Question Re: HD TVs

[Ro_Laren]

Right now, I have an older TV set (i.e. it is not a flat screen TV) in my bedroom, but I’m thinking of getting a flat screen TV. Are you still able to buy flat screen TV’s that aren’t HD? I don’t really want to pay even more for my cable bill by getting HD in my house!

On the flip side, what would the picture on my regular non-HD TV’s look like if I got HD in my house? There are a number of TV’s in my house, only one of which is HD. The picture looks a little weird on the HD TV (since I don’t pay for HD), but the TV is still manageable to watch. But, I’m afraid of what my regular TV’s would look like if I upgrade to HD. I’ll especially be annoyed if I am able to buy a non-HD flat screen and then my roommate insists on getting HD for the house!

 

[RoJoHen]

I couldn't even begin to answer this question. I don't even think we can get non-HD TV around here anymore. Even basic local channels are broadcast in HD.

 

[MacLeod]

SD looks fine on my HD TV. There are different types of HD TV

How old is this other TV, Is it a Plasama or LCD?

We have several HD TV's at home and you can notice the diffence in colours between the newer LED TV and the older Plasma TV.

 

[sojourner]

!. No such thing as a "non-hd" flatscreen tv.
2. standard definition will work with any HD tv.
3. That one HD tv you have, what's "weird" about the picture? is there a chance the tv is set to the wrong aspect ratio/zoom?
4. If you upgrade to HD cable, your standard tv's will still get a picture from the cable box if you use the standard coax connection. The hd tv has to use HDMI.

 

[RobertVA]

!. No such thing as a "non-hd" flatscreen tv.
2. standard definition will work with any HD tv.
3. That one HD tv you have, what's "weird" about the picture? is there a chance the tv is set to the wrong aspect ratio/zoom?
4. If you upgrade to HD cable, your standard tv's will still get a picture from the cable box if you use the standard coax connection. The hd tv has to use HDMI.

Don't forget that some CRTs had flat faces and were called "flat screens". When LCDs came out they were called "flat panels". On of my cousins has a thirty inch flat screen that is quite heavy, but is 720p/i. I've also seen some modest size LCDs that were standard definition, including a little portable I bought (unfortunately with an analog tuner, all that was available at the time)

High Definition works over a component, DVI and VGA connections in addition to HDMI, although HDMI requires fewer cables. Composite, S-video and RF coax outputs from devices like VCRs, DVD players and rental cable converters will be SD.

A high definition cable converter might simultaneously emit SD signals over the appropriate outputs at the same time it emits HD signals through the HDMI and/or component outputs (notice ''outputs" is plural? it takes three plugs for video plus separate plug(s) for audio on each end!). I've heard some converters downgrade the resolution of the various menus and on screen listings over the HD outputs when a duplicate SD output is also being used.

SD converters in the same household as HD converters probably won't be a problem.

 

[Ro_Laren]

SD looks fine on my HD TV. There are different types of HD TV

How old is this other TV, Is it a Plasama or LCD?

We have several HD TV's at home and you can notice the diffence in colours between the newer LED TV and the older Plasma TV.

I'm not sure if it is Plasma or LCD. I'll have to look up the Specs.

 

[sojourner]

Don't forget that some CRTs had flat faces and were called "flat screens". When LCDs came out they were called "flat panels". On of my cousins has a thirty inch flat screen that is quite heavy, but is 720p/i. I've also seen some modest size LCDs that were standard definition, including a little portable I bought (unfortunately with an analog tuner, all that was available at the time)

I knew someone would call out the exceptions to my blanket statement. Regardless, these exceptions are beyond the scope of the original OP's request for information.

High Definition works over a component, DVI and VGA connections in addition to HDMI, although HDMI requires fewer cables. Composite, S-video and RF coax outputs from devices like VCRs, DVD players and rental cable converters will be SD.

A high definition cable converter might simultaneously emit SD signals over the appropriate outputs at the same time it emits HD signals through the HDMI and/or component outputs (notice ''outputs" is plural? it takes three plugs for video plus separate plug(s) for audio on each end!). I've heard some converters downgrade the resolution of the various menus and on screen listings over the HD outputs when a duplicate SD output is also being used.

SD converters in the same household as HD converters probably won't be a problem.

On my cable system there is no need for an SD converter as opposed to an HD converter. If you pay for HD you need a digital cable box. At which point it depends on what cables you use to connect the box to the tv on whether you get an HD picture.
Up until recently, if you did not pay for HD, you could plug your cable tv cable straight into your tv and still recieve the analog SD channels. My cable company has recently done away with the the analog signals so now even subscribers that don't pay for HD are required to use a digital cable box. This has the added benefit that these holdouts (my parents) now get the basic cable stations in HD but none of the other benefits of digital such as DVR functionality.

 

[Campe]

My suggestion: buy a cheap flat panel TV . You can buy a 24" LED set for about $200. Then drop cable like a bad habit. Pick up an Apple TV or a Roku (the later tends to be a little cheaper), get an antenna, a subscription to Netflix or Hulu Plus , and run the subscription through your device. If you're concerned you might miss shows you watch on cable buy them through iTunes or Amazon. Then you own them. Not just viewing them like you do with cable unless you keep them on your DVR. Cable is such a waste of money these days.

