My tv set states that it is hd, but....?

Question

how would i know or can tell? i do not use cable, just an outside antenna. the picture is clear, most of them. in my area, i pick up channels; 6 12 14 26 54. i thought since it was hd that i wouldn't need a converter box. but i purchased a converter box anyways. after hooking it up, i can pick up channels; 6.1 6.2 6.3, 12.1 12.2, 14.1 14.2 14.3 and so on..... what i'm tring to figure out is if my tv is truely hd, why doesn't it pick up the extra channels w/o the converter box??

all this c**p is confusing to me.... what ever happened to the good ol days when you just hooked up 1 wire and was done??

Answer 1

Your HD TV set is HD....BUT it did not come with the HD TUNER to get the local hd TV signals....

It gets the HD signals from the COMPONENT input jacks OR the HDMI input jacks....that's the only way to get an HD signal into your TV.

And that's what that converter box does...it recieves HD TV stations, converts it to Component or HDMI signals, which is then <delivered> to your HD TV set using the COMPONENT or HDMI cables !

Answer 2

HD informs you that your TV is capable of displaying high resolution images. However, unless your providers are transmitting these signals then you won't get them.

It's unlikely that standard digital and analogue broadcasts are transmitted in HD format, as cable companies can make money by flogging these signals to you.

Answer 3

TV Tech Man's answer is correct except for the fact that the term "converter box" is most often applied to the boxes which only output video in standard definition via a composite video output, s-video output or channel 3/channel 4 output.  The boxes which provide a high definition video signal via the HDMI output or the component video output to matching inputs on the HDTV ready monitor is called an "ATSC Receiver."

It might be that you simply need to find the settings in your HDTV's menu to scan for digital channels.  If you skipped this step your TV will not know what channels it receives and may only default to analog tuning on all channels.  It is also possible with some models to have two antenna inputs one for analog and one for digital (an advantage for people with cable TV and antenna hookups).

But again TV Tech Man is correct that a lot of HDTV ready sets were sold without tuners for HD early on.  If your set was sold in the last three years it is likely it has both tuners.