What TV has a better OTA tuner? LG, Samsung, others?

It depends what part of the tuner you are talking about. From what I have read, Samsung TVs have better demodulators and LG TVs have better ATSC decoders. So if your issue is signal strength, Samsung TVs are better, but if your issue is signal integrity, LG TVs are better. Not sure about other brands.

Is the signal amped or not? If I amp the signal (via CM 3414) off my 4221HD stack, my edge channel (WNYO - RF 49) comes in solid on the LG, but not on the Sammy. However, if I remove the amp, WNYO comes in on the Sammy, but is black on the LG. Go figure!

This is partially explained above, but I am not sure why the Samsung stops tuning the signal if it is amplified. Maybe the amp is creating some type of distortion (from a strong local?) that the LG can deal with, but the Samsung can't.

My Sony will lock in a station only at a signal strength of 70% or higher. I've seen other posters talk about locking in at much lower signal strengths - some even less than 50% on their tv's or tuners.

Does that mean my tv's tuner is weaker or less sensitive? Or are the signal strength measurements different with different tv's? I.E. When my tv shows 70%, under the exact same circumstances another tv may show signal strength of 50%.

The manual indicates it has an ATSC tuner, but before I go out and buy an antenna to hook up to this TV ......

As a quick refresh of facts to newbees.... anything advertised as a "TV" by definition must have a tuner of some sort, otherwise it is only a monitor. Any TV sold as HD or DTV capable will have an ATSC tuner, with some brands also having an analog NTSC tuner (soon to be obsolete in August 2011 when analog signals will cease).

Not sure if anyone is still selling an NTSC analog only TV in Canada, cause if they are they should be linched. U.S stores were prohibited by law from selling their remaining stock of analog TVs one year before digital conversion date. I understand Canada got a lot of their obsolete stock.

My Sony will lock in a station only at a signal strength of 70% or higher. I've seen other posters talk about locking in at much lower signal strengths - some even less than 50% on their tv's or tuners.

Does that mean my tv's tuner is weaker or less sensitive?

No.

Or are the signal strength measurements different with different tv's?

Correct. The signal strength meter in TVs is a relative measurement and every make (and often even model) use different formulas to calculate this value so they aren't compatible. They are really only useful for aiming the antenna and comparing different channels on the same TV.

As a quick refresh of facts to newbees.... anything advertised as a "TV" by definition must have a tuner of some sort, otherwise it is only a monitor. Any TV sold as HD or DTV capable will have an ATSC tuner, with some brands also having an analog NTSC tuner (soon to be obsolete in August 2011 when analog signals will cease).

The NTSC tuner will not be obsolete in August 2011. First of all cable companies will continue to provide analog service (and will likely continue to do so for the foreseeable future). Secondly, stations in non-mandatory markets will continue to broadcast in analog. In the US, LPTV, Class A and Translator stations are still permitted to broadcast in analog.

Not sure if anyone is still selling an NTSC analog only TV in Canada, cause if they are they should be linched.

Generally true for name brand TVs, but off brand and store brand TVs often only have NTSC tuners.

U.S stores were prohibited by law from selling their remaining stock of analog TVs one year before digital conversion date.

Not quite true. Devices with an NTSC tuner were required to also have an ATSC tuner if imported or shipped from a warehouse across state lines. Stores were permitted to sell their old stock however.

The signal strength meter in TVs is a relative measurement and every make (and often even model) use different formulas to calculate this value so they aren't compatible.And a further reminder that the pool of ATSC chipset manufacturers is not very big, so don't be surprised if TVs from most manufacturers use tuner boards from other manufacturers, changing with different models. As an example, an earlier Sharp, Sony, Panasonic, etc. HDTV might have an LG ATSC chipset while a newer model might have a Samsung or other branded ATSC chipset. This is just some further rationale as to why signal readings may differ between HDTVs.

Here is an update on my issue if anyone is having the same problem.

I called LG and the fellow there told me to remove the connection at the A/V receiver and look for the red light beam.

Well I had the A/V receiver set up on a wall unit shelf and with a heavy Denon receiver, it's very difficult to pull the sucker away from its perched position with all the wires I had going to and out of it. So I decided to move it to a shelf on a stand I bought for this TV. Then reconnected everything back up. It took hours! But the long and short of it is, everything is working now as it should. I get sound passing through the TV set from its built in ATSC receiver to the A/V receiver and that sounds great through the surround speakers I'm using (JBLs). I'm not quite sure if the set passes surround sound as I have not yet watched a program broadcast with surround sound since setting it up, but at least I'm getting five channel stereo. It'll be nice if it does pass surround sound because I only have two optical inputs to the A/V receiver and the other one is already taken up by a Patriot Box Office. If the set passes surround sound then I would just need to connect any additional components via HDMI to the TV set.

With regards to how good the ATSC receiver is on LG sets, I have a 50" Samsung plasma in my rec room and this 60" LG in my family room, both hooked up to an exterior antenna. They both scan the same channels with comparable strengths. So it looks to me that they are about the same. What I like about the LG over the Samsung is that the LG separates the digital from the analog channels, whereas the Samsung shows them mixed together.

rmchahn, I don't know about the current crop of Sony TVs, but the one I just gave away in working condition, a 2000 model 61" rear projection 4X3 TV had a garbage tuner built into it, even an old RCA VCR had a tuner with a far superior display than that Sony did. Also the component connections on it never worked, all they produced was black and white video noise, and unfortunately by the time I realized that, the set was out of warranty!

