Home Theater & Entertainment TV & Displays 195 195 people found this article helpful Should You Get a DTV Converter Box or an HDTV? Only analog TVs require converter boxes by Matthew Torres Writer Former Lifewire writer Matthew Torres is a journalist who writes about television technology, consumer support articles, and TV-related news. our editorial process Matthew Torres Updated on September 11, 2020 TV & Displays Samsung Projectors Antennas HDMI & Connections Remote Controls Tweet Share Email A DTV converter box is a tuner that converts a signal from digital to analog so that a digital television (DTV) transmission can be used with an analog TV set. HDTVs do not require converter boxes, so if your set is so old that it needs one, you might as well consider an upgrade. DTV converters are also called DTAs (digital television adapters). Matthias Tunger / Getty Images Do I Need a DTV Converter Box for My TV? Because analog TV sets are no longer being manufactured, the only reason you would need a converter box is if you have a really old TV that only accepts analog signals. All analog TV transmissions ended in the US in 2009, so if you want to watch HD television on your old analog set, then you must get a DTV converter. If your TV has a built-in ATSC (digital) tuner, you can get your local broadcast stations in HD by using an antenna. Do HDTVs Require DTV Converter Boxes? All HDTVs are built to handle digital transmissions. In fact, connecting a DTV converter box to your HDTV will decrease the picture quality. If you have an HDTV, you'll only need a converter box if you want to connect an analog VCR.