Monitor/Television

[maxxcorp]

What is the difference between an HDTV Television and an HDTV Monitor? I don't mean a computer monitor... Some companies refer to thier "viewing boxes" as Monitor/Television

Thanks

Maxx

[Roundabout]

I'm not 100% sure of this definition, but my understanding is that a monitor usually doesn't have a tuner incorporated into it. A Television would have a tuner. There may be TV's that can act as a monitor, as they have composite signal or other inputs, but a monitor alone would need a tuner box in order to be used as a television.

I think this would be true whether the unit was HD or not.

That's my understanding of this, I could be wrong

[maxxcorp]

That's what I was thinking until one "monitor" I saw said it included and NTSC analog tuner... It's hard to tell these days... Was looking at the plasma monitors at best buy and the salesperson told me that monitors don't include speakers... Well... some of the HDTV monitors did... hmmm...

Maxx

[Roundabout]

Which probably means that there is no "strict" definition of the word Monitor as it applies to what we are talking about here. So you just have to ask if the "monitor" includes/excludes the features you need or don't need.

[Hardcoreruss]

I'm not 100% sure of this definition, but my understanding is that a monitor usually doesn't have a tuner incorporated into it. A Television would have a tuner. There may be TV's that can act as a monitor, as they have composite signal or other inputs, but a monitor alone would need a tuner box in order to be used as a television.

I think this would be true whether the unit was HD or not.

That's my understanding of this, I could be wrong

Be 100%, you are correct.

[maxxcorp]

ok, then my next guess would be that the one including the NTSC analog tuner would also need an HDTV tuner to get HD... and obviously HD input from whatever provider... ?

Thanks for the feedback,

Maxx

[flaninacupboard]

yep, i understand monitor to mean display device with SCART/composite input, but no tuner.

perhaps they are calling them a monitor if they have DVI or VGA inputs?

[gshelley61]

There are HD monitors, "HD Ready" TV sets, and HDTV's.

HD monitors have neither a standard NTSC or a ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) tuner in them... all video signals must be supplied to the display from an outside source. "HD Ready" televisions are what you mostly encounter at the stores these days... they have the standard NTSC tuner, but no internal ATSC tuner; however, like an HD monitor they can accept HD signals from an outside source. HDTV's, technically speaking, should have both types of tuners built in.

An interesting side note is that the vast majority of so-called HD monitors, HD Ready TV's and HDTV's cannot actually display the full resolution of both HD signal standards, 1280x720p and 1920x1080i. You will see the HDTV 1080i logo on lots of sets that don't have anywhere near that capability... what is actually being referred to with that logo is that the display can accept a 1080i signal, that's all.

I have a Samsung 46" DLP "HD Ready" television with a native fixed display resolution of 1280x720p, so it does fully resolve one of the two HD standards. 1080i signals are downconverted to 1280x720p with a built in Faroudja scaler. There are only a handful of displays (excluding some upper-end widescreen computer monitors) that are 1920x1080 native, but there are more in development right now. In fact, the next big thing will be 1920x1080p displays (that's right, 1080i signals deinterlaced!).

Oh, yeah - I have Time Warner HD cable and a Bravo D1 (DVI output) upscaling DVD player set to 1280x720p. You can also get HD signals fom all the satellite services and some local over-the-air broadcasters (if they are transmitting HD signals in your area).

[DVD_Ripper]

Can't wait until the price of combo units come down (monitor 1280x1k) with built in tuner.... I will put in on a pull out shelf and when I want watch TV I can sit in my easy chair, pull the TV out and use the remove with a cup of joe.

[Doramius]

Monitors are lacking tuning requirements. If it says it's a HD Monitor, it has some sort of input to connect to a tuner and/or computer, like DVI or other type of component connection. It could have an analog tuner, but would be "considered" an HD monitor/analong TV

HDTV would be a complete HD tuner and HD monitor. I know HDTV's without speakers and they aren't monitors. They have connections in the back for speakers in case you want to connect it to your computer using the computer speakers, or just plain have your own sound system. They have connection for the speakers though.