HDTV Antennas - How to Choose the Right One

The type of antenna you get for your TV will determine the number of channels you can receive and the quality of the picture. If you're getting a new HDTV, you might need a new antenna, but not because the technology is different: all HDTV broadcasts are in the UHF spectrum, so any UHF antenna will do an adequate job. The real reason to get a new antenna is that there will be many more channels available, clustered into narrower frequency widths, and you might simply need a bigger and higher quality antenna.

A good strategy for buying an antenna is simply to get the best and most capable antenna that is practical for your living situation. Let's start at the top, and work our way down:

1. Roof- or attic-mounted outdoor UHF/HDTV antenna. The higher you can mount your antenna, the more stations you will pull in, and the stronger they will be. If you are able to mount one on the very top of your house, do it. If neighborhood codes, landlord issues or weather concerns prevent that, the next best spot is the attic. Make sure it receives UHF, for the HDTV channels, and VHF for local channels. One decision you'll have to make here is whether to get a directional or omnidirectional TV antenna. Your choice will depend on the location and strength of the area TV transmitters. If they are all clustered in a small area, like a nearby mountaintop, a directional antenna can be pointed in that direction and will give you the best signals. If you live halfway between two urban areas, an omnidirectional antenna will be necessary to get signals from transmitters in different directions. The easiest way to make this decision is to visit antennaweb.org, type in your address, and you'll find out which type and size antenna will be necessary.
2. Amplified indoor antenna. If you can't put an antenna of the roof, or you just can't afford the cost of an outdoor antenna, an amplified indoor antenna is the next best choice. It uses an electric current to strengthen the signal, enhancing weak channels that you might not get with a regular antenna. The only problem with an amplified antenna is that they sometimes amplify noise along with the signal, so they could make some channels worse.
3. Non-amplified indoor antenna. A simple "rabbit ears" antenna is the least powerful option, but in many cases it is all you need. If you live in an urban area or near a transmitter, or you simply don't want to put a lot of money into an antenna, this is your best choice.

Another thing to consider is the switch from analog to digital broadcasts that the FCC has mandated for February, 2009. If you only have a VHF antenna, but you wish to receive digital broadcasts, you will need a new antenna. You can learn more about antennas and HDTV in general at helpful HDTV info websites.

About the Author Tom Webster is a researcher and copywriter who writes for FlatHDTV.net, a guide to the HDTV revolution. Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tom_Webster

DTV and HDTV - Why You Need To Understand the Difference

There are so many acronyms used in defining television technology that is difficult to keep it all straight, and even worse, sometimes the acronyms are almost the same. That's the case with DTV and HDTV. At first glance they would seem to be very similar, and yes they are definitely related, but there are also significant differences as well.

DTV stands for Digital TV, and HDTV stands for High Definition TV. To understand DTV, you have to go back before cable and satellite TV to the time when all broadcasts were picked up by antenna. Those television signals were broadcast in analog format, which is severely limited in how much audio and video information it can transmit. Back then all TV sets received analog signals and the main choice you had to make was how large the TV screen was going to be.

When first cable and then satellite came on the scene, they changed things dramatically. Instead of just sending analog signals they were able to broadcast in digital instead. That immediately improved both the picture and sound for televisions that were ready to receive digital signals. The improved video was far sharper and smoother than anything before, and the sound quality took a similar leap forward too. So DTV is simply a higher standard for TV broadcasting than was available in previous analog TV systems.

HDTV however, is the next evolutionary step in digital broadcasting. It takes DTV to a new level and makes both the television sound and video so much better. For instance, many DTV programs are sent in 525i format, which means that 525 lines of information are displayed on the screen and interlaced, or shown in alternate order. In other words, all the odd lines are shown in 1/10 of a second and then all the even lines are shown in the next 1/20 of a second. Because it all happens so fast you never clearly see the alternating pattern, but it is there.

Broadcasts made in HDTV however can reach up to 1080p, which is a standard where 1080 lines of information are shown on the screen and they are all shown together in a progressive scan instead of interlaced. What that means for you is a picture with much higher clarity and definition and action sequences that are much smoother to watch.

There are also other features of the HDTV format, including widescreen and Dolby 5.1 surround sound that take television viewing to a whole new level too, so DTV was the start of all of this improved entertainment, but HDTV is where we will really see the benefits unfold for all of us.

