How to Get HDTV

To enjoy HDTV, you need the following:

1. A television set (display) capable of displaying high definition signals.
2. A tuner capable of receiving and decoding HDTV signals.
3. Proper connections (cables) between your components (TV, tuner, antenna)
4. An antenna for over the air (OTA) reception of local HDTV signals.

(You may not need an antenna if you get your local HDTV stations via your cable or satellite services.)

Digital TV broadcasts (SDTV, EDTV and HDTV) are available right now. But you do need to keep a few things in mind before you're ready to enjoy this TV revolution.

1. Your TV

When you are shopping for a Digital TV, remember that they come in two basic setups.

1. Digital TV without a digital tuner (upgradeable)
2. Digital TVs with a digital tuner built-in (integrated)

(For more information on the differences between the different types of Digital TV (SDTV, EDTV and HDTV), see what is Digital TV.)

You can opt for a TV that has the potential to display Digital images. These TVs are called "upgradeable". They are capable of showing you images with the increased clarity, smoothness and detail Digital TV offers if you connect them to a Digital Tuner. Upgradeable TVs are generally less expensive than TVs with a Digital Tuner built-in (integrated), and they are usually packed with the latest technology to make analog TV broadcasts look better. Additionally, if you have a progressive scan DVD player, you can enjoy the best picture possible from your DVDs on one of these Upgradeable TVs (even without a digital tuner). Additionally, with a separate tuner, there are two other advantages. If your TV (or tuner) should malfunction or be damaged, only part of your system has to be in the shop. Also, if over time, any changes to signal or services occur, you only have to get a new tuner, not a complete new TV set.

2. How will you receive your digital broadcasts?

There are three major ways to get your digital broadcasts.

One way to get HDTV is through satellite TV services such as DIRECTV or DISH Network. Satellite TV offers great HDTV programming from stations like HBO and ShowTime. DIRECTV also offers HDNet, a whole channel that shows nothing but HDTV broadcasts. If you have a HDTV upgradeable set, your Satellite TV receiver can act as your HDTV tuner.

In most major markets (major metropolitan areas), network shows are broadcast over the air in HDTV. You can watch prime time shows from CBS, NBC, ABC and PBS in HDTV right now. All you need is your HDTV (and a tuner if you have an HDTV Upgradeable set) and an antenna. The easiest way to see if HDTV broadcasts are available in your area is to visit http://antennaweb.org/. On this web site, you can input your zip code, and it will show you what broadcasts are available.

At this time, true Digital TV (in any form) is beginning to appear from cable TV  companies. It's worth noting that what your cable company calls "Digital Cable" isn't technically Digital TV. Digital Cable is simply a new way to transmit the old TV standards. Federal law requires all cable companies to offer true Digital TV by 2006, and the ones that haven't started already are planning to do so well before then. HDTV will cost you about $10 per month more and you'll need to upgrade from analog to digital service.

3. Connections

Naturally we have to connect these Digital Tuners to our televisions. Along with the stunning advances in picture quality also come advances in how we connect these new DTV devices.

The first type of connection is called an HD component video connection. This is an analog connection that uses three wires to send the signal. This type of connection is most commonly used in TVs that are HDTV Upgradeable. However, you have to be careful. Not all HDTV tuners will send an HDTV signal over these analog wires.

But, there are also three types of digital connections commonly used. The first is IEEE 1394 (also called FireWire). This type of connection is commonly used in computers to send digital information. The second type is called Digital Video Interface (or DVI) and then, there is DVI's newer big brother High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) that also carries surround sound along with the video. Using any of these connections means you can transmit a higher quality signal to your TV. These connections are also future compatible. So there's no need to worry about whether or not your different pieces of equipment will be able to talk to each other.