How to get HD channels on my HDTV?
Question:
HDTV (1080i)
HDMI cable
antenna
but no cable/special services
i'm not tech-ie about this whole HDTV channels stuff. i want HD channels on my HDTV. without cable i won't be able to get any HD channels correct? i was told by someone that let's say i want to watch channel 4. i would go to channel 4-1. is that the way to watch HD broadcast channels or that's just something else? that's what i don't get. when i input just channel 4... it looks all nasty as if w/out ana antenna... but if i input channel 4-1 then it looks fine. i have to zoom in order for it to look normal though.
so can anyone help me out to get HD channels? thank you!
Answer:
First let me say that cable is NOT necessary for HD channels. You can get local broadcast station reception via antenna and some of those broadcasts are HD.
It sounds like you are already getting HD channels on your HDTV. Local broadcast stations are required to switch over to digital broadcasting by 2009. Many stations are preparing for this switchover and are broadcasting both analog and digital signals. As you have discovered, 4 is the analog broadcast and 4-1 is the digital one. You may wish to visit antennaweb to see which local stations are broadcasting digitally in your area and what you might need to get that broadcast.
http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.asp...
If you want local HD channels you can purchase a HD antena from any Electronic store. If you want HD, Movies tv, shows sports ect. you can contact you cable provider and they will supply you with an HD reciever.
You need to up-grade to an HD set-top box from your cable provider, or no HD signal. Or, you could get HD satellite dish & receiver . If you live handy to TV stations that broadcast over the air HD signal, you can get an out-door HD antenna to pick up those channels, but I would say go with the cable box from your cable provider in HD.
If you have an over the air antenna, simply go to www.antennaweb.org and find the location of your HD signals. Scan and find them! I can get about 5-7 HD channels over the air free.
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