View Full Version : Help Tuner info
prowlerguy
01-10-2005, 12:02 PM
I have an HD ready TV and have finally decided to step and get the rest of the package. As it turns out, my neighbor has an HDTV with the built in tuner and has hooked it up to the cable where he now has high def without having to pay the local cable co. (for high def, he has basic). So, I went to the local store to find a tuner and am told I can't buy one, I need to get the one from the cable co. and that they don't believe that what I am telling them is the case. This happened at 3 of the places I went. This doesn't make sense to me and since I think the technical knowledge of these guys rivals the car knowledge of a pep boys clerk I have decided to check here. I have a KP-46WT500 sony.
mjones73
01-10-2005, 12:10 PM
Ask for a stand alone tuner that can do QAM. I'd suggest the LG 4200A if you can find one locallly, they can be had online for around $300. Any model that does QAM should work for you though. You should need the basic channel tier from your cable company to receive QAM broadcasts also.
mfabien
01-10-2005, 01:52 PM
I have an HD ready TV and have finally decided to step and get the rest of the package. As it turns out, my neighbor has an HDTV with the built in tuner and has hooked it up to the cable where he now has high def without having to pay the local cable co. (for high def, he has basic). So, I went to the local store to find a tuner and am told I can't buy one, I need to get the one from the cable co. and that they don't believe that what I am telling them is the case. This happened at 3 of the places I went. This doesn't make sense to me and since I think the technical knowledge of these guys rivals the car knowledge of a pep boys clerk I have decided to check here. I have a KP-46WT500 sony and comcast local cable.
Just to clarify...at least for me,
If your friend's TV has an ATSC (digital) tuner, all he needs to receive HD and SD is an antenna. The cable connection requires a NTSC tuner for analog signal. For the cable provider's digital signal, your friend would need a STB provided by the cable provider (to unscramble the signal) or a Cable Card, if the TV has a Cable Card slot and the provider has enabled the CC.
mjones73
01-10-2005, 02:12 PM
mfabien - His friend's TV, based on the description, can do QAM and is getting the local HD channels that Comcast is required to transmit unscrambled. You would need an STB to get any of the premium channels that are scrambled.
prowlerguy
01-10-2005, 02:26 PM
mjones is correct in the configuration. I have found a tuner (LG ATSC/QAM Receiver + 1080i Up-Conversion DVD Player Model: LST-3510) that I think will do the trick. I only have basic cable as well and that's all I'm really interested in. Thanks for the help!
We Canadians are sometimes "confused" by this "free HD" in the US Cable industry.
We also get many HD channels "free" but all of our digital (including HD) channels are scrambled, unless they are on a free preview or analogue duplicates that we pay for.
However, some "basic" cable packages are really just a few channels (mine is 23) and they put a blocker on the post to keep you from getting anything higher. In such case, you will not get the unscrambled digital channels. (I was pretty disappointed when my QAM search turned up empty!)
