Update To A High Definition TV

If you require to be as up to date as you can be when it comes to home recreation and media, then one of the foremost purchases you can make right now is a high definition television set. With every passing month these components are seemly more and more inexpensive and convenient to the ordinary person and there are a lot of reasons to get one.

Many consumers recollect what it felt like to purchase their first television when they were youthful so many years ago and this feeling is something that can be relived by getting a high definition television. The crispness of the image and the clarity of sound are so much finer than the first televisions that came on the marketplace that you feel as though you aren't watching a television, but are looking through a pane into another world. The pictures on these televisions are truly that crisp and clear.

A lot of consumers need to have the largest television they can afford, ever since big screen televisions came onto the industry back during the 1980's. A big screen HDTV can cost several thousand dollars, but you don't have to have one of these to enjoy the experience of high definition shows.

What's even better is that more and more cable and satellite networks are beginning to feature a giant amount of HD channels (although, accessible only to those who wish to get them). Unfortunately, if you cannot afford to pay the extra cost to access the HD channels on your cable or satellite account every period, you may get caught using your HDTV to only view movies that you have purchased on HD DVDs. This could be a waste, so unless you can afford to pay for the HD programming your cable or dish provider offers, you should continue with your regular TV until you can.

In addition to TV's, there are also added electronics that you can get that come with HD technology. HD video cameras are nice for people who would use them all the time, but likely a waste for those people who don't use video cameras very often. Lots of video games are being sold in high definition format recently, too.

High definition format will likely be the minimum standard within the succeeding few years, but it may take most of us a while to catch up and reserve enough money to get the high definition electronics we want. The prices will keep falling down, tho', it might not take as long as you believe.

It's A Great Time To Invest In High Definition

There are quite a lot of people thinking why they should go out and get an HDTV now, and to be quite direct, there are almost as many reasons to get one as there are people wondering why. The highest quality sound and image obtainable is in high definition and more and more cable and dish television providers are beginning to convey programming compatible with it. It has recently been utilised as a selling point, with several companies boasting that they deliver more HD programming than their counterparts. If you don't have an HDTV just yet, then this might not appeal to you, but once you get one, you'll want to be with a carrier that will give you the most for your money.

Not to remark the fact that a whopping number of movies are being sold with high definition versions. Now our loved films can be enjoyed with a crispness of appearance and clearness of sound never seen before, even the old ones that originally came out on VHS many years back.

Even if you're not watching your new HDTV, you can still have a "screen saver" of sorts and use it as a piece of art in your abode. This may sound silly to many consumers, but a big, clear picture of your family on your TV will be a lot more attractive to you and your visitors than a dark screen. Don't you believe so?

Did I also tell you the price of HD LCD TV's and plasma screens have dropped drastically in the past few years..? Many of these televisions are HD compatible by default, so you won't have to buy any unneeded hardware to observe your HD programming if you buy one.

If you're a gamer, you might not want to forget the video games out there right now that are now purchasable in HD. If you're a fanatic gamer, then having an HDTV is one of the largest investments you can make for your gaming career.

If you're one of the fanatics that follows the lives of Hollywood superstars, you might be shocked to realize when you start watching them in HD, they're just as imperfect as you are! Make-up artists have to work even harder than they usually do to get the stars we admire so much to look great on HD.

And who can forget that one of the foremost benefits of owning an high definition television these days when so few consumers actually own them is the fact that on Super Bowl Sunday, everyone will want to be at your pad!

The Neighborhood Is Full Of New High Definition Antennas

One day, my hubby and I were having a jog around the community.
As we sometimes do, we talked about all the houses and what we like and
don't like about each one. Even though we see the same houses each time
we take a walk, we sometimes encounter something new to yap about.
During a particular jog, we saw something different on top of one
of the neighbors' roof. It was an antenna and it looked similar to
one of those old-fashioned antennas everyone used to use instead of
getting Satellite. The difference was that it was much smaller than the
old-fashioned ones. I was curious to why they had it because I thought just
about either everyone had cable, satellite or an indoor rabbit ears.
A few days after, I was outside washing the car and that very person
happened to drive by the house. I waved and then decided to approach him. I
asked him that I had noticed the new antenna on his roof. He told me
that it was an HD antenna. Then he let me know that he found out you
can place it on your roof and it will yield up HD signals just like the
Satellite company sends out. The only difference is that you get clearer
pictures and you don't have to pay per month for it like you do with
satellite.
I thought it was engrossing and later that day, I told my husband
what the neighbor said. My hubby said that it probably doesn't come
in very good when there is a bad rain or towering winds. I was wondering about
that because why would he want an HD signal that was not consistent. I
went on the Cyberspace and found out that many of the antennas are
powerful enough to keep their HD signals even in storms.
The price of them was not really much money either and we would pay for
it in a few months time in the total that we pay monthly to the cable
company. I ran it by my partner and then bought it. Now, we also have
an antenna on our roof and it truly is wonderful to receive HD channels
without relying on the cable co.'s monthly fee.
I saw my neighbor several days later after I put up the antenna and he noticed.
He was happy that he was able to let me know about it and asked if I was
happy. I let him know that I was thrilled, appreciated the
information and the surplus savings each month!

New HD Programming Is Awesome On My New High Definition TV!

