The transition to digital TV was completed June 12, 2009. As of this date all TV broadcasters in the United States ceased broadcasting analog TV signals, and are now exclusively broadcasting digital TV signals. Analog TVs will work with digital cable with the aid of an external digital tuner.
Features
Analog TV sets are not equipped with right the kind of internal TV tuner to receive and decode digital TV signals. This, however, does not mean that an analog TV set is useless. Now, in order to watch TV programs on an analog TV set, you simply have to augment the TV with an external digital tuner.
Options
If your analog TV set is hooked up to an active digital cable box or satellite receiver, your TV is all set. Cable boxes and satellite receivers qualify as forms of external digital tuners.
Other Options
If you don't subscribe to a cable or satellite service, you could also use a VCR or DVD recorder which is equipped with an internal digital tuner (also referred to as an "ATSC tuner) as your TV's external digital tuner. Barring any of these other options, your TV needs to be outfitted with a digital converter box in order to pick up your local TV channels.
Tags: digital tuner, external digital, external digital tuner, cable satellite, digital cable