Digital tuner for TV - what is it? Choosing a computer TV tuner

When choosing a new TV, most users pay primary attention to the quality of the reproduced picture, as well as technical characteristics that can directly or indirectly affect it. As a rule, few people pay attention to the type of built-in digital tuner, and if they do, they do not always understand the meaning of the designations in the technical data sheet of the TV. This “careless” attitude leads to the fact that later, when you want to connect digital television, you have to separately buy an external digital tuner.

We will explain in accessible language what a digital tuner is, what type they are, what meaning lies in the letter designations of tuners in the characteristics of the TV. This information will allow you to make an informed and well-informed decision when purchasing a new TV and eliminate the need to additionally purchase an external tuner.

What is a digital tuner

Before considering the features of existing tuners, you need to understand what they are. A modern digital tuner (sometimes called a digital receiver or decoder) is a device that allows the TV to receive and decode signals from various broadcast formats.

New TVs may have one or more digital tuners (most often one). Depending on the model, the tuner can process signals of a certain format. Which one you can see in the technical specifications of the TV. If you decide, but the tuner on your TV does not support the required format, you can always buy an external tuner.

If you are planning to purchase a new TV, pay attention to selecting a built-in decoder that will satisfy all your further requirements. For example, the DVB -T 2 tuner, which allows you to connect digital terrestrial television to your TV, is now particularly relevant in Russia. Therefore, many buyers choose a TV with DVB -T 2 support.

Classification of tuners according to broadcast standards

As we said earlier, built-in tuners of various models are capable of processing the incoming television signal in one or more broadcast formats. We will get to know each of them.

A DVB-T tuner allows you to process a digital terrestrial television signal. To connect it, you will need a regular antenna, which almost every user has access to. Digital terrestrial television allows you to transmit high-quality images of high (HDTV) and ultra-high definition (UHDTV).

The DVB-T 2 tuner is the second generation of DVB-T tuners. It differs from its predecessor in a completely new architecture, increased channel capacity, and improved signal characteristics. Since DVB -T 2 signal coverage will be widespread throughout Russia by 2015, televisions with a built-in digital tuner of the DVB -T 2 standard are very popular. I would like to note that to receive a DVB -T 2 signal you will need a tuner with the appropriate markings. It will not be possible to receive this signal on older DVB‑T tuners, as they are incompatible.

The DVB-C tuner processes the digital cable television signal. Many people are already using it. Insert your provider's card and get access to a package of channels in digital quality. In other words, with its help you use cable television.

A DVB-S tuner makes it possible to connect digital satellite television without an external receiver. To receive the signal you will need a satellite dish and a TV with a built-in DVB-S tuner.

The DVB-S2 tuner is the second generation of DVB-S tuners. A distinctive feature from its predecessor is the increased channel capacity, as well as the possibility of using new types of signal modulation. To connect digital television you need a satellite dish and a TV with an appropriate tuner.

You can often come across questions about the differences between DVB -T 2 and DVB -T or DVB -S, as well as their derivatives in the same direction. The main difference between tuners is the standard of the processed signal. Now you can choose a TV with a digital tuner that you really need. Each signal also has a lot of characteristics that are often of no interest to the average user. Therefore, we will omit a detailed description of the block diagrams and signal components.

The type of built-in tuner can be determined by the markings on the TV or by reading the technical parameters of the TV. For example, the inscription DVB-T2/C means that this model is capable of receiving digital signals from second-generation terrestrial television and cable television.

Conclusions

We tried to explain in simple terms what a digital tuner is and what broadcast standards it can support. Now, in addition to choosing the type of screen and parametric characteristics of the TV, pay attention to the type of built-in tuner.

First, let's define a tuner. In order for you to watch TV, your TV needs a tuner. This is a device that receives a radio signal, which is subsequently converted into a picture. Also, a TV tuner is still needed to decode the signal, correct errors, and in some cases, reformat.

Tuners are divided into two types: digital and analog. An analog tuner receives a regular TV broadcast signal, where the image quality is not always good; with a digital tuner, on the contrary, the image quality is ideal. You can see even the smallest details without any distortion.

In addition to the built-in ones, an external TV tuner for the TV is used, which has a number of advantages. For example, you have a TV and a computer, but you don’t even think that they can be combined. That is, watch movies on the Internet in real time, entertainment programs, etc. on TV. What needs to be done to get a highly functional device that will surpass the parameters of the most modern TV? Connect an external tuner to the computer, then a special cable from the TV.

I think you understand what a TV tuner is and the principle of its operation.

Now let's talk more specifically about tuners, first about analog ones. These tuners receive the signal from the TV tower and then convert it. You can watch TV shows in PAL and SECAM formats, you can set the picture scale. You can also view and record video through the dedicated S-VIDEO input.

