Can I just buy an HD tuner without upgrading cable service?
Answer:
Do you now have an HDTV? If so, the TV is already upconverting the signal from the cable box from 480i to 720 or 1080. However the picture will NOT be made clearer and may actually get worse! Look at it this way. You have a grainy but clear 5x7 inch photograph. You take it to the photo shop to get it blown up to 8x10. The picture will get grainer and less clear. Same thing happens when you take 480i and upconvert to 720p.
Yes you can just buy an HD tuner, assuming that your HDTV doesn't have one built-in (most do nowdays). HD receivers will receive over the air HD channels and MAY be able to receive a few (very few) unencrypted digital cable signals.
HD receivers don't upconvert standard definition signals, you would need some sort of an upconverter to do that.
The cheapest & simplest route by far is to just get the box (or a cable card) from your cable provider, the cost is maybe $5 or $10 per month more than what you pay for basic cable now.
individual HD tuners are some what expensive considering their limited capability ($150 on up) and most do have HDMI but the only thing it will decode is the local channels though It will not up convert cable signal. One thing I did and I noticed a difference was I ran my regular cable signal through my DVD/VCR combo recorder it is only connected to the TV in component format so it up converts 480i to 480p which is DVD quality and it works great since I have an HD flat panel LCD. But if you want to check one out Best Buy and Circuit CIty both have a HD tuner @ $180 w HDMI
Without an HD signal from some source, like an HD/Digital cable box, or a High- Def satellite dish receiver, you will not have a Hi-Def picture. The cable companies have us I guess. I up graded for only $9.95 extra/mo. because I bundled that with their cellular & high speed internet & Home phone. That's where you can save, by combining services.
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