There was a time when we had only one choice while buying a TV, i.e conventional Analog TV or CRT TV. But today we have so many choices. First of all we have our conventional CRT (cathode ray tube) TV. Along with this we have new choices like HDTV, EDTV and SDTV. But what is right for you? What are the main differences in them? Let?s try to understand the very basics about each of them.

Conventional Analog TV: First of all let?s talk about our conventional CRT TV. Video screens of CRT TV contain 525 lines of resolution, although only 480 lines are displayed. These lines get painted with ?interlacing? technique. In this technique first it paints all the odd numbered lines from 1 to 479. Immediately after that it paints all even numbered lines from 2 to 480. This standard analog TV format represents as 525 interlaced or 525i, this also represents with term ?480i?. The aspect ratio of the screen is 4:3. This TV has inbuilt NTSC tuner, so by default they can?t tune Digital TV broadcast.

Analog TV: With NTSC broadcasting was dominating since last 50 years. But it is time when DTV (Digital TV) gradually replacing the Analog one. Digital television is a new type of broadcasting technology that offers television with movie-quality pictures and Dolby digital surround sound, along with a variety of other enhancements. This Digital TV works with ATSC broadcasting instead of NTSC. Currently there are three types of digital broadcast signal: SDTV, EDTV and HDTV. Aspect ratio for DTV is 16:9.

SDTV: Like Analog TV, SDTV also 480i. Here’s the advantage compared to Analog – SDTV can receive digital broadcast signals.

EDTV: So far 480i resolution TVs worked fine. That is because TVs sizes are limited to 19 inch or 20 inch. But limitation of 480i resolution surfaced when same technology applies in large screen. Interlacing techniques does not work for larger screen. The visible scan lines and jaggies are annoying. The best solution is to avoid interlacing. Initially Interlacing was invented to save transmission bandwidth. But in current technology transmission in much higher rate is possible. So, there is no need of interlacing. It is possible to paint the lines sequentially from 1,2,3?.up to 480, this is called ?”progressive scanning”. With this technology using same 480 resolution lines we can get better video quality, jaggies can be totally eliminated. This 480 lines progressive scan technique is commonly known as 480p. This concept in the consumer market is known as Enhanced Definition Television, or EDTV.

Both SDTV and EDTV also receive the 16-by-9 broadcasts along with the 4-by-3 aspect ratio.

HDTV: Even though we have digital broadcasting system SDTV and EDTV, maximum attention attracted towards HDTV. Main advantage here is increased number of scan lines on the screen. HDTV comes with three flavors 720p, 1080i and most recent one 1080p. As the name says first resolution displays 720 lines progressively and in the second one displays 1,080 lines interlaced. If we compare this two, we can say both of them are good. In general 720p is more appropriate for fast action as it uses progressive frames; alternatively 1080i is very good for slow moving picture (probably this is the reason in most of the HDTV show room you can see slow moving movies) . 1080p on the other hand providing an image resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels. This one provides best display compare to other ones. This is because 1080p contains maximum number of pixels compare to other varieties, plus 1080 lines progressively scanned line which considers better then interlaced one.

For more information about HDTV and other electronic devices visit www.deviceinfo.blogspot.com.

Copyright 2006 SilkRoad Networks Inc.

Looking for more options to position your television? You may want to consider investing in a plasma type of television set. Mounting plasma television sets is relatively easy. You have a variety of ways of locating your television including hanging it on a wall.

Location, Location

Where you want to put your plasma television set will be influenced partially by the television that you buy. Before going shopping for your plasma television, first determine where you would like to mount it.

For example, if you wish to do something specialized, like hang it over a bed, or have it installed over your fireplace, you will need carpenters do the work.

Television Dimensions

No matter where you wish to mount your new plasma television, always carry with you the dimensions when you go to the store. And if you can, take pictures of the space where you wish to mount your plasma television.

How To Mount It?

Once you have determined where you want to place your new television, you will need to decide on how you want to mount it. Unlike a normal television, gravity just will not work with a plasma television. If you need to ask why, have your plasma television professionally installed.

You will need to mount your television to a wall, a piece of furniture or a stand. The great advantage is that cords used can easily be hidden. The disadvantage of installing it yourself is that if by accident something were to happen to the plasma television, the manufacturer will try to blame it on your installation.

