Preparing for the Switch to All Digital Broadcasting

With all of television moving toward digital broadcasting, you are faced with three different options if you wish to continue receiving local broadcasts.

The first option you have available to you is the antenna. This option is the least expensive, costing only anywhere from $20 to $40. You can choose to purchase either an indoor antenna or an outdoor antenna, both of which can receive local HD signals.

If you want to get more HD channels, however, you are going to need to get either cable or satellite. Currently, satellite companies are offering more HD channels that cable, but this is likely to change in the future. Also, you need to watch it when comparing how many HD channels a particular service offers, as one company may claim to offer dozens of HD channels but they are mostly available only through pay-per-view. So, be certain you know exactly what you are getting when you sign up for a package.

If you are making the upgrade to a satellite or receiver, it is a good idea to use an HDMI cable. According to Consumer Reports, “You really get good quality with HDMI. It’s a much sharper picture and a much better sound.”

At the same time, don’t get suckered into spending a couple hundred dollars on a top of the line HDMI cable. Most people won’t notice any difference between a $20 cable and a $200 cable. In fact, Consumer Reports goes on to say, “Unless you have an extremely discerning eye for the slightest difference in video quality, you can get by with a moderately priced cable.”

You should, however, invest a little extra in order to get a good surge protector for your television and all of the components you plan to hook up to it. This way, your electronics are protected if you experience power bursts. It is also a good idea to get an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), which helps to ensure a steady stream of current is pumped into your television. This way, you don’t have to worry about changes in the brightness, color, and quality of your picture being caused by the natural changes in electricity as it courses through your line.