“Set top box” (STB) is a term that can include any type of accessory that may connect to the HDTV.  Common STBs are satellite receivers, cable TV receivers, OTA receivers, DVD players, VCRs, and so on.  In the HDTV era, an STB usually has a large memory where the image is reassembled out of the MPEG-2 data. And despite the name, you can choose to put it on top of, underneath or beside your existing analogue TV. Set-top boxes may also be called Set-Top Units (STU).

External receiver that converts broadcasts (such as analog cable, digital cable, or DTV) for display on a television. HDTV-ready TVs must be connected to a compatible HDTV tuner set-top box in order to receive digital television programs

It is also called box converters, these receptors become transmissions (analog cable, digital cable, or HDTV) for display on a TV. The TV ready for HDTV (those without HDTV tuner built-in) must connect to an HDTV tuner with a compatible receiver decoder to receive digital television programs.

Many Sony TVs now include integrated DVB-C reception for use on cable networks (please check the technical information to confirm which models this applies to). This allows customers to connect their Sony TV directly to the cable network via the aerial lead without requiring any set top box (STB).