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Question

OTA tuners

Apr 18, 2017 7:11AM PDT

I have a 37" Vizio TV (VW37L-HDTV20A). If I were to upgrade, will the OTA digital tuner in a new TV be any better?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Re: OTA digital tuner
Apr 18, 2017 7:31AM PDT

When exactly would you call a certain tuner better than another tuner?

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Re: OTA digital tuner
Apr 18, 2017 7:38AM PDT

"When exactly would you call a certain tuner better than another tuner?"

By age and specs if that applies here. Do newer tuners have better functions than they did 10 years ago, kinda like home WiFi router bands have improved? Or are they set and will never change?

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Here's the thing about tuners
Apr 18, 2017 8:02AM PDT

Their performance has mostly to do with your location, outdoor and indoor, home construction/materials affecting the penetration of the electromagnetic waves, and whether or not they are connected to properly situated external antenna. Nail those things down and most built in HDTV tuners are just fine- regardless of whether or not the rig is older or brand new. Keep in mind there will be little in the way of comparisons made online since each person is not using the HDTV in the same place/circumstances. Trial and error is king in this regard.

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Re: Here's the thing about tuners
Apr 18, 2017 8:50AM PDT

Thanks! So it's even more about the antenna setup than the tuner in the TV. Basically the tuner is along for the ride lol.

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Answer
Nod to Pepe7.
Apr 18, 2017 8:38AM PDT

I've heard yelps about tuner performance yet I don't see it often. That is you can't compare 2 sets that are in different rooms. The dynamics of reception kill such a comparison. Even swapping sets can find that one will gain or lose a channel due to the set's size change can affect reception.

That is, if it's the usual flat antenna folk hide behind the set, the set's size affects the signal going to the antenna.

Here's the antenna I settled on: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0024R4B5C/
I get more channels than my neighbors (OTA.)

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Re: Nod to Pepe7
Apr 18, 2017 8:53AM PDT

Gotcha. I have the GE Pro Outdoor Yagi Antenna (33685) connected with a LNA-200. Didn't know if my almost 10 yr old 37" Vizio TV (VW37L-HDTV20A) was still able to hang in there lol. It's working until it breaks down. Happy

Thanks everyone!

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LNA. Had one.
Apr 18, 2017 9:06AM PDT

And for me it worked just a tad better without. Why? Didn't get into it. In a prior job we found amplifiers were not always the solution as they can amplify noise too. Give the tuner a cleaner signal usually works.

Go with what works.

Also, connections tend to corrode over time so a quick unplug and re-plug and you get a better connection.

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Answer
I have Vizio and use this antenna
Apr 18, 2017 10:26AM PDT