A digital tuner for a TV can be of several types. They are mainly divided according to the type of screen resolution. These are HDTV, SDTV and EDTV. SDTV and EDTV tuners can’t be considered for now, since we didn’t have digital television, but HDTV is worth paying attention to.

Cable television is now ubiquitous. There are a lot of programs, up to a hundred channels, the picture is good, if not excellent. And all because of what? It's simple. HDTV tuners are designed not only for receiving HD signals with home antennas; in cable television they act as a storage device or receiver.

If you only want to watch cable or satellite TV, then there is no need to purchase a TV tuner. The fact is that almost all peripheral video equipment already has a built-in tuner.

There are several digital television broadcasting standards in the world. Therefore, a TV purchased in another country, for example, in Japan, will not work correctly in Russia. The broadcast format does not fit in with the European one. This is why you need a tuner for your TV. As mentioned above, an external TV tuner for a TV is just right. There is no need to disassemble or solder anything, just connect and select the required TV broadcasting standard.

In our country, not everyone has a modern TV. Quite a lot of people do not have the opportunity to purchase it. Therefore, the production of TV tuners continues that accept analog signals from PAL (European standard), SECAM (French and Soviet broadcasting), NTSC (America and Japan).

Currently, hybrid tuners are produced in Russia that have the ability to receive both analog and digital signals. And purely analog ones, as such, disappeared from production.

The differences between analogue television standards are screen resolution and frame rate. Digital television often encodes some channels, so some tuners have a built-in decoder to decode them. This applies to paid channels.

The mass market mainly contains a TV tuner without additional options, so it is suitable for watching only free channels. By and large, there are more than 60 such channels, so not everyone buys tuners with a decoder.

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One of the most common questions about receiving digital TV in the DVB-T2 format is the question about support for the DVB-T/T2 (MPEG-4 h.264 AVC) standard on televisions of various brands.
In this article we will try to explain how you can find out whether your TV supports the digital television standard, which is used in Russia for digital broadcasting.

First way:

The easiest one. We open the instructions, in the technical specifications section we look for the item: support for the digital standard. It should say DVB-T/T2 MPEG-4.

Second way:

The list is growing daily, new models are coming on sale to be completely confident that the TV you have chosen will support the standard you need (Mpeg-4, H.264 AVC)

Third way:

If your TV is not in the online catalog and there are no instructions, then you can always contact the service center of the manufacturer of your equipment.

If you do not find answers to your questions, write to equipment manufacturer technical support:

Directory of technical support for digital equipment manufacturers

Calls to service technical support, whose number begins with 8-800 – free! This article provides information on technical support, a list of service centers and contact information of popular manufacturers of digital equipment.

1. LG company

To watch your favorite films and programs in excellent quality today, it is not enough to buy a good TV. You will also need related equipment, and as soon as the package is complete, you will definitely be convinced that you did not make a mistake. Tuner, receiver, decoder, digital set-top box - it’s so difficult to figure it all out. Meanwhile, all these names are for the same device, which is necessary to receive and decode digital television signals. In our article we will find out what a digital tuner for a TV is and what it is for.

Advantages of digital television

All televisions are equipped with tuners that receive analog signals, but after digital television appeared, this may not be enough. Why is digital broadcasting so good?

Higher level of image quality.
Good signal protection.
The ability to unlock the potential of modern devices.
Large number of channels.
A lot of other functions: teletext, recording the program on external media, you can stop the broadcast, then continue it, and much more.

Digital television broadcast standards

The International Standards Organization includes national committees from a large number of countries. It consists of special teams that solve problems in different industries.

There are different television standards; let’s look at those adopted in European countries to understand which digital tuner is best for your TV:

DVB-C. Is standard cable digital television. To gain access to channels, a provider card is inserted into the tuner. This standard is based on MPEG-2 moving image and audio coding.
DVB-C2. It is the second generation of the standard mentioned above. One carrier is replaced by OFDM, resulting in additional noise immunity and flexibility.
DVB-S. Is a digital satellite broadcast. A satellite is used to transmit the signal, but it is received using a satellite dish and decoder.

Important! This type of digital broadcasting is the most reliable, fastest and most economical. At the same time, high signal quality is maintained at any distance.

DVB-S2. It is a modification of the previous standard. It does not bind the transport frame to certain standards, so it is possible to transmit both MPEG-2 transport packets and arbitrary streams with a packet or continuous structure.
DVB-T. Is a digital terrestrial television. Radio air is used for signal transmission, and an individual or collective antenna connected to a TV or receiver is used for reception. The decimeter or meter range is used for operation.
DVB-T2. It is the second generation of the previous standard, which has fundamental differences. Thanks to this improved type, programs are broadcast not only in HDTV format, but also in 3D. Audio and video are compressed into the international MPEG-4 standard.

