This question is answered at
http://www.dtv.gov/consumercorner.html#faq8
It says therein:
*How do I know if I already have a digital TV (DTV)?*
Many DTVs and digital television equipment will have labels or
markings on them, or statements in the informational materials that
came with them, to indicate that they contain digital tuners. These
labels or markings may contain the words “Integrated Digital Tuner,”
“Digital Tuner Built-In,” “Digital Receiver,” or “Digital Tuner,”
“DTV,” “ATSC,” or “HDTV” (High Definition television). If your
television equipment contains any of these labels or markings, you
should be able to view digital over-the-air programming without the
need for a digital-to-analog converter box. (Remember, you do not need
an HDTV to view free over-the-air digital programming. As long as your
television equipment contains a digital tuner, you can view
over-the-air digital. An HDTV is only necessary if you want to view
High Definition programming in full HD quality.) You should also check
the manual or any other materials that came with your television
equipment in order to determine whether it contains a digital tuner.
If your television set is labeled as a “Digital Monitor” or “HDTV
Monitor,” or as “Digital Ready” or “HDTV Ready,” this does not mean it
actually contains a digital tuner. Thus, you still will likely need a
separate set-top box which contains a digital tuner in order to view
over-the-air digital programming.
Over-the-air digital set-top boxes for Digital or HD “Monitors” can be
purchased at retail stores. Cable and satellite TV providers also sell
or lease digital set-top boxes for their specific services. (Note: the
digital set-top box described here is not the same as the
digital-to-analog converter box, described above, used to convert free
over-the-air digital broadcasts for viewing on an analog TV set.)
If your television set is labeled as “analog” or “NTSC,” and is NOT
labeled as containing a digital tuner, it contains an analog tuner only.
If you cannot determine whether your television set or other
television equipment contains a digital tuner, you are advised to
check your equipment for the manufacturer name and model number, and
then contact your consumer electronics retailer, or the manufacturer,
to determine whether it contains a digital tuner. This information
also may be available online through the manufacturer’s website.
Because most broadcast stations in all U.S. television markets are
already broadcasting in digital, consumers can watch DTV today. You
can contact your local broadcast stations to determine the channel
numbers on which the stations are currently broadcasting digital
programming. You should then ensure that your television is set up to
receive over-the-air programming (as distinguished from being
connected to a paid provider such as cable or satellite TV service),
and then tune to the over-the-air digital channels to see if your set
can receive the digital broadcast programming.
Jeff Miles wrote:
So how do you tell if you have a digital ready TV? I have quite a few
TVs (7) one of which is also on it's last legs. It is 15-20 years old
and assume it's not digital. My newest is a Sylvania 27" stereo with
VCR and DVD recorder. I assume it is digital, but nothing in the paper
work told me this.
Jeff M
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