For anyone who loves a sharp, clear picture, HDTV is the most exciting part of America's transition from analog TV broadcasting to digital broadcasts. There are hours of HDTV programs on every night of the week. Those are the shows with an onscreen message at the beginning: "Presented in high definition where available." Some viewers see that message and mistakenly think they're seeing HDTV on their 15-year-old set. It's not quite that simple.

To experience true high-definition television in your home, you need a source of HDTV signals, a tuner to receive and decode those signals, and a high-performance display screen that can reproduce the remarkable detail and color of HDTV images. Many people have invested thousands of dollars in an HDTV without giving much thought to what they'll be watching on it. This article will help you put all the pieces of the puzzle together so you can avoid costly mistakes and experience the full magnificence of HDTV.

First, we'll take a look at how to get HD signals. Then, we'll cover some common HDTV terms and questions, as well as the digital TV transition.

How to find HDTV signals in your area

We describe the basic ways to receive high-definition programs below. Once you know what type(s) of HDTV signals are available, you'll have a clearer idea of what equipment you need to watch them.

Over-the-air broadcasts: Digital TV broadcasts are currently being transmitted by most local stations across the country covering virtually 100% of U.S. TV households. Most digital stations broadcast in the normal UHF range (channels 14 through 69), so you can receive them with a UHF antenna. Some stations use the "high-band VHF" range (ch. 7-13), and a few are "low-band VHF" (ch. 2-6), so you may need a UHF/VHF antenna. For antenna info that's specific to your address, visit the Consumer Electronics Association's antenna selector website.

What you need:

• HD-compatible TV
• HDTV (ATSC) tuner — separate unit or built into TV
• indoor or outdoor UHF or UHF/VHF antenna
• local HDTV broadcasts (they're free!)

See our article on how to choose and install an HDTV antenna for more info.

Cable HDTV: Cable TV providers now offer the option of HDTV service to about 90% of subscribers, especially those living in medium- and big-city TV markets. Don't confuse "digital cable" with HDTV via cable — while it's true that all HD cable channels are digital, not all digital channels are high-def. Digital cable usually means that you get more channels, and the picture quality may look a little better than regular cable, but it doesn't equate to HDTV. If your cable provider does offer HDTV, you'll probably need to upgrade your cable box to an HDTV-capable model.

What you need:

• HD-compatible TV
• HD-compatible cable box (or TV with built-in digital cable tuner: QAM or CableCARD-ready)
• HD programming (subscription required)

Most new HDTVs include a built-in "QAM" digital cable TV tuner, which lets cable subscribers watch most unscrambled cable channels without using a set-top box. CableCARD-ready TVs offer access to additional programming via a special card slot designed to accept a CableCARD™. This CableCARD is a removable security card that allows the TV to receive premium (scrambled) digital cable programming without using a set-top box. The CableCARD doesn't duplicate all cable box features and capabilities, and fewer new HDTVs have a CableCARD slot due to lack of support by cable companies. Contact your local cable provider for details regarding the availability and costs of CableCARD-related services.

See our articles on CableCARD and cable TV for more info.

Digital satellite TV: If you live in the contiguous 48 states and have a clear view of the southern sky, you can probably receive HDTV programs via satellite. DIRECTV® and DISHNetwork® currently offer over 100 HDTV channels, if you include pay-per-view channels. Viewers who live in large cities may be able to get their local stations in HD via satellite, too. Otherwise, some combination of satellite/antenna or satellite/cable may be necessary to receive the exact channel mix you desire.

What you need:

• HD-compatible TV
• HD-compatible satellite receiver
• HD-compatible satellite dish
• HD programming (subscription required)

See our article on satellite TV for more information.

Blu-ray — high-def movies and more

High-definition picture quality quickly grows addictive, and many HDTV owners want access to even more HD content than they can get from the sources discussed above. High-def disc players — including Blu-ray player — can deliver an excellent high-def picture, with resolutions up to 1080p. See our Blu-ray players shopping guide for more info.

