Can I use rabbit ear antennas with my lcd tv with a digital tuner already built into it? ?

Question

I have a Philips 32" tv with a digital tuner inside. Can I use an antenna from somewhere like a flea market?

Answer 1

As others have said, it's all a matter of how strong the signal is at your location. However, there is nothing special or specific about an antenna that makes it digital or analog. Any TV antenna will work for digital or analog. Any claims to be a HDTV or digital antenna are just marketing hype.



If you can't get all the digital stations, you will need to get a better antenna. Visit http://www.antennaweb.org . Based on your zip code, the site will give you al list of stations in your area, suggestions on the proper antenna for your unique situation and guidance on where to aim them.



I hope this helps. Please return and select a Best Answer from all of those submitted.

Answer 2

The TV is designed for digital cable or satellite, both of which have their own box. The government has mandated that all television broadcasts will be in digital format as of 2009. This means that the analog signal you are trying to use will no longer work for you or anybody else in the country. TV techman must have forgotten about old analog without the box! My computer has a TV tuner, with no cable box whatsoever, and I'm expecting to lose it soon! The digital signal will still run through your home on coaxial cable, but you will need digital cable boxes to put a picture onto your screen. At this time, however, cable boxes wil be available in retail stores rather than only by lease from the cable company. Because your LCD is high definition, Sony doesn't bother putting a coaxial connection on the TV because it isn't capable of carying a high quality signal, and will very soon be entirely obsolete. You have a couple of options until this takes effect. There are adapters that split a coaxial cable to RCA connections, but they are iffy hard to come by. There are also converter boxes that work well, but are very expensive. Both of these could be found on the internet if you search hard enough. Your best option would be to use an old VCR, with a remote. Run the coaxial cable into the VCR, just like you would to send it a signal to record. Then use the RCA outputs to connect the VCR to your TV. depending on the VCR, you may have to always leave it on, or always leave it off. You'll need to put your TV to 3 or 4 and use the VCR remote to change channels, unfortunately. Just remember that it is a temporary solution. Good Luck

Answer 3

Yes but if the signal is week it may not work. They have specific ones for HD for under 35 bucks. Or make your own just do a search in youtube.com

Answer 4

Yes, and you should be able to get HD ( if it's in your market) if they aren't too old and the signal isn't too weak, like the other person said.