I have hd tv. I have never watched and hd program. Is it really worth getting the converter box from my cable company?

Yes. Which set do you have? You can try HDTV over the air at no cost if you have the right TV with built in DTV tuner.

Yes. If you want to see detail that has never been in Sd.

I have hd tv. I have never watched and hd program. Is it really worth getting the converter box from my cable company?

Most cable co have the locals in hd unencrypted qam.(Box not needed)
Have you scanned your hd tv for the qam hd channels?

Why would someone buy an HDTV and then never watch anything in HD? :confused: I can never understand this. Don't people realize that you can watch HD programming, FOR FREE, via OTA? To pay all that hard earned money on an HDTV and watch nothing but SD is beyond my comprehension.

Why would someone buy an HDTV and then never watch anything in HD? :confused:

For some (most?) people picture quality just isn't important. Have you tried to buy a TV that isn't HD lately? The only ones out there now are a few small CRTs. So if someone's old TV breaks down and they have to buy a new one, they're usually going to end up with an HDTV, regardless of whether they're interested in HD or not.

Don't people realize that you can watch HD programming, FOR FREE, via OTA?

In a lot of places, reliable OTA service isn't free. I spent several hundred dollars last spring replacing my old roof antenna setup.

For some (most?) people picture quality just isn't important. Have you tried to buy a TV that isn't HD lately? The only ones out there now are a few small CRTs. So if someone's old TV breaks down and they have to buy a new one, they're usually going to end up with an HDTV, regardless of whether they're interested in HD or not.
Another factor is that SD looks great on a lot of HDTVs. When people have been watching their favorite shows on a twenty year old CRT, they're so damn amazed by the color and brightness that they can't imagine how this HD could improve it.

Even NTSC reception has improved a lot in the past ten years. They're applying advanced digital processing to clean up a lot of the swirling noise and intelligently sharpen the image to give a really solid picture. A cable analog signal can look as clean as a digital SD signal to most people now.

Another factor is that SD looks great on a lot of HDTVs. When people have been watching their favorite shows on a twenty year old CRT, they're so damn amazed by the color and brightness that they can't imagine how this HD could improve it.



That's one of the reasons why we see so many HD sets that are set up as stretched SD no matter where we go. Seems like such a waste, but it's amazing how many are happy with their sets like that.

In a lot of places, reliable OTA service isn't free. I spent several hundred dollars last spring replacing my old roof antenna setup.

True, but that is a one time cost that will pay for itself in a few months of not having to pay cable or sat.

True, but that is a one time cost that will pay for itself in a few months of not having to pay cable or sat.

Good point, assuming one only watches network tv. In my home, network viewing accounts for less than 20% of our recorded programming on dvr's. Too many good cable stations to stick strictly with the networks. Besides, I hate reality shows... :D

I have hd tv. I have never watched and hd program. Is it really worth getting the converter box from my cable company?
Get the HD cable box and enjoy the TV. The picture quality is so much better you will not believe it.

is the only option to 'rent' the HD box from the cable company? Comcast wants to charge me $8.99/month (an expense that seems a bit high considering my current comcast bill).

Can i just buy a box and connect it? I hate the feel of waste when i rent.

What are my options for getting my cable channels in HD?

The only option to receive cable channels in HD is to rent a box from the cable company. You can NOT just buy a box and connect it. I recommend you try it for a month or two. Remember with a cable company you are not in a one or two year committment. If you don't feel it is worth the money then take it back.

Good point, assuming one only watches network tv. In my home, network viewing accounts for less than 20% of our recorded programming on dvr's. Too many good cable stations to stick strictly with the networks. Besides, I hate reality shows... :DI had largely drifted away from the broadcast networks by 2004, when we got our first HD equipment. That brought me back in a big way, since most of the new HD content then was on broadcast. But now that I have 100+ HD channels, I may drift away again...

Most cable co have the locals in hd unencrypted qam.(Box not needed)
Have you scanned your hd tv for the qam hd channels?

Before doing anything else do ^ this. It costs nothing but a few presses on your TV remote.:cool:

The only option to receive cable channels in HD is to rent a box from the cable company.
Not true - even if every cable co CSR tells you so.

Before doing anything else do ^ this. It costs nothing but a few presses on your TV remote.:cool:


Not true - even if every cable co CSR tells you so.

^ Then what's what's the other option?

^ Then what's what's the other option?

Get a TV or box (like the TiVo HD) that takes CableCARDs. Then you don't have to deal with the cableco's dopey box. (However, with the advent of tru2way, you'll still have to deal with their dopey interface.)

Then what's what's the other option?You don't say where you are, but _MOST_ cable systems carry the locals in HD "in-the-clear". There is a website (I've lost my notes, and didn't save it in favorites) that lists them. Hook the cable directly to your TV input. Set the TV to "Cable". Scan. I'd bet you will find 5-100 channels, 3-7 of which will be HD.

Why would someone buy an HDTV and then never watch anything in HD? :confused: I can never understand this. Don't people realize that you can watch HD programming, FOR FREE, via OTA? To pay all that hard earned money on an HDTV and watch nothing but SD is beyond my comprehension.
- Some people want a TV that they can watch DVDs on at higher quality with smaller (or no) black bars.

- Some people by the TV because it was just about as cheap to buy an HD set as it would be to buy a digital SD one.

- Some people have no idea you can get stations in HD over the air, or aren't able to receive them. The cable and satellite companies do great business making people think you can only get HD through their services.

- Some people receive them as gifts with no instruction on what to do with the darned thing. The smart ones come here, like the OP.

BTW, the OP didn't mention how long he (or she) has owned the TV. It could only be a few days old.


Oh, and urblit, welcome to the forum. I hope you find all the answers to your questions.

- Some people want a TV that they can watch DVDs on at higher quality with smaller (or no) black bars.

- Some people by the TV because it was just about as cheap to buy an HD set as it would be to buy a digital SD one.

- Some people have no idea you can get stations in HD over the air, or aren't able to receive them. The cable and satellite companies do great business making people think you can only get HD through their services.

- Some people receive them as gifts with no instruction on what to do with the darned thing. The smart ones come here, like the OP.

BTW, the OP didn't mention how long he (or she) has owned the TV. It could only be a few days old.


Oh, and urblit, welcome to the forum. I hope you find all the answers to your questions.

One ongoing issue (still a problem with HD, regardless of how it's available locally) is the *comfort factor* (or "sheeple factor"). All too often, there is extreme reluctance to do *anything*, despite the benefits (better picture/improved audio/cost savings/etc.) until the absolute last minute. What's even more frustrating, now they have the additional *excuse* of a poor economy in their corner (even if the switch saves them money over what they are paying now).