ATSC Tuners In HDTVs (see Samsung Poll)

[cohoho]

As a recent purchaser of an HP PE4200N TV with built-in ATSC tuner, here is my two cents on built-in tuners.

I subscribe to basic analogue cable (no cable box) and I figured the built-in ATSC/NTSC tuners would allow me to tune into OTA channels in Vancouver in addition to my regular cable line-up. In reality, I can only really use one or the other - ATSC or NTSC - and not both. A major design flaw in my TV is that you cannot seamlessly combine the two sources into one channel list - you have to switch the tuner source and RESCAN available channels every time you want to go from NTSC to ATSC or back again. You cannot manually add channels. Hard to believe you say? I thought so too.

So even though my TV is equipped with both NTSC and ATSC tuners, I am looking for a good deal on a STB that can combine the two into one channel list (Zenith SAT520, Sony HD300, LG LSS-3200A, or Hughes HTL-HD). This is ironic because any of these ugly silver boxes are going to stand out like a sore thumb next to my existing gear, and one of the reasons I selected the TV I did was because it looked good (and it had the built-in ATSC tuner)!

To anyone shopping for a TV with a built-in ATSC tuner I suggest you check to make sure that you can actually use both tuners rather than just one.

[Tom.F.1]

I like the built in tuners because i don't need to use up any other input on my TV for OTA reception.
My TV has separate RF connections for ATSC & NTSC. Both are connected to the same antenna and i very rarely go to the analog for the few stations that aren't digital yet. I use the HDMI input for my Sat reciever and component for other sources. I see i'll need more HDMI inputs in the future. But then for new audio formats i'll need a new AV reciever and it will switch HDMI etc. It grows!!
Cohoho, I see your problem with analog cable directly to the TV and then switching to analog OTA, you'd have to re-scan. I had the same problem with Cable and OTA about 17 years ago. I had to spend 1,584.83 to find a 27" TV that had 2 separate tuners for PIP. (my Hitatchi still works, except the tuners )
Can't you just stick to ATSC for OTA? OR, you could get a cable box and use component inputs?

[stampeder]

cohoho, that's a shame you are victim of poor industrial design. You might want to post a warning in the HP forum. How irritating! If you are looking for an STB rest assured that the LGs combine both ATSC and NTSC into the same scrollable channel list, albeit with the analogue channels first in their order and then the digital ones in their own order, but all reachable by the channel up/down button or directly through the keypad.

[gg22]

Or you can use your VCR's tuner connected with RCA cables to TV
for analog stations. This way you don't have to rescan and you don't
have to spend money on external ATSC tuner.

[trellaine]

Hmm how can I tell whether my TV has the ATSC tuner? I think I read that most TVs have this??

Thanks

[stampeder]

I did a Google of "Sony WEGA KV 34HS510 specification" and the first hit identified your tuner as NTSC.

[trellaine]

Hmm I did google search as well. Oh damn...yeah your right. I have 2 NTSC tuners.

First time I searched lookes as if I did have the ATSC tuner.

Oh well perhaps it wouldn't be worth it anyways considering I have *choice HD receiver...so pretty much get most stuff in HD.

Thanks stampeder

[Rick]

I'm looking for a smaller TV (26-32 inches) that has an ATSC tuner. First, it is really hard to discover whether it has such a tuner or not. Second, once I do figure it out, there seem to be almost none!!

It is my understanding that as of this month all TV's larger than 26 inch sold in the U.S. must have an ATSC tuner. I assume Canada will get the older ones to sell off until the inventory is depleted. Is there any site that lists the models available with ATSC tuners?

[Tom.F.1]

Rick,
Last week at walmart there was a no name brand HDTV on the shelf. 30" 16x9 crt. 699.97 ATSC & NTSC tuners Double the price, you can get the same size in LCD. It looked very similar to my Sanyo, sorry can't remember the name.
I too am dismayed by the lack of ATSC availability in the canadian market. I'm looking for a largescreen with built in tuner, but i don't mind holding off while technologies change.

[stampeder]

Watch out for model numbers - write them down at the store and when you get home Google them to see if they are Canada-only models, a sure hint that no ATSC tuner is included.

The Manufacturer Forums here at DHC are a terrific place to find out which models do and do not have ATSC tuners.

[j2k]

Rick,
As Tom.F.1 suggested, there is some choice in CRT TVs of that size - most of them available at Wal-Mart I think. Audio-Video 2001 carries few as well, and BestBuy/FutureShop has a slim-fit Samsung. They are about half the price of an LCD panel.

It seems that with LCDs there is limited choice in Canada. TigerDirect.ca carries some models 26-32" with ATSC tuners (I remember Hyundai and Sharp) but they have this weird warranty info. You can try to find something in Best Buy or Future Shop, but the only model that I found was 32" HP 3200N.
A 26" HP 2600N with ATSC tuner is also available at hp.ca (actually the price for the 32" model is better than in Best Buy).
Also some smaller stores carry Philips models with ATSC tuner - you can find the retailers from Philips web page.

It seems that it is actually much easier to find something bigger when you want a built-in HD tuner.

[stampeder]

Originally Posted by j2k

You can try to find something in Best Buy or Future Shop, but the only model that I found was 32" HP 3200N. A 26" HP 2600N with ATSC tuner is also available at hp.ca (actually the price for the 32" model is better than in Best Buy)

There is some discussion about possible HP ATSC tuner problems in the DHC HP Forum.

[Rick]

The HP 2600N looks ideal for what I want. And it is "only" $1400!! (I was looking at a Sony yesterday that was $2500!) I may look further into that.

Thanks for the suggestions!

[myhusky]

I have a Samsung 42" ED Plasma TV with Integrated ATSC Tuner. It works fine with the indoor antenna, eventhough the indoor antenna only picks up 5-1 CBC. at least the buildin ATSC tuner works very well.

[j2k]

Rick, I was looking into the HP 2600N model a couple of weeks ago. I don't know if it has the same design flaw as described on the HP manufacturers forum (the person there describes, that he needs to rescan the channels every time he switches from ATSC to analog).

Also hp.ca has free shipping now, which was a 100$ extra just 2 weeks ago. The customer rep told me that they have 15% restocking fee so returning the unit if you don't like it might be costly.

The manual is available on hp.ca web page.