HDMI HDTV question?

Question

I just bought a 52" 1080p thinking that it was top of the line or a least I was told it was, HDMI HDTV VIZIO BUT I do not understand how that high definition works please help me. I still see some blurry on the TV and I am very disappointed and thinking on taking the TV back to the store, please I would really like to keep it but I wanted to try something else before doing that and be able to see it in high definition thank you.

Answer 1

Your TV is HD, your signal may not be. You need to receive HD signals for your TV to display true HDTV.

How are you getting your TV signals?

If from the satellite or cable companies, you'll need to upgrade the converter boxes to HD ones. If satellite, you may need to upgrade the dish as well.

Answer 2

If you don't have high definition channels and a top of the line cable wire, your HDTV will show you all the flaws in regular cable TV thus displaying a "crappier" view.

The main problem is a lack of HD input. Many cable and satellite channels and even some "high definition" channels are not broadcast in true HD. Also, image quality may be lost if the television is not properly connected to the input device or not properly configured for the input's optimal performance. HD digital signals will either deliver an excellent picture, a picture with noticeable pixelation, a series of still pictures, or no picture at all. Any interference will render the signal unwatchable. As opposed to a lower-quality signal one gets from interference in an analogue television broadcast, interference in a digital television broadcast will freeze, skip, or display "garbage" information.

In order to view HDTV broadcasts, viewers will have to upgrade their TVs, incurring household expense in the process. Adding a new aspect ratio makes for consumer confusion if their display is capable of one or more ratios but must be switched to the correct one by the user. Traditional standard definition TV shows and feature films (mostly movies from before 1953) originally filmed in the standard 4:3 ratio, when displayed correctly on an HDTV monitor, will have empty display areas to the left and right of the image. Many consumers aren't satisfied with this unused display area and choose instead to distort their standard definition shows by stretching them horizontally to fill the screen, giving everything a too-wide or not-tall-enough appearance. Alternately, they'll choose to zoom the image which removes content that was on the top and bottom of the original TV show.[6]

As of 2007, broadcasters may demand, or cable-television operators may elect, to place HD signals in a premium band that requires higher cable fees. That some satellite companies offer the local HD channels as a service at additional cost (transmission comes from satellite) suggests to some broadcasters that on-air broadcasts of local HD signals must be a premium service to subscribers. Viewers may be denied some television channels that they expected, be allowed only access to the non-digital, and obviously sub-standard non-digital signal, or to install an antenna to receive the digital broadcasts. Such issues more entail economic and legal disputes than they entail technology.

Some viewers of HDTV will notice a type of distortion during faster scene movement or total scene change. This "pixelation" or "blockiness" distortion is caused by aggressive video compression in the source material. Technically this is not a fault of HDTV, which is generally just displaying what is provided by the tuner or source (like a cable tv or satellite tv decoder box). The higher the compression used on the video, the more pronounced the pixelation. Since each content provider can choose bitrate (hence, the amount of bandwidth) used for the video, providers who devote more bandwidth will have higher video quality HDTV content and less distortion. This type of pixelation did not occur using traditional, broadcast, analog TV.

Another disadvantage of HDTV compared to traditional television has been consumer confusion stemming from the different standards and resolutions, such as 1080i, 1080p, and 720p. Complicating the matter have been the changes in television connections from component video, to DVI, then to HDMI. Finally, the HD-DVD vs. Blu-ray Disc high definition storage format war engenders even more animosity for consumers. The confusion has led to slower uptake of the technology as many people wait to see what becomes the "ultimate" de-facto standard.

Answer 3

I subscribe to Comcast in N Calif and have HD subscription on top of the standard subscription... we also have a DVR/cable box combo rental... my husband records all of his football team's games in HD and it is really, really good... BTW, the cable install person brought the line connecting the cable box and our TV too, so we did not need to buy one, guess we'll have to return it if we discontinue service. (we have a 60" TV)