HD tv

[callboy]

I have seen shops advertising TVs that are HD ready and some with full HD. What is the difference as I thought you had to have an HD box and pay a monthly subscription even with a tv that is HD ready

[Ethel]

HD tv comes in two qualities - full HD is the best screen resolution, 1080p, and HD ready is less either 1080i or 720p.

Some experts claim that the average viewer in the average home watching a standard hd broadcast can't tell the difference.

To watch HD you can buy a HD dvd player (or blu ray) and buy HD or blu ray dvds, which are usually more expensive than standard dvds. The new player will usually play standard dvds; a standard dvd player won't play hd or blu ray.

To watch tv in hd you have three choices - Sky, Freesat satellite or Virgin tv. Virgin has limited HD programmes but don't charge more if you have the XL tv pack. Sky do charge extra.

[ZXR]

It's all to do with marketing I'm afraid manufacturers making a quick buck from people who don't know exactly what they are buying. HD ready means the tv will display HD pics when coupled with a suitable decoder.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_ready

Most HD ready tvs only display 720 lines and are incapable of showing the full resolution of the picture and so will look less sharp and detailed than a full hd tv

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_HDTV

Full HD is 1920 x 1028p (progressive) and looks the business but the tvs cost a lot more than one which just meets the HD ready spec.

[callboy]

thanks ethel for such a descriptive answer,cheers

[callboy]

thankyou ZXR too, I feel I now know what HD is at last

[puss_boots]

I have recently bought "HD ready" TV. I think.


How do i find what the resolution is. Is there a display anywhere.

Thanks.

[Ethel]

Have a look at your manual - that will tell you.

Or google the make and model.

Or tell us the make and model so we can google for you

[VHG]

It does not matter if you have a "HD ready" tv or a "full HD" TV, you wont actually SEE anything in HD unless the data coming IN is in HD.

So if you are watching freeview, or "normal" Sky or Virgin you wont see it in HD.

As Ethel says, to actually see HD you either need:

1) A Blu Ray player with a Blu Ray DVD (dont bother with HD DVD as it is a dead format).

2) A Sky HD box with a Sky HD subscription (which is an EXTRA �10 a month)

3) A Virgin HD box.

4 A "freesat" (BBC/ITV) box capable of showing HD. While you have to pay for the box there is no monthly subscription. You do need a satellite dish though.

More on "freesat" here
http://www.freesat.co.uk/

(Note that rather confusingly Sky also have a service called freesat but that is NOT the same thing)