We just bought a Blue ray HD DVD player for our HDTV. After we got it hooked up, which took a while... I, for some reason or another just realized that I did not acquire any HD movies for me to see on it. Well I already knew which one I sought to see foremost and that was Planet Earth. So I got on the net and purchased it from an online outlet.
The bad occurrence tho' is that I had to wait three days; nonetheless I did reserve myself around twenty dollars, so it was worth the wait. So it came with multiple disks with around three to four episodes of Planet Earth on each of the disks. If you did not know already each program of Planet Earth is one hour long. So once I put in Planet Earth to examine on our HDTV I went to the menu of the premiere disk for the initial episode. As you can imagine it was quite awing how well the illustration looked.
All of the landscapes were untouched as can be in variety and the animals looked as if they were running across the screen as they moved. I was impressed also on how well Planet Earth was filmed with a HDTV camera. Many of the animals they film in the pic looks as if they are right there next to them and the animals are not even being disturbed by them being around. It is really the most impressive movie of its type. One film that really impressed me is the freshwater one.
In the opening of it, it shows Falls ... the highestl water downfall in the world. Then it starts to break off from there and shows the rattling animals that live in the freshwater environment. Another thing Planet Earth does is how fine it shows the over view of the country. Some shots are taken in high Earth altitudes while others are from space showing the landscape and everything around it. The space shots are also one of my preferred things to look at.
Of course on our HDTV it looks as superior as it possibly can but it gives you a thought of how miniature the Earth reallyl is but at the same instant when it talks about some of the environments it feels that the world is very gigantic. When you are watching Planet Earth you may get to an environment that they begin to addressl about that just looks alien to you. Few of the things that are in the surroundings look as if it was not proper and you can not even ideate about being in several of these places in true life.
One that truly shows what I am talking about is the caves film. Basically what it shows you is the subsurface world of Earth. How things form under the surface and the unearthly little creatures that inhabit the caves. It is really something that will be hard for most people on the planet to conceive once they have seen some of the impressive animals that live on it. This film is really awing especially if viewed on a HDTV!

Parents Finally Go For A High Definition Television

It's about time... my parents finally purchased an HDTV. All my friends have high definition television except for me until now. I would always go to my friend's house to watch my favorite shows or watch the game. High definition is just so much better than typical TV. Now I can sit in the comfort of my home and watch what I want, when I want. My parents have been watching the same TV for the past 10 years. I was just about finished with the regular old pictures we had on it. I wanted the vivid, clear pictures on my friend's HDTV. I must admit I was jealous of the TV. There is nothing like watching that type of picture on a TV and then coming home to a boring, dull, and boring one. One day my parents told me at lunch time they finally decided to enter the future and buy an HDTV. I was so relieved. We all went to the electronics store to look around. When my parents saw the prices of them, they were amazed. Apparently, they never priced them before and always thought it would cost a fortune. They even said they would have probably purchased one sooner if they knew they weren't so much money. Why didn't I ever do the research for them? Oh well, the point is that they finally decided to buy one. I was ready to sit down and revel our new HDTV when it was delivered. I had my popcorn and Pepsi in a tall glass. I sat down and my mom and dad sat close to me. I guess I won't be able to watch exactly what I want, when I want after all. In any case, we threw in License to Wed. The picture was awesome. It was so much better than going to the movie house in our little municipality in Tennessee. We didn't have to worry about tickets or being bothered by the people who yapped through the whole show. I could now watch a great show with a great image all because of our HDTV. It didn't stop there, since we have the high definition service from our dish co. we are able to watch the high definition channels. We watch FOX, NBC, and CBS shows with this high quality picture. Soon we will have so many other station, which will have the same impressive picture. Next year all channels will have to send high definition signals only. Bring on the High definition...we are ready!

A High Definition Television Breakdown!

The few weeks ago, I turned my TV on and it wouldn't turn on. The red
LED light in front just kept flashing until it went out and the "Lamp"
light came on. Oh fine, my hubby had just left on a militaristic
deployment and now I am without TV.
I instantly logged onto my laptop to type my husband, who just
insisted we buy a LCD HDTV three years ago. I told him that his
"awesome" TV is down and now I have no spouse and no TV either.
You have to love recent technology because the next thing I know, he
wrote back and told me he bought the lengthened warranty on the Sony HDTV.
The extended warranty only lasts 4 years so I knew we were pushing
it.
I also knew the paperwork was lost somewhere with all the rest of the
significant documents we had. After sifting through documents for an
hour, I finally found it in an unopened box from our move. I opened it up
and found the date of purchase, exactly 3 months shy of four years.
YES!
So I rang Sony and let them know the HDTV model I have and my
purchase code. They arranged a local electronics store to come to my home,
make sure it was the lamp and then change it. They even gave me an
appointment day and time.
I waited around all day for the serviceman to come to my home the day of the
appointment but he never showed up. Do you know how bothersome it is to
go from a 52" HDTV to no high definition 19" television? It's quite
dissatisfying.
I contacted the electronics company and ask them what happened. They gave
me another appointment and apologized, which was satisfactory, everyone makes
mistakes. Nonetheless, the next appointment never happened either. Then I
called again and they said that they just went ahead and ordered the
lamp. They said the lamp would show up in two days. Three days later,
there was still no lamp. It wasn't until nearly 2 weeks later that they
finally got to my home with the lamp.
The two techs simply took off the front access panel to the television,
unscrewed the lamp casing, and replaced it. It took almost five minutes. I
could have certainly ordered the lamp myself and repaired it more than a
week ago. I will definitely remember that for the next time my loved
high definition television's bulb fry's out.

High Definition Television Is Becoming Huge!

Home theater and video gaming has been one of the most moneymaking and remunerative industries in the world since the introduction of the television. And since that launching, there have been hundreds of technical advances to up the enjoyment of the viewing population. One such innovation is that of HD Television, which has been considered by many to be the best contribution to recreation since television went to color. For many who don't understand, High Definition Television is television that has a higher resolution than a standard TV set. The resolution is dramatically finer than standard television, viewing what would be a hazy picture on a normal TV and is shown as a crystal clear image that creates the misconception of looking not at a TV, but viewing through a window and seeing outside of your home.