Personally I don't think much of Sony TVs anymore, dollar for dollar I'd buy a Samsung or LG any day, and since Sony sets tend to be priced higher, the choice is clear for me. In fact, most Sony products I've owned (and I've had quite a few) have been marginal to poor in performance and reliability over the years, but don't know if that's just my luck, or if my experience is typical. No doubt there are some that love Sony, but in my case I've had too many disappointments to stay loyal to that brand. Any brand has to win me over for the long haul and Sony has lost me on account of my perception of its quality after having me among its followers for years.

Posts about Hisense HDTVs are now in their own thread since the discussion was getting too generic for this present thread.

See here: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=135503

This present thread contines to be for issues that are directly about ATSC tuners in HDTVs, such as problems or quality comparisons.

I have a Sharp Aquos LC-37D6U (from around 2005) hooked to a Channel Master 4228HD antenna and 7777 pre-amp that is pointed at the CN Tower. I live in Newmarket and receive 11 HD channels. I have had the OTA since November and since the beginning my Sharp will periodically freeze-up and report a message "No Brodcast now E203" when only on channel 41.1 which is Global. When this happens I cannot change channels or power off, nor does it resolve itself, and I must manually unplug the set. The channel is very clear before and after this process and could remain fine for an hour or 10 minutes. Also, sometimes I get 29.1 & 29.2 fine and other times I don't but the LCD doesn't freeze on these channels. Otherwise, all 11 channels are clear most of the time.

To rule out my OTA system I hooked an Artec Converter box T3AP-LL to my old 4x3 tv and ran the same 41.1 channel on both at the same time. The Sharp would go off and the old set would be fine. I moved the Artec and hooked it up to the Sharp and it never went off leading me to believe it is the built-in tuner. However, with the Artec hooked to the Sharp it would crop the picture (put top and bottom bars) on shows that normally fill the LCD screen perfectly and shows that were broadcast as 4x3 ratio they would be cropped even more. The Artec does have a menu to change the ratio but it would not allow a perfect screen fill without stretching or zooming the picture. The Artec works fine on the old tube tv.

My question: Is my Sharp built-in tuner inadequate? Any recommendations to resolve this problem?

I would check the firmware/software version of your Sharp set, and compare it to what's the most current for this model. It could be that a simple update will resolve your issue.

I know the Sharp tv I have has a terrible, lower generation chip in it. However I have not had the same issues you have experienced regarding locking up.
You can try Sharp customer service.
Did you register the warranty when you first bought it?

I got so annoyed with the built in tuner on my Sharp television that I just recently bought a Centronics ZAT502 HD digital converter w/HDMI just for this television. The tuner in it has one of the newest chip sets.

Also, sometimes I get 29.1 & 29.2 fine and other times I don't but the LCD doesn't freeze on these channels

For the 29.1/29.2 (UHF CH 14) issue can u post the tvfool report for your location? be sure to give the tvfool tool the correct location and antenna height info when running it..
Could be that ur on the fringe of WUTV's coverage. WUTV, although it is on Grand Island, so is closer than the Buffalo southtowns transmittters, it uses a directional antenna pattern, whose main lobe is facing Buffalo, not the GTA. For the Global issue, yeah...like Jase88 suggests, might be something a firmware update (if one's available) might help.

Just starting out and wondering what the current ATSC tuner generation is and what is best for use with indoor antenna.

Also which 32" TV's have the best ATSC tuner for indoors.

Thanks

John

re: Post #609

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d3cf445e5a33e1a

I would check the firmware/software version of your Sharp set, and compare it to what's the most current for this model. It could be that a simple update will resolve your issue.

I will second this suggestion. Global has had a bad time getting their PSIP data correct and TVs have had problems with it in the past. It is most likely that the firmware in Mitch2010's Sharp is getting confused by some bad PSIP data and hanging.

Thanks guys. I took your suggestion and just contacted Sharp Canada, however, they do not have any updates for this model.

It's been a few years since I was in the market for a new LCD TV with a digital tuner. Back then, I went with a 47" LG and have been happy ever since.

Time for a new toy. Would like some advice on a new 32" LCD (pref less than $500) and wondered if anyone could comment on a few questions:

- What make currently has the best digital tuner?
- Do any makes have built in TV guides?
- Do any have dual tuners (I'm guessing this would be significantly more expensive)?

I'd rather not reinvent the wheel here. If anyone has a 32" that they are really happy with, I'd like to know about it. I'd love a built in TV guide.

Thanks in advance.
DM

A friend has a Sony that he says has a built-in guide.

yet to see a guide that can look ahead, only current programs. Happy with my Samsung with dual coax inputs, great if you have cable & OTA

Hi,

I am new to this game, and have a question. I currently have a Sony CRT tube TV in the guest room. It's probably 10 years old. I noticed that Futureshop is selling a cheap Dynex 26" for $199. I figure I can sell my current CRT for $30-50 to subsizide the cost and I'll have an LCD instead of an old tube. However, my thought was, a newer LCD would get better reception with my indoor Terk antenna over my CRT (admittedly, the reception on the Sony CRY is not great). Then I got to thinking," Is that actually true?"

Does the type of TV matter with respect to reception? Will I get a better reception with a new LCD, LED, Plasma over a CRT? Before I buy, I wanted to confirm either way. Thanks.