Many DTVs & digital television equipment will have labels or markings on them, or statements in the informational materials that came with them, to indicate that they contain digital tuners. These labels or markings may contain the words:


Integrated Digital Tuner

Digital Tuner Built-In

Digital Receiver,” or “Digital Tuner

DTV

ATSC or

HDTV” (High Definition Television)

If your television equipment contains any of these labels or markings, you should be able to view digital over-the-air programming without the need for a digital-to-analog converter box. Remember, you don’t need an HDTV to view free over-the-air digital programming. As long as your television equipment contains a digital tuner, you can view over-the-air digital. An HDTV is required only if you want to view High Definition programming in full HD quality. You should also check the manual or any other materials that came with your television equipment in order to determine whether or not it contains a digital tuner.


If your television set is labeled as a “Digital Monitor” or “HDTV Monitor,” or as “Digital Ready” or “HDTV Ready,” this doesn’t mean it actually contains a digital tuner. Consequently, it’s quite likely that you’ll need a separate set-top box which contains a digital tuner in order to view over-the-air digital programming.


Over-the-air digital set-top boxes for Digital or HD “Monitors” can be purchased at retail stores. Cable and satellite TV providers also sell or lease digital set-top boxes for their specific services. (Note: the digital set-top box described here is not the same as the digital-to-analog converter box, described earlier that’s used to convert free over-the-air digital broadcasts for viewing on an analog TV set.)


If your television set is labeled as “analog” or “NTSC,” and is NOT labeled as containing a digital tuner, it contains an analog tuner only.