High Definition TV sets not only have a wondrous screen resolution, but they are also highly cost effective. Year after year, various consumers get large screen TVs in the hopes of getting better screen value. Yet, this does zilch due to the fact that a blur on a smaller screen television will still be foggy on a big screen TV. High Definition Televisions, however, carry the higher resolution. And where big screen televisions can go up to thousands of dollars, the price of high definition televisions is descending everyday since. This is increasing the availability to the common person. Another very significant development that has come along in the world of High Definition TV is the ever expanding number of HD centered channels being carried by cable and dish companies. There is a cost boost for these channels, but one will find that the extra price is well worth it. Another trend is the buying of HD specific Blu ray DVDs that play in a calibre same to that of the High Definition television. There has even been an growth in the number of video game companies selling HD special video game titles that intensify the game play experience for the gamer.

High Definition is no longer just for viewing, though. With the home video recording marketplace bigger than it's ever been, largely due to the popularity of video sharing websites, High Definition video recording is one of the rising formats in home movies. High Definition television is the largest growing creation in television today and is considered to be the largest addition to television since way back when color was introduced!

Erecting An Antenna

Let me take the instant to inform what happened to us when we tried to implement up a HDTV antenna so you won't have to blow your time doing the identical thing. First of all our entire family had always craved a HDTV. This was a strain within it's self. There must be 100 diverse brands and types to decide from! So we did eventually acquire one that we all agreed upon.
After we had set up the TV we learned that we also had to get a HDTV antenna to be able to observe our local channels broadcasted in HD. Our original antenna we tried was purchased at the very place as our TV. After we assembled it unitedly in the garage we carried it inside and up the stairs to the 2nd level window. We lifted it out the window and put the 17 yr old on the roof with the antenna. We used walkie talkies to interact between the roof and the family room with the tv. His job was to turn the antenna in tiny increments till the communication came in.
The problem was we could only get 2 channels at a time coming in unobstructed but never could we get all the channels coming in at one time. So we brought the antenna in, carried it to the garage, dissembled it and took it back to buy a bigger one and go through the entire process again. Once more on top of the roof with the 17 yr old. Twisting and turning and all the while in a downfall storm. It wasn't that bad but still raining all the same.
This went on for nearly a total of 4 nights in the period of December during the cold and precipitation. We could never get this HDTV antenna to play so we finally gave up. We brought the big heavyweight antenna in again dissembled it and put it back in the car to return. I was happy it didn't work because it looked horrendous up there on the roof. It stuck out like a unhealthy thumb. Then we did some research on the cyberspace and found an antenna that claimed to do everything we needed and the best part was it was cheaper and way way smaller.
Actually in wasn't no bigger than the size of a cooky sheet. So we purchased the HDTV antenna and brought it home. No construction required and we put the 17yr old back on the roof with the walkie talkies again and this time we had a communication before we even tried to alter the antenna. It was implausible.. we found all the channels reaching in crystal clear without even trying to set the antenna in the perfect "sweet" spot that we were use to setting with the previous added two.
Just by putting it on the roof and pointing it in the generalized path where the stations were located was all that was required! Seemingly this HDTV antenna was a much higher caliber antenna. If I would have known this 5 days before, I could have saved all those evenings, the poor kid on the roof and the aggrevation it took for our household to eventually like HDTV!

HD Satellite TV -- Compare HDTV Services

HD Satellite TV

HD (high definition) refers to the quality of the picture being transmitted to your television set.

Picture quality is measured in scan lines. The more scan lines that are transmitted to your TV, the clearer the picture.

For instance, analog (over-the-air) TV has 525 scan lines per image. HDTV, on the other hand, has up to 1,080 lines per image -- almost twice as many lines of resolution giving you twice the clarity of analog TV.

There's a huge difference between watching TV on a regular TV set as opposed to watching an HD TV. The HD picture is sharper and the colors are brighter. The picture is so realistic it's almost like watching a scene through a window.

HD Satellite TV Features

Here are the main features of HD satellite TV:

* High resolution picture -- HDTV produces a super-sharp image, resulting

in a clearer, more lifelike picture.

* Widescreen picture -- you get a full-width picture just like you see in the movies.

* Digital audio -- HD audio programming is broadcast Dolby Digital format so you get a three-dimensional surround-sound listening experience.

HD Satellite TV Providers

Both DISH Network and DIRECTV offer HD programming. Here's a rundown on their HD satellite TV channel lineups ...

DISH Network HD Satellite TV

DISH Network offers two HD satellite TV programming packages:

The DISH Network HD Pak

This package includes HDNet, HDNet Movies, ESPNHD, Discovery HD, and TNT in HD.

The DISH Network Voom Pak

This package includes Ultra HD, Monsters HD, Rave HD, Equator HD, Gallery HD, Anamania HD, Rush HD, HD News, Guy TV HD, and Majestic HD.

In addition to the above packages you can also get HBO HDTV, Showtime HD, DISH on Demand Pay-Per-View in HD, and CBS HDTV.

In order to receive HD programming from DISH Network you must have an HD receiver. When you order satellite TV service from DISH Network you can get an HD receiver free.

Note: For more information on current DISH Network HD programming and subscription fees, or to order satellite TV service with a free satellite TV system, click on the links below.

DIRECTV HD Satellite TV

DIRECTV offers one HD satellite TV programming package:

The DIRECTV HD Package

This package includes ESPN HD, ESPN2 HD, Discovery HD Theater, HDNet, HDNet Movies, and Universal HD.

In addition to the above package your can also get HBO HD, Showtime HD, and DIRECTV Pay-Per-View, plus ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, and the WB channel.

Sports packages include NFL Sunday Ticket HD and NFL Sunday Ticket SuperFan HD.

In order to receive HD programming from DIRECTV you must have an HD receiver. When you order satellite TV service from DIRECTV you can get an HD receiver free (after a $199 rebate).