Jim Johnson is a successful author and publisher on consumer related matters. You can find out more about directtv hdtv and hdtv reviews by visiting our HDTV website. Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jim_Johnson

What is High Definition TV?

Presently the highest level of resolution in TV viewing is found in HDTV. HDTV currently offers the clearest audio signal. Today's TV viewing has a new format and standard, which is with digital programming. When viewing HDTV, images appear so clearly that you will feel as if you are there viewing the image in person, rather than over a TV screen.

HDTV range in various styles and prices, which take into account the technology used and the TV's screen size. High definition broadcasting signals are already available, however you will need a built in tuner and an antenna programmed for decoding the HDTV signals. The normal one to one display point of an HDTV image needs an input format of 1081i that displays 1920x1080 pixels, for best results.

Any non-broadcasted signals must be purchased from a cable or satellite provider. To learn the pricing and the programming of these HDTV non-broadcasted signals you must contact your local provider.

HDTV requires three significant occurrences in order to deliver high quality TV screen viewing, and those are an HDTV set, a method to receive HDTV signals; which can include an antenna or a connection for satellite or cable service, as well a source that is transmitting HDTV signals by means of a local station or a satellite or cable station.

The integrated HDTV has a digital tuner built in to its programming. When a television station is broadcasting in high definition, you will be able to attach an antenna to the set and tune into their broadcast.

The HDTV-ready set is a monitor that does not contain a HDTV tuner. They often have a NTSC tuner, which enables you to watch analog TV. HDTV ready sets are less expensive and give you the option of adding an HDTV receiver at a later time.

Choose an HDTV set that has a native resolution that matches the signals you would normally use more often. Whether that is the highest possible resolution or the highest possible progressive frame rate, the choice is up to you and what you feel most comfortable in viewing.

Make sure that the HDTV that you buy is user friendly with the equipment you already have at home or if you need other components or adapters. Nearly all LCD and plasma TV's are HD ready and can support the programming of high definition that is supplied by an external component receiver.

There are four major TV networks that broadcast their own type of free HDTV programming. With the right antenna, you should be able to receive their broadcasted signals. However all channels do not offer HD programming therefore there may be need for additional components to be able to get better reception from standard and enhanced definition TV screens.

Another thing to keep in mind is when choosing HDTV that future technology could very possible make available the use of more components and accessories to be purchased for HDTV viewing future broadcast signals. You can always wait to see how these new technological services turn out and then purchase programming.

David Tanguay is dedicated in providing research, reviews & helpful information to consumers and businesses. To research, review and purchase your next TV, please visit Plasma TV Compare at http://plasmatv-compare.com/ Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=David_Tanguay

What Is HDTV And How Does It work?

In the field of television broadcasting there are plenty of acronyms to go around and it all can all be very confusing. One of the most common terms you will read about and hear is "HDTV". A lot of people use that term in articles and at the consumer electronics stores and assume that everyuone knows exactly what they are talking about. But plenty of us are not tech-heads that know all the latest jargon in the electronics world, so let's go over just what HDTV is and what it means for you.

First of all HDTV stands simply for High Definition Television. It is a broadcasting standard for sending television signals in digital format instead of the old analog way. Back in days past, the television signal that originated at the tv station was sent in analog format that ciould only handle so much data for both picture and sound and once that limit was reached, it didn't matter how great the television set was that was receiving the signal, it would only look and sound so great.

However, with the advent of the digital age, electronics technology has improved to the extent that we can do much better than analog television signals now, and instead we can record the signal digitally, braodcast it not only by antenna but by cable and satellite and display it on greatly superior television screens. All of this results in picture and sound that is vastly improved over what we have been used to watching on television for many years now.

To give you an idea of how much improvement has been made in television equipment, just consider the screen or monitor itself. Standard television monitors have only been able to display about 525 lines of information on the screen, while HDTV enabled monitors can display up to 1080 lines on the same screen. That's almost double the detail of analog television. What that means for you is much improved resolution, color, and smoothness of action on the screen. And it will also be easier on the eyes as well.

Since all television broadcasts have been mandated by the FCC in the US to eventually be shown in HDTV format, that pretty much makes all analog TV systems obsolete. So if you are looking to buy a new television, it makes a lot of sense to buy a high definition television, as that will soon be the standard for all televisions sold for some to come.

Jim Johnson writes on many consumer related topics including HDTV. You can find out more about hdtv by visiting our HDTV and Television Review website. Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jim_Johnson