Newbie needs help with digital tv/lcdtv

doublem99 · 04-07-2009, 07:42 PM

Digital Tv converter box / LCD HDTV with HDMI etc..

Ok heres my question.
I DO NOT have cable tv. So i havent rushed buying a lcd tv yet (thank goodness as prices dropped these months) but i just received a xbox360 with HDMI. so im thinking its that time to upgrade my tv to a 46+ lcd tv 1080p HDMI.

so with this new and upcoming standard of digital tv, how will the quality of digital tv converter box and my nice lcdtv mesh? im trying to find out will these digital tv converter boxes offer a good connection like HDMI or some good component inputs/outputs. if its gonna be low quality/normal stuff then i will wait to buy a lcd tv next year when i finally decide to get cable tv...

sorry for any improper use of terms and such.

Scottnot · 04-07-2009, 08:04 PM

If you buy a new HDTV, it will have a tuner in it, so all broadcast - both SD and HD - can be received and displayed by the TV.

You will have no need for the digital converter box.

clearday · 04-08-2009, 02:10 PM

HD tvs without HD content do not display tv broadcasts well. You can try attaching an antenna, running a scan for available over the air channels, and you will probably pick up some network HD. Your tv will have an internal tuner and won't require a converter box. Any HD over the air will look good. But any SD will not. And as Scottnot said, you don't need or use the digital converter boxes with HD tvs with internal tuners. The converter boxes are for analog tvs using antennas.

So really, until you are ready to get HD service from cable or satellite, you should wait. Tho your Xbox, with HDMI would look excellent.

Scottnot · 04-08-2009, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clearday

Any HD over the air will look good. But any SD will not.

So really, until you are ready to get HD service from cable or satellite, you should wait. Tho your Xbox, with HDMI would look excellent.

That doesn't make sense.

Yes, he will get some (if not a lot, depending on where he lives) of HD over-the-air.

Also over-the-air HD is just as high quality and often better than that provided by many cable or satellite services.

And finally the blanket statements that "any SD will not (look good)", and "until you are ready to get HD service from cable or satellite, you should wait." are simply unfounded.

m_vanmeter · 04-09-2009, 02:13 PM

+1 on "Scottnot" comment. I receive DIGITAL SD content over-the-air (OTA) and it is much, much better than the same picture on the analog channel. My daughter, using the same model HDTV, receives all her SD content over the local cable channel and it does look worse than the exact same thing I receive over-the-air - so I have to chalk that up to excessive compression by the cable TV provider.

"doublem99" - check www.tvfool.com or www.antenaweb.org with your full address and see what digital programing is available over-the-air in your area. You will then have some idea of what you can receive by antenna. Far too many people are quick to rule out OTA, but it can be a very good choice unless you live on the fringe coverage area for local broadcasters.

doublem99 · 04-10-2009, 02:03 AM

Thanks but lastly to conclude...

I buy a Samsung LN46A650 46.
It has an internal HDtv tuner.
I plug in the antenna (?)
And with the listing that TV fool gives me.
I should be able to get FREE HD channels for like ABC,CBS,FOX,etc?

Thanks.

doublem99 · 04-10-2009, 02:03 AM

O yeah tvfool is really cool

deadhead68 · 04-10-2009, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doublem99

Thanks but lastly to conclude...

I buy a Samsung LN46A650 46.
It has an internal HDtv tuner.
I plug in the antenna (?)
And with the listing that TV fool gives me.
I should be able to get FREE HD channels for like ABC,CBS,FOX,etc?

Thanks.

If you have the right antenna for your location, the answer is yes.

DeadHead68

04-07-2009, 07:42 PM	#1
doublem99 What is HD? Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 3	Newbie needs help with digital tv/lcdtv Digital Tv converter box / LCD HDTV with HDMI etc.. Ok heres my question. I DO NOT have cable tv. So i havent rushed buying a lcd tv yet (thank goodness as prices dropped these months) but i just received a xbox360 with HDMI. so im thinking its that time to upgrade my tv to a 46+ lcd tv 1080p HDMI. so with this new and upcoming standard of digital tv, how will the quality of digital tv converter box and my nice lcdtv mesh? im trying to find out will these digital tv converter boxes offer a good connection like HDMI or some good component inputs/outputs. if its gonna be low quality/normal stuff then i will wait to buy a lcd tv next year when i finally decide to get cable tv... sorry for any improper use of terms and such.

04-07-2009, 08:04 PM	#2
Scottnot Progress Not Perfection Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 4,020	If you buy a new HDTV, it will have a tuner in it, so all broadcast - both SD and HD - can be received and displayed by the TV. You will have no need for the digital converter box. Last edited by Scottnot; 04-07-2009 at 08:07 PM.

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04-08-2009, 02:10 PM	#3
clearday Samsung DLP & LCD Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: N. Texas Posts: 1,622	HD tvs without HD content do not display tv broadcasts well. You can try attaching an antenna, running a scan for available over the air channels, and you will probably pick up some network HD. Your tv will have an internal tuner and won't require a converter box. Any HD over the air will look good. But any SD will not. And as Scottnot said, you don't need or use the digital converter boxes with HD tvs with internal tuners. The converter boxes are for analog tvs using antennas. So really, until you are ready to get HD service from cable or satellite, you should wait. Tho your Xbox, with HDMI would look excellent.

04-09-2009, 02:13 PM	#5
m_vanmeter WD4JCM in KY Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 669	+1 on "Scottnot" comment. I receive DIGITAL SD content over-the-air (OTA) and it is much, much better than the same picture on the analog channel. My daughter, using the same model HDTV, receives all her SD content over the local cable channel and it does look worse than the exact same thing I receive over-the-air - so I have to chalk that up to excessive compression by the cable TV provider. "doublem99" - check www.tvfool.com or www.antenaweb.org with your full address and see what digital programing is available over-the-air in your area. You will then have some idea of what you can receive by antenna. Far too many people are quick to rule out OTA, but it can be a very good choice unless you live on the fringe coverage area for local broadcasters.

04-10-2009, 02:03 AM	#6
doublem99 What is HD? Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 3	Thanks but lastly to conclude... I buy a Samsung LN46A650 46. It has an internal HDtv tuner. I plug in the antenna (?) And with the listing that TV fool gives me. I should be able to get FREE HD channels for like ABC,CBS,FOX,etc? Thanks.