Do I need HDTV?

I wasn't sure where to put this, so figured it'd be safe to post here!

Okay, so here's the deal. I'm looking at buying a 'big screen TV', more specifically something in the 42" range. Nothing huge, but just an upgrade. However, I noticed that all of these plasma and LCD TV's now a days all of *HDTV*. However, I do not have HDTV. I just have the simple Cable (70 channels or so).

So my question is, is it a MUST to get HD in order to buy an HDTV?

I've been watching cable all my life, so will the picture pretty well be the same as it is now? Because I find it just fine .

Thanks! Any help appreciated!

 

Picture will be pretty close to the same, although you notice the quality degradation more on a bigger screen.

If you are going bigscreen, go HDTV. Its cheap these days, and it prepares you for the future. More and more channels are going to HD, even local broadcast stations. That, and then there is HD-DVD and Blu-Ray formats for movies now too.

 

That would mean I would have to buy a Rogers Digital Box w/ HD correct?

See, that's the thing. Currently, I have 3 TV's on Regular Cable, and Rogers High-Speed Internet. Our phone is separate with Bell, and we won't go to Rogers phone.

I would only need the box where the big screen TV is though correct? I really don't want to be spending tons of money on just watching TV. I'm fine with spending $1500 on a TV, but if this means the Rogers Bill increases $30-50+ a month, I'm just not sure.

 

You don't HAVE to subscribe to HD content. It will play regular content too.

Check your local stations. You might be surprised that some of them have probably converted to HD.

 

Yes, I know my favourite stations (TSN and Sportsnet ) have gone HD, same with CTV, etc.

I'm just worried about the Digital Box. It's not like EVERY Channel is in HD, and would I have to get a specific Box that supplies HD? Or, can I just buy the TSN and Sportsnet HD separate when I get the Box?

 

Here is what I found

Rogers HD Box

Heh! 16 free HD Channels! I watch almost all of them! TSN isn't there, but CBC, Sportsnet, and TheScore = good enough.

Now, it says the Rogers HD Box is approximately $13 a month after the first 4 discounted months. Is that ALL I have to pay for? Is there an actual price to purchase the Box, or is it almost like lease of a car? Just phone them up, and they'll give me a box and add $13 a month to my bill?

 

If you buy an HDTV, get one with an HDTV tuner built in. This lets you take advantage of the "free" broadcast HDTV signals. Look for NTSC/ATSC/QAM tuners. NTSC is old style analog TV, ATSC is the new digital standard that transports off air HDTV broadcasts and QAM is the cable company's equivalent of ATSC. This allows you to be somewhat independant of satellite and cable companies for your HDTV viewing.
As far as cost for the HDTV cable boxes, they are usually thrown in as part of the overall cost. However, get quoted in print before committing to any hookup. Once the box is hooked in, you will be obligated to pay for any "hidden" greaseball services that they need to tack on afterward.

 

I have a HDTV and regular cable. It looks just fine on my TV and I take advantage of the free over-the-air channels that are in HD as well. Like prometheos said, just make sure it has a built in tuner and you're set to go whether or not you get HD cable or not.

 

Okay, but what do you mean by free over-the-air channels?

Do you have the regular box, or just basic cable?

 

Free, over the air channels can be tuned in using an amplified UHF antenna, hooked up to the TV where your cable company's co-ax normally goes. Some TV's actually have 2 cable input connections and they can select either source using the TV's remote control. I mentioned amplified UHF antenna, because the centre-point frequency on digital channels is a bit harder to capture than the old analog stations. If the TV doesn't get a good capture it'll reject the signal completely. With analog, you could get a snowy picture and watch that, but with digital, it's either a good signal or you get nothing.

 

Yup, I use one of these. My cable goes into co-ax line goes into one input, and the co-ax cable from this antenna goes into another, and I'm able to switch between the two, or even combine them (HD channels over right their SD counterparts).

 

Okay.

So make sure it has a built in tuner?

Also, it will be in a basement where there's not an overly amount of light. Will this affect the Non-HD cable?

 

No, but it might affect antenna reception, if you got that route.