What to Know Before You Purchase a High Definition Television
Almost all of the televisions on the market today offer a high definition (HD) signal. Owning a high definition television (HDTV) is a little different than owning a normal analog television. In many ways it is easier to set up a high def TV and connect it to all of your peripherals. You do need to understand which channels broadcast high definition and which broadcast a normal signal. Unless you are signed up to a service that provides an HD signal, most of the benefits of having a HDTV will be pretty much wasted.
How High Def Changes Normal Broadcasts
A high definition TV will make any picture look better on your screen. Even if the picture is not delivered in HD, the images will be sharper and the colors will be brighter because of the built in HD technology. Normal broadcasts will still be fuzzier and less bright than broadcasts that are delivered using this type of signal. You may be a little disappointed when you hook up your new high def TV set and do not see an immediate difference in your picture quality. The clarity of the signal will have a great deal to do with how much the television can improve the picture. If you receive a grainy signal through your normal provider, the HDTV will still display a grainy signal.
Finding High Definition Broadcasts
You can find out which channels broadcast in HD by looking at your local broadcast schedule. The television channel will usually display a special emblem in the corner of the screen when it is being broadcasted in high definition. These broadcasts are on different channels than the normal broadcast, so you will probably have a set of stations that are identical to the normal broadcast channels at one end of the channel spectrum. Most HD signals broadcast through cable or satellite providers. You may have to purchase a different viewing package to take advantage of the majority of the HD stations that are available.
Setting the Screen Size
Screen size makes a big difference in high definition viewing, especially if your screen is more than 15". The HD channel will broadcast in a square format, regardless of the rectangular orientation of your screen. You can choose to stretch the image to fill the screen, which will distort the picture a little bit. You can also choose to view the picture in a square with two bands of unused space on either side of the picture.
When You Need an HDMI Cable
When you purchase a HD television, you will probably notice a display of HDMI cables near the televisions. An HDMI cable allows a high definition signal to be passed through peripheral devices so that it is displayed properly on the television. You should purchase one of these cables if you plan to use a DVD or BluRay player with your television. HDMI cables also make it easier to hook up gaming systems that use high definition graphics. If you do not own any HD items that plug into your television, an HDMI cable is not necessary.
For more information on high definition television, visit [http://watchhidef.com].
How High Def Changes Normal Broadcasts
A high definition TV will make any picture look better on your screen. Even if the picture is not delivered in HD, the images will be sharper and the colors will be brighter because of the built in HD technology. Normal broadcasts will still be fuzzier and less bright than broadcasts that are delivered using this type of signal. You may be a little disappointed when you hook up your new high def TV set and do not see an immediate difference in your picture quality. The clarity of the signal will have a great deal to do with how much the television can improve the picture. If you receive a grainy signal through your normal provider, the HDTV will still display a grainy signal.
Finding High Definition Broadcasts
You can find out which channels broadcast in HD by looking at your local broadcast schedule. The television channel will usually display a special emblem in the corner of the screen when it is being broadcasted in high definition. These broadcasts are on different channels than the normal broadcast, so you will probably have a set of stations that are identical to the normal broadcast channels at one end of the channel spectrum. Most HD signals broadcast through cable or satellite providers. You may have to purchase a different viewing package to take advantage of the majority of the HD stations that are available.
Setting the Screen Size
Screen size makes a big difference in high definition viewing, especially if your screen is more than 15". The HD channel will broadcast in a square format, regardless of the rectangular orientation of your screen. You can choose to stretch the image to fill the screen, which will distort the picture a little bit. You can also choose to view the picture in a square with two bands of unused space on either side of the picture.
When You Need an HDMI Cable
When you purchase a HD television, you will probably notice a display of HDMI cables near the televisions. An HDMI cable allows a high definition signal to be passed through peripheral devices so that it is displayed properly on the television. You should purchase one of these cables if you plan to use a DVD or BluRay player with your television. HDMI cables also make it easier to hook up gaming systems that use high definition graphics. If you do not own any HD items that plug into your television, an HDMI cable is not necessary.
For more information on high definition television, visit [http://watchhidef.com].
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