1- I have a Panasonic TV (PT-53TW54)that has a "digital scan rate of 1080i,540P". I'm not sure if that means it has a digital tuner. Do I need a digital converter for this unit? 2- I'm using a converter with my JVC analogue TV in the house. I'm getting many more channels that I didn't have before. If Panasonic unit has a digital receiver, then why I can't get the same channels on it as the analogue one? 3- I'm using an glorified rabbit's ear kind antenna that feeds both TVs. If I get better signal coming in (by means of a better antenna), would I get even more channels? Thank you

1. Do I need any additional equipment to watch HDTV broadcasts on my HDTV-compatible TV?
In order to view over-the-air (OTA) HDTV broadcasts, you need to be within the reception area of a TV station broadcasting HDTV signals. Some TVs may require a set-top HDTV tuner and an external antenna to receive the broadcasts. Your cable or satellite provider may also offer HDTV channels as a part of their service, eliminating the need for a separate tuner. Please contact your local service provider to find out what kind of HDTV services they may offer.

2. What is CableCARD and how does it work?
HDTVs with CableCARD slots can accept a small card from your cable provider that allows you to receive standard definition and high definition digital broadcasts without a bulky set-top cable box. Please call your cable company to find out if they offer this service in your area.

1- I have a Panasonic - line_gold.gifuploads/images/line_gold.gif" alt="line_1- I have a Panasonic - spacer.gifclass="h_mi" /> 3. What is HDMI? Is it compatible with DVI?
HDMI, which stands for "High-Definition Multimedia Interface", is the consumer electronic industry's first connection capable of transmitting uncompressed digital audio/video signals. Components featuring HDMI can transmit both digital audio and video over one convenient cable, replacing the tangled mess that resides behind many home theater components. HDMI also offers improved quality over traditional analog connections thanks to all-digital transmission. Digital sources like DVDs and HDTV programming can now be transferred digitally from source to display without analog conversions that can degrade the original signal.

Unlike the HDMI interface, DVI only handles digital video. Through the use of an adapter, a DVI device can be connected to an HDMI device, but only video content can be transmitted. The audio signal would have to be transmitted through other methods such as analog RCA outputs or an optical digital output.

4. What's the difference between 720p and 1080i HDTV broadcasts? Does my CRT projection HDTV support both?
HDTV signals can be broadcast in either 720p and 1080i. It's up to the broadcaster which signal format to use, and both have their benefits. Our CRT projection HDTVs display 1080i signals in their native format. For 720p broadcasts, you can use the settings on your HDTV set-top tuner, cable box, or satellite tuner to convert a 720p signal into a 1080i signal that your TV can display.

5. Why do I still see black bars on my widescreen TV when viewing certain widescreen DVDs and HDTV broadcasts?
Your widescreen TV has an aspect ratio of 16:9 (1.78:1), which is the aspect ratio of HDTV. However, movies are filmed at several different aspect ratios, including 2.35:1. Also referred to as "scope", 2.35:1 is a very panoramic aspect ratio that provides a wide field of view in the theater. Scope is much wider than your widescreen TV, so it still requires the use of letterboxing ("black bars") to fit the entire image on screen. Some TVs and DVD players have a zoom function that allows you to blow up the image so it fills the screen, but the sides of the image must be cropped in order to do so.

6. What will 4:3 broadcasts and DVDs look like on a widescreen TV?
There are multiple settings for adjusting the appearance of 4:3 material on Panasonic widescreen TVs. It can be viewed with black bars on the sides, preserving the way it was originally intended to be viewed. Some viewers find the black bars distracting, so they might prefer one of the stretch modes that lets you fill the entire TV screen with the image. One such mode is the JUST (justify) mode, which stretches only the outer portion of the picture while leaving the center untouched.