How to Get True HDTV Content On Your New TV

Many people bring home a new HDTV and look forward to the excitement of viewing a true high definition picture. But is it really that simple? Well it can be - if you follow a few guidelines and understand the nature of real HD content and where it comes from.

An HDTV doesn't give you high definition content - it simply means that you have the pixels to display high definition sources in all their glory. Let's take a look at four types of high definition sources most commonly received by HDTVs:

Option 1: Blu-ray Disc (HIgh Definition DVD)

Blu-ray (or the now-deceased HD DVD) will provide 1080p source content for use on all high definition televisions and displays. Blu-ray is much different from a regular DVD in that it stores a much greater amount of information. As a result, Blu-ray can store high definition video which far exceeds the resolution of standard definition DVDs.

Tech Note: Blu-ray is now up to Profile 1.1 which Sony comically calls "Final Standard Profile" even though there is another profile around the corner (BD-Live or Profile 2.0). The current Profile 1.1 has 256MB of local storage, 64KB of persistent memory and mandates a secondary video and audio decoder for PIP functions. Profile 1.1 players do not have any Internet connectivity.

To connect a Blu-ray or HD DVD player to your HDTV you'll want to use an HDMI cable. This ensures that you get the highest quality picture available. If you have an HDMI-capable receiver, you'll need two (2) cables. One to connect the high definition disc player to your AV receiver (this pulls the audio and video from the HDMI output) and one to go from the AV receiver to your HD television.

What You Need:

• High definition television or display (should have HDMI inputs for best results) | Shop
  
• High definition disc player (Blu-ray or HD DVD) | Shop
  
• High definition disc player (Blu-ray or HD DVD) movie | Search Online
  

Option 2: High Definition CableTV

High definition broadcasts have been available on CableTV for over 3 years now. Each year it seems more and more channels and program material are added. In addition to this, more and more stations and television shows are producing their content in high definition. To get true high definition content out of your CableTV company, however, you'll need to ensure you have an HD set top box or a high definition television that has what's known as a QAM tuner capable of decoding unscrambled HD signals from the cable line. Most people have an HD set top box. Some of the most common set-top boxes are:

• Scientific Atlanta 8000HD or 8300HD Explorer (includes a digital video recorder (DVR))
• Scientific Atlanta 3250HD and 4250HD
• Motorola DCT6412 and DCT3412 HD DVR

In theory, most CableTV companies offer an array of "free" (with digital cable subscription) HD channels, including most networks and PBS channels (plus channels like Discovery HD, TNTHD, and more). If you have (or request) a high definition CableTV set-top box, you should get these services automatically with your service. Additional HD channels are also available for a premium price.

Tech Note: Some advanced users may integrate a third-party set-top box or DVR like a TiVo which use what's known as a CableCARD. CableCARDs can be ordered from your local CableTV provider and allow the box to receive digital and high definition television channels. Recently, displays have started to come equipped with CableCARD ports as well, allowing you to forgo the set-top box altogether. A QAM equipped display cannot, without the addition of a CableCARD, receive premium channels.

Once you have everything set up from the cable company it's as simple as connecting the set-top box to your AV receiver and/or display via HDMI or component video. Keep in mind that some cable boxes have issues when connecting via HDMI through certain AV receivers. This is due to a firmware issue with the cable box and the workaround is to simply use the component video outputs which are capable of up to 720p/1080i resolution. For most people, however, HDMI from the set-top box to a compatible AV receiver is the way to go. The receiver can then output HDMI to your HDTV for the best picture quality possible.

What You Need:

• High definition television or display (should have HDMI inputs for best results) | Shop
• High definition digital CableTV service
• High definition CableTV set-top box or DVR (digital video recorder) or a television with a built-in QAM tuner and/or CableCARD port.

Option 3: High Definition Satellite TV

This option is almost identical to the previous configuration for CableTV. HD broadcasts have been available on satellite for around the same length of time as their CableTV counterparts. To get true high definition content out of your satellite service you'll need to have both a high definition-capable satellite dish and a set-top box capable of receiving high definition channels.

Currently, satellite offers a tremendous amount of HD channel selection (much more than CableTV) but cable companies are slowly catching up and are capturing at least the major channels as fast as they are able. You may not get ESPN 17 in HD, but you're likely to have the SciFi HD channel by year's end.

Most satellite contracts come with some sort of installation and hardware and upgrades to HD are no exception if you score the right deal. After getting everything in place you'll simply want to connect the HDMI or component video output of the satellite receiver to your AV receiver and from there to your display.

Tech Note: QAM tuners only work with CableTV and do not work with satellite television.

What You Need:

• High definition television or display (should have HDMI inputs for best results) | Shop
• High definition digital satellite service
• High definition digital satellite set-top box or DVR (digital video recorder)

Option 4: Over-the-Air (OTA) HDTV

If you live in a metropolitan area, chances are you can pick up most or even all of the major TV networks in high definition without subscribing to either cable or satellite. The only hardware you'll need, aside from a television with an ATSC tuner, is a standard indoor or outdoor antenna which typically runs from $75-$125. What type of antenna will depend on how far away you are from your local TV stations, and how far apart those channels are spread out. Go to http://www.antennaweb.org for an easy way to plot out the location of all digital stations in your local. Indoor antennas tend to have a very limited range, so for most applications we suggest outdoor.

If your television doesn't have an ATSC tuner you can pick up an external tuner box for under $100. These boxes can also come with additional advanced options such as an on-board QAM tuner or CableCARD capability. The options are endless, so shop around for something that meets your particular needs.

Once you find and install the right antenna - and for less than most people pay for a couple months of CableTV or satellite service - you're ready for free HDTV. The ATSC tuner in your television will take the RF input of the antenna and allow you to tune in the high definition networks and PBS channels. The advantage to OTA high definition is that it is uncompressed. That means it actually looks far better than HD provided by CableTV or satellite. Knowing this, you can see why OTA isn't just for people looking to save money - it's actually used by people who want better high definition quality than that offered by other sources. The drawback, of course, is that you are limited to the number of channels that are available.

What You Need:

• High definition television or display with internal or external ATSC tuner | Shop
• Indoor or outdoor antenna of sufficient range to pick up HD channels | Shop
  
• Local HD television stations | Search on Antennaweb.org
  

Hopefully this clears up some misconceptions regarding HDTV and what you can expect when bringing a new television home. For those coming from a CRT-based, standard definition world, getting a new display is only the beginning. It's important to make sure you have the required high definition source content in order to enjoy the full potential of your new television. It's a worthwhile effort and one we know will change the way you view TV forever.