What do I need to watch local channels on my non HD Tv?

hhg6511

Estimable
May 13, 2015
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4,510
What's the name of the items I'm looking for to watch local channels on my Tv? Can you also post some links to what I need?
 
Solution

To receive OTA broadcasts, yes that will do. I'd look into getting a leaf-style antenna instead of the one you have listed. I've had better luck with reception with the leaf style (and they're easier to hide). Something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/1byone-OUS00-0189-1-Super-Indoor-Antenna/dp/B00IF70QCW

Use these two sites to get an idea how good/bad your reception is likely to be at your home. Poorer...
Local over-the-air (OTA) broadcasts require an ATSC tuner to receive them. Unfortunately Hollywood has done a pretty good job exterminating most of them from the market. If your TV won't accept digital signals, then you need a digital converter box with ATSC tuner. Hollywood hasn't been as concerned about those because the output is an inferior analog format.

If you want to watch the local channels on your cable TV cable (they're required to carry these by law in the U.S.), then what you need depends on the cable company. Some of them still transmit analog channels, and your TV can view them if it's capable of tuning in to analog cable TV channels (most VCRs can, so scrounge up a VCR on craigslist if your TV can't). Others use digital cable TV channels, which requires a set-top box to tune. Some use encrypted digital cable TV channels. Unfortunately these require a cable TV subscription to decode (cheapest way is to buy your own set-top box and rent a CableCard from the cable company).
 

hhg6511

Estimable
May 13, 2015
2
0
4,510



This is my TV.
http://www.amazon.com/Magnavox-Built-In-DVD-Player-MWC13D6/dp/B000H3F2O4

Is this what I need?

Digital convertor
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Ematic-AT103B-Digital-Converter-Box-with-LED-Display-and-Recording-Capabilities/28505040

Antenna
http://www.walmart.com/ip/RCA-UHF-VHF-Digital-Indoor-Antenna/20976672

 

utroz

Distinguished
Nov 9, 2010
90
1
18,610


Yes those will work just fine for this TV as it only has an analog tuner built in.
 

To receive OTA broadcasts, yes that will do. I'd look into getting a leaf-style antenna instead of the one you have listed. I've had better luck with reception with the leaf style (and they're easier to hide). Something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/1byone-OUS00-0189-1-Super-Indoor-Antenna/dp/B00IF70QCW

Use these two sites to get an idea how good/bad your reception is likely to be at your home. Poorer reception will require mounting the antenna higher, a better antenna, or possibly even an amplified antenna. Keep in mind that these sites are only a guide - they estimate what your reception will be. They cannot account for local factors like trees or other houses in your way, so your reception may be better or worse than they predict.

http://www.antennapoint.com/
http://antennaweb.org/

If instead of OTA you wish to plug the TV into a cable TV outlet, and your cable TV provider still has analog channels, you are all set. That TV has an analog cable TV tuner built-in.
 
Solution