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11-12-2008, 09:28 PM
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#1 | | Director
Name: George City: Oxford State: NC County: Granville Join Date: Jul 2005 Age: 69 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.84 over 180 days |
I know that after Mar 1, 2007 all new TV's had to be equipped with digital tuners. I know that dealers could sell older inventory non-digital tuner TV's after that date if they were so labeled on the sales floor.
However, my question is: if a TV has a remote, digital channel read-out, and push button channel entry on the TV proper, is it a digital tuner? As 'vs' an older set that has the rotary dial tuner with the channel numbers on the dial which is a given that it is analog. Or, can it have the digital read-out, the remote, and the push buttons on the TV proper, and still be an analog tuner?
Reason for the question is that I have a couple of pre-2007 TV's that have digital controls and don't know if they have digital tuners or not.
George
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11-12-2008, 09:34 PM
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#2 |
Name: jeff... City: Stovall State: NC County: Granville Join Date: Mar 2006 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.81 over 180 days |
Originally Posted by gator  I know that after Mar 1, 2007 all new TV's had to be equipped with digital tuners. I know that dealers could sell older inventory non-digital tuner TV's after that date if they were so labeled on the sales floor.
However, my question is: if a TV has a remote, digital channel read-out, and push button channel entry on the TV proper, is it a digital tuner? As 'vs' an older set that has the rotary dial tuner with the channel numbers on the dial which is a given that it is analog. Or, can it have the digital read-out, the remote, and the push buttons on the TV proper, and still be an analog tuner?
Reason for the question is that I have a couple of pre-2007 TV's that have digital controls and don't know if they have digital tuners or not.
George Easy answer to a complex problem - if the TV stops working - unplug it and drop it into the garbage. That's really where it belongs anyways cause that's all it spews when it's working.
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11-12-2008, 09:54 PM
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#3 | | Webmaster
Director
Name: DaveO City: Clayton State: NC County: Johnston Join Date: Aug 2005 Age: 38 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 7.00 over 180 days |
George, I would think that a TV set with digital display would be modern enough to have a digital tuner, but it is no guarantee or litmus test. The only information I can find on how to determine if your TV has a digital tuner is this -
As for how to determine whether your television equipment purchased prior to May 25, 2007 is a DTV, many DTVs and digital television equipment will have labels or markings on them, or statements in the informational materials that came with them, to indicate that they contain digital tuners. These labels or markings may contain the words “Integrated Digital Tuner” or “Digital Tuner Built-In.” “Receiver” may be substituted for “Tuner,” and “DTV,” “ATSC,” or “HDTV” (high definition television) may be substituted for “Digital.” If your television equipment contains any of these labels or markings, you should be able to view digital over-the-air programming without the need for a digital-to-analog converter box. (Remember, you do not need an HDTV to view free over-the-air digital programming. As long as your television equipment contains a digital tuner, you can view over-the-air digital. An HDTV is only necessary if you want to view digital programming in “high definition.”)
I am really surprised that with all the information out there about why the signal change is being made and where you can get a converter box, that there is very little information out there to help you determine if your TV set is digital or analog. 
I do agree with Jeff... a little. The proof will be in the puddin' soon. Once the transition to all digital is made, if your TVs don't work then it is time to get the converter box for them.
Dave 
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Honestly Honey, that will cost around $100 $150 $200, and I need a few more tools. 
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11-12-2008, 10:04 PM
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#4 |
Name: jeff... City: Stovall State: NC County: Granville Join Date: Mar 2006 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.81 over 180 days |
Dave really does bring up some good points, even though they are intriguing to ponder and all... Nothing beats a good ole hammer to permanently fix what is broken 
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11-12-2008, 10:57 PM
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#5 |
Name: Kevin City: Davidson State: NC County: Cabarrus Join Date: Sep 2008 Age: 32 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.89 over 129 days |
Part of the reason that you don't find a lot of information on them is they wanted people to be confused and uneducated so they could bump up sales prior to the change over making people think they needed a new HDTV to be able to watch TV in February. As Dave said just look on your TV and make sure it has one of those labels and you should be good. I would hazzard a guess that if it is Pre 07 you might be p okay I guess it just depends on how Pre 07 it is.
If it isn't compatible the boxes are really tiny and I don't think they cost more than about $40.
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Kevin
Davidson, NC
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11-12-2008, 11:28 PM
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#6 |
Name: RAS City: Pikeville State: NC County: Wayne Join Date: Dec 2005 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.88 over 180 days |
there is a way to find out
you can look up the set's model number on the manufacturer's Web site.
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Earl
"If you want to learn how to build a house, build a house.
Don't ask anybody, just build a house."
