Which TV manufactures make TVs that will work on an Antenna?

Gary350

Some TV manufactures assume everyone is on cable and have a strong signal so to save money the TV has no preamp and reception is terrable with an antenna. I need a list of manufactures that are making TVs that get excellent reception with an antenna???

Billiam

I'm happy with the 32" Samsung and Sony TV's that I just purchased. Both have good tuners for receiving over the air signals.

Steve_Weggus

To the best of my knowledge that list does not exist. It's a shame but it does not exist.

I think that the best plan is to figure out which stations you hope to get and then find a retailer with easy return terms. BestBuy claims to have either a seven day or thirty day, no questions return policy. So if you don't get the stations that you had planned for, then exchange or return the set.

HDTV/ATSC tuners run in generations determined by their tuner chip sets. As these tuner chips are getting better every month, therefore when you are picking out a set it is a good idea to walk away from 'close-out' priced sets. If you work at it (e-mail), the manufacturer will probably divulge the chip that they are using in a particular model number. In my experience, they will not give you any other metrics of the ATSC tuner's performance. So the $300, 37 inch set that I bought in November has a much better tuner than the $750, 37 inch LG that I bought two plus years ago.

Have you run a TV Fool for your location?

rinardman

I would add Sanyo & Sharp to the list. Mine do a good job for me, but I have no idea if they have a "preamp".

BTW, shouldn't you say "I need a list of manufacturers making TVs that get excellent reception with a inadequate antenna, or in areas with a weak signal?"

__________________
Sharp LC42D65U
Sharp BD-HP21U
Sanyo DP32647 LCD
Toshiba HD-A2
Potluck 5.1 surround
DB-8 & YA 1713
CM7777 & CM3043
60+ miles out

What, me worry?

Sam Spastic

Someone at work said that most of the new TVs don't even have an F connector. I replied that if they didn't have an F connector then they were NOT TVs but were monitors.

That may be where the manufactures and retailers are headed.

I will be looking for a new set next spring. My main criteria will be how the program guide works. If I set a reminder or timer I want the channel to change. Putting a dialog box in my face and waiting for input is not acceptable. Who wants to record an hour of the wrong channel.

I have 4 antennas with JoinTennas, preamps, and a combiner to get 12 stations (11 reliably) with 22 channels. So scan operation or channel add is not a big concern. All sets get or won't get the same stations. So tuner generation does not "seem" to make any difference.

Lately tho I have found a signal on RF channel 55 that is close to overloading. There is nothing indicated on any of the sets! Maybe it is the new cell phone or wireless broadband stuff.

projectsho89

UHF 55 is Qualcomm's MediaFlo service.

jdemaris

Reception (tuner sensitivity) is certainly one issue, but so is channel "saving." Many new TVs do not allow you to scan for channels multiple times and add new channels without losing the previous ones. So, if you have dual antennas with an A/B switch, or even just a rotator, you are out of luck. No good way to get all the channels registered in one scan. I have three antennas with an A/B/C switch AND two rotators.

Also, I doubt someone's good experience with any particular name brand means anything. Specific model #, yes. I've got two new Sansui TVs here. The first one I bought, a 19" has the best digital tuner I've ever used. So good, it led me to buy the second Sansui, a 26" model. IT has a terrible tuner, an absolute piece of junk. The good 19" is HDLCDVD195 and the rotten 26" is model HDLCDVD265A.

Unless someone has compared several TVs on the same antenna line, the sensitivity claims won't be very helpful. I ran a test in northern Michigan a few weeks ago with 6 different TVS on the same line. The 19" Sansui I mentioned beat them all (got two extra channels that none of the others could. Also has a great channel memory system. The worst I tested was a Sceptre 19" model X195 and a 19" Mitsubishi (sorry, no model #).

At home, our 42" LCD Syntax Brillian Olevia 242T has a great tuner as far as sensitivity goes, but a lousy channel memory system.

It seems to me that lately, name brand means nothing, since even good companies with great reputations make good and bad stuff. That goes with TVs, chain saws, and cars (e.g. Toyotas?).

When I bought the second Sanusui, it even looked the same as the smaller (good) one. I was very suprised to find out how different it is.

jdemaris

I do not believe it. Different generations of chips, yes that makes sense. Always better as they get newer? That one I doubt. Not for all people in all situations. Also, since I'm not an electronics tech with up-to-date info, I don't know how much that one tuner chip controls. Channel lock- on, noise rejection, sensitivity, etc. ?? Are you saying that one chip controls all of that, and that there is only one model or price-level of that tuner-chip at a time - with no "low end" and "high end" chip available contemperaneously? That's not rhetorical, I honestly don't have any idea.

I just got done testing out my in-laws new Samsung and the tuner is not as good as my two-year old Sansui, or the tuner in one of my Chinese converter-boxes. To me, getting "better" would mean making tuners as sensitive as possible for use with weak signals. I doubt that is happening from what I've been seeing with new TVs on antenna systems in fringe areas.