The Hdtv Experience: How it Works

So you have finally purchased that HDTV, and you are now ready to view high definition television. Or so you think.

Tv Settings

The first question is which setting do you use for your HDTV. You have the coaxial cable, A/V, DVI, HDMI, 480i, 720i, 1080i, 1080p; etc. This can become quite confusing very quickly. For the best setting, you should use the HDMI cable and 1080p or 1080i. All of the other settings are relatively outdated. The older settings should still work, but the quality of the video will suffer depending on which outdated setting you use. It is arguable that there is very little difference between DVI and HDMI. Some people see a difference and some do not. Or the difference is so miniscule that most people do not care.

HDMI Cable Cost

The HDMI cable price will vary depending on where you buy it, and on the type of HDMI cable that you buy. The extremely cheap ones will cost around fifteen to twenty dollars, while you will have to spend around a hundred dollars or so for the more expensive HDMI cables.

The difference is debatable. Some people claim that the cheap HDMI cables are easily susceptible to other types of radio waves, and thus, the signal may be prone to constant interference. Of course, the more expensive HDMI cables have better "shielding" than their cheaper cousins do. You may just have to experiment on your own to discover which is right for you.

The Receiver

Your receiver for cable or satellite will also play a major role in determining whether or not you can actually receive a true HD signal. Older receivers may only let you go up to 720i or something along those lines. These receivers will probably not have an HDMI slot either. In fact, they may not go beyond A/V cables. So be sure you check and see if these ports are actually available for you to use before you purchase anything. You may have to either buy a new type of receiver or just settle for average quality.

Not All Channels

And not all channels have HD quality yet. This means that if you have a proper HDMI cable, HDTV, and a receiver capable of handling HD signals then you will still not be able to view some channels in HD. In fact, the channels that lack HD signals may look terrible on your HDTV. Eventually, these channels will all have HD signals; however, this may take years to happen.

HDTV is more complicated than many people realize. You can not just plug in your old satellite receiver to your HDTV and expect a great signal. You have to use all of the proper settings and gear. Is it worth it? That is up to you.