# I'm getting Cable HDTV! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 18, 2003, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-cable-hdtv/202262 "2003-09-18T01:03:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-cable-hdtv/202262/1 "2003-09-18T01:03:18Z")
For an extra $10 a month, I’m gonna get an HDTV converter plus about a 1/2-dozen HD chanels. Discovery and HBO (for which I’m already paying a separate subscription fee), all my local channels which are already broadcasting in HD, and some new HD movie channel I’ve never heard of. Whoo hoo! ---
**Author:** ![ThePill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ad7895/32.png) [@ThePill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThePill)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-cable-hdtv/202262/2 "2003-09-18T11:30:48Z")
Sweet! Discovery has some spectacular HD programming. And if you’re a football fan you’ll get several games a week in HD. ---
**Author:** ![BabaBooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dfb087/32.png) [@BabaBooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BabaBooey)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-cable-hdtv/202262/3 "2003-09-18T18:37:19Z")
Baton Rouge doesn’t get it until October ☹ . Fortunately, it won’t be that much more than digital cable. Currently saving for front projector and will be watching Super Bowl in 120" high def. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-cable-hdtv/202262/4 "2003-09-18T19:43:30Z")
Let me be the first to say I’m completely envious of you. Enjoy it for both of us. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-cable-hdtv/202262/5 "2003-09-18T20:00:34Z")
So, **Boyo** old buddy, playoffs at your house this year? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-cable-hdtv/202262/6 "2003-09-18T21:39:27Z")
[Peter Griffin] You bastard! [/Peter Griffin] 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-cable-hdtv/202262/7 "2003-09-18T23:48:15Z")
**Comcast** or what? If not, do any of you Comcast subscribers know if this is coming? Thanks Q ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-cable-hdtv/202262/8 "2003-09-18T23:59:20Z")
My cable company is Charter. ---
**Author:** ![MC\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@MC\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_E)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-cable-hdtv/202262/9 "2003-09-19T01:45:58Z")
I have Comcast, and I’m in Harford County, Maryland. I’ve had the HD cable for almost a year now, I got it in November. The lineup has gotten better, I have ABC, NBC, HBO, SHO, ESPN, Comcast Sports Net and INHD. Still no CBS, I hear there’s a dispute between CBS and Comcast. Anyway, It’s awesome. If you have a TV that can use it, I highly recommend getting it as soon as it becomes available. The only downside is you have a hard time going back to a standard channel, it looks HORRIBLE for the first 5-10 minutes. MC$E ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-cable-hdtv/202262/10 "2003-09-19T01:57:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MC$E \* > **…If you have a TV that can use it, I highly recommend getting it as soon as it becomes available.** I bought my 27- incher three years ago. Would it state in the instructions if it’s HD compatible? (I’m at work) And if not, how does one determine compatability? Thanks Q ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-cable-hdtv/202262/11 "2003-09-19T02:28:07Z")
If it was HD 3 years ago, it would have cost you several thousand dollars. It will also have a wide screen format, an aspect ratio of 16x9 instead od standard TV’s squarer 4x3. ---
**Author:** ![BabaBooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dfb087/32.png) [@BabaBooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BabaBooey)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-cable-hdtv/202262/12 "2003-09-19T02:36:06Z")
True high definition is in 16:9 ratio. About 98% of televisions are in 4:3. (Not sure if there is any such thing as a high def 4:3 television, but it would seem pointless). Your television is most likely capable of showing just vertical 480 lines of resolution whereas HD is broadcast in 1080 (interlaced) I believe. If you send a normal television an HD signal it would be converted to the regular 480 lines (actually fewer considering a high number of lines would be used for the black bars), basically looking like a widescreen DVD. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-cable-hdtv/202262/13 "2003-09-19T02:36:55Z")
So if I am understanding this correctly, there is no way I can watch HD programming on my present set even with a converter? When I wrote I got my 27-inch set three years ago, I did not mean it was HD. Sorry for the confusion. Q ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-cable-hdtv/202262/14 "2003-09-19T03:32:26Z")
Your local stations may or may not have started to broadcast in HD, but if they have they will continue to broadcast a standard signal as well. No, you cannot watch HD programming on your TV. But the odds are you will be able to watch a simulcast standard version of the same program. ---
**Author:** ![MC\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@MC\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_E)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-cable-hdtv/202262/15 "2003-09-19T11:27:20Z")
A good place to get all your HDTV questions answered, including which local stations are broadcasting in HD, is the AVS forum. > **[AVS Forum](https://www.avsforum.com/)** > > A forum community dedicated to home theater owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about home audio/video, TVs, projectors, screens, receivers, speakers, projects, DIY’s, product reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! There’s a lot of knowledgable and friendly folks there. MC$E ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-cable-hdtv/202262/16 "2003-09-19T19:36:07Z")
[This](http://www.hitachi.us/tv/browse/projection/16-9digital/57swx20b.shtml) is the exact model TV I have. And yes, strangely enough, they do make [4:3 HDTVs.](http://www.hitachi.us/tv/browse/projection/4-3digital/4-3digital_index.shtml)