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What is HDTV?
HDTV is an abbreviation for High Definition Television. Put simply the pictures on digital TVs are made up of pixels (or dots), so the more pixels a TV can display the better quality the picture is. HDTV has many more pixels than a standard TV.
What is the difference between Digital TV (DTVS) and HDTV?
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A standard digital TV has 1280 pixels x 720 pixels (equals 921,600 total pixels)
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HDTV has 1920 pixels x 1080 pixels (equals 2,073,600 total pixels)
- They also come in two main types and without going into too much technical detail here they are interlaced and progressive scan. The better quality of the two is the latter one
- You don't need a HDTV to watch standard digital TV transmissions, think of it as a top of the range TV that you can watch exactly the same programmes, except in much higher quality
So if it is quality you are after the HDTV has a far superior definition and colour.
What do I need to receive HDTV?
Most HDTVs have either Freeview or Freesat built-in [see notes below], so if all you want is to watch TV programmes, you need nothing more.
However if you want extra from you investment you may want to add one or more of the following:
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Home Theatre surround sound, which also may include a DVD player (if not supplied with TV)
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HD DVD Player / Recorder (often these come with a Home Theatre)
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Sky HD Satellite Box a subscription is needed
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Freeview HD Box (if not built into your HDTV). A quality Digital Wideband Aerial
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Freesat HD Box (if not already built into your TV)
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BT Vision available through broadband to you HDTV
NOTES
Freeview at present does not have HD channels, they are being introduced as of 2nd Dec. 2009 to areas that have already been switched from analogue to digital only.
You need to check your HDTV's documentation, your dealer or the Manufacturer to check if your TVs built-in Freeview receiver is able to receive the HD channels as the technology is only now being introduced (mid 2009)
To quash an urban myth that is going around at the moment you do not and will not require a satellite dish to pick up Freeview HD... just an aerial.
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HDTV Does it really matter?
To some people it really does, but it depends on several things:
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Your budget, as HDTV's are a lot more expensive and this is determined by the make, quality, size and how new the model is.
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Whether the quality is an issue with your existing TV.
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HDTV's tend to come in larger sizes. It is easy to come away with a bigger TV than your room can comfortably hold, the size of the shop can be deceiving - plan well.
Who provides HDTV channels and what is the approximate cost?
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Sky HD Digital Satellite Box
Sky HD has been around a while now. A subscription is needed for Sky services and there is an extra monthly cost to receive HD channels
Cost: HD Box £49, Extra £9.75 per month on top of your entertainment pack (packs start at £16.50 per month)
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Freeview HD Digital Box
No subscription needed, these boxes will become available late 2009 in time for the HD channels, if all goes according to plan.
Cost: Projected price will be £150 (when available)
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Freesat HD Digital Box
Like Freeview no subscription is required for this service. The HD channels are available now!
Cost: Basic HD Box £95, Recorder Box £250
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BT Vision Digital Box
Available through broadband to the BT vision Box. The subscription with a broadband package and includes HD channels now.
Cost: Free if taken with 18 month contract, Packages starting at £30.33 per month (inc Total Broadband). Or buy the box £58.72 and pay to view individual programmes starting at 0.28p (Total Broadband is require in addition to this) [see note below].
NOTE
There may be other charges as it is difficult to determine BT's pricing and it can be confusing as they offer the BT Vision packages with and without Broadband and of course you need the Broadband to receive the content. If you start the sign up process it may become clearer.
How can I get HD on Freeview?
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First you need a Freeview HD box, but they are not available as yet, you should start to see them on sale in the 1st quarter of 2010
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You have to be within a Digital only reception area. As each area switches from analogue to digital transmissions, then HD will become available
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The starting date for Freeview HD transmissions will be 02/12/2009 (digital areas only). From then it will become available as each subsequent area switches over
Things are really moving at a fast pace in the world of High Definition Television and who knows what tomorrow will bring. |
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