Which TVs accept digital TV without a set-top box: what is the advantage

Digital television is increasingly winning the hearts of people around the world. Instead of the usual analog signal, a widescreen digital one will come. What is the difference between them? The first transmits data continuously at the maximum values of the amplitude of the wave, which creates a large spread, which is fraught with noise on the screen. The second signal is transmitted according to the rules of a discrete function, that is, the oscillations take only certain values. This improves the signal quality, there is no interference on the screen and the data is protected from tampering or interception.

Digital television made it possible to watch broadcasts in a new format; image quality is several times better than that of analog television. Some modern channels broadcast HD video.

What is a digital tuner

To receive digital video on the TV, you need to install additional equipment:

a special antenna (maybe a satellite dish) that will receive a digital signal or cable (fiber optic, twisted pair);
receiver (tuner), which decrypts digital data and transfers them to the TV (can be built into the TV).

A TV tuner is a special receiver designed to receive and decode a data signal in various formats, with information displayed on the screen. Can capture video and radio digital waves. Available as a standalone device or integrated into a TV or computer chip.

Receivers are classified by a number of parameters:

to support television signal standards;
by the method of connecting to a PC or TV;
on interaction with operating systems.

The tuner accepts several digital stream formats (data given for Russia):

DVB-T, DVB-T2 works with broadcasting.
DVB-C is designed for cable television.
DVB-S, DVB-S2 - designed to receive a signal through a satellite dish.

There are many models of digital set-top boxes on the market. They differ in cost and functionality, design. Nevertheless, the main task of the receiver is to receive data in the DVB-T2 format, all devices fulfill this goal.

Each receiver has a USB port (the number of connectors depends on the cost). This makes it possible to connect drives (removable hard drives, flash drives, mobile devices) and watch videos directly from them.

In more expensive models, it is possible to record information from terrestrial television to drives.

There are also tuners with the ability to work on the Internet. Connection is via a twisted-pair cable or via a Wi-Fi radio signal. This broadens the possibilities of viewing channels that are on the World Wide Web (for example, YouTube).

The latest models of tuners have a function to work with Android operating systems. This allows you to broadcast Smart-TV (technology for connecting TVs to a network through mobile devices or PCs).

To select a set-top box for viewing programs (in Russia there are 20 free channels of digital broadcasting), you need to determine the functionality of the receiver. What actions should the tuner perform, what signal will the device receive? Does the cost of the kit (consoles and antenna) affect the choice of an item?

It is important to remember which signal will be broadcast and processed by the device. Mostly television programs are received in MPEG-4 quality, but some large companies are switching to HD format.

There are built-in TV receivers. They have the same functions as an external decoder.

Which TVs show digital channels without a console

What kind of TV is needed for digital television? Digital television has appeared relatively recently in Russia, so citizens rarely think about the possibility of buying technology with some additional features. You can purchase a screen model with a built-in receiver, so as not to buy additional equipment.

There are undoubted leaders in the world market for the production of television sets that produce models with an integrated card - decoder. They work independently, therefore, additional equipment for watching digital television is not required.

The most popular companies whose models after 2015 have a built-in decoding chip:

Samsung
LG
Sony
Philips
Apple
Panasonic
Toshiba

There are other manufacturers, but the availability of additional features needs to be clarified.

IMPORTANT: except for Apple, which are combined only with the equipment of their brand, other companies produce universal TVs. These brands can work with devices of any other company (excluding Apple).

Which TVs have a digital tuner? Developers annually try to make life easier for users. The more modern the model, the more programs and features it has.

What TV models support digital television? The presence of a built-in tuner does not guarantee viewing of broadcasting. When choosing, it is necessary to clarify the data transmission standards (for a simple antenna, satellite or cable TV).

Do all TVs support digital television?

What should be a TV for digital television? It should be noted that not all TVs can receive a digital signal, even modern models. Older screens equipped with a tube or tube receive only analog signals. Without a receiver, they will not receive a digital signal.

IMPORTANT: before buying external equipment for older models, you should make sure that the connector meets modern standards. In simple words, having bought a set-top box, the cable may not enter the receiving holes in the TV. This is rare because a slot for a conventional antenna is used.

Which TVs support digital TV without a console? The ability to work with digital video has been developed since 1990, but the first models of TVs with digital support appeared in 2004. They met very rarely and were expensive.

Which TVs accept digital TV without a console? Plasma and liquid crystal models began to be mass-produced complete with decoders later than 2010. In Russia, such screens appeared later than 2013.

Today, almost every screen supports the ability to receive digital data. Exceptions are low-cost models with a minimum set of functions.

IMPORTANT: it must be remembered that there are a number of countries in which digital terrestrial digital TV is broadcast in other bands than in Russia. For example, in America it is ATSC, in Japan and South America it is ISDB-T, and in neighboring China it is DTMB. In European countries, the broadcast channel takes place in the formats DVB-T (outdated format, but there are companies that broadcast on it) and DVB-T2. Russia uses - DVB-T2 frequency.

When buying a TV outside Russia, you need to choose a model with DVB-T2 support.

How to understand if there is a DVB-T2 in the TV

Which TVs receive a digital signal without a console? When choosing a TV (or checking an existing TV for a tuner), you need to look at the parameters in the instructions for the device. It is also possible to find a description of the model on the Internet. For example, on the official website of the manufacturer. For this manipulation, you need to find the brand and model of the TV. On the device, the model is indicated on the back of the screen.

IMPORTANT: identify the marking correctly. If you choose a TV that supports DVB-T, which will not work on the DVB-T2 format. A single digit error can be an unpleasant discovery in the future.

There are differences in the decoder itself: whether it will work from a satellite dish (these are waves with the characteristic - DVB-S or DVB-S2). For cable digital television, you must have a tuner that decodes DVB-C information. Or the consumer will be content with ordinary broadcasting on the wave of DVB-T2.

In specialized stores, the main parameters are indicated on the price tag, information can also be checked with a consultant.

In the event that all identification marks and the instruction itself are lost, then you can check the presence of the receiver by scanning the channels. This requires the presence of an antenna. It is easy to distinguish digital broadcasting from analogue: the first has excellent quality, the name of the channel is shown, as well as the previous and subsequent channels.

Why DVB-T2 wins the consoles

Which TVs do not need a prefix? Some, before buying a digital television kit, wonder: which is better - an integrated tuner or an external set-top box. An embedded chip has a number of advantages:

The signal is processed faster. The video sequence does not “stick”, the pictures do not skip. There is no interference from the cable between the set-top box and the TV.
Quick channel setup. To work, you need to go into the TV settings, connect the antenna, and start scanning. With a peripheral tuner, you need to configure the connection to the TV.
One console is used, instead of two. On the receiver, the channels are switched with their own remote control, which is not very convenient for the user. The sound is controlled by the remote control from the TV. There are universal devices, but this is an additional waste.
Lack of excess wires. An external tuner uses an additional outlet.
An external decoder should be located in the range of the console. For example, if the screen is mounted on a wall, then you need to install the console not far from it (sometimes an additional shelf is required).
If you buy a TV and an external receiver, then it will cost more than a screen with an integrated tuner.

It’s profitable to buy a set-top box when the TV itself is already there, but without the support of a digital decoder.