I have a 32" Sony Bravia (KDL32BX420 if I'm not mistaken) with an excellent tuner, better than my Apex DT250 converter box and my Panasonic DVD recorder, both for VHF and UHF. It's the best I've seen so far in terms of sensitivity.

Unfortunately, the EPG isn't great. All it shows is the current program along with it's description and time remaining calculated from current station time (I believe) and program end time, along with the usual channel number, station name, etc. (interestingly, if you are watching analog NTSC, it will get the station name and program title as well, if it's broadcast) You cannot see what is on next, even if the program is technically over - i.e. you are watching commercials, the next program starts at 9:00 and it is currently 8:59.

From what I can tell, the features present in the TV are very well implemented, and I have never experienced any kind of random reset or other such nuisance, much like an old trusty CRT. It's what features it doesn't have - in particular, the EPG, that annoy me.

I should mention that the picture quality is excellent, though. One of the best, in my opinion.

I have a 32" Sony Bravia (KDL32BX420 if I'm not mistaken) with an excellent tuner, better than my Apex DT250 converter box and my Panasonic DVD recorder, both for VHF and UHF.

I'll also add the signal diagnostics are quite nice, showing a separate measurement for signal strength and SNR. My only beef is that it's too many clicks away (at least for those of us who prefer watching those numbers instead of actual programming):

Menu -> Setup -> Product Support -> Signal Diagnostics

This has been mentioned previously, but I continue to be amazed at the performance differences between built-in tuners from TV model to model; both analog and digital.

I have a Sony Bravia KDL-3000W40 (?) 40" model with an excellent ATSC tuner. Though I've found it's analog tuner to be far less effective on VHF. To the extent that a VHF analog signal 80km away looks completely snowy on the Bravia, but appears sharp and clear on a less expensive Emerson LCD.

agreed Jase,
My Panasonic is excellent for digital, and ok for analog, my Samsung is fabulous for both.

You all keep mentioning signal strength meter in your tvs; I cannot find it anywhere in my tv. Does anyone know how do I find it in my tv- I cannot find any reference to it in the manual.

@f_a_98 I don't have the same model as you but on the Samsung c6300 you get the signal strength by selecting Menu then Self Diagnosis, then Signal Information, I would imagine it is something similar for your model.

Okay good to know. I will give that a try tomorrow!

Thanks!

wow. great find. I never could have imagined Samsung would burry the signal information that deep!
Awesome, Thanks for the help :cool:

Does anyone on these boards use the built-in tuner on an LG and have audio sync issues? I hooked up my CM4221HD this weekend and while I get very strong signals, some channels have really bad audio sync issues. At first I thought it was a signal thing because it's not on every channel, but then I removed the antenna cable from my LG TV (a 37LG50, bought back in late 2008) and plugged it into my Bell PVR and there was zero audio sync issues. So, now I feel like it's an issue with the TV?

My concern is, I'm selling the Bell PVR and looking at buying a CM 7000 PAL, but I since the audio sync makes watching unbearable, I don't want to purchase the CM 7000 PAL if the audio sync is going to persist.

Thanks,
Kristin.

I've had the Channel Master DVR for over a month now, and I haven't experienced any audio sync issues....

I tried a search and couldn't find any answers, so I'm sorry if it's been posted before.

I have a Samsung PN42B450 42" 720p Plasma TV that's around 2 years old. It supposedly has an ATSC tuner in it. I see other people posting here in and around Winnipeg who say they are receiving some OTA channels with decent signal strength practically with no antenna.

I can't tell if I'm doing something wrong or what...? I see talk of sub channels, on screen guides, and HD channels but all I can get is a fuzzy Global Winnipeg on channel 9 IIRC. I tried auto tuning and manually punching in numbers to no avail. When manual tuning, the status by the channel number seems to jump back and forth from Air to DTV. I don't expect to get much without a proper antenna but I thought I could at least get 1 channel clear.

I don't have the money to buy an antenna, but if I had the time I'd love to build my own. From an outsider point of view, it sounds like a lot of work for only a handful of channels. But I can see how some people like the challenge of trying to pull in more channels. Sounds like drag racing, where you're trying to get that extra tenth of a second.

Thanks!

^^^^

Do you not have anything connected to the antenna connector? Sometimes a short piece of wire will do.

I guess I should have mentioned that. Oops. I tried a paper clip, a "RAP" (remote antenna package for MTS UHF remotes), and I think the goofy little extendable antenna that came with the Hauppage usb tuner stick from my work.

I'm not expecting much with that stuff, but I was just trying to get an idea of what the picture quality would be like if the TV happened to pick up HD OTA.

Macman it's all about location. Please have a look through the thread for Winnipeg: MB/SK - Winnipeg, Brandon, Regina, Saskatoon, Prairies - OTA (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=33078)

A couple of other things - you can rig up a simple OTA antenna for testing: Best Do-It-Yourself OTA Antennas - see these links (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=119489)

And after several years it has become completely clear to digitalhome.ca members that OTA gives the very best picture quality of all broadcast (CATV, Satellite, IPTV, OTA, etc.) sources: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=134596

Please post in the Winnipeg thread when you get some OTA results. :)

Ok, will do. I've been watching that thread for a long time now :)

I'd still like to figure out if this tv really gets this stuff? I haven't seen any hint of sub channels or a guide while trying to receive signals. There isn't a guide button on the factory remote either.

Thanks

Macman, also make sure you have setup your TV to use an antenna not "cable."

Just tried the dinky little telescopic antenna again. Analogue channels were junk but once I fiddled around, Global DTV (40-1, which redirected to 9-1, I think) came in perfectly! I'm impressed. Now if there were only more DTV stations on the prairies, I'd consider going OTA, but I have little kids and they probably wouldn't be too happy if they lost Treehouse, etc.

Thanks for the input everyone :)

How can I get an guide for my digital ATSC stations? My TV only tells me the title of the current program and it's rating.
Do I need an external ATSC tuner box? If so are there any good ones with a DVR?

My TV is a Panasonic TC-P42U2

I know that all TV's in the US for about 5-6 years have had to have an ASTC tuner built in. (I actually did some support work for a US cable co, telling people how to rescan their channels so they could get the HD channels without getting a convertor box.) But I don't know what the status is in Canada.

I read the first 14 pages of this thread, where this issue was discussed, but people were still saying you had to check each model. Has this issue been resolved yet (by which I mean, do all Canadian TVs sold new have ASTC tuners)? I am looking at purchasing a Vizio E320VA, and the tech specs on tigerdirect's website say "Input signal: ASTC, NSTC, QAM" - does this mean it has all three tuner types inside?

If all TV's sold in Canada now must have an ASTC tuner built in, a simple "Yes" answer is all I need - no need to knock your self out with lengthy explanations that have probably already been posted (but's 12:30 am here in Toronto, and I'm too tired to read through 30 pages!).

Thanks in advance

II am looking at purchasing a Vizio E320VA, and the tech specs on tigerdirect's website say "Input signal: ASTC, NSTC, QAM" - does this mean it has all three tuner types inside?


This model accepts analog NTSC, and digital QAM and ATSC signals--thus it has the necessary tuners.

I'm not aware of tuner requirements for TV's sold in Canada. Specifically, whether digital tuners are mandated or not. Though when making a purchase decision on such products, I always check the specifications first.

With regards to digital cable channels "in the clear", most cable systems in Canada offer few--if any--clear QAM channels. For example, in Kitchener, Ontario, with Rogers Cable, I only get BET (standard def) and HGTV (high def) in clear QAM.