"Oland tool, better than a bowl gouge, a lot cheaper to make." Darrell Feltmate around the woods
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11-12-2008, 11:30 PM
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#7 |
Name: Mark City: Fuquay Varina State: NC County: Wake Join Date: Nov 2005 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 5.44 over 180 days |
George - a digital user interface (UI) is no indication of a digital tuner. You need to check your owner's manual.
The TV industry generally went to a digital style UI back in the early '90s - long before broadcast HD was a twinkle in the FCC's eye.
You know that you can get $40 off an external digital tuner, right ? http://dtvfacts.com/82/how-do-i-get-...ubsidy-coupon/
-Mark | |
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11-12-2008, 11:42 PM
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#8 |
Name: John City: Garner State: NC County: Wake Join Date: Jan 2006 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.22 over 180 days |
One way to tell is if the remote has a "." on it. Digital channels are like 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, etc. (That is WRAL channel 5 out of Raleigh). If it does -- try tuning to those channel and see what happens (ie if you have a channel 28 try 28.1)
BTW if you have cable TV or satellite, it doesn't matter. You will still be able to get the programming from those without having to buy anything. If you use an antennae to get programming and your TV is not digital you can get a coupon from the government for $40 off two digital tuners each. The cheapest run about $40.
Hope that helps
John | |
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11-14-2008, 09:51 AM
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#9 | | Director
Name: George City: Oxford State: NC County: Granville Join Date: Jul 2005 Age: 69 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.84 over 180 days |
Originally Posted by mkepke George - a digital user interface (UI) is no indication of a digital tuner. You need to check your owner's manual.
The TV industry generally went to a digital style UI back in the early '90s - long before broadcast HD was a twinkle in the FCC's eye.
You know that you can get $40 off an external digital tuner, right ? http://dtvfacts.com/82/how-do-i-get-...ubsidy-coupon/
-Mark This is the part I wasn't sure about. Two out of five need a converter. Reason for asking is that the coupon is only good for 90 days after you get it and you can't go back and get more (limit is two per address) or get them again (don't know how they track that though). I didn't want to get a couple and then not use them right away and miss out on the coupon deal.
George
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11-14-2008, 10:12 AM
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#10 |
Name: Andy City: Cary State: NC County: Wake Join Date: Mar 2008 Age: 50 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.03 over 180 days |
I got the coupons and then found tuners online for $40.01. I had to pay shipping, but I sold one of the tuners for $13 to cover shipping. I just wanted to have one to see what it was about; I don't need it since we have cable. I hooked one up and it is very different than "regular" TV; more like cable. It will find the stations and show you what's coming on and when on a menu. I played with it for only a few minutes and since loaned it indefinitely to a neighbor who is dropping cable. With rabbit ears, I was getting about 15 stations, but not enough variety to consider dropping cable (I rarely watch TV, but the wife and kids watch a lot of stations that don't broadcast). | |
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11-14-2008, 10:23 AM
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#11 |
Name: Ray City: Raleigh State: NC County: Wake Join Date: Dec 2007 Age: 70 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.38 over 180 days |
Tiger Direct (local retail store in Raleigh, same strip mall as Klingspor) has a $40.01 sale on converter boxes. With the DTV coupon you get the box for $0.01 (so their e-mail says). Getting it at local store should avoid shipping charges. HTH 
Ray | |
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11-14-2008, 10:36 AM
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#12 |
Name: Andy City: Cary State: NC County: Wake Join Date: Mar 2008 Age: 50 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.03 over 180 days |
At the time I got mine, there was a news story running about people being unable to find the low priced ones locally, so I went straight to the net. | |
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11-14-2008, 12:07 PM
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#13 | | Director
Name: George City: Oxford State: NC County: Granville Join Date: Jul 2005 Age: 69 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.84 over 180 days |
Originally Posted by AndyBarnhart I just wanted to have one to see what it was about; I don't need it since we have cable. I hooked one up and it is very different than "regular" TV; more like cable. Actually, I have cable also, but, when we had that bad ice storm a few years ago I was without power and cable for 11 days. We existed on a small generator and a set of rabbit ears (as well as propane camp equipment such as stove and lanterns that we have on hand). The boxes would only be for emergency use.
George
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12-09-2008, 02:55 PM
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#14 |
Name: Ray City: Raleigh State: NC County: Wake Join Date: Dec 2007 Age: 70 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.38 over 180 days |
Just a follow-up and reminder. If you want to use the $40 coupons you might want to order them. They take a few weeks to arrive. Changeover is in February.
Also, the boxes are available at local retailers. Best Buy has a special for $49. With tax, it works out to about $13. No shipping involved, and you can check it out now and return/swap if there is a problem (no return postage).
I'd sure hate to miss a Nawm rerun after the changeover.  | |
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