5 Ways to Get HD (High Definition)

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With the 2009 Digital Television switch being less than a year away, many are left wondering, “How can I get the best HD reception for the least amount of money? To answer that question, here at Solid Signal we believe people need to understand their options. We aim to educate our customers on all of their options and help them make the correct choice. There are currently 5 mainstream methods to receive an HD signal. We have outlined each one below:

  •  Satellite –  With satellite you must ‘buy’ or lease the equipment. Existing subscribers might have to upgrade their set top boxes to receive the HD signal. In some markets you will need an over the air antenna to get local HD stations, most set top boxes integrate the local programming right into the menus seamlessly. The primary satellite providers are DIRECTV® and Dish Network. In general both offer top-of-the-line satellite equipment and all-digital programming. Our customer service department can help you choose the best programming for your needs.
  • Antenna –  An antenna – you’re kidding! Today’s over the air antennas are geared for the digital UHF and VHF broadcast. If you have an old style TV without a digital tuner, you need to purchase a digital converter box. There are no monthly fees and you receive a crystal clear signal. Most primetime network shows are presented in HD and more than 1500 stations broadcast digital signals. The biggest surprise is that many stations are multicasting. Therefore in markets such as Los Angeles or
    Miami, there are over 40 stations available for free.
  • Cable –  Consumers can receive HDTV signals through a cable provider. However, there is signal compression associated with receiving the HD signal through your cable company. Therefore, your picture may not have the best quality; in general 40% of
    U.S. viewers receive their signal through cable. In order to get an HD signal you will need an HD-capable tuner/descrambler from your cable provider.
  • IPTV –  IPTV means television delivered via a broadband connection. Unlike the internet, the network itself is private as opposed to the Internet at large. This technology promises more robust VOD (video on demand) options, including HD on demand and movies on demand.
  • FIOS & U Verse – Fios is only available in select areas of the country. It uses a fiber-optic network that runs straight into subscribers houses. The channels are delivered via traditional cable TV technology, the difference is the signal is delivered via an optical connection. Fios employs IPTV technology to deliver video on demand, pay-per-view, and programming-guide data. U Verse differs in that only the channels the user wants to watch or record are delivered at any one time. This allows the ability of a U Verse DVR to record up to four live channels at once, although only one can be HD. Access to the HD channels cost an extra $10 month.

As always we are here to answer your questions and help you find the best products for your needs. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us at 1-866-374-4625.Your friends at Solid Signal!