how do i get hd channels with a a hd-ready tv (no built in tuner)?

2 Responses to how do i get hd channels with a a hd-ready tv (no built in tuner)?

1. gp4rts

   August 6, 2010 at 1:28 pm

   If you want HDTV, you need an HDTV tuner. Here are some:
   http://www.hdtvtunersnow.com/hdtv-tuners-for-sale/

   If you just need to get digital reception (not HD) then you can get a digital converter box using a government coupon. The coupon is worth $40 toward an eligible converter. But no eligible converter is HD.
2. John C

   August 6, 2010 at 1:28 pm

   The short answer is that it all depends on how you plan on watching television over the next 20 years. If you always plan on subscribing to cable or satellite, then the need for a built-in tuner is debatable. But those that plan on saving a few bucks by purchasing a TV without a built-in digital tuner need to be aware that when the analog era ends, then they will not be able to receive OTA digital signals with an antenna unless they have an external ATSC tuner connected between the antenna and television.

   Saving a few dollars is nice, but I want the comfort of knowing that my television is compliant to my local broadcasters digital signal. As a satellite subscriber, I sometimes lose reception during a storm. My television is HD-ready television, which means I need an external tuner to decode digital signals. This is acceptable right now because the analog spectrum exists, but I worry about three years down the road when analog signals cease.

   Losing reception in a storm is a big issue with me because I live in an area where tornado are possible. This might not be an issue for most. The issue could be as simple as forgetting to pay your bill, a neighbor cutting through a cable when digging a hole or a car hitting the transformer and knocking out your cable for a day or two. What then do you do when your signal goes out?

   The bottom line is that it’s better to have it and not use it than to not have it and need it.