Note: For more information on current DIRECTV HD programming and subscription fees, or to order satellite TV service with a free satellite TV system, click on the links below.

The Bottom Line

The only drawback to having HD satellite TV is the cost. If you don't already own an HD TV set, then you'll have to buy one. And the HD programming fees are another expense that will add to your satellite TV bill.

However, if you want to see your favorite shows in near lifelike clarity and you can afford the extra expense, having HD satellite TV is definitely worth the added cost.

Click on the following link for more information on free satellite TV systems and service, or these links for HD satellite TV ordering information and the latest free bonuses from DISH Network HD satellite TV or DIRECTV HD satellite TV.

About the Author

Brian Stevens is a professional freelance writer and webmaster who has written extensively on HD satellite TV.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Stevens

What Are HDTV's?

In a period of time there comes a technological innovation which brings endless benefits to the population. The tele is such a creation. Ever since the tele's creation the population have been on the quest for better and better tele's. Now alas High Definition television sets have satisfied the urges of many TV addicts.

High Definition television sets or high-definition tele's are an amazing new technological advancement to the HD TV set. Ever since coming to the market High Definition television sets have created a craze. Film buffs, sport fans, and anyone who wants the screen to be as real as real life is amazed at what High Definition television sets bring out on their screens.

Now we may ask what is HD TV set, especially when we have not seen one of these great High Definition television sets in the past? The HDTV basics is that you watch TV at high-definition. A HD TV set has amazing resolution and sublime digital surround sound. A HD TV set removes the awkward black bars that a lot of movie formats come with. Putting it simply - a HD TV set is watching wide screen how it is meant to be! Since High Definition television sets have been released, they have been in extraordinary demand. Anyone who wants the best out of a TV set wants to get a HDTV and learn about HDTV. As with all recent technologies released there is a lot to learn about all the new specifications and which HD TV set to buy.

When buying a HD TV set for home, you want to make sure that you are actually getting a HD TV set. If you don't want to end up with a television with ordinary visual and audio, then you need to recognize the differences between analog and HDTV formats to determine if you really need an upgrade for your watching enjoyment.

::: Features of High Definition television sets :::
Technically, a HD TV set give a much better and improved screen resolution. Basically meaning that your HD TV set, can easily provide you with better picture quality whether you are watching a good DVD movie or a documentary it doesn't matter. You simply have amazing picture quality (though the end result depends on your signal quality). The big highlight of High Definition television sets is that you can watch wide screen as it is meant to be, without having parts of the screen cropped. HDTVs simply give a unprecedented picture quality that is crisper and finer than existing tele's.

A great thing with these new High Definition television sets is that they can easily complement other analog based video equipment, such as your camcorders, DVD players, gaming consoles. On a gaming console such as the Sony Playstation range, you can see a new level of experience with a HD TV set.

Buying a HD TV set can be the best buy you can make. The picture quality is simply breathtaking, and will please many whether used for playing video games on the console or watching a $100 million movie, you will be pleased with a HD TV set. Keep in in mind with High Definition television sets is that your HD TV set may be great, and offer the best possible picture known to man! But if your provider of the signal (TV company, etc) can't give a good signal, it doesn't matter your picture quality will be no good. Also when you buy a new HD TV set to keep in mind to get a flexible HD TV set, one that has features which you may not use now, but might need in future - such as DVI or HDMI.

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Check us before you buy your next HDTV TV

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HDTV In An Easy To Understand Way

HD, HDTV and High Def, what do I need to understand about these terms mean when I am looking to purchase a TV?

Unfortunately asking for help at a local electronics super store only confuses the issue as they explain things in technical language that you may not understand either.

So lets try to explain things in a simple manner so that anyone can understand it. This way you won't either over spend -- or not get what you are hoping for, while shopping for your next TV set.

So Lets Start At The Beginning...What Exactly Is HDTV?

Simply put, HD stands for High Definition. It describes the quality of the broadcast signal as well as the quality of the picture on your television screen.

Did You Know That There Are Different Levels Of HD Quality Available Today?

As of right now the 3 levels of HD available depending on the TV you buy are:

A) 720p
B) 1080i
c) 1080p


You Are Probably Wondering What Do These Numbers Mean?

The numbers correspond to the lines of resolution on your TV screen. First lets discuss a standard TV, which only shows a 480i picture. This means there are 640 vertical pixels x 480 horizontal pixels that make up your televisions picture.

It only makes sense then that the more pixels or lines of resolution you have…the better your picture quality is going to be.

Are you following me so far?

So Then How Many Pixels Does An HD Plasma or LCD Have?

As discussed befor, there are different grades of HDTV broadcasting available.

A) 720 p has 720 vertical pixels and 1,280 horizontal pixels

B) Both 1080i and 1080p have a resolution of 1,920 vertical pixels x 1,080 horizontal pixels

It only makes sense then that a 720p has a better picture than a typical 480 TV, and a 1080i TV or 1080p TV has a clearer picture than a 720p plasma tv.

Does that make sense?

So What Does The "p" And The "i" Represent?

The "p" or the "i" refers to how the picture is refreshed on your tv screen. The "p" stands for "progressive", while the "i" stands for "interlaced".

Now what does this mean?

Imagine taking a paintbrush covering your entire TV screen with one stroke. That's what happens with a "Progressive" broadcast signal. When you have a 720p or 1080p television all 720 or 1080 lines of resolution are refreshed on your TV at the same time.

On the other hand when it comes to a 1080i or "interlaced" TV, you would take that same paintbrush and just pain in every other line. First all of the even lines of resolution are pained in. Then 1/30 of a second later all of the odd lines are painted in, etc, etc.

Can you see how a 1080p picture would provide a crisper picture then a 1080i?

