Digital TV question? + more!

[WizeOne]

I guess, in February, at least Comcast will go to a digital signal. Is there such a thing as digital signal ready TV's? or will they all need a converter box.

In looking at flat panel TV's, I only see reference to HDTV ready, not digital capable.

Next question is about which brands and which technology is best for medium to smaller flat panel TV's?

My Dad is now virtually bed ridden and I need to get a TV for his bedroom. It would be nice if I did not have to use a cable converter box once I tie into the main cable line to feed it. Their main CRT TV already has the converter box (supplied by Comcast) but I would like not to have to buy and install one for a New TV.

 

[DJ]

Re: Digital TV question? + more!

ANY TV you buy today is digital ready. No box needed. I doubt you can buy an analog TV anymore.

Any cable signal should be digital.

 

[JB]

Re: Digital TV question? + more!

Any digital TV receiver should handle digital cable. Some digital TVs require a converter to receive HDTV over an antenna, others are HDTV receivers.

"Digital ready" does not mean it can receive broadcast digital signal without a HDTV adapter.

HDTV receivers can handle any digital signal.

I have a big (55") Sony Grand Wega HDTV. It is a rear projection LCD. It is wonderful when it isn't waiting for a new lamp or a new light engine. I've had it 5 years and it has cost CC about $3500 to honor the extended warranty.

I also have a 20" Polaroid HDTV. LCD. Pretty new. Sensational picture and a very good price. It is in my office, but would make a great bedroom TV. Got it at Wal Mart for under $300.

Of the currently available technologies I think straight LCD is the way to go, and only if it is a fully HDTV receiver.

 

[OldePharte]

Re: Digital TV question? + more!

We have an older 13" TV in our kitchen that is hooked up to cable TV w/o a converter box. One local station has already converted to digital and we can still receive it. Granted, we don't get the HD quality, but we can still watch all Tier 1 and 2 programing.

 

[rwise]

Re: Digital TV question? + more!

Cable companies do not have to put up a digital signal and will keep an analog signal to it's customers for years to come yet.

stations are broadcasting in analog and digital until February, then they shut off the analog, Some are not at full power with the digital side yet and will not be until February.

Digital sucks!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Digital TV question? + more!

we just bought a new tv, not all new tvs are digital ready. most are HD ready, but not digital. we bought a 19" emerson, HD and with a digital tuner, with DVD built in. they had the same tv, without digital, was $80 less.

this is what we bought. http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=9107636

same tv, without the DVD. http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=9107634

 

[UnregisteredUser]

Re: Digital TV question? + more!

Cable companies do not have to put up a digital signal and will keep an analog signal to it's customers for years to come yet.

stations are broadcasting in analog and digital until February, then they shut off the analog, Some are not at full power with the digital side yet and will not be until February.

Digital sucks!

What he said...
And I would like to add this. If you are receiving your TV signal through cable or Sat, this change does not effect you. Your service will continue just like before.

So to answer your first question

in February, at least Comcast will go to a digital signal. Is there such a thing as digital signal ready TV's? or will they all need a converter box.

The answer is, "No". Comcast is a cable company and they receive the digital signal for you, and rebroadcast it down the cable line.


Next,

In looking at flat panel TV's, I only see reference to HDTV ready, not digital capable.

If it is HDTV ready, and most are today, no digital convert box is needed as long as you have a VHF/UHF ant...


Last...

My Dad is now virtually bed ridden and I need to get a TV for his bedroom.

If you already have a TV in there and it is hooked up to cable, there is no need to buy a new TV.

Just think of all the money you just saved...

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Digital TV question? + more!

Digital is great more channels, better picture, channel guide all for free.

And in two months we get more.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Digital TV question? + more!

If you end up buying new then LCD is the way to go.
The Plasma is older technology and can get whats called burn in on the screen,Like a PC monitor thats left on the same image too long.
I did a ton of research before buying a new LCD.
The DLP sets are pretty good too.
If you are going to buy a TV for the living room or a larger screen size check into the new 120HZ LCD flat panels.
They have a better contrast ratio and the 120HZ has taken away any chance of motion blurr...

 

[DJ]

Re: Digital TV question? + more!

What he said...
And I would like to add this. If you are receiving your TV signal through cable or Sat, this change does not effect you. Your service will continue just like before.

So to answer your first question The answer is, "No". Comcast is a cable company and they receive the digital signal for you, and rebroadcast it down the cable line.


Next, If it is HDTV ready, and most are today, no digital convert box is needed as long as you have a VHF/UHF ant...


Last...If you already have a TV in there and it is hooked up to cable, there is no need to buy a new TV.

Just think of all the money you just saved...

That is exactly what our local cable company has been saying. Cox Cable.

 

[UnregisteredUser]

Re: Digital TV question? + more!

That is exactly what our local cable company has been saying. Cox Cable.

I can't help it, I slept at a Holiday Inn last night.

