Tuner

Up until a few years ago, the average television buyer only had to concern themselves with a few things when shopping for a new TV; screen size, picture quality and the price, all that has changed with the introduction of High Definition Television (HDTV).  You may be asking yourself, what exactly is HDTV and why should I be interested in it.  The following is a brief review of the basics of HDTV. 

HDTV is a set of standards, set by the Advanced Televisions Standards Committee (ATSC), designed to provide higher resolution.  There are a total of 18 HDTV standards set by the ATSC; each one of them has a different pixel resolution and scan rate.  All current HDTV sets for sale in the US Market can receive, display, or convert all of the 18 formats.  This means that the HDTV you purchase now, will be compatible with whatever format your local television stations finalize once they complete the HDTV broadcast requirements.   

Most HDTVs currently on the market support some range of resolution from 720p to 1080i.  These numbers refer to the number of lines of horizontal resolution the screen is able to display.  The higher the resolution, the better the display will be in terms of picture crispness and quality.  There is a large debate over whether 720p or 1080i produces a higher quality image.  Without going into much detail, each has its advantages as 720p uses a progressive scan picture and 1080i has more lines of resolution.  It is best to look at all the options and decide for yourself. 

HDTVs are currently available with two different screen types; standard (4:3) and widescreen (16:9).  Widescreen is very similar to the format used in movie theaters and on DVD's.  Widescreen is also the standard HDTV signal format.  Many manufactures are planning on dropping standard screens in favor of widescreens as this is the recommended format.  

Finally some sets include a HDTV tuner while a majority of them do not.  If purchasing a HDTV without a tuner, you will be required to purchase a separate stand-alone tuner in order to receive HDTV broadcasts over the air.  There are a few reason many manufactures do not include the HDTV tuner built into the set.  Eliminating a built in tuner cuts down on production costs, making the TVs more affordable to the customer, it also allow them to be more compact in size.  Another important reason is that since tuner technology will most certainly change over the years as advancements to digital signal processing occur, your initial investment into your HDTV will be protected.  It will be far easier and less expensive to upgrade just the tuner, while still being able to keep your original HDTV set. 

Purchasing an HDTV set can be very confusing and is a large investment.  The pay off, however will be seen each day in a quality, crisp, clear picture.  Taking the time to investigate and understand the technology will help you purchase the right set that will continue to give you enjoyment for years to come.