http://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/ Engadget HD Comments for Ask Engadget HD: DTV converter, or a new TV? http://hd.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://hd.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2010 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/Dec 17th 2008 12:08PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/Dec 17th 2008 12:17PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/Dec 17th 2008 12:26PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/Dec 17th 2008 12:37PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/Dec 17th 2008 12:40PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/
C]]>Dec 17th 2008 12:43PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/
But analog-only TVs are almost always cathode ray tubes, which are big, bulky, and much less reliable. Years from now only a few will be available, and even fewer will be worth the effort of obtaining and setting up, other than for retro-tech hobbyists.

Much more likely that he'd want to trade up to a larger, LIGHTER, flat-panel digital TV. And thus have no need of the converter box.]]>Dec 18th 2008 3:13PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/Dec 17th 2008 1:01PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/Dec 17th 2008 1:10PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/
HD content doesn't have to cost sixty bucks a month.]]>Dec 17th 2008 7:01PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/Dec 17th 2008 1:21PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/Dec 17th 2008 1:45PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/Dec 17th 2008 3:34PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/Dec 17th 2008 4:10PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/
"I'm wondering if this is the perfect excuse to pick up a small HDTV. I'm wondering what other readers in this situation are doing, and if so, which small HDTV should I pick up to replace my existing analog set?"

Devin, all HDTVs are digital*, but it doesn't seem as if you realize that not all digital TVs are HDTVs. There are plenty of standard (SDTV) and a handful of "enahnced" (EDTV) televisions that are digital and can tune in just fine to an over the air broadcast post February. However they just don't have HD display capability. A set like this may be what's most appropriate for a small, cheap garage TV.

Running a Google Shopping search for EDTVs for example gets quite a few hits. Also for "digital SDTV". Give it a shot.

My mom has a widescreen (16:9) aspect ratio flat panel digital SDTV for her bedroom. It has a built in DVD player and is thus perfect for her needs.

*except for a handful of protoype analog HDTVs that Japan experimented with in the 80s ]]>Dec 17th 2008 4:12PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/Dec 17th 2008 5:00PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/
Both cable and satellite re-compress the signal sent out to antennas. Not that most people can tell the difference but a signal from an antenna is always the best. (with HDTV anyway)

I guess FIOS is tied for the best but everyone else re-compresses.]]>Dec 17th 2008 9:20PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/Dec 17th 2008 9:25PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/Dec 19th 2008 8:25PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/Dec 19th 2008 9:59PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/
I would just add an IR sender to the sat/cable receiver box and the IR receiver to the tv set in the garage, I'm sure that this way his car and his lawn mower will be entertrained during these long winter night in that dark garage.
]]>Dec 17th 2008 6:25PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/Dec 17th 2008 11:51PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/Dec 18th 2008 3:15PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/
I was replying to David S @ Dec 17th 2008 1:21PM, but it acted like a new post. And of course you can't delete or edit a post you've already put in.

As I recall, you could do that on AOL back in like 1993. Not anymore.]]>Dec 18th 2008 3:19PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/17/ask-engadget-hd-dtv-converter-or-a-new-tv/Dec 19th 2008 8:21PM