Help me get HDTV!

January 21, 2007 8:23 PM

Can't get HDTV from an OTA antenna, turns out my TV is(?) not really HD, just "HD-Ready."

My flat-mate who just moved into my place has a TV (Panasonic PT-47WX54J) that looks like it should display HD. We just bought an OTA antenna and connected it to the TV, but it won't pick up HD channels at all. It seems that this TV may be one of the older models that was marketed as "HD-Ready" but is really incapable of displaying HD content without a set-top box. This is really a guess by both of us because he bought this TV second-hand and doesn't have the box/manual/etc, so it's possible that assumption is wrong. However, unless someone knows otherwise I'm going to assume that's why we can't get an HD signal, and it's not because we're idiots.

The question is, what's the cheapest way for us to get an HD signal? A "set-top box" looks to cost around $200 from a quick BestBuy.com search, which is not gonna happen. Is there a cheaper option, or does anyone know of a bare-bones set-top box? Help me get HD!

posted by cklennon to technology (8 comments total)

You need an 'ATSC tuner'

You can google search about it, but it might be easy to get one off of ebay.

Ebay 'atsc tuner' = be sure NOT to get a card for a PC, you need a settop box type.

These Samsung tuners would do the trick.
posted by Argyle at 9:23 PM on January 21, 2007

I use an ATI TV Wonder 650 PCI card.
It's a little cheaper at $129, and includes DVR functionality, but you would have to suitable pc close by with an open DVI or S-video connection.
posted by tresbizzare at 9:29 PM on January 21, 2007

Just to clarify what happened, from your saying, your idea sounds right. A tv marketed at HDTV has the ability to display the correct resolution, but doesn't have a tuner. Argyle has the right idea with buying an ATSC tuner. eBay appears to have a wealth of them for decent prices. AFAIK, if you just want OTA HD, you don't need QAM, as that is only used for decoding cable signals.
posted by !Jim at 9:34 PM on January 21, 2007

If you'll notice, this is not marketed as an HDTV at all, but rather an "HD monitor."

Manufacturers do this to save money and skirt some FCC regulation regarding HD broadcasting (I forgot which one).

You will need an ATSC tuner. Set-top boxes are fairly expensive and PCI cards for inside computers are quite a bit less expensive.

Another tip is to search Google for " hdtv" (e.g. milwaukee hdtv). Usually someone will have set up an HDTV forum to discuss local channels that are offering HD programs over the air, antennas that work and how to point them, ATSC tuner that work, etc. I've even had a couple people offer to let me borrow an ATSC tuner to test which one works best at my location.
posted by yellowbkpk at 5:03 AM on January 22, 2007

Just to clear up some confusion, what yellobkpk meant to say was

search google for "<your metro area> hdtv" (e.g. milwaukee hdtv)
posted by antifuse at 7:09 AM on January 22, 2007

If you have Cable, many cable companies will offer you an HD Cable Box that'll give you the ABC/NBC/FOX (And, usually, a handful of other channels. Discovery and PBS) for free. Time-Warner does, at least. It was just a matter of going to the office and trading up.

It will, however, require a Composite or HDMI input.
posted by GilloD at 8:26 AM on January 22, 2007

Just out of curiosity, how do you have the antenna connected to the TV?
posted by banshee at 8:43 AM on January 22, 2007

I have it connected simply through the COAX "Antenna" input. Sounds like I need a set-top box :(
posted by cklennon at 11:49 AM on January 22, 2007