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High Definition Television
High Definition (HD) is video resolution of 720p, 1080p, 4K (UHD), 8K (UHD2 or FUHD) or higher. DVD is not High-Def. VHS (VCR) is not High-Def. HDTV Content Sources There are six standard ways to receive High Definition content. The options are listed below: Satellite TV A satellite company will sell you HD programming. If you decide to get HD from a satellite company you will have to:
Dish Network can deliver 4K content via satellite and streaming, primarily through the Hopper 3 receiver and 4K Joey. While dedicated 4K channels exist, much of the 4K content is delivered via On Demand and integrated apps like Netflix. A 4K TV, Hopper 3, and a high-speed internet connection are required for 4K. Local Cable TV Cable TV companies may provide
HDTV content in your area. If you decide to do this you will
have to:
Many people confuse Digital Cable with
HDTV. If you get Digital
Cable, this usually does not mean you are already set up to receive High
Definition signals. Many channels are not High-Def but they are digital as cable TV companies have transitioned from
analog signals to digital signals. Some channels will be High-Definition. OTA stands for Over the Air. You set up an antenna to get broadcasts from local TV towers. If you get signals
OTA you will not have to pay a subscription to a cable or satellite company and
the programming is completely free. This does, however, limit you to only a few
local channels (although large metro areas can provide a hundred channels (subchannels) or more) and is why most people receiving television programming OTA also get
programming from a cable company or satellite company as well. If you decide to
get OTA HD programs, you will have to:
Of course, you can choose to get HDTV from multiple sources at the same time. Many people get both Satellite and OTA signals since OTA does not cost anything except the initial setup. Plus, if you are getting HDTV over satellite that may mean you already have a STB that can decode OTA signals too. How should you get your high definition programming? It depends on your area and what is available. Many areas have exceptional OTA HD broadcasts. However, in the case of OTA signals, you will not get many channels and you will have to set up an antenna. Most people choose OTA as a second choice after getting cable or satellite as their primary TV reception method. Only some areas are offering DTV and HDTV through the local cable companies. You can rent a STB for as low as $9.95 per month from many cable companies that offer Digital TV right now. This is a huge advantage when compared to buying a $400 to $900 STB that may be old and outdated in just a few years. However, the question remains: Does your area get DTV or HDTV through a local cable company? If not, you simply can not make this choice at this point in time. Then, there is Satellite. You will be able to get satellite transmissions
from almost anywhere. You will be guaranteed to get a lot of channels and you
will not have to bother with setting up an antenna. You will have to
set up a Satellite dish, which in many cases can be done for you with an installation
fee.
Internet providers offer High-Def movies, TV shows, sporting events,
news, comedy and more. You need a HD TV with Wi-Fi or Ethernet, a modem, router and High-Speed Internet Service.
Blu-ray discs are HD and 4K-UHD with a variety of content including movies,
TV series and more. A Blu-ray player, (which also plays DVD and CD) is needed and for 4K you need a UHD Blu-ray player.
The advantage of Blu-ray is you own the content and can view it anytime you want with no concerns about availability of
internet services. In addition, Blu-ray is capable of the highest quality audio format, Dolby True-HD, an uncompressed
surround sound. You will need a surround sound setup, A/V Receiver with multiple speakers for the best experience.
Internet services use the Dolby Digital Plus (compressed) audio format.
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