HDTV Sources

Just because you buy a HD television does not mean that you will be watching your video in High Definition. The second fundamental part of receiving HD television is having a HD source. There are a few different types of sources that you can use depending on what is available to you and what you want to watch.

Off-air HD Television

Probably one of the most common ways to receive HD television is also the free way. In many areas local TV stations will broadcast in HD during primetime and sporting events. To pickup these broadcasts all you need is a TV antenna and a HDTV that has a ATSC ((Digital TV) DTV) tuner.

To find if off-air HD television stations are available in your area Antennaweb offers a search feature to tell you if there are any local stations broadcasting in HD that you could receive (note that stations that offer off-air HD will have -DT after their call sign). It will also tell you what size antenna and how far away you are from the broadcasting stations.

*NOTE* An ATSC tuner is a feature that is not in all HD television sets and something to look for when buying a HDTV. You can have an HDTV set that does not have an ATSC tuner and requires some other sort of HD source (you will not be able to receive off-air HD television).

If your HD television set does have an ATSC tuner, all you need to do is hook up your antenna via a standard coax connector (this will be the type of wire that comes from your antenna and will screw into the back of your TV). Also make sure that you connect your antenna up to the ATSC tuner as many times HD television sets with ATSC tuners will also have a standard non-HD tuner that has the same type of connector (this tuner is like that in any TV and will only pickup non-HD channels).

(Coax Connection)

Cable

Another possible way to receive HD broadcasts is to subscribe to an HD package from your cable company. Many cable companies offer HD packages which will add a few select stations to your channel lineup that are broadcasted in HD. Not all of your channels will be in HD though as generally only a few select stations are added to your lineup that are broadcasted in HD (you will have to look into the package from your cable company to see what stations they offer you in HD).

Most cable companies will provide a set top box that will plug into your HDTV via a HDMI or Component connection (all HDTVs either have one or the other or both). Another way of connecting the HD cable to your HDTV is by the use of a cable card. If your HDTV has a cable card slot, the cable company can install a cable card in your TV instead of using a set top box. The main advantage is not having the extra set top box, so if you HDTV does not have a cable card slot (most do not), it is not a big problem and you are not missing out on anything.

Satellite

If cable is not available in your area, Satellite companies like DirecTV and Dish Network both offer HD packages as well that again use a set top box that will connect to your HDTV via a HDMI or Component connection. Again these packages will add a few stations to your channel lineup that will be broadcast in HD, the rest of the channels will most likely still be in standard non-HD definition.

Upconverted DVD

A relatively new technology on the market is Upconverting DVD players. These special DVD players will take your standard DVDs and play them back in a higher Semi-HD resolution. I say Semi-HD as the picture is still not as good as a real HD source, but it does make DVDs look better than if they were played back on a normal DVD player.

Upconverting DVD players will generally connect to your HDTV via Component, HDMI, or DVI connections.

HD-DVD and Blu-ray

The newest technology on the market, HD-DVD and Blu-ray are two competing formats that are going to be the next big movie format (VHS --> DVD --> HD-DVD or Blu-ray). Currently there is no clear winner on which one is going to stick around (similar to the early Betamax vs. VHS battle) but eventually one will be the next standard.

Both of these formats are in disc form like DVD, but they play in HD quality. Currently both are very expensive as well, so it probably will be best to wait awhile before purchasing either one. HD-DVD and Blu-ray players connect via HDMI or Component, but generally HDMI is the preferred method.

Summary

For most people, the easiest and cheapest way to receive HD broadcasts will be to use off-air. You will need to make sure that you have an ATSC tuner in your new HDTV to be able to receive these free HD broadcasts if available in your area. For those that do not have an HDTV with an ATSC tuner, do not live in an area with off-air HD broadcasts, or just want more HD channels that on off-air HD, Cable and Satellite providers offer HD packages with extra channels.

Movie buffs will want to at least look into a Upconverting DVD player to make your already purchased DVDs look better on your new HDTV, but in the future may want to look into a HD-DVD or Blu-ray player to get actual HD from HD-DVD or Blu-ray movies that you can purchase.

Read on for more HD info:
- Intro to HD
- Types of HDTVs
- HDTV Connections

CategoryHD

Tech Islands Wiki : HDTVSources