There are a few key factors to consider in choosing an HDTV — screen size, TV type, and resolution. For more information, you can also check out our video about choosing an HDTV, as well as the article links provided below.

Screen size

The size of your HDTV should depend on how far you plan to sit from it, and what kind of material you plan to watch on it. As a general rule of thumb, we recommend sitting at a distance that is 1.5-2.5 times your TV's screen size. If you're going to watch lots of high-quality video — like DVDs and high-def programming — you can sit in the closer end of that range to see all the detail your HDTV can provide. On the other hand, if you'll still be watching lots of lower-quality sources, like analog cable, we recommend sitting at the higher end of that range so that flaws in the image will be less obvious.

See our article on screen size and viewing distance for more information.

What kind of TV should I get?

As our TV broadcasting system completes the transition from analog to digital, so have our TV sets. In most electronics stores it's difficult to find old-fashioned CRT-based tube TVs. The shelves are filled with TVs based on some form of digital technology: flat-panel LCD and plasma TVs, and rear-projection models based on DLP, LCD or LCoS.

Each type of TV technology has its benefits and drawbacks. For example, plasma sets are known for producing rich, deep blacks and naturally smooth motion, but their screens tend to reflect light from lamps and windows. LCD TVs generally can't keep up with higher-end plasmas when it comes to video motion reproduction, but their bright, anti-reflective screens perform better in rooms with lots of ambient light. For more information, check out our articles on rear-projection vs. flat-panel TVs, plasma vs. LCD TVs, and big-screen TVs.

Not sure if you need a 1080p HDTV? Think about how large a screen you want and how far you'll be sitting from it. You'll probably only be able to see 1080p detail with bigger screens and shorter viewing distances. (Samsung UN55B7000 shown)

Do I need a 1080p HDTV?

More and more high-quality HDTVs offer 1080p screen resolution. A lot of people are surprised to learn that there aren't actually very many 1080p video sources out there yet. For example, if you watch high-def programming via over-the-air broadcasts, cable, or satellite, you'll be viewing a 720p or 1080i signal. You'll only get full 1080p from a Blu-ray player, or video game console like the Xbox 360™ or PS3.

So you might be wondering, "If 1080p content is scarce, why would I want a 1080p TV?" Well, besides delivering unsurpassed picture detail and progressive-scan smoothness, 1080p actually provides higher resolution than any broadcast HDTV format, so it can display signal without downconverting and sacrificing picture detail. When a 720p display receives a 1080i signal, it must downconvert it to 720p. The resulting picture still looks great, but there's a slight loss in detail.

If you want to ensure that you'll see every exquisite detail, a 1080p set is an excellent choice. But there are some other factors to think about.

• How large a screen do you want, and how far from your TV will you be sitting? Screen size and viewing distance are both important factors in deciding whether or not you need a 1080p television. Chances are you won't be able to see much difference between 1080p and non-1080p HDTVs unless their screens are relatively large (46" or bigger). Even then, if you sit at the farther end of our recommended viewing distance range, you might be just as happy with a 768p or 720p TV. But if you plan to get a larger screen and sit closer, you'll appreciate the extra detail 1080p sets can offer. (Of course, you'll also need to feed that set a high-quality video signal — even a 1080p model can't make a fuzzy, noisy picture look good.)
• Is 1080p something you're willing to pay extra for? If you want the sharpest picture around, and you don't mind spending another couple of hundred dollars or so to get it, then the answer is yes. Plus, you usually find 1080p resolution in upper-range models that also offer superior video processing, additional inputs, and more advanced features and conveniences. But you may decide you'd rather put that money toward a sound system to complement your new high-resolution picture, or a wall-mountable flat-panel TV instead of a less-pricey rear-projection model.

For a more detailed look at high-def TV and source resolution, read our article on HDTV resolution.