Congratulations, you’ve got a shiny new HD TV screen mounted on the wall in your media room and the goodies (cable or satellite connection, Netflix account, DVD player) to go with it.
So how come the picture on your HDTV isn’t as spectacular as you were expecting?
People throughout the New York area who’ve installed their own equipment often call DTV Installations asking for help because the picture on their new, modern TV isn’t as good as they think it should be. What we’ve found is that their problem usually isn’t with the television or monitor; it’s usually because their “HD” video source isn’t delivering a true HD signal.
A TV that says “high definition” on the box doesn’t automatically give you an HD picture – you have to give it the right help and use the right equipment in order to enjoy true high definition. Here’s what you need to know.
The Easy Stuff
You may have a TV signal or movie that’s true HD, but not making it all the way to your TV. In that case, improving your picture quality could be as simple as making a phone call or changing a cable service.
1) You don’t automatically get a high definition signal when you order cable or satellite service.
- Solution: Ask the service provider to provide an HD box and to activate HD signals for your home.
2) Some cable companies have separate channels for standard and high-definition signals. They may show CNN in standard definition on channel 26, for example, and CNN in high-def on channel 1026.
- Solution: Check your channel guide to make sure that you’re watching the HD channel.
3) You should be using an HDMI cable to connect your video source to your television (or, if absolutely necessary, component cables); a yellow composite cable won’t transmit high definition signals.
- Solution: Buy HDMI cables. They are inexpensive, and you will need them for best performance.
Is Your HD Really HD?
