Will HD Ready IDTVs be able to show HD Freeview?
 

If you buy a new IDTV which is 'HD Ready' will the inbuilt Freeview
decoder be able to show HD quality broadcasts when they eventually
start?

I know for example that some trials have been going on for HD Freeview
( http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11...al_successful/ ),
and I'm assuming that they must have been provided with special
hardware to display HD pictures.

Is there something to look for in the specs of an IDTV that would
indicate whether the inbuilt freeview decoder would cope with HD?

Will HD Ready IDTVs be able to show HD Freeview?
 

Colin Jones wrote:
If you buy a new IDTV which is 'HD Ready' will the inbuilt Freeview
decoder be able to show HD quality broadcasts when they eventually
start?

I know for example that some trials have been going on for HD Freeview
( http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11...al_successful/ ),
and I'm assuming that they must have been provided with special
hardware to display HD pictures.

Is there something to look for in the specs of an IDTV that would
indicate whether the inbuilt freeview decoder would cope with HD?


No, not unless they have the necessary software, including an MPEG4
codec - which they don't at present. The 'HD ready' in panels, so
labelled, refers to them having the correct spec. to support external
devices that can deliver HD material - things like HDMI/DVI connectors,
HDCP support and so forth.

Given that Freeview HD is at least 5 years away (dependent on the
analogue switch-off as a start) it's reasonably safe to assume that if
it happens a new IDTV or external STB will be required. However, if you
have an HD ready panel then it's not unreasonable to expect that any
Freeview HD STB should connect to your HD ready panel OK.

Clem

Will HD Ready IDTVs be able to show HD Freeview?
 

Colin Jones wrote:
If you buy a new IDTV which is 'HD Ready' will the inbuilt Freeview
decoder be able to show HD quality broadcasts when they eventually
start?

Almost certainly not.
Just make sure you buy a tv with enough suitable inputs to allow you to
connect a hi-def decoder of whatever sort you desire.

Realistically hi-def freeview is a good 5 years off so you won't necessarily
have the same tv anyway

--
Alex

"I laugh in the face of danger. Then I hide until it goes away"

www.drzoidberg.co.uk www.ebayfaq.co.uk

Will HD Ready IDTVs be able to show HD Freeview?
 

"Colin Jones" wrote in message
oups.com...
If you buy a new IDTV which is 'HD Ready' will the inbuilt Freeview
decoder be able to show HD quality broadcasts when they eventually
start?

I know for example that some trials have been going on for HD Freeview
( http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11...al_successful/ ),
and I'm assuming that they must have been provided with special
hardware to display HD pictures.

Is there something to look for in the specs of an IDTV that would
indicate whether the inbuilt freeview decoder would cope with HD?


Over my many years I've been sold future proof equipment and guess what it
was not.
Why should HD be different.
I would wait and see about HD Freeview to see if in fact it does come to
terrestrial transmitters.
If you buy now just buy for what it does now, if it covers the future
without further cost then you got a bonus.

--
Regards,
David

Please reply to News Group

Will HD Ready IDTVs be able to show HD Freeview?
 

Colin Jones wrote:
If you buy a new IDTV which is 'HD Ready' will the inbuilt Freeview
decoder be able to show HD quality broadcasts when they eventually
start?

I know for example that some trials have been going on for HD Freeview
( http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11...al_successful/ ),
and I'm assuming that they must have been provided with special
hardware to display HD pictures.

Is there something to look for in the specs of an IDTV that would
indicate whether the inbuilt freeview decoder would cope with HD?


No, it will need extra more powerful hardware to do the decoding.
Current broadcasts use MPEG2 at SD (Standard def 525 interlaced lines
x720 pixels). The box could possibly receive the data as a bit stream
but the SD MPEG2 decoder could not cope with this and decode it into an
HD picture.

In any case HD will be based on MPEG4 which is even more difficult and
different to decode, so it will be back to STBs but with HDMI output
instead of SCART.

