Question about HDTV Tuners. BestBuy guy was no help.
 

So I went to Bestbuy asking about HDTV tuners, the sales person was no help, so I am coming to GFY. Hehe

I have a 55 inch Sony TV, that is "HDTV Ready"...Do I need to buy a HDTV tuner to get HDTV? I di a little research on the net, which confuses me because it sais that if the tv is "HDTV ready" then you should be getting HDTV on the channels that are there automatically.

That is wrong, right? I mean I need to buy a HDTV tuner to get HDTV, correct?

Here is what I was looking to buy (if I need to buy one?)

http://shopper.cnet.com/Samsung_SIR_...?tag=pdtl-list

Anything better for the price?

HDTV Ready means that the TV is able to receive HDTV signals. But that doesn't mean you have an HDTV Tuner.

You need one with a Built-in HD tuner.

But even if you have a Built-in HD tuner. You need to be able to receive over the air HDTV signal in your area. Depending on your location, local TV stations are already broadcasting over the air HDTV signals.

If not, well, even if you have a Built-in HD tuner, you won't receive any HDTV signals. Then you will need to subscribe to a cable or satellite company and rent or buy an HDTV receiver to see the HDTV channels.

Oh an please, change your banner. It's giving me a headache.

get it from your cable provider.

this whole thing confuses me too. i was actually wondering about hd ready and an xbox 360. i want a small 32" for the office just for 360 breaks. i'll never watch tv here so that part doesn't concern me so if i can save a few hundred by getting a ready tv that would be nice. so, will a ready tv work with a 360?

HDTV Ready mean you can receive signal in 1080i/p or 720p etc...

Doesnt mean you have a signal!...

Depending on your cable/sattelite provider, you should check out with them...some require an HD Cable box, or HD Sat receiver etc..(my cable company offers the HDTV Cablebox, which I bought at best buy)....but its different for every company....

As for the xbox 360??? Hmm well it is HD.....just hook it up with the component cable and set the switch to HDTV....(and make sure you set it to 1080i on the setting screen of your xbox)....

Fuck getting a stand alone tuner. Just updgrade your cable box or satellite reciever
to a HDTV one and it has a built in tuner. Spend the money on a HD DVR instead. You would still need an antenna to receieve the HD channels. The only reason to do this is if you want over the air free hd channels. The cable or sat providers now have more hd channels and the anntenna would really only help you bring in LOCAL hd. The providers are moving local channels to their lineup so dont bother with the tuner IMHO.

you need a HDTV BOX from the cable or dish company.

A lot of things to consider. Does your new HDTV MONITOR (that's what it really is) have analog inputs or DVI or HDVI added? Your needs can't really be answered in a simple post. You'll have to spend some time on the web looking at what's out there. That and find a good sales tech or someone to explain things to ya. I'd go for more than more than one point of view too. A ton of misinformation comes out of the mouths of sales jerks.

There seems to be only a few sets that come with a tuner. Most people spending a grand+ on HDTV are going to have cable or satellite. Then there is digital cable/satellite that costs a few extra bucks...

Still have to have a HD receiver from your cable provider or like directv/dish network. If it is HD ready for XBOX360 and you have the HD cables for it then that should be ok for that.