We all know HDTV stands for High Definition TV but what is HDTV?

HDTV sets new standards in television viewing by offering exceptional picture quality. Simply put HDTV is the inevitable upgrade from today’s analogue system which gives greater depth and tone of colours and textures. The improved clarity of HD programmes will bring an even greater sense of excitement and drama to a wide range of programming,

How does HD work?

The TV you are watching at home is broadcast using a format called PAL. A PAL picture displays 576 visible rows of pixels on the screen and these are interlaced. This means that the whole picture is not shown in one frame, but instead all the odd rows are shown first. Then all the even rows. Therefore the complete picture is created after every second frame. There are two new formats for HDTV. The first 1080i increases the number of rows in the picture to 1080, over 500 more than a PAL picture and is interlaced. The other, 720p has 720 rows but this time they are progressively scanned. Progressive scan is based on all the horizontal lines being shown on the screen at the one time giving a smoother image.

It is generally believed that a progressively scanned picture is more suited to fast moving images such as sports, while an interlaced format is more suitable for slower images such as films and documentaries.

How can I receive HDTV?

Sky TV are broadcasting a High Definition Package. The BBC are also broadcasting a range of programmes in HD by satellite and is also committed to broadcasting in HD via the terrestrial digital network  but no date has yet been given.

What equipment will I need to receive HDTV?

To be certain of receiving the full benefit of HD you will need an HD-ready TV. Products displaying the HD-Ready logo have been officially recognized by the European Standards Association (EICTA) as having all the requirements to receive and display High Definition programs in all their glory. You will also need a High Definition satellite receiver.

Will I be able to use my existing dish to receive SKY HD?

The dish and cable requirements are the same as for SKY+ and an existing SKY+ user is able to do a straight swap for the HD box. If you have a standard Sky receiver it will be necessary to replace the LNB in the centre of you dish with a Quad LNB and to run a second cable from the dish to your box. The SKY HD Box also gives you the SKY+ facility.

What are HDMI, Dvi and HDCP?

Both High definition Media Interface (HDMI) and Digital Video Interface (Dvi) are connection types used to connect your source, be it the set top box, HD DVD etc to your High Definition TV. Both HDMI and Dvi offer high bandwidth connectivity capable of carrying the HD signal to the TV. Already widely used, HDCP (High Bandwidth Digital Content Protocol) is the copyright protection that helps to protect against unauthorised recording of HD content. Both HDMI and Dvi support HDCP.