My parents have an old analog TV in their kitchen that they got the $10 converter box for, but now want to go with a digital TV. Anywho, here's my question. I saw flat screen TVs (15"), which I assume would work with a cable box, like I have for my flat screen. I've also seen 15" digital TVs with a tuner, which I assume just needs to be hooked up to cable without the box. Which would be better, assuming I am right? They couldn't care less about HD, so I'm keeping it as simple as possible. They already have cable on their other TVs, so it's a matter of having the cable company extend the cable to the kitchen. What say you??

 

They will both work with the cable and at 15" I'm sure both will look just fine for a kitchen TV.

 

Hmmm...I'm thinking the TV with the tuner would be cheaper because the cable company charges a monthly fee for the box.

 

Most of our tvs are analog and we just have basic cable (no box). They work fine. If we go with the digital signal and premium channels we'd have to get the box.

 

And Val's analog TVs will continue to work fine as long as they're getting their signal from the cable company. It's only antenna-fed analog TVs that are an issue with this digital conversion business. You don't need a "digital" TV is you're using cable (or a satellite dish). Apparently all of those annoying spots we're seeing about the conversion are aimed exclusively at the 20% of people still using antennas (or whatever the relatively small number is). HPH

 

you need to be aware of the fig leaf here.
The definition of 'cable customers' implies using a cable box to receive the signal and decode it.
There is a question of how long the cable companies will continue to utilize analog transmission. Using a digital encoding method you do get more information onto the line and a substantially better image at the receiver.
The cable companies are not under any obligation that I am aware of to continue to pass analog channels on their wire. When it becomes convenient for them to cease, they can and will. I have an analog set in my workout area with a cable box and I have observed that comcast has been shifting more and more channels into the digital space.


As a side note about the converter boxes.
We we're in Vermont at my in-laws summer place for thanksgiving.
He had bought the converter boxes and we hooked them up with rabbit ears. previously he got 4 or 5 channels of very snowy reception.
With the digital receiver, they now get 12 crystal clear channels.
It was my first experience with broadcast digital and I have to say I was very impressed.

We get cable so for giggles I decided to try it with my digital ready TV here at home last night.
We live behind a big hill.
We got two, count 'em with me, one...two, two channels.
I'm thinking I'll probably be staying with cable.

 

That is absolutely true. There was some grumbling in Congress, but that's all it's been. Verizon went to an all digital format on July 1. They were nice enough to provide "at no charge" a digital converter for all TVs that were using an analog only input. (I got 2) My understanding is that Comcast is soon to follow with the removal of analog signals, but I am not sure exactly when. I have no idea on Time Warner, Charter, etc. (I have been out of the business a bit too long at this time)

The analog channels take up a lot of bandwidth space, that the cable companies can use for more HD channels, which is of course a better money maker.

 

I watch TV, and we like some of the cable channels, HGTV, Discover, History (the last two for Rick), but I don't really care about TV. I absolutely hate paying what we pay to the cable company to watch TV. We are now at $57.00/month for extended cable, no cable box and no premium channels.

Down the line, if they force us into the digital stuff, we may go back to rabbit ears and the converter box.

I'd rather hang out with you folks than watch TV anyway.

 

Springsteen perhaps said it best, '57 channels and nothing on"

 

I just bought a 15" flat screen TV for my kitchen. It is on an antenna and picks up broadcast digital signals perfectly. It is a Westinghouse (There are not many small TV's out there). I got it at Sam's Club for about $180