But there is something you need to know before spending the extra money on a 1080p… All cable and satellite channels are currently broadcasted in 1080i picture. That's right…even if you had a 1080p TV-It would offer no better picture then a 1080i.

When Might You Consider Buying A 1080P

A) You are the type that MUST HAVE the latest and greatest technology
B) You are willing to wait for the cable companies to start broadcasting in a 1080p signal
C) You own or are planning to spend $1000 to buy a Blueray or HD DVD player since they are the only equipment that can produce a 1080p signal that you can see on a 1080p TV.


My suggestions:

If you have never had an HDTV before...anything you get will be an unbelievable difference in your movie experience. If your budget can only afford a 720p-- then go for it. You will absolutely just love the improvement over your old 480i!

If you can afford to spend a few dollars more then go with the 1080i television, you will not regret it.

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Visit his Home Theater Blog for helpful tips in easy to understand english.
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The New Old-Fashioned Antenna

And just why would you want to go back to the old days and connect to an outdoor antenna? It just may give you better picture quality on your high-definition (HD) television. More and more local television channels are broadcasting in HD. But you say you already have cable or satellite. Great! The problem might be that the satellite provider or the cable TV company may compress the signal before sending it to you, giving you a poorer picture. And they may charge an additional fee for local channels. An outside antenna with the right technology will give you local HD broadcasts that are not compressed and it is free.

You may not really care about HD television. You may be perfectly happy with analog (old fashion) broadcasts on your current TV. It won’t be long and you won’t have a choice. The United States government is requiring all broadcasters to switch to digital by February 2009. That isn’t all that many page turns on the calendar.

The pictures you get, or will get on an HD television with an antenna will be great. If you aren’t aware of digital technology, you don’t get a weak, fuzzy or snowy signal. You either get a flawless signal or none at all, just a black screen. There would be no snow like you sometimes got years ago from your old antenna and analog signals.

So if you get either a perfect picture or no picture, why not just use rabbit ears? Good question. You can. Rabbit ears, or other inside antennae, tend to work just fine…if you are within 25 miles of the local station’s broadcast facility. Typically you should expect an outside antenna to capture signals from about 70 miles away, depending on what is in between you and the broadcast tower. Mountains and prisons are two great signal blockers, for example.

You may be wondering how an outside antenna can possible give you a better quality than cable, if you are like many others. We think that way, or we wouldn’t have joined up with cable or satellite in the first place. Your cable or satellite provider needs to provide you with many HD channels or choices. They have to make sure there is room for all of those choices. To make sure there is room they sometimes compress, or remove, a certain amount of data from the signal you end up with at your television. Your local HD broadcaster doesn’t care about providing space for other broadcasters. In fact, they would be perfectly happy if you simply watched their station only. There is no data removed, no signal compression.

If you are an ESPN, CNN, History Channel, Disney Channel, or Weather Channel junkie, you won’t be capturing them with just an antenna, inside or out. You can add an antenna as a signal source to your cable or satellite system and, for a small price, enjoy the ultimate your local broadcasters have to offer, along with the other channels you are addicted to.

If you decide you want to try either an indoor or outdoor antenna for HDTV, they range in price from about $20 to $170. You can also try making your own. It isn’t that difficult and would save you even more money.

No matter if you are interested in HDTV or not, the time is coming when you won’t have a choice. An antenna may be your answer. Even if it isn’t, they are cheap enough or easy enough to make yourself that you can test the performance out before you make a final decision.

Once again, what is old is made new.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Antennas

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Just When You Thought TV Antennas were a Thing of the Past

Many experts including myself are convinced TV antennas are the new wave of the future. Why? Because at this time nearly every broadcast TV station in the United States is now available in crystal clear digital HDTV and best of all it's free. All you need to enjoy your favorite programs in picture perfect high definition is an HDTV set with a digital tuner and a TV antenna.

The best possible HDTV pictures come from those you get using a TV antenna. Snowy pictures and poor sound quality are a thing of the past. With digital HDTV broadcast television you'll enjoy crystal clear life like pictures and CD quality Dolby surround sound, along with many more channels to choose from, all provided to you free of charge by your local broadcasters.

The nature of digital broadcasting allows each broadcaster in your area to provide up to six channels where there once was one analog channel. In other words digital broadcasting makes it possible for your local broadcasters to provide you with up to six times as many channels. Many areas of the country now have dozens of channels available, free for the watching.

The average American households spends more than $60.00 a month for pay TV. Whether or not free digital broadcast television will replace your current cable or satellite TV is strictly a personal choice. Digital television along with the rising cost of pay TV has many people dropping their pay TV, installing a TV antenna and eliminating their monthly cable bill altogether.

If you choose to keep your pay TV provider the addition of an over the air TV antenna to receive free digital TV is still likely to be in your future. In most areas pay providers offer you just a fraction of the local channels that are available with a TV antenna. They choose the channels you get, charge for what they do offer, and most of what they offer is of poorer picture and sound quality when compared to over the air digital TV. Last but not least, when your cable or satellite goes out, and it will, you'll still have your digital broadcast channels.

I'm not saying you should do away with your pay TV provider. I have satellite TV in my home, we use and enjoy it. Too many people think it's an either or decision when it comes to pay TV or a TV antenna. The truth is, a TV antenna system compliments pay TV and vice versa. Its not your pay TV providers fault they can't offer you all the local channels that a TV antenna can. In many cases Federal law prohibits pay TV providers from broadcasting many of these channels.

With the introduction of digital HDTV the benefits free over the air TV can offer are tremendous. I think the following statement released by an industry spokesperson says it best. "Thanks to over the air digital broadcasting, we can broadcast data which will revolutionize the way you communicate, entertain yourself and live your live. We will be able to marry the convenience of television with the freedom and power of the internet. Datacasting wiil make truly interactive TV possible, empowering the viewer to make television viewing an incredible experience.

