FiOS and HD TVs

So, I was at Costco, about to pull out my wallet and buy a flat-panel Samsung TV for the kitchen when I noticed the store's signage that (1) this was an HD TV and (2) that all the TVs on display were getting an HD signal. "Picture quality without HD," said the sign, "may be disappointing."

I've had FiOS for a couple of years with older (not flat-panel) TVs. I've had no significant problems with it, but I'm not hyper about picture quality. Seeing the freckles on the chest of the TV weathergirl with the plunging neckline doesn't excite me.

But this store-marketing trick annoyed me. The picture looked great in the store -- great enough that I'll be really annoyed if it's way worse at home.

How disappointed will I be?

You need an HD FIOS box for an HD tv. You will be very disappointed with an SD box. Usually, the HD box is only $5 more per month, so it's very worth it for the improvement in pic quality.

Thanks, Clearday. Again, though, this TV is going to sit on my kitchen counter. I don't want any boxes cluttering the workspace.

Perhaps I should get a different TV.

Thanks, Clearday. Again, though, this TV is going to sit on my kitchen counter. I don't want any boxes cluttering the workspace.

Perhaps I should get a different TV.

If you just want to watch the channels that are broadcast over the air in your area and the TV has a QAM tuner, then you won't need a cable box to tune those channels. But if you want all the same channels you get with a cable box, then you have to get the box.

The cable companies are required to carry the same channels that are broadcast over the air on their system on what's called "clear QAM". Most of the major networks like ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX all broadcast over the air and cable companies carry that signal on their systems and no cable box is necessary to view those channels.

If it's just for the kitchen and it's a very small screen, try what mattyb suggests. Plug the cable into the tv and see how it looks. I thought you were buying a new larger screen tv for your main viewing, and that would require an HD box for satisfactory pic, but a small kitchen screen may be OK without it. Just be sure you can return it in case you don't like the pic.

You say you may get something else, but now there are no crt tvs available. One other possibility, if you can fit a small antenna in the area, you can see what that picks up with an over the air scan if the tv has a built in tuner, if it picks up your local stations, they will be in HD.

If it's just for the kitchen and it's a very small screen...

I was looking at a 23-inch Samsung because, on its stand, it measures about 17 inches high - just the right size to push against the kitchen backsplash.

Does that qualify as small to you?

Yes, that is small. Give it a try, you may find the quality fine for your purposes.

can't get fios in Harrisburg PA downtown, this absolutely blows!

my parents did this in there kitchen. It's a 19 inch 720p TV where we just ran the wire from the main line and plugged into the TV. Picture is great, you really dont need a box IMO...

My parents have the same setup in their kitchen.. Looks great..