ISO Advice on older HD-Ready LCD TV

[RKelly]

I am getting a very nice hand me down from my parents who have decided to go plasma. They are giving me their Panasonic PT-45LC12 LCD tv. When looking at the specs online, it appears it is a HD-Ready tv, but does not have the tuner. For now I only use basic cable, and I have an Olevia 532H LCD which has a built in HDTV tuner. I have grown fond of watching local channels in HD, along with a few other digital stations I never got before. So with the Panasonic tv, how can I have the same? I am not very knowledgable on HD tuners, etc. I would really like to avoid having to pay the cable company for an upgrade in service (they gouge me enough) and am happy enough with only local stations in HD. Do I need to buy a HD-tuner? Opinions on good ones, cheap prices, etc? What can I do? Thanks.

[zzyzzx]

DVD Recorders and DVD Recorders w VHS combo units that have built in HD tuners are just hitting the market now. Get one and use that as the tuner. You need to be able to accept a HDMI input. Don't get the LG ones since they only output SDTV.

[edDV]

To work with cable, the digital tuner must support QAM. ATSC will only work for an over the air antenna.

Most cable systems have the local digital stations QAM tunable without encryption including HD. AVS is a good forum to get tuner reviews and specific tuning information for your local market.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=25
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=179095
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=45

[RKelly]

Would something like this work? http://www.acortech.com/RJ_Tech_RJ-1000_ATSC_HD_Digital/RJ1000/partinfo-id-3222772.html Would this allow me to plug in my coaxial cable, get my regular cable channels plus the HD/digital channels (and show them in HD)? I went to 5 electronic stores today, nobody carried anything or offered any solutions. Thanks again for your input.

[Webster]

I am getting a very nice hand me down from my parents who have decided to go plasma. They are giving me their Panasonic PT-45LC12 LCD tv. When looking at the specs online, it appears it is a HD-Ready tv, but does not have the tuner. For now I only use basic cable, and I have an Olevia 532H LCD which has a built in HDTV tuner. I have grown fond of watching local channels in HD, along with a few other digital stations I never got before. So with the Panasonic tv, how can I have the same? I am not very knowledgable on HD tuners, etc. I would really like to avoid having to pay the cable company for an upgrade in service (they gouge me enough) and am happy enough with only local stations in HD. Do I need to buy a HD-tuner? Opinions on good ones, cheap prices, etc? What can I do? Thanks.

Go to ebay and pick up a VOOM receiver and connect it to an antenna. It's is cheaper than getting a HD tuner. But make sure you get one that already activated with card otherwise, it will not work.

[edDV]

Would something like this work? http://www.acortech.com/RJ_Tech_RJ-1000_ATSC_HD_Digital/RJ1000/partinfo-id-3222772.html Would this allow me to plug in my coaxial cable, get my regular cable channels plus the HD/digital channels (and show them in HD)? I went to 5 electronic stores today, nobody carried anything or offered any solutions. Thanks again for your input.

Yes it has QAM capability but I'd check the reviews first. These tuners can still be quirky. Better to learn from other's experiences to save grief. Check AVS.

Keep in mind that these boxes are in the $150-250 range now but within a year they will be down to $40-80 with gov't rebates of $40. This box may be a bargain or not. I expect there will be tons of junk released in the next year since about 150 million will be sold in 2008-09.