Denny is considered to be an expert in his field. He has been installing TV antennas for nearly twenty years. His website TV Antenna Source at www.dennysantennaservice.com is full of helpful tips and useful information for the do-it-yourself TV antenna installer.

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Antenna Boosters For HDTV

Got a choppy HDTV signal? So you are watching on tv your favorite basketball team playing for the championships but suddenly the tv signal has gone wild. You stand up and fix the antenna. You try switching it on and off hoping that you can retrieve the channel. But then your effort is to no avail.

Your tv antenna has failed to pick up a strong signal probably because your home is far from the signal tower or there is something that hinders your tv antenna from getting a strong signal as emitted by the signal tower. There is a solution to that.

Why not get a tv antenna booster? The tv antenna booster will surely allow you to watch your favorite shows on tv without the worry of losing that channel again.

Before you get a tv antenna booster though, you must first know the kind of antenna which your tv possesses. Here are the basic types of tv antennas and some significant terms to take note of.

The HDTV Antenna

For a better understanding, there is no big difference between the antenna used for the HDTV as well as with the DTV. Some of the most unscrupulous personas in the marketing industry made a fallacy out of these antennas for the sake of getting their products ranking first that the rest of the competitors. This issue has greatly affected the honest antenna producers and they had to re-label their products to avoid losing their income.

In connection with the HDTV antenna, there are a couple of important terms that you must familiarize yourself with. Gain refers to the quantity of the signal that the antenna will be collecting. Beam width is all about how directional the antenna can be. Lastly, bandwidth refers to the manner of how the gain differs with the frequency. This emphasizes that a narrowband antenna can receive more channels clearly while some channels may appear vague.

The Dipole Antenna

The Dipole is the simplest antenna used for the tv. The variants of the dipole antenna include the bow tie that contains a wider bandwidth with it, the folded-dipole which is able to solve any problem on efficiency, and the loop which is one type of the folded dipole. All of these kinds possess the same amount of gain and the same pattern on the radiation.

The dipole antenna has with it a positive gain since it does not equally radiate towards all directions. As the general truth goes, a tv antenna should radiate in very few directions. In the United States, the tv antennas are usually placed horizontally. That is why no signal will be picked up by the tv antenna if it is placed in a vertical manner.

The Reflector Antennas

Reflector antennas function by means of the radio waves which are reflected off from a conducting plane. The reflector antennas are common to utilize the double bow-tie variant since it contains a large bandwidth.

The Yagi Antennas

The elements in a Yagi antenna are arranged on an echelon. There is the boom which is a long element that serves to connect all of the parts. There is no current contained in the boom. Since the boom is an insulator, the antenna likewise carries on the same function. The reflector is the rearmost element in the Yagi antenna.

The other element is known as the driven element and the rest of them are termed as directors. Of all the types of antennas, the Yagi antenna is said to be the most magical.

After knowing the type of antenna you've got, you can now start your search for the most appropriate HDTV antenna booster to use. Your choice ranges from the MG 950, MG1090, MG 952, MG 825, and many more.

Before you go and throw your remote through the tv screen in frustration why not find out all about the HDTV antenna? There is more to it than just plugging the cord into the wall and expecting the TV to perform to the best of it's ability, check out the data for HDTV info here.

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What is High Definition TV?

Presently the highest level of resolution in TV viewing is found in HDTV. HDTV currently offers the clearest audio signal. Today's TV viewing has a new format and standard, which is with digital programming. When viewing HDTV, images appear so clearly that you will feel as if you are there viewing the image in person, rather than over a TV screen.

HDTV range in various styles and prices, which take into account the technology used and the TV's screen size. High definition broadcasting signals are already available, however you will need a built in tuner and an antenna programmed for decoding the HDTV signals. The normal one to one display point of an HDTV image needs an input format of 1081i that displays 1920x1080 pixels, for best results.

Any non-broadcasted signals must be purchased from a cable or satellite provider. To learn the pricing and the programming of these HDTV non-broadcasted signals you must contact your local provider.

HDTV requires three significant occurrences in order to deliver high quality TV screen viewing, and those are an HDTV set, a method to receive HDTV signals; which can include an antenna or a connection for satellite or cable service, as well a source that is transmitting HDTV signals by means of a local station or a satellite or cable station.

The integrated HDTV has a digital tuner built in to its programming. When a television station is broadcasting in high definition, you will be able to attach an antenna to the set and tune into their broadcast.

The HDTV-ready set is a monitor that does not contain a HDTV tuner. They often have a NTSC tuner, which enables you to watch analog TV. HDTV ready sets are less expensive and give you the option of adding an HDTV receiver at a later time.

Choose an HDTV set that has a native resolution that matches the signals you would normally use more often. Whether that is the highest possible resolution or the highest possible progressive frame rate, the choice is up to you and what you feel most comfortable in viewing.

Make sure that the HDTV that you buy is user friendly with the equipment you already have at home or if you need other components or adapters. Nearly all LCD and plasma TV's are HD ready and can support the programming of high definition that is supplied by an external component receiver.

There are four major TV networks that broadcast their own type of free HDTV programming. With the right antenna, you should be able to receive their broadcasted signals. However all channels do not offer HD programming therefore there may be need for additional components to be able to get better reception from standard and enhanced definition TV screens.

Another thing to keep in mind is when choosing HDTV that future technology could very possible make available the use of more components and accessories to be purchased for HDTV viewing future broadcast signals. You can always wait to see how these new technological services turn out and then purchase programming.

