or 30 million people all at once needed to purchase new equipment it will most likely cause a shortage of TV’s and converter boxes that could last several months. It is possible if there is a shortage of equipment to purchase in 2009 that some consumers will switch to analog cable TV or satellite instead. No one knows for sure how big of problem the Feb 17th analog cut off date will be.