The title pretty much says it.  If I buy an HDTV with a built in tuner, does that mean I don't need my cable box from my cable provider?  Do I still keep the "guide" features and whatnot?

here is the one I am looking at:  www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Sharp-26-LCD-HDTV-DVD-Combo/sem/rpsm/oid/149065/catOid/-12869/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

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Quoted: The title pretty much says it.  If I buy an HDTV with a built in tuner, does that mean I don't need my cable box from my cable provider?  Do I still keep the "guide" features and whatnot? here is the one I am looking at:  www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Sharp-26-LCD-HDTV-DVD-Combo/sem/rpsm/oid/149065/catOid/-12869/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

you'll still need the cable box unless you get a TV with the "cable card" feature

Quoted: Quoted: The title pretty much says it.  If I buy an HDTV with a built in tuner, does that mean I don't need my cable box from my cable provider?  Do I still keep the "guide" features and whatnot? here is the one I am looking at:  www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Sharp-26-LCD-HDTV-DVD-Combo/sem/rpsm/oid/149065/catOid/-12869/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do you'll still need the cable box unless you get a TV with the "cable card" feature

And where do I find such an animal?  Circuit Shitty doesn't seem to have one?

My mother's HDTV connects directly to Comcast digital cable - no box required for HD broadcasts coming down the coax.

Pay per view or premium channels are a different story.

You have to get the box if you want the guide function. My cable company (Cox'sucker Cable) you need the box for digital cable and HD.
If you have an HD tuner in your TV, you can throw up an HD antenna and watch HD channels for free... Well the local ones at least... You won't get HBO, Discovery, etc.
I think cable card is/was a fad and is going away... Most people have to gent some sort of box anyway and my Cable Co said they can use the cable card, but I will not get the guide function.


*Cox's HD service here is a joke... They say its free, but it isn't. You gotta rent the $10mo box and their channel selection is pathetic and most of the stuff isn't even in HD (though its on the HD channel)... You should see some of the crap they broadcast.

Quoted: You have to get the box if you want the guide function. My cable company (Cox'sucker Cable) you need the box for digital cable and HD. If you have an HD tuner in your TV, you can throw up an HD antenna and watch HD channels for free... Well the local ones at least... You won't get HBO, Discovery, etc. I think cable card is/was a fad and is going away... Most people have to gent some sort of box anyway and my Cable Co said they can use the cable card, but I will not get the guide function. *Cox's HD service here is a joke... They say its free, but it isn't. You gotta rent the $10mo box and their channel selection is pathetic and most of the stuff isn't even in HD (though its on the HD channel)... You should see some of the crap they broadcast.

That is who I have now and they do suck.  However, when we move into the house next year we will be with a local provider which is supposedly much better.  

From a little bit of research that has been done today, it seems that everyone prefers the box over the card.  I'll go that route.  

I am trying to convince the wife to let me go to Circuit Shitty and pick this one up today so I can have it for the Bowl games.  A little more nagging and I think she'll cave.

Quoted: Quoted: You have to get the box if you want the guide function. My cable company (Cox'sucker Cable) you need the box for digital cable and HD. If you have an HD tuner in your TV, you can throw up an HD antenna and watch HD channels for free... Well the local ones at least... You won't get HBO, Discovery, etc. I think cable card is/was a fad and is going away... Most people have to gent some sort of box anyway and my Cable Co said they can use the cable card, but I will not get the guide function. *Cox's HD service here is a joke... They say its free, but it isn't. You gotta rent the $10mo box and their channel selection is pathetic and most of the stuff isn't even in HD (though its on the HD channel)... You should see some of the crap they broadcast. That is who I have now and they do suck.  However, when we move into the house next year we will be with a local provider which is supposedly much better.   From a little bit of research that has been done today, it seems that everyone prefers the box over the card.  I'll go that route.   I am trying to convince the wife to let me go to Circuit Shitty and pick this one up today so I can have it for the Bowl games.  A little more nagging and I think she'll cave.

Holy crap she went for it!

I now have a 52" HDTV, but no HD signal.  That'll be fixed on Tuesday.

This thing is friggin huge!