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Digital TV Buying Guide
- All over the air local TV broadcast are changing over to digital only starting February 17th, 2009
- All televisions built after March 2007 in the USA or imported into the USA are required
to have an ATSC Digital TV tuner and can receive digital TV broadcast (DTV) without a converter
box.
- Older TVs can still work after the digital transition
if you have a converter box. Info and $40 coupon.
What to look for:
- Make sure the TV you're shopping for has an ATSC tuner.
- “Digital ready" and "HDTV-ready" does not mean that the TV will
receive and exhibit digital HDTV programs. See our HDTV course
- Take into consideration the TVs power consumption. Look for energy star compliant. If buying to use
with solar power then purchase a 12 volt DC model. Many only take 8 to 15 watts to operate. Our Plans
and Guides section list many that operate on 12 volt DC and can be bought online.
- For screen types and more information see our HDTV course.
- For setting up a Home Theater use our guide.
- When buying a large screen consider what distance you will be viewing it at:
Suggested viewing distances for large screen TVs:
|
Distance from TV |
Screen Size |
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5 - 7 feet |
37" to 41" |
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8 - 9 feet |
42" or 43" |
|
10 - 11 feet |
44" to 50" |
|
11 - 13 feet |
50" to 60" |
|
13 - 14 feet |
50" to 70" |
|
15 + feet |
70" + |
Note: Large screen TVs take 300 to 600 watts to operate and are not recommended for power conservation
or use with a solar powered back up system.
Additional Information You can turn your computer monitor into a regular TV and receive and
record over the air, satellite or cable programming. See our TV Tuner Card
report
For more information on digital and HD TVs see our HDTV course
For setting up a Home Theater
About ATSC Standards: Click here to open PDF
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