OT - HDTV NTSC/ATSC/QAM
 

OK, I know this is OT, but I'm going crazy surfing google trying to
find a straight answer, and I figure someone in this NG probably knows
the answer.

I'm shopping for an LCD TV. It will be fed via my local cable system. I
do not currently subscribe to digital cable, just the normal analog
stuff on the normal "cable ready" frequencies. I understand that all
analog TV will be going away in a few years so obviously I should buy a
TV that already has built-in digital signal reception capability via
cable input. Some of the TVs on the market have different combinations
of NTSC tuners and/or ATSC tuners and/or QAM tuners. I know ATSC is for
off-the-antenna analog channels, but which built-in tuner(s) must my TV
have to receive the current analog cable channels, the upcoming digital
signals from local stations (presumably available via cable), and any
digital cable channels?

Help!

OT - HDTV NTSC/ATSC/QAM
 

Somebody Somewhere wrote:
cable input. Some of the TVs on the market have different combinations
of NTSC tuners and/or ATSC tuners and/or QAM tuners. I know ATSC is for
off-the-antenna analog channels, but which built-in tuner(s) must my TV
have to receive the current analog cable channels, the upcoming digital
signals from local stations (presumably available via cable), and any
digital cable channels?

ATSC: off-the-antenna *digital* channels. Also works on *some* digital
cable systems.

NTSC: off-the-antenna *analog* channels. Also works with analog cable.
(but not scrambled/premium channels)

QAM: for many (most?) digital cable systems.

If you get a cable box from the cable company then the tuner is
irrelevant - the cable box *is* the tuner. You connect it to the TV
with component or HDMI cables and bypass the TV's tuners altogether.
Likewise for satellite. Though if you have a decent antenna available
you might be able to use off-the-antenna ATSC digital reception for your
locals for better picture quality and to save a few $$$. (you might
also get a few channels that way that aren't on cable)

The end-of-analog mandate applies only to off-the-antenna broadcasts;
cable systems are not required to force all their customers to digital.
I'm sure a NTSC-only TV will work with cable for a long time to come.

ATSC tuners are required by law in newer TVs above a certain screen
size. The mandate is gradually phased in. Eventually *all* new TVs
will be required to have ATSC tuners.

--
Doug Smith W9WI
Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66
http://www.w9wi.com