Do I need a HDTV Digital receiver and or a HD antenna?

Question

I have the maxent MX-50X5 50" plasma monitor. Which I think means it's HD ready. I cannot watch any cable (which I knew going in buying this) but i'm confused on what I need to buy in order to make it work.

Do I need a HDTV digital tuner, such as : http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-DTBH260F-HDTV-Terrestrial-Receiver/dp/B000JV6TQY/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1213081576&sr=8-1

and do I need a HD antenna for it to work as well?

Such as : http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Terk-Indoor-HDTV-Antenna-HDTVi-HDTVi/sem/rpsm/oid/91092/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

Please let me know. Thanks!

Answer 1

As you already know, your TV is just a monitor, which means it does not have a digital tuner built in.  Thus, you'd have to buy a digital tuner in order to receive television.

All digital tuners receive HD signals, so just get one of those and you'd be set.

And yes, you would need an antenna.  Keep in mind though, that there are no such things as "HD antennas".  An antenna is just an antenna.  It's the tuner that will pull the signals from the air.  The antenna is pretty much just a piece of metal and helps the tuner draw-in signals.  So when you see antennas at the store say "HDTV", its basically on the box so people who don't know better will buy their product.

You could, if you wanted, take an antenna that you've had sitting in the garage for 30 years, hook it up to your new tuner, and it'd work.

Answer 2

Daniel is correct except for one point:

"All digital tuners receive HD signals, so just get one of those and you'd be set."

All digital tuners will receive HD signals, but any tuner bought with the govt coupon will not ouput an HD picture.  The Samsung tuner you showed will give you true HDTV.  However, you might see if you can find a used one on e-bay for much less money, since many people (including me) have bought newer TVs with built-in tuners and no longer need their HDTV receivers.