Hd Tv

[denis567]

Some time ago I visited a local shopping centre and they had a TV on display with the screen divided into two. One half showed the programme in HD and the other half showed the same picture in 'normal' (i.e. non HD).
To me there did not seem to be much difference between the two pictures, and I posted on AB saying this.
I received replies stating that there was a big difference.
I have now bought a new TV with Full HD and I still think that there is not a lot of difference between the two.
What do others think?

[Buenchico]

You need to remember that (apart from when displaying pictures from an external HD source, such as a Blu-ray player) an HD TV will only display an HD picture when tuned to an HD channel (where all the programmes are made in HD). You should see a difference if you compare the same programme on, say, BBC2 and on BBC HD but you can't expect non-HD programmes to look any better.

[sunny-dave]

... and unless you have bought a TV with a Freeview HD tuner (or are feeding pictures via hdmi from a Sky or FreeSat HD box) you are not seeing HD TV pictures anyway.

[puternut]

I have HD TV with FreeSat and yes on some programmes there is little or no improvement BUT some the difference is quite noticeable.

Examples are nature programs, live sport and music shows/concerts.

Some channels cheat and simply scale-up and so are not true HD so be sure that the program you are watching / recording is true 1080p

[Clanad]

Additionally, and to my experience with HD, the most important is to have the set Calibrated after a break in period of about 100 -150 hours of use.

Being a total novice, I listened to the pitch and demonstration by the salesman when we decided to invest in a new plasma, HD capable TV here in the U.S.
The service costs about $150 (US) but it's nearly amazing how much improvement is experienced when it's done. One can also do it themselves with the use of kits to assist. Here, it's called calibration but may be a different technical term in the U.K. Check it out... Here's one source of information:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/10/technology/personaltech/10basics.html?_r=0

[Buenchico]

A UK link:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/advice/7725390/How-to-calibrate-your-HD-TV.html

Clanad:
Did you see 'December'?
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/ChatterBank/Question1202053.html
;-)

[Mattk]

Most broadcast HD is 'throttled' due to available bandwidth so HD does not appear to be that big a leap.
As already stated you need to view a BluRay movie or similar to really see the difference.

[Canary42]

Can one get LD for people like me who regard the vast majority of programmes as cr@p.

[Clanad]

One of your best Chris... My only complaint (actually it was my evil twin Danalc... only real problem was dodging the double'decker busses on takeoff, plus the fuel service was realllly slooow... you try loading 60,000 pounds of fuel with a car filler nozzle!

[Buenchico]

Glad you liked it, Clanad!

[deggers316]

i cant believe how many people don't get this, but listening to some of the sh*te that "salesmen spiel out I'm not surprised, a full HD tv means it will work in 1080p, doesn't mean it will have a HD tuner built in, this should be explained to you from who ever you bought it off, it needs a HD sky box or something like a humax HD TUNER RECORDER
if your tv is set correct and your watching a blu ray DVD or as some say on here a wildlife doc etc the pictures are astounding in clarity,

[hc4361]

The different in this week's Africa between standard and HD was quite extraordinary on my tv.

[fourteen85]

I also think there is a big difference in picture quality between programmes on BBC and Sky with the BBC winning hands down especially nature programmes. Africa this week was superb