The basics of High Definition (HD)
Satellite TV has greatly improved the quality of TV entertainment for the homes in the US. With the introduction of High Definition TV (HDTV), TV entertainment has been brought to a new level with crystal clear pictures, wide screen viewing experience and slim TV designs.
With the craze about HDTV, shouldn’t we find out how it really works? How can it provide such clear pictures compared to the traditional TV. The reason that makes HDTV able to provide crystal clear picture is because it is using a TV scanning method called ‘progressive’ scanning. This can produce flicker free pictures.
What makes HDTV so different from traditional TV is because they are not using the analog transmission like the traditional TV is still using. HDTV is using a different method of transmission that provide better picture resolution, motion picture scanning as well as better picture ratio.
The picture resolution that the HDTV can produce is much more superior to the analog TV. It can go up to 1 million active pixels. If you are using a 720p HD, you can get 1280×720 in resolution and if you are using a 1080i HD, you can get resolution up to 1920×1080. This resolution is way better than the ones provided by a normal TV which can usually provide about 480 resolution lines only.
Another feature that makes the HDTV so different from normal analog is the screen ratio. For a satellite TV provider like Dish Network or DirecTV, they have a screen format of 16:9 which is in widescreen. A normal analog TV transmission only provides 4:3 formats.
To fully enjoy the excitement of viewing experience with a HDTV, you need to have HDTV programming as well. Although HDTV is already enough to give you clear pictures of your favourite TV shows, with the HDTV programming, you get even more enjoyment. This type of programming is available with TV providers from cable TV and also satellite TV systems.
Currently, Comcast is the leading provider in providing HDTV programming services. In their cable TV service, they cover most of the main channels with HD programming. Those programs are programs like ABC, FOX, NBC, ESPN HD, HBO HD, Cinemax HD, Discovery HD and so on. As for satellite TV systems, Dish Network provides around 30 HD channels that cover channels like A&E HD, Animania HD, Discovery HD Theatre, Equator HD, ESPN HD, ESPN2 HD, Family Room HD, Film Fest HD, Food Network HD, HBO HD, CInemax HD, HDNet and HDNet Movies. No matter which type TV system you are using, you can enjoy a hand full of HDTV because both types of service provide plenty of HD programming.