Hence, you will not be covered by the guarantee. A plasma television is a large, heavy and delicate piece of equipment. In fact, it might not be a bad idea to encase it in glass. You want this television as secure as you can get it. It costs way too much to take chances.

Shopping for a Television

Now that you know how and where you want to mount your plasma television, it is time to go shopping.

Go to a store that specializes in electronics. You do not want the largest or most expensive model. You want the model with the right size and weight to look and fit right into your space.

Also, if you want to mount your plasma television upside down, there are only a few models that can do that without voiding the warranty. With all this information in hand, you are ready to go shopping.

Conclusion

There are several ways of mounting plasma television sets. Depending on the type of set up you have in the room where you plan on having your television, you can choose from any number of means. Wall mounts and specially designed TV stands are among the most popular mounting forms.

About the Author

Ready for plasma? Go to http://www.cool-plasma-television.com for Louis Zhang’s plasma television reviews, selection and installation tips plus HDTV updates.

What seems like a simple proposition ? go to your local electronics store, find a TV that looks snazzy, plop down $1,000 and walk out with a great new HDTV ? is actually a much more involved process. If you make an error in judgment and end up getting the wrong TV, you are either stuck with watching a sub-par TV for next few years or forced to shell out additional time and money to buy another TV. If you are looking to buy a new HDTV and struggling with questions like?

- What are the features that I should look for in an HDTV?
- How much should I expect to pay for a new HDTV?
- Do I need to buy a new HDTV tuner or antenna as well?
- What type of TV ? CRT, DLP, LCD, rear-projection ? will work best for my family and me?

? then this article will help you find the right HDTV for you (or at least narrow down your selection). After reading through this article, my hope is that you will become an informed shopper that can confidently find an HDTV that best fits your needs. After all, how likely are you to find the right TV for you if your plan is to just visit the local Best Buy or Circuit City and listen to what the salesman has to say? I would expect that you are more likely to walk out of the store with an expensive TV, which may or may not be right for you.

Step 1: How big should my HDTV be?

The biggest factor in determining the size of TV to get is how much room you have in the spot where you?re going to put the TV. For example, if the TV is going to go in a family room, you will probably have enough room for a 27? ? 36? TV. If the TV is going to go in a basement or rec room, you probably have enough room for a big screen (46? or larger).

How do I know how much room I have? There are two measurements you need to take ? one that you need to know exactly and one that you just need to have an estimate on. First, you need to know the dimensions of the free space where the TV will actually sit. How much free space is there in terms of width, height and depth measurements? To have a clear guideline of how big of a TV can fit in your free space, you really need to get out a tape measurer and measure this to the closest inch. Write down the width, height and depth measurements and have them handy whenever you go shopping for your new HDTV.

Next, you need to measure the distance between where the TV will sit and the most commonly used viewing position. The most commonly used viewing position is almost always a couch ? so take a ballpark measurement of the distance between your TV and your couch (you can round to the nearest foot or half-foot). This is important because you?ll want to get a TV that is large enough to immerse you in the movie or TV show you are watching, but not so large that you?re able to see the imperfections in the movie or TV show. A good guideline is the 1.5-to-2 rule:

When viewing non-HD movies or shows, the distance should be about 2x the size of the TV. So, for example, a 36? TV should be placed at least 72? (at least 6 feet) from the main viewing position when watching regular cable or broadcast channels.

When viewing HD movies or shows, the distance should be about 1.5x the size of the TV. So, for example, a 36? TV should be placed at least 54? (at least 4 ? feet) from the main viewing position when watching HDTV channels.

Step 2: What features should I look for in my HDTV?

To keep this section as straightforward as possible, I will split the various features available on HDTV?s into 3 categories: one category which I consider to be ?must-haves? that I strongly recommend are included in your new HDTV one which I consider to be ?nice-to-haves? that may or may not provide some nice benefits to you, depending on what you plan to watch on your new HDTV and finally one category which I consider to be ?fluff? that really isn?t useful and is just part of the marketing hype used to inflate the price of the TV.

