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After quite a few google searches, I've found plenty of HDTV tuners for PCs or for OTA channels. But I did stumble across a Q/A from 2009 with a ? on QAM tuners.
Q: "Hello - my son is interested in the Samsung LN32A330 at Walmart, but I am not able to confirm by specs listed on the site or even on Samsung's site if this model has a QAM tuner. I believe we need a QAM tuner to pick up local HD channels without another set top box from Time Warner (Orange County CA). The Vizios list ATSC/QAM in their specs, but the Samsung does not. Does anyone know if the Samsung has the QAM tuner?
I'm thinking maybe all the sets with digital tuners have QAM, and maybe they just don't list it anymore. But I want to be sure before making a purchase."
A: "Specs....
by Samsung_HD_Tech - 2/6/09 9:06 PM
In Reply to: Does Samsung LN32A330 have a QAM tuner?
Page 7 of the manual (downloadable from the support portion of samsung.com) lists that it has the ability to unscramble cable signals without a box (QAM) and will have an ATSC Tuner.
QAM will unscramble cable channels, although this is primarily up to the cable companies which HD channels will be unscrambled. There varies from region to region.
ATSC is the new HD transmission format that will take over when the digital transition is put in place and the old one (NTSC) will drop off."
It really boils down to cost. Would you want to pay a few hundred $'s more to get an LCD-HDTV with built-in tuners over a box that may or may not work on all cable signals.
Additionally, Wiki shows good definition of purpose of QAM tuner:
"In North American digital video, a QAM tuner is a device present in some digital televisions and similar devices which enables direct reception of digital cable channels without the use of a set-top box."
"Most US TVs sold after 2006 include a QAM tuner,[citation needed] though some low end and less expensive models still do not include the functionality to tune QAM channels as of 2009."
Vickie
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