Most televisions come with a built-in TV tuner. This is the part of the television that allows it to pick up over-the-air radio waves that carry television channels and translate them into something you can watch.
Digital and Analog
Past television signals were usually analog, and older televisions included analog tuners. As of 2010, many countries in the world have moved from analog to digital signals. To pick up digital signals, a digital tuner is necessary. Newer television screens, especially high-definition screens, can include digital tuners and sometimes also provide an additional analog tuner for older signals.
Built-in or External
A TV screen that does not have a built-in TV tuner might instead be referred to as a monitor. Since big screens are almost always intended as televisions, however, it may be difficult to find one without a built-in tuner. Such a screen would need a cable or satellite box or external TV tuner to pick up any TV channels.
Pros and Cons
According to the Plasma TV Buying Guide website, a television with a built-in tuner normally costs 20% more than one without. Purchasing an external tuner could provide extra versatility if you intend to move between countries with different TV standards, but it would require additional space in a room and negate some of the savings of a screen without a tuner.
Tags: built-in tuner, digital signals, external tuner, with built-in, with built-in tuner
