HDTV's Question what do you need to recieve HDTV?

cowsgonemadd3 · 09-27-2005, 11:22 PM

Okay so you go into your local walmart and you look at the amazing picture quality of HDTV. Your like man I want one!!

Well some say HD ready. What does that mean?

When you get a HD ready tv what else do you need to get HDTV?

Do you need some external box thing I think its a HDTv tuner? Do those 3000.00 tv's not have that built it already? I saw it below all the HDTV's on display.

Im new to the HDTV area and just wondered. What about antennas? Can normal bunny ears bring in HDTV but not as good as a HDTV antenna? I got this antenna from walmart and it said its capable of HDTV reception. I thought HDTV antennas had a special cable with a usb looking end you put into the tv and you cant get HDTV through a old style end because its analog style?

Thanks for the help!

ja2935 · 09-28-2005, 06:44 AM

1. HD ready means no built-in HD tuner - although usually there will be a built-in NTSC (regular tv) tuner - get this set if you intend to have cable or satellite. If you get cable the cable company will supply everything you need, ie HD set-top-box for all cable and local stations. If you get satellite you will still need an antenna for local stations but the HD tuner will be built-in to your satellite set-top-box. HD-ready nevertheless allows you to play DVDs without any additional equipment - they will look better than on a regular tv but not as good as HD.

2. HD Built-in means it has an HD tuner (as well as an NTSC one). This would pick-up your local digital HD broadcasts from the network stations using a regular antenna with a co-ax cable - this ability will depend on the performance of your antenna and the signal strength.

One final point - try not to be persuaded to get a 4:3 tv even if the price is unbeatable! HD is 16:9 widescreen so you will not get the full benefit with a 4:3 set - also DVDs look much better (provided you watch the widescreen not full-screen version). Wallmart has a habit of stocking lots of full-screen versions for some inexplicable reason!

cowsgonemadd3 · 09-28-2005, 09:29 PM

I know my Grandpa got a 4:3 ratio HD tv ready set and its huge and thick. I know he will have these big black lines when he uses HDTV. I dont see why they make 4:3 and say its HDTV ready.

I thought any old 4:3 tv can get HDTV with the HDTV tuner box?

A 16:9 ratio is the way we plan to go when we get a HDTV.

09-27-2005, 11:22 PM	#1
cowsgonemadd3 A HD newbie! Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 59	HDTV's Question what do you need to recieve HDTV? Okay so you go into your local walmart and you look at the amazing picture quality of HDTV. Your like man I want one!! Well some say HD ready. What does that mean? When you get a HD ready tv what else do you need to get HDTV? Do you need some external box thing I think its a HDTv tuner? Do those 3000.00 tv's not have that built it already? I saw it below all the HDTV's on display. Im new to the HDTV area and just wondered. What about antennas? Can normal bunny ears bring in HDTV but not as good as a HDTV antenna? I got this antenna from walmart and it said its capable of HDTV reception. I thought HDTV antennas had a special cable with a usb looking end you put into the tv and you cant get HDTV through a old style end because its analog style? Thanks for the help! __________________ Come visit my channel for the newest videos from me: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/784425...t_yard_battle/ -Austin Z Prayer changes!

09-28-2005, 06:44 AM	#2
ja2935 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 1,034	HD TVs 101 1. HD ready means no built-in HD tuner - although usually there will be a built-in NTSC (regular tv) tuner - get this set if you intend to have cable or satellite. If you get cable the cable company will supply everything you need, ie HD set-top-box for all cable and local stations. If you get satellite you will still need an antenna for local stations but the HD tuner will be built-in to your satellite set-top-box. HD-ready nevertheless allows you to play DVDs without any additional equipment - they will look better than on a regular tv but not as good as HD. 2. HD Built-in means it has an HD tuner (as well as an NTSC one). This would pick-up your local digital HD broadcasts from the network stations using a regular antenna with a co-ax cable - this ability will depend on the performance of your antenna and the signal strength. One final point - try not to be persuaded to get a 4:3 tv even if the price is unbeatable! HD is 16:9 widescreen so you will not get the full benefit with a 4:3 set - also DVDs look much better (provided you watch the widescreen not full-screen version). Wallmart has a habit of stocking lots of full-screen versions for some inexplicable reason! __________________ Toshiba 34HF84 Comcast Motorola DCT 3416 (all digital), Component/Fiber Optic Toshiba SD4900 (Region Free), Component/Digital Coax Toshiba HD-A2, HDMI/Fiber Optic Yamaha YHT-160 Home Theater System Last edited by ja2935; 09-28-2005 at 06:47 AM.

09-28-2005, 09:29 PM	#3
cowsgonemadd3 A HD newbie! Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 59	I know my Grandpa got a 4:3 ratio HD tv ready set and its huge and thick. I know he will have these big black lines when he uses HDTV. I dont see why they make 4:3 and say its HDTV ready. I thought any old 4:3 tv can get HDTV with the HDTV tuner box? A 16:9 ratio is the way we plan to go when we get a HDTV. __________________ Come visit my channel for the newest videos from me: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/784425...t_yard_battle/ -Austin Z Prayer changes!