What is an ATSC High Definition Tuner ?

An HDTV receiver, sometimes called an HD ATSC decoder or a tuner, is a device that is capable to decode high definition signals making them displayable in HDTV televisions or capable computer display. This devices are able to decode digital HDTV ATSC standards in different formats, decode MPEG-2 compressed signals and come equipped with a variety of features. These features vary depending on the model in question and can range from simple program guides to internal hard drives that allow users to record media from an external source. This equipment allows users to watch On air high definition broadcasts and unencrypted High-Def cable programming commonly transmitted using the QAM modulation format. The real benefit of having a digital HDTV tuner is that allows users to watch free high definition television provided that there are free broadcasts using one of the High Definition ATSC digital Tv  standards in their area. These free sources are most of the time local channels. It is important to know if in fact, the programs you receive through your antenna are transmitted in High-Def or alternatively if you are subscribed to cable services that transmit in HD.

Types of HDTV Tuners

If you are planning to buy a tuner you have lots of options. There is one for every need. You might find them as external set top boxes that look more like a cable box or as USB sticks or PCI cards. These are made with the home theater concept in mind and are made to be connected to a High Definition monitor. Whether its display is either Plasma, LCD or CRT it doesn’t matter, all of these are perfectly suited for this task. Some monitors even come equipped with a built in tuner making the use of an external one unnecessary by all means. You can check if your High-Def Tv set has one built in by looking at the specifications in the box, the manual or the television set itself for any label that says built in, HDTV ready or integrated. They are also available for PCs and are available as either PCI cards or USB sticks turning your computer into a High-Def television set. This in fact is a very good option for those that have a very limited amount of space at their disposal or do not have the money to spend on a new Tv set.

Set Top Boxes

High definition receivers come in all shapes and sizes. Some of them come as set top boxes. A set top box  is an external HDTV tuner that has the appearance of cable television box and is usually packed with a lot of features like DVR (digital video recording) PCM, AC-3, Dolby Prologic 5.1 compatibility. With the current trend of high end HD TV sets having usb connectivity it is not rare to see a set top box with usb ports. Some of them even have the appearance of DSL modem. While they may look better in a home theater than smaller ones, their main function remains the same. They decode HD ATSC signals. Still, set top boxes are mostly used to add HDTV On Air reception to HDTVs that do not have built in decoder. An example of an awesome set top box is the Motorola Dual-Tuner DVR High-Definition Set-Top DCT6412.

The most important  specs that any set top box should have is the ability to decode a broad range of standards and unencrypted QAM signals. Most of them are also backwards compatible with regular SD ATSC standards. Some high end models can even record programs in a built in hard drive. While not many people are very fond of recording programs these feature is appealing to people who are following a television series of do not really want to miss their favorite shows.

A set top box should not be confused with a DTV converter box. DTV converter boxes only decode standard definition digital television and they do not decode any of the HD ATSC standards. If you are worried about the digital television transition to receive on air signals you do not need a tuner. You need a DTV converter which costs around $80 dollars if you do not have a coupon that offers a discount. If you have one then you can get a decoder for almost half the price.

PC Cards and USB Sticks

A digital HDTV tuner for PC receives on air signals or digital cable in high definition ATSC formats and converts that digital data, in a way so the video signals can be viewed on a personal computer. These converters come in either USB or as PCI cards so they can easily be connected to your computer. Apart from watching high definition broadcasts and, some of these tuners permit recording television programs on your computer. But there are some things to remember. These devices like all devices that are made to complement or enhance your computer are depend on the resources that are available by the computer.

The first factor to consider is the computers display resolution. While newer computers are able to display resolutions that are within the demands of high definition, some monitors may not be able to display properly a resolution that is formatted for Widescreen images typical of HDTV televisions leading to a small overall image with huge blocks on the sides of the image. Of course this can be true to monitors that are not Widescreen. If your display happens to be Widescreen the story is different but you may see some smaller blocks above and below the image it all depends on the aspect ratio of the broadcast.

Second, it is important to read specifications on the products that you intend to purchase. How an HDTV PC tuner card performs sometimes depends on computer specs, meaning that you have to check minimum requirements when you are searching for one to see if it would work at its best in your computer. Pay special attention to information regarding CPU, video card and ram. Of the last three the most important one is probably the video card. A video card that cannot support a resolution at a given frame rate will not give the best possible results this is a problem that can show up in old PCs. Note: Some newer digital HDTV tuners for computers work independently from a computer’s video card.

Third, check with your cable service or local broadcasting for high definition listings. In order to watch in high definition you need sources specifically in High definition television formats. Digital Tv does not necessarily mean HD.

If you are subscribed to cable, check that the service is in fact in digital cable, also signals should not be encrypted. Ask for information from your provider, researching before you buy it is a rule of thumb and may even save you some grief in the end.

Which is The Best HDTV PC Tuner?

Which HDTV tuner to buy is subjet to personal preferences. However, the Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-950Q TV Tuner Stick/Personal Video Recorder with Clear QAM is one of the best if not the best USB HDTV tuner for Pc’s around. It sells for almost half the price of other similar tuners from other brands yet, it has better consumer feedback and reviews than products that sell for almost double the price. Some of its many features include: a remote control video recording and cable television connectivity. It is also ATSC QAM ready so it can decode unencrypted high definition cable TV signals. Its USB nature makes perfect for laptop PCs and traveling.

Where Can I Buy a tuner?

There are many places where you can buy one for a good price especially online. You can get good deals at Ebay, Amazon and many high profile merchants. You can also search Sears and other mega stores to compare prices. This way you can determine which product is right for you and get some additional advice to help you choose wisely. You should also consider reviews. You can find a ton of reviews online for mostly every product out there. Sometimes a good product review is all it takes to determine a good product from a bad one, saving you a few hundreds in return.