Television: HDTV
High Definition Television
"What channels can I receive in digital or high definition in my local
area?"
There are three ways to receive High Definition
content. The options are listed below:
Satellite
A satellite company such as DirecTV or Dish
Network will sell you HD programming. If you go this route, you will have to pay
a little extra to receive local channels if you wish to watch your local network
broadcasts. If you decide to get HD from a satellite company you will have to:
- Get a subscription from the specific
satellite company that includes HD programming.
- Buy a satellite dish that is capable of
receiving HD signals from the satellite company you wish to receive HD
service from.
- Buy a Set-Top-Box
that is capable of decoding High Definition channels and is compatible with
the specific satellite provider you choose.
- Buy a High
Definition TV to view the signals.
Local
Cable
Cable companies are just starting to provide
HDTV broadcasts, but many of them still don't offer the service. Two companies
currently providing HD broadcasts are Comcast and TimeWarnerCable. AT&T is
in the process of rolling out HDTV as well. If you decide to do this you will
have to:
- Get a subscription from the cable provider
who supports HDTV and drops a coaxial cable into your house.
- Buy or rent a Set-Top-Box
that is capable of decoding High Definition channels and is compatible with
the specific cable company you choose.
- Buy a High
Definition TV to view the signals.
Many people are confusing Digital Cable with
HDTV and DTV. These are two completely different things. If you get Digital
Cable, this usually does not mean you are already set up to receive DTV and High
Definition signals. (Though it is possible)
Over The Air
OTA stands for Over the Air. You set up an antenna to get broadcasts from a local TV tower. If you get signals
OTA you will not have to pay a subscription to a cable or satellite company and
the programming is completely free. This does, however, limit you to only a few
local channels and is why most people receiving television programming OTA also get
programming from a cable company or satellite company as well. If you decide to
get OTA HD programs, you will have to:
- Buy (if you do not already own) an antenna
that is capable of receiving signals from broadcast towers near
you. To find out what type of antenna you might need, see Antennas.
- Buy a Set-Top-Box
that is capable of receiving and decoding High Definition channels over the
air.
- Buy a High
Definition TV to view the signals.
Of course, you can choose to get HDTV from
multiple sources at the same time. Many people get both Satellite and OTA
signals since OTA does not cost anything except the initial setup. Plus, if you
are getting HDTV over satellite that may mean you already have a STB that can
decode OTA signals too.
How should you get your high
definition programming? It depends on your area and what is available. Many
areas have exceptional OTA HD broadcasts. However, in the case of OTA signals,
you will not get many channels and you will have to set up an antenna. Most people choose OTA as a second choice after getting cable or
satellite as their primary TV reception method.
Only some areas are offering DTV and HDTV
through the local cable companies. You can rent a STB for as low as $9.95 per
month from many cable companies that offer Digital TV right now. This is a huge
advantage when compared to buying a $400 to $900 STB that may be old and
outdated in just a few years. However, the question remains: Does your area get
DTV or HDTV through a local cable company? If not, you simply can not make this
choice at this point in time.
Then, there is Satellite. You will be able to get satellite transmissions
from almost anywhere. You will be guaranteed to get a lot of channels and you
will not have to bother with setting up an antenna. You will have to
set up a Satellite dish, which in many cases can be done for you with an installation
fee.
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