OT- TV

Coloken · Aug 30, 2011

My memory is gone on such things........
Will the new TVs receive from and antenna or do they require a converter box like the very old sets? At one time they would. Some?
Is the answer "digital tuner included"?

old · Aug 30, 2011

Most if not all brand new TVs will work just fine with out a convertor box they have the new digital tuner in them.

greenbeanman in Kansas · Aug 30, 2011

Correct. Digital signal is pretty much an all or nothing image. If the signal is disrupted you don't get a snowy picture, you get nothing.

Very annoying for those living in fringe areas, areas obscured by trees, etc.

John Harmon · Aug 30, 2011

You are refering to "HD" High Definition TV and no HD Box is required to use your FM Antenna to receive standard broadcasts with a new LED or LCD TV.If you have a subscription service such as Hughes Net, Dish Network or Direct Tv,the most common services, no HD box would be required on any tv set,new or old style. Subscription tv is expensive,in my opinion but,in none cable ready areas such as where we live it is a necessary part of our life style. JH

old · Aug 30, 2011

Ya that is why I have satellite TV I live so far out hat when it was still antilog (sp)I got Mondays shows on Tuesday LOL

Coloken · Aug 30, 2011

Funny thing. My friend was just told yesterday by the sales person at Sam's club that their sets would NOT receive from broadcast with out a converter box. He called Wall mart and they said that they did not have any sets that would. But that They might be able to order one. Are the new sets leaving the tuner out??

Coloken · Aug 30, 2011

I am not talking about a subscription service but over the air, free, broadcast and most certainly not a "FM antenna".

karl f · Aug 30, 2011

FYI tv antennae have always been FM.

karl f

PeterE · Aug 30, 2011

My guess is that the sales person had no idea what they are talking about. Looking at the Sam's Club web site all of their top-selling models have an ATSC tuner.

To answer coloken's original question- an ATSC tuner is what you want to pick up digital HDTV without a converter box

tlak · Aug 30, 2011

The new TVs all have the new controller in them so should receive. The store I talked to a couple years ago said they couldn't sell the old style from some date back then.

NEsota · Aug 30, 2011

Decades ago we learned in electronic tech school that broadcast TV used FM, to carry the sound information and AM for the video. Or visa versa, it has been awhile. I do not know how this is done with the digital transmission. Antenna design, I expect cares more about carrier frequency than about the modulation used.

onefarmer · Aug 30, 2011

Sam's club dude didn't know what he was talking about. Either he thought you meant cable/sat or was totally lost.

Since the new digital rules no new tv's can be sold as analog only.

Dell (WA) · Aug 30, 2011

Ken.......as an FCC licensed TV engineer, I can assure you, antennas don't care what the signal is. AM, FM, Digital, all the same. HOWSOMEVERS: the digital TV's are very "picky" about signal strength. Old analog TV's you could squint yer eyeballs and make out a picture. The FM audio was generally notta problem. Sometimes "aiming" is a problem, 'speshally with digital. The "higher" gain (ie, longer TV antenna shaft) the more critical the aim.

NEW digital TV's (they are the ONLY kind sold) include the necessary converter box inside. .......HTH, Dell recommends VIZIO

Ultradog MN · Aug 30, 2011

Kill your television!
You and your family will be smarter, happier and less cynical without it.

smallercrawler · Aug 30, 2011

Ken, I am using a damaged twenty something year old chimney mount 102" antenna with RG59 coax and Radio Shack splitters into 2 Samsung LED/HD flat screens with no "converters". No trouble until the wind blows pretty hard-then sound squawks and picture WILL BREAKUP/GHOST and become slow moving/pixellated before disappearing. It will also occasionally "count cars". I am located about in the middle of several stations that are around 30-40 miles distant. Have more stations now, but more isn't always good.

buickanddeere · Aug 30, 2011

Are in Canada?
In two days analog TV broadcasts end except for some CBC transmitters.
Most small town transmitter sites are not being converted to digital $$$.
Large centers such as Ottawa, Toronto, Kitchener, London & Hamilton are keeping a few stations in digital.
Be picky on the digital to converter box. If the box only has a channel 3 rf and a video plus two sound jacks. At best your TV is going to receive 480i of the 1080i signal.
I found a box on fleabay for 80 some bucks with HDMI output. Works rather well.
Did not change one little thing with my antenna system.

John M · Aug 30, 2011

And do what, get all our info from all the very knowledgable people on this board, who get theirs from Google or Yahoo?? (I am just joking BTW, or am I?)

Geo-TH,In · Aug 30, 2011

A year ago we remodelled and had to take the satellite antenna down. So we cancelled the Satellite. The TV is a 42 inch LG about a year old. Discovered that a needle placed in the antenna connection and connected to a 5 ft green wire picks up all our local channels perfectly. No converted box needed. TV is a digital. We use Netflix and haven't gone back to satellite.

greenbeanman in Kansas · Aug 30, 2011

Now if you could receive the really old shows instead of just a day late then you would have decent content.

I find little worth watching so mainly stream video from the Internet. Roku player and Netflix are enjoyable. Haven't decided what I'll do when the subscription cost goes up 62.5% in Sept., drop it, vacation hold to send a message, of just keep streaming only.

John S-B · Aug 30, 2011

You should've used a black or white wire to better match your decor!

Ultradog MN · Aug 30, 2011

No.
You'll find you have time to go to the library, have money to subscribe to a couple of newspapers, and find out you actually enjoy your time together as a family if you are forced to interact.

old · Aug 30, 2011

Most of the time the TV is on just to make noise and keep the ringing in the ears from driving me nuts. Any more have to have some sort of back ground noise 24/7 or the hearing problem makes life just plain bad

John Harmon · Aug 31, 2011

Slow down and carefully read what I wrote to you.

John M · Aug 31, 2011

I knew what you meant bud, I was just making a joke....

Geo-TH,In · Aug 31, 2011

I wanted to pick up a color signal not black and white

Ultradog MN · Aug 31, 2011

Geo-TH,In · Aug 31, 2011

No luck necessary. It's been work fine for a year and it's FREE!

AG in IN · Aug 31, 2011

(quoted from post at 01:17:34 08/31/11) Now if you could receive the really old shows instead of just a day late then you would have decent content.

For those looking for old shows who watch tv with an antenna:

Depending on where you live, you may be able to get one or more of these "networks" available OTA that have at least some classic tv shows on their schedules. They may or may not have what you're looking for, though. Most, if not all are still looking for new affiliates nationwide if they aren't available in your area yet. Some affiliates may not carry the entire schedule of the network.

AntennaTV: http://www.antennatv.tv/
Retro TV: http://www.myretrotv.com/
Me-TV: http://www.metvnetwork.com/
This Tv: http://thistv.com/
Hot tv: http://www.hottvchannel.com/
My Family tv: http://www.myfamilytv.tv/index.html
FamilyNet: http://www.familynet.com/
America one: http://americaone.com/
.2 network (planned for several years, may possibly never air): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.2_Network

AG

Hay_Man · Sep 2, 2011

For Color Broadcasts, I find the RGB Jumper Wire works best. :shock:

OT- TV

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