How to Get the Best Quality Picture Out of Your HDTV
Learn How to Get the Best Quality Picture Out of Your HDTV.
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Instructions
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Make sure your LCD or Plasma HDTV has an HDMI port. Hopefully you bought one with it, if not, you may be stuck using component cables. Not bad, but not he best. Component cables change the digital signal from the cable box into an analog signal. This conversion allows for signal degradation. You want to keep the digital signal transmitted from the cable company to go directly into your HDTV. An HDMI cable will provide you with this capability and with the clearest picture.
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Make sure your cable box has an HDMI port. Most cable companies do not offer a cable box with an HDMI port on the initial install. You may need to upgrade by calling your cable company and asking if they have a cable box with HDMI capability. Ask them to send you one. I had to do this!
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Purchase an HDMI cable. TIP - The longer the distance between the cable box and the HDTV, the better the quality HDMI cable. This is due to degradation of the digital signal over long distances, which could result in a poor quality picture. Any distance over sixteen feet should be compensated for by using a heavier gauge HDMI cable. Oh yea, don't get taken by buying the most expensive cables. From what I have read, companies are cashing in on this relatively new technology. I bought my "gold-plated" HDMI cables from an Ebay Store, "eforcity" for about a quarter of the price found at the local electronic store.
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Connect one end of your HDMI cable into the HDMI (out) port on the back of your cable box and connect the other end to the HDMI (in) port on the back of your HDTV.
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Read the instructions that came with your new HDMI compatible cable box. These instructions will explain the download process the cable box needs to go through before use and the Setup Wizard that will program the cable box to send the correct picture format to your HDTV. If you did not get instructions, you can get them at the cable box manufacturers website. Scientific Atlanta's website: http://www.scientificatlanta.com/products/consumers/new_cableboxes.htm
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Adjust video, audio, and screen settings to your liking. The explanation for these settings can be found in your HDTV's user's manual.
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Push your "source" button on your remote control or HDTV and select HDMI. Tune to a Hi-Def channel. Most Hi-Def channels are in the 700 channel range. Check cable company listings for the specific channels.
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Be amazed!
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Tips & Warnings
In order for a picture to be true Hi-Def, it needs to be filmed by a Hi-Def camera. Some channels advertise themselves as Hi-Def, but broadcasts are just enhanced. Once you compare them you will see the difference.
1080i (Interlaced) vs. 720p (Progressive Scan) - 1080i offers a crisper picture if you watch movies and news broadcasts. 720p offers a smoother picture if you watch a lot of fast action broadcasts.
1080p HDTV's are now being sold!
To really enhance your Hi-Def experience, buy a surround sound home theater system.
Channels that broadcast in 720p include ABC, FOX, and ESPN. Channels that broadcast in 1080i include CBS, NBC, HBO, Showtime, and Discovery.
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Comments
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Nitin Nandwani
Feb 21, 2011
Hi Matthew, Just wondering if you are ouputting from a computer into your TV, do you think the amount of memory the graphics card makes any difference to the quality of the transmission? I am looking to buy a new computer and don't need the extra memory in the graphics card for anything else. I will be using HULU and NETFLIX to connect my computer to my TV which is HDMI enabled. Thank you so much