Basically just get a TV with HDMI input, although I have heard some TV's
do not properly display HD picture even though that have this as the 'HD
Ready' do not necessarily mean you get HD, its not easy to find this
out. Stick to a well known quality brand and don't buy the cheapest one
you find.

--
Tony

Will HD Ready IDTVs be able to show HD Freeview?
 

Colin Jones wrote:
If you buy a new IDTV which is 'HD Ready' will the inbuilt Freeview
decoder be able to show HD quality broadcasts when they eventually
start?

I know for example that some trials have been going on for HD Freeview
( http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11...al_successful/ ),
and I'm assuming that they must have been provided with special
hardware to display HD pictures.

Is there something to look for in the specs of an IDTV that would
indicate whether the inbuilt freeview decoder would cope with HD?

The short answer is no it wouldn't. Once the trial is completed the
broadcasters will then decide on the standards for HD via DTT if it ever
goes ahead. Only then will manufacturers include the nescessary decoders.

Will HD Ready IDTVs be able to show HD Freeview?
 

"Colin Jones" wrote in message
oups.com...
If you buy a new IDTV which is 'HD Ready' will the inbuilt Freeview
decoder be able to show HD quality broadcasts when they eventually
start?

My impression from the noises made by the BBC is that they anticipate TV
broadcasting to switch from radiated transmissions to distribution via the
internet. This would have the added advantage for the BBC of making the
licence fee system obsolete as it would be possible to charge for all on
line content. Presumably the BBC hope this will come about by the time the
licence fee system is reviewed in ten years time.

It has been commented here that download speeds have doubled every two years
since the inception of the internet. As speeds are now around 8 MHz that
would mean 256 Mb/s in ten years time, probably enough for HD transmissions.

Mnay TV stations are already making their programmes available by streaming
and ISP's are responding to this and video on demand by introducing download
limits where there were none before. My own ISP (Clara) has recently
introduced such a limitation on all new accounts. Have a look at what BT
are now offering in terms of how much video you can down load.

So as others have commented, better wait and see what actaully happens
unless you have devised the better crystal ball.

Roger R

Will HD Ready IDTVs be able to show HD Freeview?
 

The 'HD Ready' logo indicates the ability of a display to show HD
pictures, in at least 720p; such a display should have an HDMI input,
HDCP and various other bits and bobs.

It is not an indication of an ability to 'receive and process' HD
signals, whether via cable, satellite or terrestrial.

There is (though I doubt it appears on any kit yet) another logo, which
says 'HD TV' and is intended for equipment that can receive and process
the signals, and which specifies MPEG2 and MPEG4/AVC decoding. It also
specifies the output connectors available.

The idea is that if you connect a receiver labelled HDTV to a display
labelled HD Ready, you have a complete HD system.

Where the HD TV logo appears on an integrated set, the display portion
of that set will also have to meet the HD Ready specs. There are
additional requirements for use of the logo on things like PVRs.

Nigel.

Will HD Ready IDTVs be able to show HD Freeview?
 

Clem Dye wrote:

No, not unless they have the necessary software, including an MPEG4
codec - which they don't at present.

What's probably more to the point is that the transmission standard to
be used for terrestrial HD (DVB-T2) is not yet defined, so it will be a
long time before the necessary demodulation and decoding /hardware/ is
available.

And then there's the question of spectrum...

--
Andy

Will HD Ready IDTVs be able to show HD Freeview?
 

Andy Wade wrote:
Clem Dye wrote:

No, not unless they have the necessary software, including an MPEG4
codec - which they don't at present.

What's probably more to the point is that the transmission standard to
be used for terrestrial HD (DVB-T2) is not yet defined, so it will be a
long time before the necessary demodulation and decoding /hardware/ is
available.

And then there's the question of spectrum...

Yes, but it wouldn't surprise me if we ended-up with a botched service,
where we simply use existing standards. The recent debacle about DAB
standards is a case in point. I think that the BBC has a lot to answer
for here.


Clem