David Tanguay is dedicated in providing research, reviews & helpful information to consumers and businesses. To research, review and purchase your next TV, please visit Plasma TV Compare at http://plasmatv-compare.com

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HDTV Tuners

HDTV tuners are specially planned devices which receive and output HDTV signals. The HDTV (high definition television) is the latest addition in DTV. These transmit programs in a widescreen format with high resolution pictures and surround sounds. Thus, they provide ambience and feel of theaters in homes.

The HDTV tuners are also known as a decoders, receivers, and set-top boxes. A HDTV tuner will receive signal in the form of ATSC formats. The received signals are decoded in HDTV signal before displaying it on your television screen. The picture quality of HDTV will range from 720p to 1080i with a ratio of 16:9. Generally, the HDTV tuners will receive all the HDTV signals including cable, satellite, OTA (over-the-air) broadcasts, and digital- VHS recordings.

Commonly, the HDTV tuners can be availed as an external box or come integrated with HDTV sets or HDTV receivers. The external HDTV tuners are usually connected between the antenna and the television. The television sets or receivers encompassed with HDTV tuners will not require external HDTV tuners to receive standard cable channels. For analog televisions and digital televisions without inbuilt HDTV tuners, the external HDTV tuner is the ideal way to enjoy the benefits of HDTV signals.

HDTV tuners are available in different price levels. On an average, the cost of the HDTV tuner will range from $100 to $400. The price will fluctuate from one brand to another.

Sharp, Panasonic, Mitsubishi, Thomson, and Samsung are some of the leading brands.

HDTV tuners can be availed from local dealers or online stores. An online store is the best source to avail better options in HDTV tuners. crutchfield.com, store.snapstream.com, and digitalconnection.com are some of the leading online stores to shop for HDTV tuners.

To suit different needs, HDTV tuners come combined with exclusive features. These include program guide (EPG) display for each channel, self-guided setup, interactive program guides, and more. The HDTV tuners with hard drives are capable of recording standard digital TV and HDTV programs. With advance features, an HDTV tuner will give you the ambience of a theater at home.

HDTV provides detailed information on HDTV, Plasma HDTV, HDTV Antennas, HDTV Reviews and more. HDTV is affiliated with Home Theater Projectors.

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Over the Air HDTV Antennas

One of the essential components you will need for an HDTV system is an antenna. You will see many advertisements for HDTV antennas but be aware that in many cases the same antenna would work for any digital television system; the most important features of an antenna is that gain, F/B ratio and directivity. These are the specifications that are most important to ensure clear reception on both digital and analog broadcasts.

Making the decision to purchase an HDTV system is becoming increasingly more difficult to postpone as broadcasters prepare to make the transition to the analog signal broadcasting behind to deliver their programming in high definition resolution. Owners of analog television sets can convert them to be able to receive digital signals but the cathode ray tube technology have a hard time competing with the resolution of an plasma or LCD monitor.

Surprisingly, “Over The Air” (OTA) antennas provide reception quality equal to and in some cases better than satellite or cable.

The first step in purchasing an antenna for your HDTV system is to make sure that you have a built in tuner. Many digital television sets on the market are being sold under the labels of "HDTV-ready". These DTV sets are able to receive high-definition video from a satellite or cable receiver but are not able to receive the signals from over the air broadcasting because they do not have a tuner. On a DTV set without a tuner the OTA HDTV broadcasts cannot be decoded into visual images and sound.

To determine whether or not the DTV has a built-in tuner simply look to see if there is an “RF antenna connector” at the back of the television set. A DTV set with a built -in tuner must have a connector to plug in an off air high-definition antenna.

There are outdoor and indoor antennas you can use:

An outdoor directional antenna receives high-definition signals from a longer range and must be aimed in a particular direction. This type of antenna is ideal if the source of your broadcasting signal is in the same direction from your location.

An indoor directional antennas but the reception is not as stable as the outdoor models. An amplified indoor antenna may give you better reception but in most cases an outdoor HDTV antenna is your best option for reliable reception. Make sure the cables are connected properly and the antenna is aimed in the right direction.

Many times the reception problem with the antenna is that the directivity or gain is too low to pick up the signal. The antenna is the least expensive component for your HDTV system, but it plays a crucial role in its enjoyment. In most cases you will be able to purchase a good-quality antenna for under $100.

Consumers need to be aware of how the various components of the HDTV system work and what their capabilities need for the best performance. Shopping for an HD TV system with factual information will prevent confusion and will make you resistant to the HDTV hype that surrounds this technology and electronics being manufactured for it. Make sure to discuss the features of the antenna for your HDTV system with a salesperson and compare the directivity and gain of the best models before you buy.

HDTV Antenna is one of the things you should look at when upgrading your television system, learn more about High Definition Television at http://hdtvmainhub.com

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Here is What You Need To Be Able To View HDTV

Well of course, the first component needed is the HDTV signal which is sent from a source like a cable or satellite provider, or a local broadcast station. It takes more advanced and expensive equipment to be able to broadcast a HDTV signal instead of the old analog signal that has been used for many years. But the FCC has mandated that by the end of 2006 all broadcasts will have to be available in HDTV, so it won't be long before HDTV will be the defacto standard for sending and receiving TV signals. In fact, most of the major cable and satellite companies already offer significant HDTV programming options at this point.

Now that there is a HDTV signal being sent you will need a HDTV "enabled" or "ready" television to be able to receive that signal and display it correctly. If the TV is "HDTV enabled" that means that it does not have a HDTV tuner already built into it but can display HDTV programming if a HDTV tuner is hooked up to it. If it is "HDTV ready" it has the HDTV tuner and is capable of receiving HDTV signals right away. So what is the difference for you?

