How To Get HDTV Over the
Air!-(overview)
Using Your Old TV!
click here for part 1 - simple steps
click here for part 2 - detailed procedures
Learn the Basics of Digital Television and HDTV In Ten Minutes!
First, Some Background
This section describes in simple terms how to receive HDTV signals over the air. It is designed primarily for those with an old TV, or any analog TV. Realize that some of that
programming will be broadcast in HDTV and some will be broadcast at a lower resolution, but after February 17, 2009, it will all be
Digital Television or DTV (Digital TV).
If you can get local over the air programming, you don't need to pay the cable or satellite TV companies for
it. In this section, when I talk about "your old TV," I am referring to an analog TV, not an HDTV set, or an HDTV
ready monitor. An HD Ready or HDTV Ready monitor is a monitor that does not have a built in
digital tuner (also referred to as an ATSC tuner). These displays must be connected to an external digital tuner. The set
top box provided by the cable company or satellite TV company is an example. If all this is just a bit much to absorb, check back soon for a new site I'm developing that will explain more about HDTV and DTV
in plain English terms.
Why Should I Care About Digital TV?
If you are not sure why you should even bother to try to receive
HDTV or any digital programming because you are totally satisfied with your rabbit ears and the signal you have now... well, it's basically
because TV stations will stop broadcasting analog TV signals over the air after February 17,
2009! Unless you do something before then, you will be watching snow on your TV come February 18, 2009! Who knows, there may be a
market for that - "all snow, all the time!"
Just to make sure you understand the limitations of keeping your old TV, be sure to check out the
HDTV In Plain English page.
Okay.. let's get back on track...
Click one of the links below to see how to get HDTV over the air with your analog TV.
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