Post by Skaggs on Feb 23, 2005 13:30:54 GMT -5
IT TAKES MORE THAN A TV TO GET HIGH DEFINITION[/size]
Buying an HDTV doesn’t automatically get you HD content and optimal picture quality. You also need programming created in HD and transmitted the same way.
The majority of consumers get HD via cable, which requires an HD-capable box or a CableCard in a digital-cable-ready TV. For satellite, you need an HD-capable receiver and dish. With an antenna, you need an integrated TV with a built-in digital tuner or an HD-ready TV with a set-top box.
Cable. HD is available with digital-cable service as part of a certain programming tier. Digital cable usually costs $10 to $20 a month more than analog cable, and you may pay extra for an HD-capable box.
Most cable companies provide a number of channels in HD. Sports and movies are most commonly offered, along with the primetime programming and movies that the broadcast networks now provide in HD.
Satellite. The two major satellite companies, DirecTV and Dish Network, offer most of the same channels as cable, but little broadcast network HD, for homes with a line of sight to the satellite. HD fare adds about $10 to your monthly bill.
Antenna. If you live close enough to a station that transmits digitally and there are no obstructions blocking the signal, you may be able to get broadcast HD via antenna, typically rooftop. You’ll need a digital tuner—either in an integrated HDTV, a satellite receiver with an antenna input, or a set-top box—and a TV capable of displaying HD. There’s no monthly charge, but you will get only broadcast HD, not all the channels available on cable and satellite.
WHAT TO EXPECT WITH ANY HIGH-DEFINITION TV[/size]
NOT ALL LOOKS BETTER
While true HD programming should look great on a good HD set of any type, some so-called HD programming may not. Content recorded at lower resolution and up-converted to simulate HD has lower picture quality.
In addition, you’ll probably watch a fair amount of standand-definition content for a few years. Given a clean, strong analog signal, some HD sets make regular programming look better than on an analog TV. But with a poor signal, which sometimes occurs with cable, the picture can actually look worse.
DVDs look very good on decent standard-definition sets and can look better on HDTVs. You’ll see a bigger improvement with HD sets when high definition DVDs (in either Blu-ray or HD-DVD format) and the players that support them arrive, probably later this year.
MORE BUTTON-PRESSING
Even with a basic setup, you’ll probably have your HD set hooked up to a digital-cable box or satellite receiver, a DVD player, a VCR, and other components. For that, a lot of inputs and outputs need to be connected to the TV.
To change video sources on some remotes—say, from cable box to DVD player—you have to press the Input or Video button repeatedly to cycle through the inputs until you reach the desired source. Other remotes, like the one pictured, have designated buttons for each input.
Ask the installer to program the remote for you and to draw a diagram explaining the hookup. It could be a lifesaver if you have to disconnect things at some point. And be sure to try it out before the pro leaves.
Buying an HDTV doesn’t automatically get you HD content and optimal picture quality. You also need programming created in HD and transmitted the same way.
The majority of consumers get HD via cable, which requires an HD-capable box or a CableCard in a digital-cable-ready TV. For satellite, you need an HD-capable receiver and dish. With an antenna, you need an integrated TV with a built-in digital tuner or an HD-ready TV with a set-top box.
Cable. HD is available with digital-cable service as part of a certain programming tier. Digital cable usually costs $10 to $20 a month more than analog cable, and you may pay extra for an HD-capable box.
Most cable companies provide a number of channels in HD. Sports and movies are most commonly offered, along with the primetime programming and movies that the broadcast networks now provide in HD.
Satellite. The two major satellite companies, DirecTV and Dish Network, offer most of the same channels as cable, but little broadcast network HD, for homes with a line of sight to the satellite. HD fare adds about $10 to your monthly bill.
Antenna. If you live close enough to a station that transmits digitally and there are no obstructions blocking the signal, you may be able to get broadcast HD via antenna, typically rooftop. You’ll need a digital tuner—either in an integrated HDTV, a satellite receiver with an antenna input, or a set-top box—and a TV capable of displaying HD. There’s no monthly charge, but you will get only broadcast HD, not all the channels available on cable and satellite.
WHAT TO EXPECT WITH ANY HIGH-DEFINITION TV[/size]
NOT ALL LOOKS BETTER
While true HD programming should look great on a good HD set of any type, some so-called HD programming may not. Content recorded at lower resolution and up-converted to simulate HD has lower picture quality.
In addition, you’ll probably watch a fair amount of standand-definition content for a few years. Given a clean, strong analog signal, some HD sets make regular programming look better than on an analog TV. But with a poor signal, which sometimes occurs with cable, the picture can actually look worse.
DVDs look very good on decent standard-definition sets and can look better on HDTVs. You’ll see a bigger improvement with HD sets when high definition DVDs (in either Blu-ray or HD-DVD format) and the players that support them arrive, probably later this year.
MORE BUTTON-PRESSING
Even with a basic setup, you’ll probably have your HD set hooked up to a digital-cable box or satellite receiver, a DVD player, a VCR, and other components. For that, a lot of inputs and outputs need to be connected to the TV.
To change video sources on some remotes—say, from cable box to DVD player—you have to press the Input or Video button repeatedly to cycle through the inputs until you reach the desired source. Other remotes, like the one pictured, have designated buttons for each input.
Ask the installer to program the remote for you and to draw a diagram explaining the hookup. It could be a lifesaver if you have to disconnect things at some point. And be sure to try it out before the pro leaves.