What tuner is needed for HD-ready flatscreen without integrated tuner for air reception?

Question

Having bought a flat-screen too early, my Sony Wega HD-ready tv does not have an integrated tuner. I want to receive some channels over the air when the switch happens. What kind of tuner is needed?

Answer 1

An ATSC digital tuner. That will be standard in all digital convertor boxes. However, there are three basic types of box.

1) Standard. Digital comes in, analog goes out. That's it.

2) Standard w/ analog pass through. Digital and Analog both come it. Analog goes out. There are some stations that are exempt from changing to digital. (mostly educational institutions that have some kind of broadcast) These boxes will continue to receive those, the above will not.

3) Digital/Hi-Def. Digital comes, digital goes out. These are the only boxes that will give you high definition programming (where available) through your off-air-antenna.

The first two boxes can be purchased for about $60 with part of that cost offset by the government's $40 gift card (two per household) The third runs about $100 and cannot be purchased using the governement's money.

https://www.dtv2009.gov