What do I need to watch HDTV?

Since KFDM-DT is a broadcast television station, this discussion will concern itself primarily with reception of KFDM's digital High Definition broadcast signal. You can also get HDTV programs from satellite or cable. You will need to subscribe to their HDTV service and obtain their HDTV "converter box". Our HDTV signal is now available on Time Warner cable (channel 865), and both satellite systems.

You should select your HDTV set based upon picture quality, size, and any extra features that you want.  If the set you have selected does not have a built-in digital tuner then you can purchase an external tuner if you want to watch broadcast HDTV.  If you plan to connect this set to cable or satellite, you will not need a digital tuner or digital converter box.

The next thing to consider is if you want a wide screen set or not.  HDTV is shown in the wide screen 16x9 format (the ratio of width to height).  An analog TV set uses a 4x3 format. Wide screen pictures displayed on a 4x3 format TV will result in black bands at the top and bottom of the set.  However, most TV programs will continue to be broadcast in SD in a 4x3 format for a few years to come.  When these SD programs are displayed on a wide screen set, there will be "bars" on the left and right of the screen.  Which do you hate less: bars on the sides or bars on the top and bottom?

The last question is what type of set, "direct view "or projection?  Your selection would depend upon what size set you want, which depends upon the size of the room you are going to put it in. 

Go to: http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/specsformats/displays_LCD_DLP_plasma1.html for a comparison of the available types of HDTV sets.  This site lists the advantages and disadvantages of each type of display.

Every HDTV set has a "native format" it uses to display the picture. The set will convert all pictures to this "native format" for display.  For example, if I send out my 1080i signal and the native format of your set is 720p, then your set will convert my 1080i signal to 720p before it displays it.

Any set with a native format of 480p (or 480i) is not a high definition TV set, and you will never see HDTV on such a set.  A true HDTV set will have a native format of either 1080 or 720 (with an "i" or a "p" after the number).  The picture on a 480 screen is still very good; it's just not HDTV.

(if your set does not have a built-in digital tuner)

You will need an "HDTV digital tuner" to watch broadcast HDTV only if your set does not have a built-in digital tuner.  Although most digital TV sets sold have a built-in digital tuner, you can still purchase an "HDTV monitor" which does not contain any built-in tuners.

An external HDTV digital tuner currently cost between $100 - $300. The $100 models will pick up broadcast HDTV stations only and are hard to find. The $300 models are usually satellite HDTV receivers (used for DirecTV and Dish Network HDTV services) but some of them will also pick up broadcast HDTV stations. If you subscribe to satellite, the "HDTV satellite receiver" you received with your satellite HDTV subscription may be able to pick up broadcast stations.  If it does, you are ahead of the game and you don't need to buy a separate digital tuner. Currently, no "cable HDTV converter box" that I know of will pick up broadcast HDTV.  DirecTV HDTV satellite receivers are available at Best Buy and other retailers for $299 or less.  Not all HDTV satellite receivers can be used to pick up broadcast TV signals.  Check before you buy.

Digital Converter Boxes:
In order to provide a low cost alternative to an "HDTV digital tuner", manufacturers have introduced the "Digital Converter Box" with prices starting at $40.  These converter boxes are not HDTV tuners.  They convert our digital HDTV signals to analog pictures that can be displayed on an analog set.

Just about any "normal" television antenna will pick up a digital (HDTV) signal. There is nothing magical about HDTV that requires a special antenna.  The further you are from my transmitter, the larger the antenna needs to be. If you are far enough away from my transmitter, you may need to put the antenna on a pole.  You may also need an antenna amplifier.
If you absolutely refuse to install an antenna, you do not need to buy a digital tuner.  You will have to subscribe to Time Warner cable or either satellite system in order to watch HDTV.

More information on antennas is provided in a later article ("Antenna facts").

Last update: September, 2009

Part Three

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