I just purchased a HDTV -- LCD. I connected my RCA antena (rabbit ears for 20 bucks) and I am able to get the local channels as DTV. is that HD? On the abc one it was showing ABC HD logo?

Also, I have regular cable, so I hooked my coax cable straight to the tv and I am getting a ton of DTV and some DTV HD. For example I am getting Music High Definition (MHD). Is that possible? To get HD tv straight from the cable company's coax cable without a cable/converter box whatsoever?

I just purchased a HDTV -- LCD. I connected my RCA antena (rabbit ears for 20 bucks) and I am able to get the local channels as DTV. is that HD? On the abc one it was showing ABC HD logo?

Also, I have regular cable, so I hooked my coax cable straight to the tv and I am getting a ton of DTV and some DTV HD. For example I am getting Music High Definition (MHD). Is that possible? To get HD tv straight from the cable company's coax cable without a cable/converter box whatsoever?


Sure the cable company could be sending HD in the clear and your set
can pick up QAM. The tuner in your set can pick up Over the Air ATSC 8VSB and Cable ATSC QAM.Your television should be pick up anything sent in the clear over cable even HD if its sent in the clear,ie not encrypted or scrambled.

WOW, really?? that explains it. Cuz I am getting all the local channels, supposedly in HD, but not the good ones like ESPN HD, Discovery HD, etc :)

A friend of mine was saying that there is no way to get HD unless I get special cable box, HD-compatible, and I purchase an HD package from the cable company...

Sure the cable company could be sending HD in the clear and your set can pick up QAM.

This depends on the TV in question; OP didn't denote specifically which set he has, so that's not exactly guaranteed.

The tuner in your set can pick up Over the Air ATSC 8VSB and Cable ATSC QAM.

QAM is not part of the ATSC spec; ATSC only covers 8VSB transmission for OTA. The use of QAM is simply the cable companies settling on one standard transmission method because it suits them.

Your television should be pick up anything sent in the clear over cable even HD if its sent in the clear,ie not encrypted or scrambled.

Again, possibly not; depends on the digital receiver in the TV in question whether or not it'll support QAM, and even then, most channels won't be available via clear QAM (possibly their HD locals - however, there was only one HD local in the clear with my cableco before I got CableCARDs for my TiVo, so they may or may not follow that particular rule).

demonfoo,

My set is the Samsung LN-46A550

Yeah they are going to put the "good channels" on the set top box so you have to buy their "digital tier".

That set has a clear QAM tuner built along with the OTA tuner., heck even the cheapo wal mart crt old style picture tube sets now come with an digital tuner. :P, FCC mandate.

Though the mandate is only for over the air.. but most of these tuner on a chip outfits
handle multiple standards on the same tuner chip.. Even European.

John

OK. So what's the case then, I am viewing HD channels with my coax cable without any box? So far 2 opinions and one is for yes, the other for no. So it is 50:50 :) but out of 2 comments. Anyone else can provide input?

OK. So what's the case then, I am viewing HD channels with my coax cable without any box? So far 2 opinions and one is for yes, the other for no. So it is 50:50 :) but out of 2 comments. Anyone else can provide input?


Well, obviously if you aren't using a set top box provided by the cable
company nor using a "cable card"(a little card that gives access to the
encrypted data from your provider) provided by the cable company,
then your television is QAM cable ready to pick up digital QAM thats
not encrypted. :P

The answer is...
Your TV has an ATSC (antenna) and a QAM (digital cable) tuner. With an antenna, you get what you get based on location, x-mitters, distance and type of antenna.

With an internal QAM tuner, you will receive whatever your cable provider sends "in the clear" (non-encrypted). Typically, only locals, but there are and can be exceptions.

If there are additional digital channels that you desire that are encrypted, you either have to rent a cable box or if your TV has a cablecard slot, rent a cablecard and subscribe to a digital tier of service.

OK. So what's the case then, I am viewing HD channels with my coax cable without any box? So far 2 opinions and one is for yes, the other for no. So it is 50:50 :) but out of 2 comments. Anyone else can provide input?
Well, you ought to know what you see on the screen. If you connect the cable from the cable company, set the input to CATV and you are able to tune in some channels such as, say, 89-23, 105-17, 67-43, etc., it is pretty safe to say that your TV has a QAM tuner in it. By the same token, if you connect a rooftop antenna (or rabbit ears), set the input to ANTENNA and you are able to tune in some of your local channels with a - or . after the main channel number (such as 2-1, 5-3, 7-2, etc.), you can also say that it has an ATSC tuner in it. Who really cares what make and model of TV set you have.

Most cable systems send a minimum of the basic package in the clear. Not the basic digital package, but the digital simulcast of the basic analog package. That includes the local channels in HD If your system sends out more than that, as some do, just enjoy. Don't be too surprised when that comes to an end, though.

Who really cares what make and model of TV set you have.

Everyone? :rolleyes:

It sure does make it easier for those trying to explain if we know what the specs are for the TV.

For example:
HDTV HDTV Tuner Built In
HDTV Native Resolution 1080p
Screen Size (inches) 46
General Features
Aspect Ratio 16:9
Contrast Ratio 30,000:1
Refresh Frequency 60 Hz
Resolution 1920 x 1080
Viewing Angle 178 degrees Vertical, 178 degrees Horizontal
Compatible Formats 1080p
Remote Control Included
Tuner QAM, NTSC, ATSC

Everyone? :rolleyes:

It sure does make it easier for those trying to explain if we know what the specs are for the TV.


The OP wrote "I connected my RCA antena (rabbit ears for 20 bucks) and I am able to get the local channels as DTV. is that HD? On the abc one it was showing ABC HD logo?

Also, I have regular cable, so I hooked my coax cable straight to the tv and I am getting a ton of DTV and some DTV HD. For example I am getting Music High Definition (MHD)."

Why do we need a piece of paper (spec sheet) to tell him that what he sees actually exists. If the spec sheet neglected to list an ATSC tuner, would we tell him that when he connects his $20 rabbit ears and sees broadcast DTV channels they really don't exist because an ATSC tuner isn't listed?

Because it helps "us" to help him.
It's really a lot easier to have specifics to try to assist.
Why is that a problem?

Because it helps "us" to help him.
It's really a lot easier to have specifics to try to assist.
Why is that a problem?

THANKS! Ratman

Because it helps "us" to help him.
It's really a lot easier to have specifics to try to assist.
Why is that a problem?
Oh, good heavens. Who said anything about a problem?

Somebody connects an antenna to a TV set and they get a bunch of digital channels. Doesn't matter if it is a Mitsubishi, Hitachi, Sony, Samsung, or whatever. They get a bunch of digital channels. Why does the manufacturer need to be known and consulted to find out if it has an ATSC tuner in it?

Same thing with a cable connection. If it's connected and there are a bunch of digital channels, why does the manufacturer need to be known and consulted to find out if it has an QAM tuner in it?

The OP didn't ask "How do I do this," or "Can I do that?" He wrote what he did and the results. Quite obviously his TV set has digital capabilities.

Because sometimes those trying to help can be misled due to the poster's lack of accurate/concise info and the respondants assumptions.

It's just easier to "show your cards" to see the winning hand. ;)

I still don't understand why asking the make/model# of the posters TV requires such a debate. It doesn't hurt whatsoever... only helps IMHO.

Because sometimes those trying to help can be misled due to the poster's lack of accurate/concise info and the respondants assumptions.

It's just easier to "show your cards" to see the winning hand. ;)

I still don't understand why asking the make/model# of the posters TV requires such a debate. It doesn't hurt whatsoever... only helps IMHO.
Fair enough. ;)