Well, most satellite and cable companies will only allow you to use their proprietary tuner to gain access to their programming on your TV set, so they essentially bypass the tuner that is in the TV. If you have a HDTV enabled set, this is no problem because it is able to receive and display in HDTV using the tuner from the satellite or cable company. If you have a HDTV ready set, it is still no problem, but if you paid extra for the tuner, you may not be able to get much use from it if you view satellite or cable programming all the time. However, if you are not able to get local channels by satellite or cable, having a HDTV tuner can allow you to receive those channels and display them in HDTV with an appropriate antenna.

So when you look for a new television, be sure to have in mind what your needs will be regarding programming. If all of your viewing will be done through a cable or satellite provider there may be no need to get a TV set that has a HDTV tuner built in. It just has to be HDTV enabled and ready to process a HDTV signal when a HDTV tuner is attached to it. On the other hand, if you will be receiving your broadcasts by antenna or over the air, then you will definitely need the built in HDTV tuner to receive and display HDTV programming.

Just doing a little advance planning can help you buy only the equipment that you will need to view HDTV.

Jim Johnson writes on many consumer related topics including HDTV. You can find out more about hdtv tuners by visiting our HDTV and Television Review website.

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Watch FREE HDTV with an Outdoor Antenna

With an outdoor antenna you can watch HDTV for free of cost. All you need is a high definition television or an HDTV-ready television. If you have a HDTV-ready TV then you might need high-def tuners such as Humax HRA100. These are high def tuners that will enable you to watch HDTV for free. This tuner can receive broadcasts that are high-def.

You need an antenna that can be installed outdoor which is connected to your HDTV or the high-def tuner. If you are close to the tower that broadcasts high-def signals then you can use indoor antennas also. The HDTV signals are considered as line-of-sight signals and hence you get a better reception of the HDTV signals if your antenna is in line with the tower that broadcasts the HDTV signal. For this purpose it is better to install your antenna in the roof of your house.

Some of the tools and the accessories that you need to install the HDTV antenna in your roof and then to connect it to the HDTV or the high-def tuners are, Mounting hardware, wrench, drill, screwdriver, grounding wire (the length should be sufficient to run from the antenna to the ground), grounding strap, coax grounding block, and a shielded 72 ohm coaxial cable (all weather). The length of the coaxial cable will depend on the distance from the antenna and the place where you have your HDTV or the high-def tuner. A short cable to connect to the TV and the dwelling where you bring the cable from the antenna is needed. With these tools and accessories you can connect your HDTV to the antenna on the roof top of your house.

If you are planning to buy an HDTV antenna there are many models available in the market. You have the choice of choosing the right model according to the budget you have. If you need any assistance to choose the right antenna there are websites for that purpose. A simple search in a search engine would give you lots of tips on that topic. These websites have an easy to use interface that enables you to key in your address and then they give you the choice of the HDTV antenna that might suit your location. They decide on the choice by considering the tower that broadcasts HDTV signals to your location. The distance of the tower plays a role in the choice of the antenna. It is better to choose one that is certified by Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). The most popular are the ones that have multi-element in them. With multiple elements the ghost images are reduced drastically.

While installing your HDTV antenna on the roof top it is better to have an assembly that can be moved easily. You should also be able to rotate the antenna to adjust the direction of the elements so that they are in line with the broadcasting tower. If you have two or more broadcasting towers within a short angle of the placement of your antenna, then you can use devices like ‘antenna rotator’ to select the best tower from which you receive the HDTV signal. After you place the antenna make sure that you are connecting the antenna and the HDTV with the coaxial cable. Make sure that there are no metallic objects near the antenna. Metallic objects interfere with the way the antenna functions.

After you have installed your antenna tune in to some station and then adjust the angle of the antenna so that you receive a strong HDTV signal. Once you get the right quality of signal tighten the screws of your antenna and secure the antenna. Don't forget to ground the antenna to protect your HDTV from the electrical surges that may appear from time to time.

To know more about HDTV features and specifications, please visit HDTV Information Center

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How Do You Know The Best HDTV Antenna For You?

Since HD technology is so new, most people don’t realize that you don’t have to go buy a whole bunch of new technology to get HD, including the best HDTV antenna. You don’t even have to be a cable or satellite TV subscriber to get the best local shows that are shown in HD by broadcast networks. All you need to do is figure out the best HDTV antenna for your area, and with a HD-ready television, you’ll be ready to go.

So, how do you know what is the best HDTV antenna? There is a nifty website set up to answer that question for you. It is called antennaweb.com, and it serves as a one stop shop for all of your HDTV antenna needs. The way it works is, you visit the site and there is a search engine set up for your particular area. You enter in your address, what floor you live on and if there are any blockages in your way, and it will tell you the best way for you to get HDTV with an antenna.

For some people, a simple indoor, TV-top antenna will work just fine. The Philips USA PM-HDTV1 HDTV/UHF Digital Indoor Antenna is a good example of a high-quality indoor HDTV antenna. This model sells on Amazon.com for as little as $20.00. There are many more models of antennas out there, but this is a quality model.

Using Orlando, Florida as a test area, Antenna Web suggests that a medium directional antenna will get you almost every digital signal in the area. The site is very useful and extremely customizable to take things like trees, the floor you live on and buildings that might be in the way into consideration.

There is also a comprehensive breakdown of the channels you can get with each different kind of antenna. If there is only one particular channel you’re looking to get with your HDTV antenna, then you can simply look to see what type of antenna you’ll need for that one station, instead of getting a larger and more expensive antenna to get all of them. If you do want to get all of them and you live in a crowded area, you might need an outdoor antenna model, many of which are made by RCA.

Figuring out the best antenna to get HDTV can be tough, but with this great guide, finding out how to get HDTV without cable or satellite is easy as pie.

Dean Iggo is the webmaster of a hdtv reviews website where you can find reviews of the most popular brands including the Panasonic hdtv, Pioneer, Sony, LG and more.

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