Important! This technology features improved throughput and transmission is more stable.

Selecting a TV tuner

Television tuners are high-tech devices through which a video signal is received, which is then converted and broadcast on the screen. Which TV tuner is best to buy for a TV, since various manufacturers produce a lot of models?

Important! All of them are distinguished by wide functionality, thanks to which it is possible to capture video not only from external sources, for example, video cameras, but also receive a radio signal. If you install a tuner on your computer, you can easily listen to the radio, watch and record television programs, and much more.

As with other modern devices, devices of this type have characteristics and parameters that need to be studied before purchase.

Important! The first step is to determine for what tasks the receiver will be used, to watch what kind of television: satellite, digital or analog. To receive satellite or terrestrial digital television, you should pay attention to hybrid models that combine various television receivers.

It is advisable to decide on some technical details that are of great importance:

Connection type. A cable is used to connect external models; internal ones are inserted into special slots.
Video standards. It can be analog, digital and hybrid.
Video capture, making it possible to record any broadcast.
Video compression. Some models provide the ability to compress video into certain formats.
Radio reception available.
Freeze frame function.
Mirror projection.
Delayed viewing function.

Tuner type

These devices can have different types of installation and design:

External devices have their own video outputs. It is possible to directly connect these USB tuners to a computer, monitor or TV. It is usually presented in the form of a small box. Follow the link to learn about.
The internal TV tuners look like an expansion card. They are installed inside the computer.

Important! Of course, such devices have a number of advantages, primarily related to functionality. The downside is that not every computer can accommodate an additional expansion card.

The standalone tuner does not require a computer or software to operate. When receiving and processing the signal, the resources of the tuner itself are used.

Important! It has much better reception quality, as well as advanced capabilities.

Popular models

These days there are many manufacturers on the market, each with their own models of TV equipment. This variety can make your head spin, so let’s pay attention to the models that are most popular and find out which TV tuner is better.

Strong SRT 8202

It is one of the leading models on the modern market. Receives terrestrial digital television of DVB-T and DVB-T2 standards. The image quality is the highest - up to 1080p.

This device has the following functions:

Teletext;
TV Guide;
Supports video recording to external media;
Ability to stop the program.

Important! If you use a flash drive, you can play files in a variety of formats. Built-in support for AC3 audio.

The device is equipped with a small display to display basic information. In general, it has small dimensions. Additionally, this digital TV tuner comes with a remote control that is small and easy to use.

Galaxy Innovations Matrix Lite:

This receiver is distinguished by its support not only for terrestrial digital broadcasting DVB-T2, but also for satellite DVB-S2 and cable DVB-C. The weight of the device is 230 g, the dimensions are quite compact.
There are not only standard functions, but also Internet browsing.
The device can be attached to the TV, but it can be controlled using the remote control thanks to the remote infrared sensor.
The device supports a maximum resolution of 1080p, which allows you to watch programs in excellent quality.

Important! Thanks to the special function introduced by the developer, energy is consumed very economically. However, you will have to pay more for this.

BBK SMP017HDT2

This device is equipped with all the most necessary functions, and its price is quite affordable. As with other modern models, you can:

record and stop transmissions;
use TV guide and teletext;
view the TV program several days in advance.

Built-in support for playing files with different resolutions.

Important! The main disadvantage is the lack of a display, but there is a quite convenient and understandable remote control.

Is it worth buying a dvb t2 digital TV tuner for your TV, which one is better and how to choose? For a city dweller, the question of purchasing a device to increase the number of interesting channels is not urgent. Cable television, which has become widespread, offers users many different packages with a wide range of prices and a range of channels to suit every taste. Having a cable television connection, the user can select and watch any TV channel within the purchased package. The situation is completely different if the user lives in a village or small town. In this case, citizens are content with terrestrial analog television channels, which are not always transmitted in good quality. Analog signal transmission is not immune to interference, and depending on the antenna, some channels cannot be tuned in at all. In this case, users install special satellite dishes.

Satellite TV is quite popular among users of small towns. It gives access to a large number of channels. But not everyone can afford to purchase special equipment for connecting satellite television. In addition, satellite TV has a number of inconveniences:

to tune the antenna to different satellites to increase the number of channels, you need to buy additional heads;
you need to call a specialist to configure and install the equipment;
Recently, many channels are encrypted and in order to access them you need to pay extra.

