Question : Can I use a HDTV cable tuner to get antenna ATSC broadcasts?
I have an older HDTV-ready TV but its tuner cannot pick up ATSC signals. I will have an outdoor antenna installed to get OTA reception. Standalone HDTV tuners are very expensive but I see a lot of people selling cable HDTV set-top boxes on ebay for 1/3 the price. Will these be able to pull in OTA HDTV signals? I’m in the USA
hdtv cable

Best answer:

Answer by megan n
no. cable boxes work on QAM tuners to get digital and NTSC to get the old analog. You need the ATSC tuners that the government was giving out coupons for. These tuner boxes are as cheap as $ 45 at Sams Club or Costco. A bit more at Radio Shack and Target.