Confused about HDTV?

Question

So, could someone please exaplin this to me. I have a Samsung DLP 720p HDTV. I have an HDTV receiver through Time Warner and get all the core stations in HD. The thing is, the receiver only lets me receive my HD signals in 480p or 1080i. What does this mean if my TV's native resolution is 720p? Also, I know that some stations, like ABC broadcast in 720p while CBS broadcasts in 1080i. So if my receiver only lets me receive in 480p and 1080i, and my TV's native resolution is 720p, and certain stations broadcast in either 720p or 1080i...what is the optimal configuration for my settings to get the best picture?

Answer 1

THE TV WILL CONVERT THE SIGNAL TO IT'S "NATIVE RESOLUTION", SO DON'T WORRY.
HERE IS A LINK TO TIME/WARNER'S DVR BOX. SCROLL TO "WHY ARE ALL MY CHANNELS DISPLAYED IN 1080i?
MOST OF THE CHANNELS ON TIME/WARNER DIGITAL CABLE ARE BROADCAST AT 480i (THE LOWEST QUALITY DIGITAL CABLE).
IF YOU HAVE AN "HDMI" INPUT ON YOUR TV USE IT AS THAT IS THE HIGHEST QUALITY INPUT TO DATE.

i = INTERLACED WHICH THAT ONLY ODD OR EVEN LINES ARE DISPLAYED AT ONE TIME SWITCHING BACK AND FORTH VERY FAST. IT WAS ONCE BELIEVED THAT THE BRAIN COULDN'T "SEE" THE DIFFERENCE.(BUT IT CAN!)
p = PROGRESSIVE WHICH ALL LINES ARE SEEN AT THE SAME TIME, RESULTING IN A SMOOTHER PICTURE.

Answer 2

Digital TV stations transmit in one of three formats: 480i, 720p, 1080i. 480i is "standard definition" and it's resolution corresponds to the original "525"-line analog TV system. 720p and 1080i are both high definition formats. Networks have chosen one or the other and there transmissions in HD are consistent with the chosen format. ABC and FOX have selected 720p, while NBC and CBS have selected 1080i. 720p is better for fast-moving pictures like sports, while 1080i is better for stationary or slow-moving scenes.

Your receiver is receiving all of these formats and converting them to a single output for simplicity. It is "deinterlacing" the 480 of standard defintion broadcasts to ouput 480p and converting the 720p to 1080i. In anycase, none of this makes any difference to you. 720p converted to 1080i looks just fine, and it is real HD.

Your TV is converting the 1080i from your receiver back to 720p for display. There is an argument that that much conversion can only degrade the quality of the picture; it would be nice if your receiver would output 720p to match your TV set. However, I have yet to be able to detect the difference: I have a 720p DLP projector, and my satellite receiver allows me to select either 720p or 1080i output. I select the 720p so that the projector doesn't do any conversion, and with FOX and ABC there (theoretically) should be no conversion. Yet when I use 1080i output I cannot (nor can anyone else I've shown this to) tell any difference between the 720p straight through and the double conversion (720p -> 1080i ->720p).

Answer 3

480i (interlaced) is normal definition. This means you have a picture drawn on the screen in two fields. each field is 240 horizontal lines. 480p (progressive) means the the picture is drawn with 480 horizontal in one field. The next higher resolution is 1080i, two fields each containing 540 lines. Next is 720p, one field with 720 lines. And finally the highest (currently in use to a small degree) is 1080p. This is drawn with 1080 lines in one field. Your unit will up convert the signal your HD box outputs to 720p. This up-converter will cause errors (artifacts) in the picture as a result. Especially in fast moving scenes and when you see skewed lines move across the picture. The best picture you can expect to see will be when the input matches your native resolution. Try a DVD with HDMI and set the DVD to 720p, and see the difference.

Answer 4

OK...
Well 1080i resolution is a TRUE HD picture. 720p is also a true HD picture. Im not a 100% sure what the difference between "i" and "p" is but i think "i" is the amount of pixels in a horizontal direction, and "p" is the amount of pixels in a vertical. But trust me ur gettin true HD picture either way. But I think 720p is slightly better, but u probably wont even notice much difference.