Choosing HDTV

Everything You Need To Know About HDTV

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:04:00 +0000

By Steve Kindig

HDTV has arrived. Millions of people are already enjoying its crystal-clear picture and sound, and you could be, too.

HDTV is the most exciting part of America's transition from the 65-year-old analog TV broadcasting system to an all-digital system. There are hours of HDTV programs on every night of the week. Those are the shows with an onscreen message at the beginning: "Presented in high definition where available." Some viewers see that message and mistakenly think they're seeing HDTV on their 15-year-old set. It's not quite that simple.

To experience true high-definition television in your home, you need a source of HDTV signals, a tuner to receive and decode those signals, and a high-performance display screen that can reproduce the remarkable detail and color of HDTV images. Many people have invested thousands of dollars in an HDTV without giving much thought to what they'll be watching on it. This article will help you put all the pieces of the puzzle together so you can avoid costly mistakes and experience the full magnificence of HDTV.

How to find HDTV signals in your area

The three basic ways to receive high-definition programs are described below. Once you know what type(s) of HDTV signals are available, you'll have a clearer idea of what equipment you need to watch them.

Over-the-air broadcasts: Digital TV broadcasts are currently being transmitted by over 1500 local stations across the country covering over 99% of U.S. TV households (as of 1/06). Visit this website to find stations broadcasting digital signals in your area — just enter your zip code (the site also lists local cable HD availability). Over 90% of digital stations broadcast in the normal UHF range (channels 14 through 83), so you can receive them with a standard UHF antenna. For antenna info that's specific to your address, visit the Consumer Electronics Association's antenna selector website.

What you need:

HD-compatible TV
HDTV (ATSC) tuner — separate unit or built into TV
indoor or outdoor UHF or UHF/VHF antenna
local HDTV broadcasts (they're free!)

Cable HDTV: Cable TV providers now offer the option of HDTV service to about 90% of subscribers, especially those living in medium- and big-city TV markets. This website lets you quickly check HD cable availability in your area. Don't confuse "digital cable" with HDTV via cable. Digital cable usually means that you get more channels, and the picture quality may look a little better than regular cable, but it's not HDTV. If your cable provider does offer HDTV, you'll probably need to upgrade your cable box to an HDTV-capable model.

What you need:

HD-compatible TV
HD-compatible cable box (or TV with built-in digital cable tuner: QAM or CableCARD-ready)
HD programming (subscription required)

Most new HDTVs include a built-in "QAM" digital cable TV tuner, which lets cable subscribers watch most unscrambled cable channels without using a set-top box. CableCARD-ready TVs offer access to additional programming via a special card slot designed to accept a CableCARD™. This CableCARD is a removable security card that allows the TV to receive premium (scrambled) digital cable programming without using a set-top box. The CableCARD doesn't duplicate all cable box features and capabilities, and fewer new HDTVs have a CableCARD slot due to lack of support by cable companies. Contact your local cable provider for details regarding the availability and costs of CableCARD-related services.

Digital satellite TV: If you live in the contiguous 48 states and have a clear view of the southern sky, you can probably receive HDTV programs via satellite. DIRECTV® and DISHNetwork® currently offer a limited number of HDTV channels. Viewers who live in large cities may be able to get their local stations in HD via satellite, too. Otherwise, some combination of satellite/antenna or satellite/cable may be necessary to receive the exact channel mix you desire.

What you need:

HD-compatible TV
HD-compatible satellite receiver
HD-compatible satellite dish
HD programming (subscription required)

High-definition picture quality quickly grows addictive, and many HDTV owners are impatient with the limited amount of HD material available from the sources mentioned above. With the introduction of two high-definition disc formats — HD DVD and Blu-ray — we can finally enjoy high-def versions of our favorite movies whenever we want.

Plasma Flat Screen TV Options And Advice

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 16:48:00 +0000

By: Richard Henderson
There are just too many reasons to get a plasma flat screen TV but I will try my best to provide as many as I can. What better way to talk myself into making a purchase like this than to explain the benefits of owning this piece of equipment? A plasma flat screen TV is the perfect addition to any home.

The first benefit is the television’s size. Sure, the plasma flat screen TV comes in many different sizes but not one of these items will take up too much room. I have a very small home and I used to dream of having a big screen television. Unfortunately, I just don’t have the room to accommodate the entertainment system.

The plasma flat screen TV solves the problem I have with space in my quaint little home. This unit can be mounted right on the wall, leaving room for extra seating and furniture in the area. I can get rid of my bulky entertainment system that holds my pitiful 24 inch television and replace it with a nice set of leather arm chairs and table.

The space-saving design is one of the most appealing aspects of the plasma flat screen TV but there are other benefits to owning a piece of equipment like this. Rather than going to the sports bar to see my favorite events on a large screen, I can stay home and view the games on my plasma flat screen TV .

The unit will save me hundreds of dollars in beer and food alone. Eating and drinking out can be very expensive. I won’t feel the urge to go to a sports bar if I can entertain at home for the fraction of the price. I can see how the plasma flat screen TV can practically transform my game room into a virtual sporting arena.

Of course, I have the benefit of making my friends and relatives super jealous, too. This is always a real plus for me. The plasma flat screen TV will be the envy of everyone I know but it will also be the tool for getting friends and family together during holidays and special events.

Sure, I can expect to pay quite a bit for a plasma flat screen TV but there are just too many perks to consider. I can really see this entertainment unit in my home. Not only will it make my home more spacious; it will make it the choice gathering place for friends and family.
Article Source : http://www.articlebiz.com

Choosing Screen Size Your TV

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 14:57:00 +0000

Choosing screen size

The expression "bigger is better" actually makes a pretty reasonable guideline when choosing TV screen size. Our experience has been that in most situations — and especially for a home theater system — you should go with the largest screen your room, viewing distance, and budget will accommodate. That's because we occasionally hear people wishing their TV's screen was bigger, but rarely hear them wishing their screen was smaller.

Sitting the right distance from your TV is an important part of optimizing the viewing experience. Sitting too far away diminishes the overall impact. At the same time, sitting too close is also less than ideal. A good indication that you're sitting too close to a screen is if you find yourself distracted by the screen's "structure" — those tiny "dots" (pixels), or for CRT-based TVs, horizontal scan lines. Fortunately, with today's high-definition TVs, you can sit closer than you could with older analog TVs.

If you're not sure which screen size is best for your room size, check the guidelines below. You can also use our guidelines to get an idea of appropriate viewing distance from your current TV, or a TV you're considering. We've used a viewing distance range because the ideal distance may vary slightly based on signal quality and other factors.

Screen size	Viewing distance range
30"	3.75-6.25 feet
34"	4.25-7 feet
42"	5.25-8.75 feet
50"	6.25-10.5 feet
56"	7-11.75 feet
62"	7.75-13 feet
70"	8.75-14.75 feet

Note: This chart should not be used to determine screen sizes for front projectors, because front projector screen recommendations are not based solely on viewing distance.