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Why won't my digital tuner work?

Do you need a digital box for a HDTV to work, even if it has a tuner inside?

  • I just moved to a new place and got a new HDTV - all utilities are paid for in my place - so we just have the regular cable and then TiVo. I keep telling my roommate that we need to get a digital box for our TV to work - is this true or did i just make that up :)

  • Answer:

    "Regular cable" will provide all of the same standard definition signals that you have always received. Regular cable -must- also provide any HD signals that are already available over the air. Thus, you don't need the special set top box to receive HD. Plug your TV in directly to the cable outlet. Go to the TV's setup and tell it to search for both analog and digital signals. It will find the standard def signals, plus the new HD signals in the range, like 101-5. Now, here's the problem: If you plug in your TiVo Series 2 box inbetween the wall cable plug and your TV, then your TV will only ever show what the TiVo is capable of. Inotherwords, the TV tuner is irrelevant, since you are then using the tuner in the TiVo and simply outputting a standard def signal to your nice new TV.

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If your tv has an hd tuner built-in (not hd ready), then all you need is an antenna capable of receiving an hd signal. Hd channels are broadcast through the air as well as through cable and satellite providers, so in a nutshell, yeah, you made that up :-) Stop by your local Radio Shack...they'll tell you all about it.

twhite360

No, you are trying to say you need to buy an external set-top box. If your new HDTV has an in-built tuner, then obviously you don't need one :) Therefore you're making it up.

Tony M

the tv will be able to play hd, but you need to have an hd signal to feed the tv with. you'll have to get it from your cable company.

swatthefly

If its a built in HD-Tuner, you only get the Local Channels in HD, but for your cable HD Channels (I don't know with Dish Network, they bought Voom so I get 22 additional channels in HD and my locals) you would need an HD Tivo or an HD cable box.

Ryan

You usually rent the HDTV box from your cable company... often, it is free with the HDTV packages. OR You could get an HDTV antenna and get HDTV broadcasts over the air (free) if available in your city.

Mike

You may or may not need a box. If your TV has the ability to put your cable or satellite system's card in the TV you won't need a box. You will have to have one or the other since you won't be getting a true HDTV signal. Call your cable or satellite provider for their requirements to see what you will need.

John H

Yes and no. The following answer assumes the tv is an HDTV and not an HD Monitor (in which case you will need a tuner). In order to watch tv in HD, you need the signal to be in HD. The box you don't need is an HD tuner. This is not the same as an HD cable box or satellite box. This is what confuses people they think "If i don't need a box why do I need a box?" If you are going to use cable you will need to subscribe to the digital cable HD package and get the HD set top box. This box is necessary to use the proper hookups for the best picture. If you are going to do over the air HD you need an HD antenna to pick up the signal. In short, you don't need a box to decode the signal but you need some device to deliver the signal.

papageno19

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