Local HDTV stations broadcasts?

[Soadrocksever]

so, one in particular local stations(part of CBS) advertises in some local news openers etc "available in HDTV ch. 56.1).

is it possible to recieve said channel over the air? is that what an HDTV tuner is? like a "rabbit ears" for HDTV channels broadcasted localy? or is it something else?

[JoshDank]

Depends on the tuner you have in your tv. I get all my local stations in HD with my basic cable (because I have an HD tuner built into my set).

[CraZx2ing]

Yes, you can receive digital and HD signals over the air via an antenna. Your TV needs to have a HD tuner to accept the signal. This is advertised in stores as “HD Built-in.” TVs that do not have the tuner built in are usually advertised as “HDTV Monitor” or “HD Ready.” If your TV has the tuner built in, you can simply add an antenna meant for HD signals and plug it in.

I have been running the Terk TV-55 for about 3 years or so. It has worked flawlessly. Currently, I receive 44 full digital or HD channels. A lot of these are repeats though. For example, ABC analog is 28, ABC digital is 28.2, and ABC HD is 28.1. Sometime there is different content on all three, other times it is all the same. The PBS stations I receive (5 all with different content) in HD are comparable to TLC or the Discovery Channel. I have not owned cable or satellite since using an antenna to pick up the signal.

If your TV does not have the tuner built in you will want to purchase a set top box. These run pretty cheap now. They were only $100 – $300 or so when HD was first starting out. Just plug the antenna into the box then the box to the TV and you are all set.

The great thing about digital and HD signal over the air is that unlike analog the picture does not get fuzzy. There are two options, picture, or no picture. There is no in between. I have not had a single issue with loss of signal during storms or cloud cover. The only time I have a problem is when my antenna falls off the roof or is too low to the ground to pick up a good signal.

[Soadrocksever]

its a westighouse sk-26h240s 26"

this is all i can find as far as tuner specs

Digital TV Tuner

Digital TV Tuner
QAM, ATSC

Video Features

HDTV Ready
Yes

[CraZx2ing]

I want to say QAM or ATSC is the HDTV tuner, but i'm not 100%. You'd have to google that one :).