No PhD Needed to Choose your HDTV

No PhD Needed to Choose your HDTV

Choosing an HDTV television doesn't have to be a difficult chore, but it is more difficult than buying a traditional analog television. To make the purchase selection a little more bearable, it is helpful to keep a few things in mind when making the purchase.

Understand the differences between Analog, DTV, and HDTV

Analog television is the traditional television everyone is familiar with. With analog television, we sometimes get snowy pictures, distortion or "ghosts." All of these are caused by an interruption of some sort between the television and the transmitting tower.

DTV is digital television. Digital television eliminates the problems experienced by analog television because it codes instructions that it receives from the signal. HDTV, or High Definition Television, takes television to the next level. Some televisions are also classified as SDTV, DTV, and EDTV. None of these are the same as HDTV.

Different Systems

With in the HDTV family, there are three main systems: There is integrated, HDTV-Capable, and HDTV-Ready.

HDTV integrated systems have the HD receiver built directly into the television. All that is required to receive HDTV programming with an HDTV integrated television is to simply plug the television in. It can also be connected to cable or to a satellite dish.

An HDTV-Capable television is also called an HDTV Monitor. These televisions need and external HDTV receiver. These can be purchased separately, or they can often be rented or provided for free by the cable or satellite provider. If an HDTV-Capable television does not have a receiver, it functions like an analog television. It is important to be sure an HDTV receiver is compatible with an HDTV-Compatible television before making a purchase.

An HDTV-Ready television is not necessarily the same as one that is HDTV-Capable. It is important to verify that an HDTV-Ready television is truly capable of displaying actual HDTV before purchasing this model.

Display Type

HDTV's can come in a variety of display types. The direct view display is the traditional television display. Sizes in this category can range from 30 to 40 inch.

Projection rear HDTV televisions project the image and reflect it onto the screen from behind. They can range in size from 30 to 70 inches. Projection front HDTV televisions, on the other hand, are two piece systems that have a projector and a screen. Many consider this display type to be the ultimate in the home theatre entertainment system.

A true HDTV television, however, is in the widescreen format and has a 16:9 aspect ration. An aspect ration is the horizontal width in comparison to the vertical height of the television screen. Traditional analog television sets have an aspect ration of 4:3. The HDTV aspect ratio of 16:9 is what gives it its widescreen capabilities.

Surround Sound

Since HDTV programming integrates digital sound, the sound quality of HDTV programming is far superior to analog programming. In addition, many HDTV programs are broadcasted in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. It is important to keep this in mind when purchasing an HDTV television.

The HDTV television purchased should have enough connector ports to take full advantage of the surround sound capabilities of HDTV. For the ultimate experience, the more connector ports on the television, the better. In addition, connector ports located in the front of the television are the more convenient than those in the back. The most common connector ports are A/V, RF, Component Video, Composite Video, S-Video, RCA, HDMI, and VGA. These ports can be used to set up DVD players, video game consoles, and surround sound equipment to the HDTV television. It also might be necessary to purchase extra audio/video cables in order to set up the surround sound system.

Extras

When purchasing an HDTV, it is also a good idea to buy a surge protector. It is likely that a great deal of additional electronics will be plugged in along with the HDTV television system. A surge protector will help protect all of this equipment from becoming damaged from an electrical surge, either by a storm or by an electrical shortage. With the relatively high cost of this equipment, it is a good idea to keep it safe.

If purchasing an HDTV-Compatible television, it will also be necessary to buy an HDTV set-top-box. This box will be able to retrieve the HDTV signal and send it to the television. Without it, the HDTV-Compatible television will still be able to show programs, but they will not have HDTV quality in sound or in picture.

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