Getting the Best High Definition Signal- Which HD Provider Has the Best Picture Quality

So you picked up a new high definition TV and hooked up the cable box, antenna or satellite dish receiver. You power on all the equipment in anticipation. Flipping through the channels, you say to yourself "Why does the picture quality look worse than it did in the store?" After flipping through almost every channel, your anticipation starts turning into disgust. You've been bamboozled! It must be a plot orchestrated by the television companies, cable co and retail electronics stores!

Fear not! More than likely, your new HD televisions lack of picture quality is probably due to other issues, other than the TV, itself.

The first thing you need to examine is the equipment connected to your television. By equipment, I mean the cable box or satellite dish receiver. In order to receive HD programming, you must subscribe to a High Definition programming package from your provider. Standard definition programing looks absolutely horrible on a High-Def television set. In fact, SD programing can look so terrible on an HDTV; your old tube television would seem like an upgrade in comparison.

I know what you are thinking- "I just spent a heck of a lot of money on a new TV, you want me to upgrade my service too???!!!"

Sure, I want you to get the most out of your brand new TV. However, this is why consumers should always do a fair amount of research on what HD is, and what is required to receive HD quality on your television. High Definition packages from cable and satellite companies are reasonably priced these days, but can add significantly to your bill if you order their absolute top tier offering.

When checking the equipment connected to your HDTV, take note of the connections available at the rear. The type of connection you use will have a major impact on picture quality. Most standard definition cable and satellite set top boxes have the conventional coaxial cable connection, in addition to composite RCA style plugs (Yellow, Red and White). More advanced boxes may also feature component RCA output plugs, as well (Orange/Red, Green, Blue, Red and White). Both component and composite style connections use the red plug for the right-channel audio, while the white plug connection is used for the left-channel. Composite connections offer better picture quality than a conventional coaxial cable connection, from the set top box to the television. Component video connections offer even better quality than composite and offer higher picture resolutions.

While using component or composite video cables will improve picture quality from standard definition set top boxes, you still aren't tapping into your televisions full potential.

If you have a high definition set top box from your cable or satellite provider, consider purchasing and connecting an HDMI cable for your HDTV. The small HDMI connection on your TV and High-Def set top box provides a pure High Definition digital signal. The connection supplies both audio and video signals in a compact single-cable form, while delivering up to 1080p resolution.

Another snag-point in terms of picture quality may rest with the service provider and how the HD programming is supplied to the customer. In an effort to deliver more HD programming choices, cable and satellite companies employ a type of compression technology that has a negative effect on picture quality. Pure HD quality programing takes a great deal of bandwidth to supply. Quality is improving due to upgrades in infrastructure; many subscribers are not happy with the situation and they are demanding for a solid solution to the problem.

Some customers have a great deal of choice in certain market areas when it comes to HD programming. Most all at least have a choice between a cable provider and satellite TV service. One surprising fact is that digital "over the air" channels you can receive from an antenna may have better picture quality than cable or satellite. Unfortunately, there are limited amounts of channels available over the air. The vast majority of polled consumers believe satellite provides better picture quality than cable. HD quality can vary from one provider to the next. The tradeoff (as explained earlier) has everything to do with compression techniques and programing choice. Similarly, telephone companies that have rolled out television programing also use compression to squeeze in as much HD programing choices as possible.

The winner in terms of picture quality (as of now) seems to be satellite. You must however weigh any choice in service providers in your area with what your television programming needs are. Examine your budget and research each individual company doing business in your market area. Do they provide good customer service? What are the area locals saying about the picture quality? What are your needs in terms of programing? Do you need several hundred HD channels to satisfy your needs?

All of the possible reasons for your television's "less than perfect" picture quality may take a little while to chew, but with the proper education and research, you will be able to get the most out of your HDTV experience.