 

[Pierutrus]

Re: Digital TV question? + more!

we just bought a new tv, not all new tvs are digital ready. most are HD ready, but not digital. we bought a 19" emerson, HD and with a digital tuner, with DVD built in. they had the same tv, without digital, was $80 less.

this is what we bought. http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=9107636

same tv, without the DVD. http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=9107634

TD,
You meant the same tv without DVD player right?
All new tv's have digital tuner's built in unless they are display's only.

 

[UnregisteredUser]

Re: Digital TV question? + more!

TD,
You meant the same tv without DVD player right?
All new tv's have digital tuner's built in unless they are display's only.

Down here in the sticks of Misery, there are, or before Black Friday, were still some older models on the shelf.

While all new models do have the system built in, it is possible to buy a new TV without it.

We got lucky when we bought ours a few years back, it has it built in. We did not know this, nor were there any stations broadcasting the digital signal in my area at that time. We only found this feature by accident when my grand-daughter ( 1 year old) was playing with the remote and switched to to DTV.

We looked on in amazement when the TV got crystal clear, (I live more than 100 miles from any broadcast source) since we always watched through the snow before.

For us in the sticks DTV has been a huge blessing.

Edit: One other thing I might add that I did not know until I started volunteering at a local gospel station. Only the full power stations have to switch by Feb. If you have a less than full power local broadcaster that you watch regularly, you may have to switch back to analog to view these stations.

Once again, this only applies to Over the Air signals, cable and Sat TV will continue as before.

Thats my PSA for the day, we now return you to your regular programming.

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Digital TV question? + more!

This is from the FAQs on this site. http://www.dtv.gov/consumercorner.html#faq7

How can I be sure that I am buying a digital TV (DTV)?

By law, beginning March 1, 2007, all television reception devices (including TVs, VCRs, DVRs, etc.) imported into the U.S. or shipped in interstate commerce must contain a digital tuner. Retailers may continue to sell analog-only devices from existing inventory, but must prominently display on or near the analog-only device a Consumer Alert label with this advisory:

 

[Pierutrus]

Re: Digital TV question? + more!

Down here in the sticks of Misery, there are, or before Black Friday, were still some older models on the shelf.

While all new models do have the system built in, it is possible to buy a new TV without it.

They ought to be giving those away.
And I wouldn't call them "new", but more like never bought/old stock and should be labeled that way.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Digital TV question? + more!

Last...If you already have a TV in there and it is hooked up to cable, there is no need to buy a new TV.

Just think of all the money you just saved...

No TV in his bedrom UrU. The other TV is in their den and will stay there.
My objective was to get a new flat panel TV, split the incoming cable, under the home, and run it up into the bedroom for the new TV. I was hoping that I would not have to get a converter box to run it, like for their analogue CRT TV.

 

[joed]

Re: Digital TV question? + more!

There are actually two types of digital.

The OTA digital that kicks in in February is ATSC.

If your cable company is going to all digital that is QAM. You can buy TVs that receive both ATSC and QAM. However any premium channels (HBO, SHOWTIME, PPV events etc.) will likely require a separate digital box.

 

[mthieme]

Re: Digital TV question? + more!

I just went through this agonizing decision a couple months ago when my old rear projection TV died. I could got it fixed, but the $400 (minimum) repair on a non Digital, non HD TV just didn't seem to make sense.
I also hate having to educate myself evertime I need to run out and make a major purchase.
So you're a Comcast customer with an old TV? No worries for a couple more years as they will be broadcasting analog for a couple more years at least.
Working off an antenna? You need a converter box for your old analog available at Wally World for $50. Go to the dtv.gov sight, fill out an online form, and will send you up to two $40 coupons. I will be adding an antenna to my roof as I've discovered 37 local digital channels off of rabbit ears.
There are four different common digital converters ATSC being the most common and QAM for unscrambled over the air stuff.
While it's hard to find a TV without a digital tuner, not all support HD - high definition. Different manufacturers have different ideas as to what HD is. If you want HD, you want 1080p.
Screen burn is pretty much a thing of the past and should not be a big decision criterion.
There are some hellacious deals on plasmas. Downsides - few are 1080x HD and they generate a lot of heat.
No matter what kind of (new) TV you buy, if you get and analog signal, your picture will not improve. Digital doesn't impress me much either.

My advice....
If you're gonna drop a couple grand on a friggin' TV, may as well get one that has digital and 1080p HD. But then I usually keep mine for at least 10 years.
I opted for a 67" Samsung LED rear projection model - happened into a floor model deal and saved $900. I needed big as my living room is 27' long.

The next generation of TV's are on the horizon - Mitsubishi has a laser LED that is awesome. They are giving away their 72" model for $1999...in case you want big.

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Digital TV question? + more!

BTW, I just picked a couple of those tuner boxes for my old tv's with the $40 coupons and I have to say they work pretty good.

I hooked it up with just a regular rabbit ears (needed the UHF part for the digital as that is where they are located in my region) and it found all the stations perfectly. It even has the program information on the disply when you change channels so you can see what is on that channel.

I love my 32" LG HD LCD, but this works pretty well. Better than I thought it would..

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Digital TV question? + more!

Will the digital converter box you get with the coupons the same type that would be necessary to run with a cable? Comcast tells me that any analogue TV's will need a converter come February.