Hitachi 43FWX20B ATSC Tuner

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.

I'd need the model number to tell if the RCA TV has a digital (ATSC) or analog (NTSC) tuner. The mandate for inclusion of the ATSC tuner depended on the size of the TV and the year of manufacture. Small (<25" diagonal) TVs didn't need to have an ATSC tuner when they were built until 2007. The older TVs could still be sold with a "cable-ready" or similar NTSC only label. (The 32"+ TVs had to have the ATSC tuners in 2005 and the mid-size TVs had to have the digital tuners in 2006.)

For example the 27F530T was manufactured in 2003 and only has a NTSC tuner. However, the 20F424T was manufactured in 2008 and does have an ATSC tuner.

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells

Which model do you have? The ATSC tuners were required in 42" TVs starting in the middle of 2005. Some Hitachi 42" TVs built before that date have an ATSC tuner but other models do not. The ones that didn't were usually called HD-ready TVs. For those models, you need a set-top box to receive OTA signals (except for some low power stations that continue to broadcast an analog signal).

If you provide your model number, I'll try to confirm the tuner information. If you look at the model information plaque on the back of the TV, you will see some information about when the unit was manufactured. If it was built in 2006 or later, you can be sure that the unit has a digital tuner.

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells

The iLo IWT3206 TV provides two built-in -- or integrated -- TV tuners: a National Television System Committee (NTSC) tuner and an Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) tuner.
While the NTSC tuner allows iLo IWT3206-viewers to receive analog, free-to-air TV broadcasts, the ATSC tuner allows viewers to receive digital TV broadcasts via a cable or satellite provider.
The benefit of having an integrated ATSC tuner is that it negates the need for a separate cable box or satellite receiver, which can take up space.

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.

Direct from the Hitachi website - "Integrated HDTV Tuners: Hitachi's new top-of-the-line XWX series features built-in ATSC terrestrial and cable HDTV tuners to provide integrated high resolution, high-definition signal decoding." You will need a seperate HDTV tuner if you do not have cable or satellite and want to watch off-air High Definition channels.

It's analog.  You need to purchase a digital receiver.  I personally have a USB external digital tuner running in Media Center 2005.  Search Ebay for "ATSC usb".  There's a lot of different options and most of them are pretty inexpensive.  To use a digital tuner in Media Center 2005, you have to leave the analog tuner / tuners in also.  You should still be able to use your current remote control with the new digital tuner.

if there is a label on the tv stating any of these words “Integrated Digital Tuner,” “Digital Tuner Built-In,” “Digital Receiver,” or “Digital Tuner,” “DTV,” “ATSC,” or “HDTV” then yes
if they say “Digital Monitor” or “HDTV Monitor,” or as “Digital Ready” or “HDTV Ready" then no

You need to have a set top box.

By law, as of March 1, 2007, almost all televisions should include a built-in tuner (called HDTV, digital, or ATSC tuners) that can receive high-definition programs over the air by simply connecting an antenna. Your HDTV doesn't have such a tuner, you'll need to connect an external tuner (or cable or satellite box) to watch high-definition programming. External over-the-air HDTV tuners currently cost at least $150.

this is correct! this tv does not have the ATSC tuner built in. 1080i is a format of the digital broadcast approved by the ATSC. you must have a source of this format to veiw this format. standard cable boxes and satilite boxes altho digital are not outputing HD formats so you need to have the HD boxes to veiw HD 1080i and the broadcasters must be broadcasting HD to get true HD.