HDTV cmpatibility Bought this set secondhand, great tv but does it have a digital aqnd analog tuner set up? can't seem to get a simple answer! Very frustrated! Thanks, Doug

Depending largely on the age of the TV, the location of the TV tuner varies. An older analog TV tapping a digital signal does so with an external DTV converter box. For cable and satellite subscribers, there is a a set top box. Most TVs purchased after March 2007 have built-in digital tuners. Look on the front and back of the TV for a marking that indicates a digital tuner. It may say ATSC, DTV, HDTV, Digital Ready, HD Ready, Digital Tuner, Digital Receiver, Digital Tuner Built-in or Integrated Digital Tuner. Any of these is an indication that the TV has a built-in digital tuner. You may have to go to the manufacturer's site to determine such specifications. If you are having a problem with a tv switching channels, remedies may be rather specific and you might try googling for a specific model while including the problem in a simple phrase.

Dominic, you do not state whether you want large outdoor antenna or simple indoor.
If you bought your HDTV anytime during the past 8 years or so, it should have a built-in tuner for receiving digital over-the-air broadcasts. If you have an older "HDTV-ready" TV that only receives analog signals, you'll need to connect it to a separate HDTV tuner.
link below tells how to install outdoor digital TV antenna.
press the helpful button.
How to Install Digital TV Antenna Digital TV Help

The TV will provide an HD picture with a set top box connected to the HD input (AV4 or AV5). It does not have a digital tuner (only a NTSC analog tuner).

The manual is available here: http://download.p4c.philips.com/files/5/51pw9303/51pw9303_dfu_aen.pdf . See appendix B on page 58 for the specifications.

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells

Your Hitachi 51UWX20B is an HDTV-Ready TV. No Digital Tuner. HDTV-Ready means that your TV set is capable of displaying analog and high-definition digital pictures, but without a digital tuner, it cannot receive the digital signal. An HDTV-Ready requires an external high-definition TV receiver (digital tuner) in order to receive HDTV signals. These external receivers can be called an HDTV Tuner, set-top-box, decoder or DTV Converter Box . So you will be required to purchase a converter box to receive over the air programming from an external antenna.

Bought a conversion box!!

Going to the following link will help you to find out if your television is DTV ready or not:

http://www.dtvtransition.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=51&Itemid=94

Using their online tool, select the Brand (Akai) and the Model from the list. If you cannot find your model in the list (which I was not able to for your television), they are saying that you most likely do not have a digital tuner.

All is not lost, however. As stated on the aforementioned site, you can consider one of the following options:

Purchase a digital-to-analog converter box that plugs into an existing television. The boxes, which are expected to cost between $40 - 70 will be available for purchase in 2008. Beginning in February 2008, U.S. households can request up to two coupons valued at $40 each. Each coupon can go toward the purchase of a single set-top converter box that will allow you to continue watching FREE "over-the-air" television on an analog set.

Subscribe to a cable, satellite or telecommunications service provider if all desired local broadcast stations are carried by that service.

Purchase a new television set with a built in digital tuner.

Listed on the page is further information that may help you to determine the status of your TV:

Consult your owner's manual. If that's not possible, you may be able to look up information about your TV set on the manufacturer's website. Or, you can take an up-close look at your TV set. You are trying to find out if your set has an input connection labeled "digital input" or "ATSC" (for Advanced Television Systems Committee, which is developing the DTV format).

If you bought your TV set before 1998, it probably doesn't have a digital tuner at all. Almost every TV set made before 1998 was a traditional "analog" set that can't display digital TV signals without either a special converter or a cable TV connection. If you bought a big-screen, projection TV between 1998 and 2004, it's possible there's a built-in digital tuner inside. But chances aren't great. Only a limited percentage of projection TV sets (and generally only those 42 inches in diameter or larger) included digital tuners before 2004.

If you've purchased a new TV set since 2004, your chances of having a built-in digital tuner improve dramatically. Starting in 2004, many of the TV sets sold at popular electronics stores have featured digital tuners that will let you receive the new digital over-the-air broadcasts starting in February 2009. But be wary: It's not a sure thing. Even some of the newer TV sets are purely display monitors that lack the internal circuitry needed to pick up digital broadcasts. Usually these sets have been advertised as "HD-ready" or "HDTV monitor" sets. That means they can display digital and high-definition signals, but they need help getting those signals in the first place. You'll still need a special converter or a cable TV connection.

Just to make sure, you do have analog tuners setup right?  Media Center 2005 requires analog tuners be working before digital tuners are allowed.

https://www.dtv2009.gov/FAQ.aspx What you need to know is whether your TV set has something called a “digital tuner” already built in. If it does, your TV set will work after February 17, 2009. The best way to determine whether your TV set has a digital tuner built in is to consult your owner’s manual. If that’s not possible, you may be able to look up information about your TV set on the manufacturer’s website. Or, you can take an up-close look at your TV set. In any case, you’re trying to find out if your set has an input connection labeled “digital input” or “ATSC” (for Advanced Television Systems Committee, which is the DTV format).

Here are some general guidelines that may help:

TV set made before 1998 was a traditional “analog” set. If you bought a big-screen, projection TV between 1998 and 2004, it may have a built-in digital tuner inside. But chances aren’t great. Only a limited percentage of projection TV sets (and generally only those 42 inches in diameter or larger) included digital tuners before 2004.

If you purchased a new TV set since 2004, your chances of having a built-in digital tuner improve dramatically. Starting in 2004, many of the TV sets sold at popular electronics stores feature digital tuners that will work after February 17, 2009. But it’s not a sure thing. Even some of the newer TV sets are purely display monitors that lack the internal circuitry needed to pick up digital broadcasts. Usually these sets have been advertised as “HD-ready” or “HDTV monitor” sets. That means they can display digital and high-definition signals, but they need help getting those signals in the first place. You’ll still need a special converter or a cable TV connection. Hope this info above helps. Also, check your manual, and if you don't have it some manufacturers, (Philips does for some models) offer the manual on their websites.

https://www.dtv2009.gov/ApplyCoupon.aspx

What is the digital television transition?
At midnight on February 17, 2009, all full-power television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting in analog and switch to 100% digital broadcasting. Digital broadcasting promises to provide a clearer picture and more programming options and will free up airwaves for use by emergency responders.
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