1) Your source – In order to watch HDTV you must first be getting HDTV . This is typically an additional purchase or fee from your content provider. In addition to paying for the HDTV you should keep in mind that there are HDTV channels as well. For instance, if you are used to watching TSN on channel 16, that doesn’t go away. You can still watch TSN on 16 but it’s not High Def, not even if you are paying for HD. Instead the same TSN channel has an HD channel which might be channel 218, for example. Both of the channels (16 and 218) show the exact same content at the exact same time, but one is broadcasting in HD and the other is broadcasting in standard definition. So make sure you are watching the HD channel from your provider!
2) Your Connection – You’ll want to make sure you are using the best connection that your cable box/satellite box and TV will allow you to use. In almost every case this will be an HDMI cable, as only with a HDMI cable will you be able to get optimal HD picture on your TV.
3) Your TV – OK, so the TV is important too! So after you’ve made sure the picture getting into your home and into the TV is HD, now it’s time to make sure your TV gets you the best HD possible. There are 2 standards in HDTV, 720 and 1080. This refers to the number of lines of resolution that your TV can produce, so of course 1080 is better! In fact, 1080 will give you two times more resolution than a 720 TV.
It’s also important to note that you will also see a 1080i or 1080p when looking at this description. 1080i is interlaced resolution and 1080p is progressive resolution. Interlaced resolution is where each time the picture on the TV refreshes every 2nd line of resolution refreshes. Progressive is where every line is refreshed each time the picture refreshes.
So to sum it all up, if you want to make sure you’re watching HDTV make sure to follow these quick 3 steps. 1) Make sure you have a HDTV source coming into your home 2)Use the best connection that your devices offer you 3) make sure you’ve got an HDTV to show you that great picture you want to see!
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