Therefore, the t2 tuner will be a good alternative for residents of small towns and villages, as well as country houses.

The concept of digital broadcasting and the dvb t2 format

Before choosing which digital set-top box is suitable for a dvb t2 TV, let’s consider what digital television is and the dvb t2 format.

Digital television is a method of transmitting video and audio data streams by encoding them through digital channels. There are several digital broadcasting standards that are established by special international organizations:

Japanese standard;
European;
American.

For the territory of the Russian Federation, the European digital television standard is used.

According to the type of signal transmission, digital television can be:

Terrestrial or terrestrial television DVB T2 is a new generation format for digital terrestrial broadcasting. When using dvb t2, data is transmitted by special repeaters that transmit sound and picture. To receive data from the repeater, special set-top boxes or tuners built into the TV are used. Moreover, a regular street antenna is suitable for receiving data.
Satellite. This format uses a satellite signal to transmit data, which is transmitted to a satellite in low-Earth orbit and then received by a special satellite antenna.
Cable television is a method of transmitting a digital signal through a cable connection. As a rule, cable television is provided to companies by providers who charge users a subscription fee depending on the connected package.

Positive aspects of digital data transmission:

high level of immunity to interference. We can say that with digital data transmission there is no interference, the picture is either in good quality or completely absent;
for the digital format, low power transmitters are used;
excellent picture and sound quality;
more television programs;
ability to customize language and subtitles;
additional capabilities for recording, storing and managing video.

When transmitting data using digital encoding, there are also disadvantages:

if the signal level is not strong enough, the image is received in the form of small squares;
dependence on weather conditions. During a thunderstorm, blizzard or strong wind, the signal is practically absent;
the need for a large number of signal repeater centers.

What are digital T2 tuners used for?

A digital tuner is a device that provides reception and transmission of digital data, converting it into a format understandable to the TV.

DVB T2 set-top boxes are designed for receiving terrestrial television. There are two types of receivers:

Built-in. Devices that are initially included in the basic package of the TV. They are an integral part of the device. Information about whether the TV has a built-in receiver is indicated on the packaging.
External. These receivers are independent devices; they are connected to the TV through special connectors or a USB port.

The benefits of using dvb t2 tuners:

low cost of the device;
there is no need to spend additional money on equipment, since the tuner works with a regular analog antenna;
increasing the number of received terrestrial television channels;
better picture and sound quality;
The device is well suited for populated areas without cable television. For example, a remote village or a suburban area.

On the other hand, receivers are inconvenient because the signal quality depends on:

because of how far away the repeater tower is;
on the height of the antenna used;
from weather conditions.

Review of DVB T2 set-top boxes

Let's review some receiver models so that each buyer can decide which of the set-top boxes is the best digital dvb t2 set-top box specifically for him.

Tuner Lumax DVB T2 model 1000 hd. A compact attachment, shaped like a regular whistle. Connects to TV via USB port. The device is activated when the TV is turned on, so it does not require a power connection. A fairly sensitive device that provides good quality signal transmission.
Selenga model HD860D. An inexpensive receiver that provides fast channel switching and high image quality. The high sensitivity of the device allows it to be selected for locations farthest from the transmission tower.
World Vision T A fairly simple and inexpensive tuner with the ability to connect various drives, which allows the user to view videos in AVI, MP3 and MKV format. This set-top box only supports the ability to receive a live broadcast signal, and cannot be used for encrypted pay television channels.
GI Matrix Lite. A universal device that works with satellite and terrestrial television formats. Additional features of this tuner include a built-in media player, WI-FI connection, and a card receiver.
BBK series SMP124HDT2. The receiver, working with the T2 format, has a built-in player and the ability to connect additional media. One of the advantages of this device is the electronic TV program.
Galaxy Innovations model VU/Duo 2. A receiver that is quite expensive, but despite this remains the best seller among devices of this type. Provides high-quality image transmission, has the ability to connect WI-FI and access the Internet. The device has additional connectors for connecting other types of cards, as well as a receiver for pay channel cards.

Choosing a receiver for terrestrial television is not so difficult, since often these devices are designed and used only for receiving and decoding one type of digital broadcasting. More complex models are equipped with built-in players that read various video file formats or the ability to connect flash cards, hard drives, and Internet access. If the device has a receiver for pay television cards, then the user can connect to one of the providers at any time and increase the range of received channels. Receivers with additional functions, in addition to the function of receiving terrestrial television, allow you to expand the capabilities of even the most ordinary old-model TV. This attracts users, since it is much cheaper to purchase a receiver with additional capabilities than to buy a newer TV model. Terrestrial terrestrial television receivers are especially relevant for residents of settlements that do not have the ability to connect to cable TV.