Comments on: Can I use an HDTV without getting different service?

By: TV TECH-man®

TV TECH-man® — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 11:00:48 +0000

You can still use your present Cable setup, BUT…..

If you PAY for HD TV stations, you get HD services.

Presently you only have Digital, which is Low Definition TV signals shipped “digitally” to your present cable box.
It’s not HD…only digital.

The picture quality is amazing with HD services. Call them up, see what it costs, it doesn’t hurt to ask….

By: dansinger61

dansinger61 — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 06:41:56 +0000

That depends on your cable service. I know that with the digital package from Cablevision, the HD channels are already included. I DID need to get a new cable box to decode the HD channels, but there was no fee for this.

By: PoohBearPenguin

PoohBearPenguin — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:25:50 +0000

If your HDTV has a QAM tuner built into it, it can pick up the local HD channels on your cable without additional equipment or subscriptions. To do this, use a splitter so you can connect the TV cable to both your cable box and your TV’s coax input (this is the single cable you have to screw into the port.)

The HD channels usually show up as X.1, so if FOX is normally channel 2, FOX HD will be 2.1. You should be able to get HD versions of the major broadcast stations in your area - FOX, NBC, CBS, and PBS (sometimes you’ll get multiple HD channels - have your TV scan for channels to get them all.)

IF, however, you want things like Discovery HD, then you will need to upgrade your subscription with Comcast. Since you already have digital cable, I think the HD channels are only another $10/mo - worth the money if you’re going to be watching a lot of programming on HD.

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 19:04:50 +0000

You can get your local channels in HD if you have an antenna that is shaped specifically for this. In your browser do a search on “aerial antenna HD”

By: C. A.

C. A. — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 10:22:07 +0000

You don’t HAVE to get different service. Your standard definition receiver will work with a new HDTV, but you will not have any HD programming. To make full use of your new set, you should upgrade your Comcast service to their HD package, which will give you a selection of HD and SD (standard definition) channels.