HDTV Receivers / Tuners

HDTV receivers (also known as HDTV tuners) are responsible for capturing the HDTV signal in an HDTV system, be it from the air, cable, or satelite, and transmitting it to the display in a format it can understand. Some HDTV sets have HDTV tuners built in, but it is recommended to purchase the TV and tuner separatly. This is because the screen is by far the most expensive component and likely to last for years until it becomes outdated. Having a separate receiver as a set top box will make it easy to replace if new standards and features become available.

When buying an HDTV receiver there are three primary things you need to consider to make sure a particular model will fit your needs:

• The source of signal the HDTV receiver will be required to pick up.
• The types of signals and digital TV formats the HDTV receiver can decode.
• The destination of the signal, i.e. the type of display the receiver will be connected to, and type of audio output.

Your current options for HDTV signal sources are HDTV stations broadcasting over-the-air, satellite TV service such as Direct TV, and some digital cable networks. In addition to a compatible HDTV receiver, in order to get broadcasted HDTV you'll also need an antenna, and to get satellite HDTV, you'll naturally need a satellite dish. Some HDTV receivers are also compatible with other non-HDTV sources such as over-the-air analog TV broadcasts (NTSC in the US), and standard cable television.

There are 18 different formats for digital television transmission. Of those, 6 are high resolution HDTV, 8 are low resolution standard DTV (SDTV), and the other four are VGA (what computers use) formats. Many HDTV receivers can take in all those formats plus analog TV, but some might not.

All HDTV receivers come with a variety of output connectors and formats for various display and sound devices. Those can include selectable DTV formats, composite video for analog TV, Fire Wire for computer connections, VGA for computer monitors, and many more. Additionally, the standard for HDTV sound is 5.1 channel Dolby Surround Sound, which can be converted to may other formats.

Generally, the more input/output options an HDTV receiver has, the higher the price. In any one setup, you will not need to use all the options at once, but make sure the HDTV tuner you buy gives you the input/output options you need.