Getting HD television broadcasts

[buildersmate]

So now we've all bought our HD-ready TVs, the latest wheeze from Auntie Beeb is that we need a freesat box and a dish to watch it. A few questions, please.
Is there any danger that HD will be put onto terrestrial freeview some time soon? - or is there a bandwidth problem which will make this impossible?
The channels seem to be much the same as freeview - is this indeed the case?
Any other ways to install it for those without a cable connection and a inherent detest of Sky?

[ChuckFickens]

HD will not be put onto freeview until sometime after the switchover is fully complete (the switchover is meant to be finished in 2012... but seeing as the switchover was originally meant to be 2001.... well, who knows when it finally will be completed)

While they are still broadcasting the old analogue signals there is just not enough total bandwidth available to broadcast HD channels.

[Ethel]

Just to add, there are no new programmes in HD, it is just that SOME of the current programmes are also shown in HD at the same time.
You can also get HD through Virgin cable tv.

If you want to watch dvds in HD format (blu ray) you will need a blu ray player.

[Ethel]

Also found this:
Free-to-air satellite broadcasting system Freesat may have only just launched in the UK as an outlet for BBC and - soon - ITV HD programming, but regulator Ofcom has confirmed that some Brits will get HD over Freeview next year.

The service will allow UK users to receive up to four HD channels through a regular television aerial. One slot has been reserved for the BBC, and Ofcom is currently judging applications from other broadcasters, including ITV and Channel 4.
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/05/07/freevi ew_hd_service_in_uk/

[buildersmate]

Ah, so it is a bandwidth issue.
And thanks for the Ofcom announcement, Ethel. I'd failed to find that in my searching. Worth waiting to see what the next announcement rather than forking out nye on �200 for a dish and receiver, methinks. Cable was never installed out in the sticks.

[VHG]

Note that if your TV is a 720p model (only 768 lines) rather than a 1080 model (1080 lines) you will probably not notice much difference going to HD anyway.

You really need a 1080i or 1080p HD TV to get the best out of HD.

Making everyone rush out and buy 720p TVs, saying they were "HD ready", was a bit of a con by the retail industry.

[ACtheTROLL]

you know I can hardly see a difference with hd

a bit like MP3s sampled at over 128 kbps - the dog sticks up it's ears but I can't hear why

bruce willis still looks like an old bald bloke with a gun.

[buildersmate]

Thanks for that AC. Somehow I anticipated that you would be an 'early adopter' in such matters. I was thinking of trotting down to Comet to see if I could spot a difference.

[loonytunes]

Writing from Devon where they have pulled the plug on our analog signal (and the Freeview Boxes do not tune properly to Channed 5, or ITV, and as for 5 forget it) I got my Humax HD Freesat Box in at the weekend. First thing I did after fitting my quad LNB on the dish (�5 off ebay), I looked at the difference between the ordinary picture and HD at yesterday's Cup Match. I never realised that you could see the players names on the shirts at a distance and that David Moyes has quite so many wrinkles. It's better but is it �300 better? I'm not sure yet. Do not believe what the powers that be tell you, the changeover is not without problems,

[loonytunes]

Writing from Devon where they have pulled the plug on our analog signal (and the Freeview Boxes do not tune properly to Channed 4, or ITV, and as for 5 forget it) I got my Humax HD Freesat Box in at the weekend. First thing I did after fitting my quad LNB on the dish (�5 off ebay), I looked at the difference between the ordinary picture and HD at yesterday's Cup Match. I never realised that you could see the players names on the shirts at a distance and that David Moyes has quite so many wrinkles. It's better but is it �300 better? I'm not sure yet. Do not believe what the powers that be tell you, the changeover is not without problems,

[buildersmate]

Thanks for that - good insight. Were you hoping for extra stars for the double reply? Tell you what, let's call it 2 stars - divided equally.