It’s a rare thing these days to see the letters “TV” without the flashier ones “HD” in front of them. HD is everywhere and everything, from sports to movies to kids shows, and everyone is telling you that it is the best thing since bagel bites. If you are a bit lost amidst the hype surrounding those two gigantic letters, you are not alone—many people are confused, intimidated, or simply overwhelmed by this omnipresent acronym.
There is nothing to fear about HD, however, only a great technology to embrace and enjoy. While boob-tube connoisseurs have been reveling in HD for years, it’s never too late to get on board. Here’s a primer for the as yet un-initiated.
While the HD phenomenon has only intensified in recent years, the first public HDTV broadcast in the US took place in 1996 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Since then the quantity of HD programming and the availability of HD-compatible video equipment has skyrocketed, with most network stations and cable channels alike offering a large percentage of their shows in high definition.
A high definition signal digitally broadcast and is clearer than a standard signal because it has, at the very least, twice the linear resolution of the standard signal. For example, a standard television signal system usually has 480 horizontal lines of resolution, whereas the lowest quality HD signal will have 780 horizontal lines of resolution. This means that you see more detail with more clarity, whether watching the latest slasher flick or your favorite team with NFL Sunday Ticket.
To take advantage of high definition television you need two things: an HD compatible television set and an HD signal. An HD signal viewed on a non-compatible television set will not appear any clearer than a regular signal, and an HD set will not improve a regular television signal.
HD signals can be obtained via antenna, cable, or satellite tv providers. In cities with major network affiliates high definition signals can usually be obtained over the air, but must be received by a set with a built-in HD tuner or a an external tuner installed to a regular television. Obtaining a signal through cable is rather straightforward, as most cable providers include an array of HD programming with their basic packages. Satellite TV providers also offer HD programming, but customers may need to upgrade their dishes or receivers to obtain the signal.
HD sets are often referred to and identified by a set of numbers, most commonly 720 or 1080. These numbers refer to the number of vertical pixels in the frame. You will also see either the letter “i” or the letter “p,” which refer to interlaced or progressive scanning systems, respectively. Interlaced scan systems were designed for older cathode ray tube systems and work by refreshing two alternate sets of horizontal lines of pixels at different times. Progressive scanning is newer and refreshes the entire frame at the same time, which means moving images are often clearer.
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