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How does HDTV work?

Since the first HDTVs appeared in 1998, high-definition television has been on the mind of every consumer. Although HDTVs have dropped in prices over the past few years, they still cost hundreds or thousands of dollars more than traditional standard-definition sets. With that in mind, is now the right time to take the plunge on an HDTV set? We can’t answer that question for you, but we can provide some basic information that may help you decide.

Analog, digital, and HDTV

Analog: An analog TV cannot display progressive-scan DVD or HDTV. It can show only standard-definition programs such as those found on regular TV, cable, or satellite — including digital cable and DirecTV or Dish Network.

Digital: A digital television, sometimes called a DTV, can also display progressive-scan DVD and almost always HDTV.

EDTV: This stands for Enhanced-Definition TV, and usually it describes a television that can display HDTV signals but doesn’t have enough resolution to really do them justice. Most often it applies to plasma TVs and denotes 852×480 pixels (see below).

HDTV: High-definition televisions, or HDTVs, can display standard TV, progressive-scan DVD, and HDTV signals. They’re by far the most common type of digital television.

HDTV tuners

Not all HDTVs actually come with a built-in tuner that can receive high-definition programs. Those that do are called integrated HDTVs, and those that don’t are sometimes called HDTV-ready or HDTV-compatible; mostly they’re all lumped together under the name HDTV. If you buy an HDTV-ready set, you’ll also need to buy a separate tuner — for satellite, cable, or over-the-air reception — to watch high-definition programming. External over-the-air HDTV tuners currently cost at least $300, although some cable and satellite tuners are often less expensive or free with a service.

Starting in July 2004, the FCC requires that a certain percentage of larger-screen HDTVs must include built-in tuners. Over time, that requirement will trickle down to smaller screens and include all TVs on the market. This means you’ll see more and more HDTVs with “built-in ATSC tuners.”

Many of these sets will also be digital cable ready (DCR), meaning they can tune digital cable channels — including HDTV if the cable provider has HDTV channels — without needing an external cable box. To use a DCR television, you’ll need to get a special access card from your cable provider, called a CableCard. Unlike actual digital cable boxes, current DCR TVs can’t do video-on-demand at all, and you must pick up a phone if you want to order pay-per-view programs. Using the card with some sets also means you can’t access the electronic program guide (EPG).

HDTV resolutions

Resolution, or picture detail, is the main reason why HDTV programs look so good. The standard-definition programming most of us watch today has at most 480 visible lines of detail, whereas HDTV has as many as 1,080. HDTV looks sharper and clearer than regular TV by a wide margin, especially on big-screen televisions. It actually comes in two different resolutions, called 1080i and 720p. One is not necessarily better than the other; 1080i has more lines and pixels, but 720p is a progressive-scan format that should deliver a smoother image that stays sharper during motion.

Videophiles are quick to point out that not every HDTV can actually display all the resolution of an HDTV program. That’s true; all but the most expensive sets with 9-inch CRTs, LCoS engines, or the very highest-resolution LCD panels are incapable of resolving every detail of 1080i material. Plasma, LCD, LCoS and DLP TVs have a fixed number of pixels, known as native resolution, and the higher that number, the more detail you’ll see. Naturally, higher-resolution fixed-pixel displays cost more money. At the end of the day, however, even the staunchest video critics will admit that a high-definition picture on any HDTV looks far superior to regular TV.

Regular TV and DVD on an HDTV

Regular TV on an HDTV: Aside from being able to display high-resolution HDTV shows and movies, a high-definition set can also make regular TV look a little better. Almost every HDTV has a processor that takes the regular TV image and converts it to progressive-scan for a more stable image. This conversion won’t work miracles, however, and many HDTV buyers are disappointed by how regular television looks on their new sets. That’s because the big screen exaggerates the flaws in standard TV programs. No matter how nice a TV you buy, there isn’t much you can do to make regular TV, including digital cable or satellite, look better.

DVD on an HDTV: Since most people don’t buy HDTV tuners and converted TV doesn’t really leverage the full potential of a new high-def television, you may wonder why people buy HDTVs today at all. Most of them will probably tell you it’s because of DVD. HDTVs can make DVD, a very high-quality source, look spectacular. Progressive-scan DVD players have their own internal processors that are generally superior to the ones inside most digital sets. Mating a prog-scan DVD with an HDTV will give you the best picture you can get outside of HDTV itself.

Your HDTV tomorrow:

If you buy an HDTV today, you can be fairly certain it won’t become obsolete anytime in the next few years. There is a possibility, however, that Hollywood studios will enforce some sort of copy protection on analog HDTV connections; a move is underway to “plug the analog hole.” Your safest bet is to get an HDTV with a DVI/HDCP or HDMI connection. They’re the most future-ready HDTV connectors currently available.

 

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