Does this TV have ATSC digital capability or will I need a digital tuner to use a digital antenna?

It really depends upon your TV. If your TV is newer and has an ATSC tuner in it, then no - you'll just need the antenna. However, if your TV is older and doesn't have an ATSC tuner, you'll need an external tuner, what you're calling digital convertor, and an antenna to get the local channels. Use Google or another search engine to find the specifications for your TV to see if it has an ATSC tuner. Or, connect an antenna to your TV, run the channel scan (off-air antenna mode) to see if you get any local channels. If you don't, you'll need the external tuner.

I’m happy to assist further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/daren_80e8def41854e57e

It really depends upon your TV. If your TV is newer and has an ATSC tuner in it, then no - you'll just need the antenna. However, if your TV is older and doesn't have an ATSC tuner, you'll need an external tuner, what you're calling digital convertor, and an antenna to get the local channels. Use Google or another search engine to find the specifications for your TV to see if it has an ATSC tuner. Or, connect an antenna to your TV, run the channel scan (off-air antenna mode) to see if you get any local channels. If you don't, you'll need the external tuner.

I’m happy to assist further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/daren_80e8def41854e57e

Looks like you'll need a converter.

Here's some background info:


Analog TVs were made up until 2007.

Digital tuners for over the air signals are called "ATSC tuners".

To tell if your TV has one:

-If the TV was sold as a "HDTV" or "DTV", it's supposed to have an ATSC tuner built in to it. "HD ready TVs" do not have a digital tuner.

-Check the specs in the owners manual or google the make & model of the TV to see if it has an ATSC tuner.

-If your TV's menu has an option for scaning for digital channels, then it has an ATSC tuner. If it dosen't have a way to scan for digital channels, then it doesn't have a digial tuner.

Most DTVs also have a digital QAM tuner that is used in some (but not all) cable systems.

The Insignia NS-PDP42 Plasma HDTV has a built in ATSC/NTSC/QAM tuner.

In short, yes, it does have a digital converter built in, but you will need a antenna capable of receiving digital broadcasts. You can find these at Walmart for $15 to $60.

Your cable system is probably QAM (digital cable). The tuners built into the TV are analog and digital OTA tuners (ATSC and NTSC). If you connect the Cablevision box to the component video input (and connect the audio out of the box to the appropriate audio in) on the TV and an appropriate antenna to the coax (antenna) input, you will be able to swap use the tuners in the TV. (See tvfool.com for antenna types and direction or antennaweb.org for directions of the most likely stations to be received at your location. antennaweb assumes an external antenna and is conservative in the list it provides.)

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells
(please note, you probably need to get the component video cables. These have 3 RCA plugs on each end (red, green and blue). To carry the audio you need a cable with 2 RCA plugs on each end (red and white). Match the colors as you connect them.)

Before scanning for channel, check to see if the Antenna input is set to Cable or Antenna. If you have rabbit ears or and outside antenna then set it to antenna. If you have cable then set it to cable. Then rescan for channels. If this has already been set then the next step is to check the antenna or cable feed. If possible plug the antenna or cable feed into another TV that is known to be working correctly. If it is capable of receiving digital channels then the problem is likely the Samsungs ATSC tuner and will require service.
If neither TV is getting Digital channels then I will need more info on your antenna setup and where you are located. I am a pro on TV antennas and reception.
Hope this helps
Have a great Day

Lets get started. First the TV you have does not have the new ATSC digital tuner built in. It uses the old NTSC tuner. You might find a few stations, however most major networks have gone Digital because the maximum power for NTSC is limited to 1000 watts. ATSC is the new digital standard for broadcasting both High Definition programs as well as standard definitions programs. So you will need a Digital converter box. They sell them at Radio Shack for around $60. You can get one on ebay for around $25. You will also need and antenna. A good old set of rabbit ears will work fine if you not to far (less than 25 miles) from the transmission towers. If your out in a rural area (greater than 25 miles from the tower) you may want to consider and outdoor antenna. Antennas Direct is a great source for antennas.
http://www.antennasdirect.com/
You can also get help estimating what kind of antenna you need at this web site:
http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Address.aspx

However you may want to consider buying a new TV which will have a new ATSC tuner built in. You will still need and antenna.
Hope this helps.

I have the same exact model tv...Love it...ATSC tuners is in definition an Analog tuner. As the broadcasting companies change over to Digital broadcasting before the deadline in Febuary 2009 more and more local or Non-Digital chanels are becoming obsolete. You would have to purchase a converter box for your tv if your not planning on getting cable. Another way to gois if you have an old cable line running through you house (no incomming cable) plug you tv into that jack. That also acts as a antenna. The sweet part of all this is that your tv do have a QAM tuner or Digital tuner built in just need that digital antenna to pair it up.

Hello frogman,

The freezing of the picture denotes a loss of signal on a digital (Having a ATSC tuner) TV. If your TV is not digital (Having a ATSC tuner) then it is the device that you have connected to the TV (Cable Set-top Box, DTV Tuner, etc). In the likelihood that it is your TV I would suggest getting a better antenna first if that does not fix the problem you may have a tuner problem. However lets not look at it that way first. What we need to do is to determine if it is the TV of whatever you have connected to the TV.
First unhook the connection you have from the cable to your F connector of the TV (you should see snow or a blank screen) connect a antenna to the F connector of the TV, do you see a snowy picture or a clear sharp picture (snowy= NTSC tuner, clear-sharp= ATSC tuner). If the tuner is NTSC then check you cable device and the connection between your TV and the device and the cabling between the device and the wall. If the Tuner is ATSC then you will have to check all of your connections, and finally if the tuner is bad it has to be replaced by a qualified Tv repair shop.

I hope this helps,

Thank you,

Shuttle83

If you have cable TV, satellite TV, or FIOS, the coupon eligible converter boxes aren't needed and aren't useful with those services.
They gov't coupon converter boxes are only good for reception with a regular TV antenna or rabbit ears.

According to the specs on epinions.com, no, this TV does not have a digital tuner. So, if you use a rooftop TV antenna (not satellite dish) or an indoor TV antenna, you WILL need an ATSC to NTSC converter box. You need not wait until next year, however, as most U.S. TV stations are also broadcasting digital (ATSC) now.