How can i tell if my Tv is HD ready?

Question

I got it as a christmas present this year.

Answer 1

It says so on the box.

If you don't have the box, look in the manual or see if there's a sticker on the TV somewhere.

If it has a flat looking plug on the back labeled HDMI then it's definately HD-Ready or HD-Capable.

Please note that HD-Ready is NOT the same as HD-Capable.  HD-Ready means it does not have a digital tuner but can have a tuner or HD box connected to it.  HD-Capable means it has a built-in digital tuner AND can have a tuner or HD box connected.  A digital tuner could be for over-the-air (NTSC) with an antenna only or it could also be digitla-cable-ready (NTSC/QAM).

You could look up the model number online and find out the specifications that way too.

Answer 2

The set will have an HDMI input socket. This is a small rectangular thing about 1cm by 2mm. This is a guarantee that the set is HD Ready.



You have already discovered how to access it so all you need is an HDMI source.

At the moment these are only Sky HD; Freesat HD or Blu-ray, but next year a Freeview HD service will start. Whichever device you use it must be connected to the tv by an HDMI cable. Unless you're getting one longer than 2 metres you don't need an expensive one of these - unlike SCART leads they don't suffer so much if they're cheap.

It is not possible to get  SCART to HDMI, or Composite to HDMI, or RGB to HDMI adaptor cables because the electrical signals used by the systems are completely incompatible. Some people seem to think that you can buy one or make one if you're handy with a soldering iron - don't bother.

You will probably read all sorts of stuff about "Full HD" (nobody ever explains what "part HD" is), 1080p, 1080i, 720p etc., and which is better. Most of this is written by people who really don't understand what they're talking about or advertisers who produce grand sounding literature to appeal to the gullible.

The number refers to the number of scanned lines used to create the picture on the screen (current ordinary tv uses 625 lines), and the letter indicates whether these lines are interlaced (i) or are scanned in one sweep from top to bottom of the screen (progressive or p).

The progressive scan system can give a better picture than interlaced but in practice you probably wouldn't notice the difference on anything less than a 50" set showing fast moving images.

All broadcast HD pictures (Freeview, Cable or Satellite) use either 1080i or 720p scan system. The 1080p system is not used and is not planned for broadcast use. You, the viewer, cannot choose which to use. This is decided by the broadcaster and the tv automatically configures itself.

The 1080p system is used by some games consoles and some Blu-ray discs.

Enjoy your Christmas present and see if someone will give you the handbook (or translate it into readable English instead of Japanese/Korean/Americanlish). Much will be revealed about what your tv can do.

Answer 3

It will have hd ready written on the box or it will have a composite input or and an hdmi input

Answer 4

Also...If you've got cable, not to worry. It will broadcast in HD.

Answer 5

It will say on the box, in the manual and sometimes on the front of the actual tv. If you are still unsure, flick through the channels and you should have a channel that comes up as HDMI.