1) Must-haves

- Widescreen
This refers to the aspect ratio of the screen and any new HDTV should have 16:9 ?widescreen? ratio. In the past, TV?s have been built with a 4:3 aspect ratio and all movies and TV shows were broadcast in this format. With the rising popularity of DVD?s and HD content, which are broadcast in either16:9 or 1.78:1 aspect ratio, the default standard is moving away from 4:3 and toward widescreen content. If you want to enjoy HD shows and DVD?s to their fullest extent, widescreen is the way to go.

- HDTV-Ready
An HDTV must, at a minimum, be ?HDTV Ready? or ?HDTV compatible? to be capable of displaying a movie or TV show in high definition. If a TV is listed as ?HDTV Ready?, it means that the TV is capable of displaying HD content WITH A SEPARATE HDTV TUNER. In order to view HD content you will need to install a separate tuner, a set-top box or a cablecard from your cable or satellite provider.

- Plenty of video inputs
What good is your new TV if you can?t connect your DVD player, XBOX 360 and all of your other gadgets to it? I recommend that your new TV has at least one HDMI input, three component connections, one S-Video, one 15-pin VGA connection for your PC, three RCA (red, white, yellow) connections and one UHF / VHF coaxial cable connection. An extra HDMI and an extra coaxial cable connection are also nice to have for future needs, but I don?t consider them to be a must-have.

- Support for displaying both 720p and 1080i HD resolutions
HD content is displayed in either 720p or 1080i resolution, and any new TV that does not support both will fall short of it?s competitors in image quality. It would be foolish to purchase a new HDTV that does not support, at a minimum, both of these resolution formats.

- Minimum screen resolution
As a general rule, for two TV?s that are the same size, the one with the higher resolution will be clearer and have a more detailed display. Depending on the size of the TV, these are the minimum screen resolutions that the TV should have to insure outstanding image quality:

36? ? 852×480
40? ? 1024×720
42? ? 1024×768
50? or larger ? 1280×780

2) Nice-to-haves

- Integrated HD tuner
Also known as an integrated ATSC tuner, having one of these will make the setup of your new HDTV easier because you won?t have to worry about acquiring and setting up either an external HD tuner or getting a set-top box from your cable or satellite company. However, nearly every cable and satellite company offers HD packages that include an HD tuner as part of the set-top box package. A good idea is to call your cable or satellite company BEFORE you go shopping to find out what packages they can offer you and what additional monthly fees are associated with each package.

- Progressive scan
This will be an important feature for you if you plan to watch a lot of movies on your new HDTV. Progressive scanning and 3:2 pulldown are both used to smooth out and reduce jaggedness in images when watching DVD?s. You should understand, however, that this feature is only useful if you have a progressive scan DVD player.

- Picture-in-picture
Personally, I do not find PIP to be very useful. However, if you like to be able to watch another TV show or movie in a smaller window, while watching another TV show or movie in a larger window, this is a feature you should look for.

- Universal remote
These remotes allow you to program them to control all of your audio / video gear with only one remote. This is helpful if you have the time and patience to program the remote to control your other components (DVD player, VCR, set-top cable box, etc.)

- High quality sound
If you do not plan on using a separate home theater system, the quality of sound produced by the TV will be an important feature for you. Almost all new TV?s have MTS stereo and some type of simulated surround sound. The quality of speakers will vary from TV to TV, but I have found there to be only minor differences in the overall sound quality from various TV speakers.

- Support for 1080p
This is the highest resolution standard for HD content and only a handful of HDTV models are capable of displaying HD content in this format. It is a ?latest and greatest? type of feature, and it offers the highest resolution along with progressive scanning to display the most detailed and accurate picture available today. Why, then, is it not a ?must-have? feature? Primarily because there are VERY FEW sources of 1080p content today. None of the major broadcast networks (CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox) broadcast in 1080p and none of the major cable networks do either. Currently, the standard for HD content is 720p or 1080i and you will pay a hefty premium for HDTV models capable of displaying the 1080p format.

- SD (Secure Digital), CF (Compact Flash) or other digital camera card slot
This is useful if you want to view your digital photos on your TV without having to directly connect your digital camera to your TV. This saves the hassle of another connector cord and makes it easy to show digital pictures to your friends and family.

3) Fluff

- Anything having to do with ?artificial intelligence? or ?smart colors? or ?screen enhancements? or ?effect enhancements?. This is just marketing hype that will not translate into any real benefit for you.

