Can I effectively hook up an HDTV antenna to my older VCR first & still get true HDTV ?HDTV Newbie?

Question

I currently have cable tv and it is hooked to the VCR first and then to our new HDTV. There are several digital stations that come through as is. I have been reading about "HDTV" antennas and I am considering dropping the cable altogether and replacing it with such an antenna, rather than renting the cable HDTV box for $9 a month. I would like to know if the VCR is going to cause problems with receiving HDTV either from the antenna or from the HDTV cable box.

Answer 1

(This answer assumes you are located in the US)

Your VCR will not cause any problem with receiving digital over the air stations. The digital signals will pass through the VCR just like analog ones do.

The idea that there are "HDTV antennas" is just marketing hype. In North America, all TV antennas are HDTV antennas.

If you want to record digital programs on your VCR using an antenna, you will want to set things up a bit differently.

You will need a converter box to attach between your antenna  and VCR. By using the government coupon program, you can get a nice one for about $20. It's probably best to just put a splitter on your antenna lead and run one side to the HDTV and the other to the converter box. It's best to connect the converter to the VCR and the VCR to the HDTV with A/V cables. Use s-video if you have that connector, otherwise use composite cables.

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To make the best use of a digital cable box you would want to use a separate HDMI or component cables to connect it to your HDTV and connect the VCR separately to the box's analog output.

Answer 2

It shouldn't as long as it's just passing through the signal.  If you use your VCR as a tuner you will not get HDTV.

Answer 3

If your HDTV is new and you have cable you DO NOT need a box from your cable company.  New LCD and Plasma HD TVs come with a cable/broadcast HD tuner and can decode NTSC in HD without the 9 dollar box.

Answer 4

No, it should not cause any major problems.  Honestly, i would just pay the $9 and get the digital converter box - much better quality than the antenna