 

[RAMA]

Right now, I have an older TV set (i.e. it is not a flat screen TV) in my bedroom, but I’m thinking of getting a flat screen TV. Are you still able to buy flat screen TV’s that aren’t HD? I don’t really want to pay even more for my cable bill by getting HD in my house!

On the flip side, what would the picture on my regular non-HD TV’s look like if I got HD in my house? There are a number of TV’s in my house, only one of which is HD. The picture looks a little weird on the HD TV (since I don’t pay for HD), but the TV is still manageable to watch. But, I’m afraid of what my regular TV’s would look like if I upgrade to HD. I’ll especially be annoyed if I am able to buy a non-HD flat screen and then my roommate insists on getting HD for the house!

You can get HD over regular over-the-air broadcasts. It'll only cost you the purchase of an indoor antenna. If you don't pay for it for cable it may look a little "funny".

You DO realize HD is pretty cheap?? An HD cable box/dvr box and the service combined, usually run $20-25 extra.

You should never WANT to buy a flatscreen that isn't HD and they don't exist anyway. You may eventually want to upgrade since SD is crap.

http://www.walmart.com/search/searc...l0=b&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=21249913582&wl4=&veh=sem

RAMA

 

[sojourner]

You DO realize HD is pretty cheap?? An HD cable box/dvr box and the service combined, usually run $20-25 extra.

*This line purely subjective and not true depending on geographic location.

 

[RAMA]

You DO realize HD is pretty cheap?? An HD cable box/dvr box and the service combined, usually run $20-25 extra.

*This line purely subjective and not true depending on geographic location.

That's generally what ive seen, and will be even moreso as Comcast basically takes over the access of the country.

What are you paying?

RAMA

 

[sojourner]

That's generally what ive seen, and will be even moreso as Comcast basically takes over the access of the country.



RAMA

This is what is known as "anecdotal evidence".

Also, Comcast is not "basically taking over the country". They are gaining a large market share if the TWC merger goes through, but only in the northeast U.S.

 

[Levi]

Go to Walmart and get one of their smaller flat pannels. Theyre not true HD and are very cheap and will work and look fine in your bedroom. You wont need to upgrade your cable or anything. And if your roomie gets HD for the house, it will work on your TV and all it will do is make the image look sharper and the lines will be cleaner. Otherwise you wont notice much of a difference besides when you just buy the new TV itself.

 

[Irishman]

Right now, I have an older TV set (i.e. it is not a flat screen TV) in my bedroom, but I’m thinking of getting a flat screen TV. Are you still able to buy flat screen TV’s that aren’t HD? I don’t really want to pay even more for my cable bill by getting HD in my house!

On the flip side, what would the picture on my regular non-HD TV’s look like if I got HD in my house? There are a number of TV’s in my house, only one of which is HD. The picture looks a little weird on the HD TV (since I don’t pay for HD), but the TV is still manageable to watch. But, I’m afraid of what my regular TV’s would look like if I upgrade to HD. I’ll especially be annoyed if I am able to buy a non-HD flat screen and then my roommate insists on getting HD for the house!

You don't have to pay more to the cable company to get HD on your HDTV. You can use an OTA antenna to pick up broadcast network, independent, and public broadcast channels. They come in digital form, and much of it is in HD.

You won't get your cable channels like Fox News, ESPN, etc, but you will get an HD picture that is even better than cable HD.

The VAST majority of TVs are HDTVs now. The only ones I've seen where they're not are super-small screens (9" or so). Here's the deal: you can get an HDTV, amplified antenna, and a smart Blu-ray player (think HD version of DVD, that also lets you stream video and music to your TV). You'll have all the HD you can ever want.

Enjoy it.

 

[Ro_Laren]

Right now, I have an older TV set (i.e. it is not a flat screen TV) in my bedroom, but I’m thinking of getting a flat screen TV. Are you still able to buy flat screen TV’s that aren’t HD? I don’t really want to pay even more for my cable bill by getting HD in my house!

On the flip side, what would the picture on my regular non-HD TV’s look like if I got HD in my house? There are a number of TV’s in my house, only one of which is HD. The picture looks a little weird on the HD TV (since I don’t pay for HD), but the TV is still manageable to watch. But, I’m afraid of what my regular TV’s would look like if I upgrade to HD. I’ll especially be annoyed if I am able to buy a non-HD flat screen and then my roommate insists on getting HD for the house!

You can get HD over regular over-the-air broadcasts. It'll only cost you the purchase of an indoor antenna. If you don't pay for it for cable it may look a little "funny".

You DO realize HD is pretty cheap?? An HD cable box/dvr box and the service combined, usually run $20-25 extra.

You should never WANT to buy a flatscreen that isn't HD and they don't exist anyway. You may eventually want to upgrade since SD is crap.

http://www.walmart.com/search/searc...l0=b&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=21249913582&wl4=&veh=sem

RAMA

That's an interesting option that I never heard of before. I already bought my HDTV and the pic does look funny on some programs (like some movies that I've watched on different TV stations).

 

[RobertVA]

Sometimes a program or movie on a HD channel was taped (or converted from film) in standard definition and doesn't have the image quality comparable to something recorded in high definition or converted directly from film to high definition digital video.

The same is still very common for commercials.