All About HDTV: Answers To Your Questions

Technology and Equipment

Q. What equipment do I need to watch HDTV?

A. Basically, two things: an HDTV set and a source of HDTV programming. You may read or hear slightly varying explanations of what constitutes an HDTV display, but a reasonable rule of thumb is that if it can display a wide-screen image with at least 720 pixel rows, it's HD. So, for example, a 16:9 display with a resolution of 1366 by 768 pixels (columns by rows) is high-definition, whereas a 16:9 display that is 854 by 480 pixels is not.

The cheapest source of HDTV programming is good old over-the-air, with an antenna connected to an HDTV tuner. (You may also see them described as ATSC tuners, after the Advanced Television Standards Committee that defined the new digital TV system.) Most current HDTV sets include over-the-air HDTV tuners, but some, usually called HD or HDTV monitors or designated "HD-ready," do not. In addition, both satellite TV providers, DirectTV and Dish Network, offer HD programming, as do most digital cable systems. You should consult with your satellite or cable operator to determine what HD programming they provide and exactly what receiving equipment you will require to enjoy it. Finally, the latest alternative for HDTV programming is an HD DVD or Blu-ray Disc player, which can play movies or other programs recorded in high-definition to DVD-like discs.

Q. Do I need a special antenna for over-the-air HDTV reception?

A. Not really. HDTV is broadcast at the same frequencies used for conventional TV, and depending on where you are located you might do fine with even a simple set of rabbit ears. If you watch conventional over-the-air broadcasts now, chances are pretty good you will be able to use the same antenna for HDTV as well. One thing you may need to take into account is that a large proportion of stations currently transmit their digital broadcasts in the UHF band, rather than the VHF band that has traditionally been more popular, so you will probably need an antenna that includes elements tuned to that range. A good resource for determining what type of antenna you need (and where to aim it) is the AntennaWeb site. Some people feel that its recommendations tend to be a little optimistic, however, so consider going a step up in gain and directionality from whatever it suggests.

Q. Can I watch HDTV on a regular TV set if I attach an HDTV tuner to it?

A. Yes, if you set the tuner to send the TV a standard-definition (SD) 480i signal. The resulting picture will be very clean, but it will not be high definition.

Q. Do all HDTVs have large screens?

A. HD displays are available in screen sizes as small as 19 inches diagonal, but the difference between HDTV and conventional television will not be nearly as obvious on a small screen as on a big one.