What tuner do I need? Help please.

I just received a freebie 42" Panasonic TH42PW5 plasma monitor. This is an upgrade from the 14 year old 12in Hitachi television I currently use. I don't subscribe to cable but here in Boston you can get the basic broadcast channels through the cable if you just connect it to your television.

My new Panasonic TH42PW5 plasma monitor doesn't have a tuner, so I need to buy something. I want a tuner that will allow me to connect the cable and watch the basic channels that are free. Nothing special. I'd also like to connect a DVD player.

Is something like the SAMSUNG DTB-H260F what I want? I'm guessing this is overkill and I could find an older model on ebay for cheaper. What should I look for? Maybe a Samsung SIR-T351? Any other brands or models I could look for? Hopefully something under $50.

The Panasonic TH42PW5 plasma monitor has S Video, Component/RGB IN, PC In and a Serial Terminal. I don't know much about the HDTV world but I understand that this isn't an HDTV. From what I read a 480p or maybe a 720p feed will look good on this thing.

Any help is much appreciated. I'm not very versed in all the jargon so specifics help.

Thanks in advance.

If you mean an off-the-air ATSC HD antenna then I would go with a Turk. They range from about $35 up to $100. You can get them at Best Buy or Amazon for about the same prices for each individual model.

I just received a freebie 42" Panasonic TH42PW5 plasma monitor. This is an upgrade from the 14 year old 12in Hitachi television I currently use. I don't subscribe to cable but here in Boston you can get the basic broadcast channels through the cable if you just connect it to your television.


Do you want an OTA Tuner or a Cable (QAM) tuner-- or BOTH?

Do you want an OTA Tuner or a Cable (QAM) tuner-- or BOTH?

I think I want a cable tuner. As I said, I have a cable in my apartment and if I connect it to my old Hitachi I get 10-15 basic channels. Local stuff. I'd like to be able to watch the same on my new plasma monitor.

Do you want an OTA Tuner or a Cable (QAM) tuner-- or BOTH?

I'm a total neophyte so I don't know exactly what I need. I'll try to be as specific as possible:

1) I have a coaxial cable in my apartment but do not subscribe to comcast. If I plug it into my very old Hitachi tube television I get local TV - 10-15 channels. Obviously not HD. Perhaps there is an HD signal on this cable also (SAM?), I don't know.

2)I just received a freebie 42" Panasonic TH42PW5 plasma monitor. Monitor only. NO TUNER. I don't subscribe to cable and don't want to.

I think I need a tuner of some sort. I suppose an analog tuner that will allow me to tune the analog cable signal will suffice.

If possible I'd like a tuner that can access the SAM signal on the cable. I didn't know what SAM was until I just read about it. This is a free HD signal of local channels on the cable correct?

What kind of tuner should I look for? I'd like something used for less than $50.

The Panasonic TH42PW5 plasma monitor has S Video, Component/RGB IN, PC In and a Serial Terminal. I don't know much about the HDTV world but I understand that this isn't an HDTV. From what I read a 480p or maybe a 720p feed will look good on this thing.

Any help is much appreciated. I'm not very versed in all the jargon so specifics help.

Thanks again.