- In this report
- Overview
- How to judge image quality
- What you need for HDTV
ELECTRONICS FORUMS  Get real-world advice from others about choosing a new TV, digital camera, computer or cell phone. |
March 2007
What you need to watch HDTV
When you plug in your new HDTV, everything won’t magically become high-definition. Here’s what you need to watch HD:
HD gear. You must lease or buy equipment from your cable, satellite, or phone company and sign up for HD service. (You may be able to get free off-air HD if you’re close to a station and have an antenna and an HD tuner in your TV or a set-top box.)
The right connections. You must connect your box to the TV with component-video or HDMI cables. Composite-video and S-video cables don’t carry HD.
An HD channel. You must tune in an HD channel, which has a different number than the standard-definition channel. Cablevision’s New York customers get the regular version of CBS on channel 2; the HD version on 702. (In some cases, digital channels are labeled 2.1, 2.2, and so on.)
A true HD program. Even HD channels often show standard-definition content. Dark bars on the sides of an image usually mean you’re watching standard-definition.
HD gear. You must lease or buy equipment from your cable, satellite, or phone company and sign up for HD service. (You may be able to get free off-air HD if you’re close to a station and have an antenna and an HD tuner in your TV or a set-top box.)
The right connections. You must connect your box to the TV with component-video or HDMI cables. Composite-video and S-video cables don’t carry HD.
An HD channel. You must tune in an HD channel, which has a different number than the standard-definition channel. Cablevision’s New York customers get the regular version of CBS on channel 2; the HD version on 702. (In some cases, digital channels are labeled 2.1, 2.2, and so on.)
A true HD program. Even HD channels often show standard-definition content. Dark bars on the sides of an image usually mean you’re watching standard-definition.
