Optional Tuner vs HDTV Tuner

I thinking about buying an HDTV
I have seen sites that have HDTV Tuner built inside,which means you
don't need to buy an hdtv receiver

I have no clue what optional tuner is
will need a hdtv reciever to view with the optional tuner.

what is better to buy an hdtv with built in hdtv tuner or an hdtv
moniter and buy an receiver .

my cable company in Ohio Adelphia doesn't have hdtv set tops recievers
in my area,just digital cable motorola model dct

would like to get CBS,ABC,NBC with the antenna
is there any way to get HBO,SHOWTIME in HDTV too

thanks
steve

I think the optional HDTV tuner is for people that have a monitor instead of
a TV.
If it is TV it should have the tuner built-in.
I have a monitor so I have to use a DirecTV tuner, or Cable or VCR tuner or
Over The Air OTA tuner.

Some Cable Set Top Boxes also have OTA built-in.
Some DirecTV STB also have OTA built-in, but not cable.

Some STB are for analog signals, some are for digital signals, some are for
HD signals & some are for all.
You have to be careful in the selection.

Some cables have digital but not HD.
Most DirecTV is not HD.

But DirecTV will not permit any receiver or tuner that access their signal
to also access cable for reasons of preventing competition.
There are STB receivers available that will work on Cable, OTA, & DirecTV,
but the STB manufacturer has to disable the Cable portion if the box is to
be used for DirecTV.

Kinda stifiles the competition for DirecTV. But you can have two STB, one
for cable & one for DirecTV if needed. It is just added unnecessay expense.

Hope this helps more than clouds the issue.

Zeke





"Phyliss Callihan" wrote in message
...
I thinking about buying an HDTV
I have seen sites that have HDTV Tuner built inside,which means you
don't need to buy an hdtv receiver

I have no clue what optional tuner is
will need a hdtv reciever to view with the optional tuner.

what is better to buy an hdtv with built in hdtv tuner or an hdtv
moniter and buy an receiver .

my cable company in Ohio Adelphia doesn't have hdtv set tops recievers
in my area,just digital cable motorola model dct

would like to get CBS,ABC,NBC with the antenna
is there any way to get HBO,SHOWTIME in HDTV too

thanks
steve

"Z" wrote in message ...
I think the optional HDTV tuner is for people that have a monitor instead of
a TV.
If it is TV it should have the tuner built-in.

I disagree with your explantion. One can buy a full feature HDTV or a
HD ready TV or a monitor (in your case). My HD ready TV is a full
feature analog TV, it is definitely not just a monitor.

HDTV: with built in HD tuner and analog tuner
HD ready TV: without HD tuner, but a full feature analog TV
Monitor: no tuner, only takes video input.

The optional HD TV is needed in the latter two cases, not the first
one.