SolveYourProblem
HDTV Article Series
Buying
a High Definition Television (HDTV)
HDTV
Capable or HDTV Ready: What It Means
Shopping for a new high definition television
can be confusing if you do not understand what is on the market.
There are many types of HDTV available today. Long gone are
the days of simply picking any television because it is the
right brand or the right size. There are LCD screens, rear
projections, flat screen and plasma sets. There are also HDTV-capable
and HDTV-ready sets. What does all this mean and how do you
go about picking what is right for you?
Consumers can purchase plasma, LCD (liquid crystal display),
DLP (digital light processing) or LCOS (liquid crystal on silicon),
which are all types of monitors. There are also projection
displays to consider. They also come in LCD, DLP, and LCOS.
Many viewers prefer the wall display monitor that either plasma
or LCD offers. But, these are usually most expensive of the
high definition sets, especially the ones that are sized between
40 to 70 inches. Lower on the cost spectrum, but equally good,
are the LCD displays that are sized at 42 inches and under.
High definition televisions are popular because they offer
a brighter, clearer picture resolution and work well with a
surround sound audio system. Movie enthusiasts love HDTV because
it offers the whole picture on the screen instead of cutting
off part of the picture at the top or bottom.
Screen resolution from a high definition TV broadcasts is
almost five times as sharp as conventional broadcasts. High
definition has double the lines of resolution compared to a
traditional analog TV set. While a traditional analog set can
only display 525 lines of resolution, HDTV technology takes
this one step further. HDTV broadcasts can display 1080 horizontal
lines of resolution. This makes a huge difference in the picture
clarity and quality. Often with big screen analog broadcasts,
the picture is severely degraded because of the resolution
lines.
One thing to consider when purchasing a new HDTV set is to
think about the differences between a television marked HDTV-capable
and HDTV-ready. HD-ready sets have the HDTV receiver
and/or decoder built-in. This enables the TV set to get over-the-air
high definition signals from local networks.
The
HD-capable set requires the addition of an external receiver
or decoder in order to receive digital broadcasts. HDTV-capable
means that the TV set is able to receive high definition signals,
but only with the use of an HDTV converter box that is available
from the cable or satellite company, or a digital tuner and
over-the-air antenna. A converter box can be rented cheaply
each month or you can purchase one for a few hundred dollars.
Many HDTV sets available on the market now have built-in digital
tuners that allow you to view the free digital broadcasts from
major local networks.
Additionally, converter
boxes that are compatible with analog televisions can be
purchased. These special converter boxes
or adapters cost approximately $100. The picture will be similar
to analog, but will be in digital format. The only downfall
to this is that if there is a weak digital signal, there could
be no picture on the screen at all. HD-capable televisions
are generally less expensive than that HD-ready sets.
To
receive over-the-air broadcasts, you will need an antenna
for your signal and a high definition set with a built-in HDTV
tuner or you will need a high definition-ready television with
a separate tuner. Many of the televisions on the market today
fall into this category. The OTA broadcasts are digital broadcast.
Over 1500 channels around the United States are currently OTA.
To receive OTA broadcasts, you will need to call your local
cable or satellite provider to see what is offered in your
area.
Something to keep in mind when shopping for your new HDTV
set is to find out what programming is available in your area
for high definition. Most all of the networks have two channels,
one in analog and one in high definition. They are not the
same. Unless your television is either HDTV-ready or capable,
you will not be able to view the high definition broadcasts.
Also, although nearly all networks do broadcast in high definition,
many times they will not show all programs in high definition.
Often, the networks broadcasts certain primetime specials and
major sporting events. It is important to find out what is
available in your area. Many people are disappointed to find
out that their favorite shows are not always offered in high
definition.
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SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
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