My recommendation, after reading through this list of features, is to consider all of the features that are available and come up with your own list of ?must-haves?, ?nice-to-haves? and ?fluff?. By categorizing your most important features, it will help you to narrow down your selection of TV choices.

Step 3: How much should I expect to pay for my new HDTV?

All of this sounds great, but how much cash are we talking here? I?ve outlined the typical price range you must be willing to pay in order to take a new HDTV home with you:

27? LCD – $700 to $1,200
32? LCD – $900 to $1,500
36? LCD – $1,300 to $2,000
40? LCD – $2,000+

37? Plasma – $1,400 to $2,500
42? Plasma – $2,000 to $3,000
50? Plasma – $2,500 to $4,000
55? or bigger Plasma – $5,000+

27? direct view CRT – $200 to $300
32? direct view CRT – $300 to $500
36? direct view CRT – $400 to $1,500
40? direct view CRT – $1,500+

46? rear projection CRT – $800 to $1,000
50? rear projection CRT – $800 to $1,200
55? or bigger rear project CRT – $900 to $1,500

46? rear projection DLP – $1,300 to $1,800
50″ rear projection DLP – $1,600 to $2,400
55″ or bigger rear projection DLP – $1,800 to $3,000

46? rear projection LCD – $1,400 to $1,800
50″ rear projection LCD – $1,800 to $2,500
55″ or bigger rear projection LCD – $2,000 to $3,000

These price ranges were accurate at the time of writing this article. However, the price of electronics normally trends downward as newer models with fancier features are released. So I make no guarantee that these price ranges will be accurate at the time when you read this article.

About the Author: Justin Whitaker runs http://www.TopReviewShop.com – a site dedicated to in-depth, unbiased reviews of computer hardware and consumer electronics.

If you have never seen HDTV in action you really owe it to yourself to visit an electronics store where they have a high definition television all set up and actually showing HDTV broadcasts or media. Once you see it, you will understand what all the fuss is about. It’s a vastly improved television viewing experience. But what exactly are you going to need to be able to watch HDTV?

Well of course, the first component needed is the HDTV signal which is sent from a source like a cable or satellite provider, or a local broadcast station. It takes more advanced and expensive equipment to be able to broadcast a HDTV signal instead of the old analog signal that has been used for many years. But the FCC has mandated that by the end of 2006 all broadcasts will have to be available in HDTV, so it won’t be long before HDTV will be the defacto standard for sending and receiving TV signals. In fact, most of the major cable and satellite companies already offer significant HDTV programming options at this point.

Now that there is a HDTV signal being sent you will need a HDTV “enabled” or “ready” television to be able to receive that signal and display it correctly. If the TV is “HDTV enabled” that means that it does not have a HDTV tuner already built into it but can display HDTV programming if a HDTV tuner is hooked up to it. If it is “HDTV ready” it has the HDTV tuner and is capable of receiving HDTV signals right away. So what is the difference for you?

Well, most satellite and cable companies will only allow you to use their proprietary tuner to gain access to their programming on your TV set, so they essentially bypass the tuner that is in the TV. If you have a HDTV enabled set, this is no problem because it is able to receive and display in HDTV using the tuner from the satellite or cable company. If you have a HDTV ready set, it is still no problem, but if you paid extra for the tuner, you may not be able to get much use from it if you view satellite or cable programming all the time. However, if you are not able to get local channels by satellite or cable, having a HDTV tuner can allow you to receive those channels and display them in HDTV with an appropriate antenna.

So when you look for a new television, be sure to have in mind what your needs will be regarding programming. If all of your viewing will be done through a cable or satellite provider there may be no need to get a TV set that has a HDTV tuner built in. It just has to be HDTV enabled and ready to process a HDTV signal when a HDTV tuner is attached to it. On the other hand, if you will be receiving your broadcasts by antenna or over the air, then you will definitely need the built in HDTV tuner to receive and display HDTV programming.

Just doing a little advance planning can help you buy only the equipment that you will need to view HDTV.

About the Author

Jim Johnson writes on many consumer related topics including HDTV. You can find out more about hdtv tuners by visiting our HDTV and Television Review website.

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