Will I need a DTV converter box?

[The UnDoug]

So I just purchased a new LCD TV (Samsung LN32A450). I don't currently have cable or satellite--just rabbit ear antennas. I probably will get one or the other, but until then, will the new TV's built-in tuner do the same thing that a DTV converter box would do?

[mikebw]

I didn't look up the specs for that model, but if it's new it should be fine. It just needs an ATSC tuner as opposed to a regular NTSC tuner.

[Jack D.]

mikebw wrote:
I didn't look up the specs for that model, but if it's new it should be fine. It just needs an ATSC tuner as opposed to a regular NTSC tuner.

Specs at Cnet http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/s...15310.html say it has both N and A tuners so you should be good to go.

TV Tuner

* Analog TV Tuner NTSC
* Stereo Reception System MTS
* Secondary Audio Program (SAP) Yes

Digital TV Tuner

* Digital TV Tuner ATSC

[Black Landlord]

Can you even buy a TV with an analog-only tuner at this point?

[guitarist]

signals still travel through the air into an antenna with content worth watching?

[mikebw]

Considering they are free I would say much of it is worth it.

[guod]

I have the same TV.

You'll be fine.

[OWC Jamie]

If you ran the TV's signal search you should have recieved both digital and analogue channels. The digital channels have a dash or dot 1,2,3,4 after the channel number to designate the respective multicasts. )
Some digital channels are still low power and some stations are still experimenting with multicasting.

My remote's dash is down the bottom away from the numbers. Switching channels by punching in the numbers can't be done in the dark and is still a PITA in the day.

[Robert M]

BL,

If I remember correctly, all currently manufactured TVs must have a digital tuner. However, many places still have old models in stock that don't have a digital tuner. They're usually flagged as not having it and often be purchased at serious discounts. They might even be a great bargain if you already have cable TV service and use a cable box for tuning or satellite TV and use a receiver for tuning or a TIVO that has a digital tuning system such as a TIVO HD. No need for a built-in tuner if you have a configuration like that.

Robert