Do I Need an Antenna to use a Converter box?

[Suzanne]

I'm into the outdoors and nothing techy so this may sound dumb. I've been living in a situation where I never thought about reception. Now I'm returning to civilization and need to understand this converter mess. I don't want to pay for cable. All I need is PBS and the local news, but I don't think this place has an antenna.

 

[MrPogi]

Hello, Logroller, and welcome back to civilization!

YES, you will need an antenna for your converter box. Depending on where you are in civilization, you may just need a simple indoor antenna, or you may need something in an attic or outdoors. Please go to TV Fool and input your location information, then copy the link it generates for your chart (top of page, in bold type) and post it back here. We'll then be able to tell you what anteena you need and what channels you can get.

 

[Cutthecable]

It depends on the age of the television and if it has an ATSC digital tuner. TVs older than about 5 year such as the CRT tube models likely will not have the ATSC tuner. If the TV has the DTV, EDTV, SDTV or HDTV symbol/logo on the front of the TV that it will most likely have the ATSC tuner and would not need a converter box. A converter box is only needed with older TVs that don't have the tuner. Either way you will need a TV antenna.


Regards,
Cutthecable TVictory - Your Cable Freedom Experts - Home Page

I'm into the outdoors and nothing techy so this may sound dumb. I've been living in a situation where I never thought about reception. Now I'm returning to civilization and need to understand this converter mess. I don't want to pay for cable. All I need is PBS and the local news, but I don't think this place has an antenna.

 

[Suzanne]

But I still need an antenna. I will check on that and come back if I have more questions.

 

[Guest kj]

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id=90383cecf164a7 here is my link from tvfool.....please let me know what I need to do. thanks!

 

[Jim5506]

All of your easily receivable channels are UHF except channel 8 which you may not need/want. Carries Daystar, Buzzr and QVC. Mostly two edge reception about 30 miles west I'd get a 4 bay bow tie type antenna