HDTVs are ubiquitous today, but if you are having trouble working out how to hook up your existing aerial or antenna to your set of choice, this quick guide will set you on the right track.
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The basics
Look at the back of any modern TV and you will encounter a wide range of different inputs, which can be baffling if you are not familiar with this technology.
The good news is that these sets will also come with a traditional VHF/UHF input which will enable it to connect directly to your antenna via a standard aerial cable.
Free-to-air digital services and a growing number of high-definition channels are available via digital broadcasts, so once you have used a Gloucester TV aerial installation firm like steveunettaerials.co.uk to position your antenna correctly, it is simply a case of plugging in the cable to the back of your television and using the set’s automatic tuning capabilities to get up and running.
The alternatives
If you receive your TV as part of a package from a cable, satellite or internet-based subscription service, then there may be a couple of extra steps involved in connecting your antenna. This will come down to whether or not the set-top box that is supplied by the provider you choose has its own aerial input.
Services like BT Vision combine Freeview broadcasts with streaming content, so rather than linking the aerial cable straight to your TV, you will instead need to connect it to the set-top box.
Some set top boxes still come with their own VHF/UHF outputs, but to get the best picture quality you should use an HDMI cable to synchronise the box with your HDTV. This will allow high-definition content at resolutions up to and including 4K to be made available.
4K is a higher resolution than even 1080p ‘full HD’ and is being embraced by companies like Apple – https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/4454061/apple-tv-4k-release/. So while digital TV broadcasts are not quite able to match it in terms of raw pixel count, it makes sense to prepare your home entertainment setup for future developments.
Always remember to check the manufacturer’s instructions when connecting your aerial cable to your set-top box or television. Once you have familiarised yourself with the inputs that are used and where they are located, it should be straightforward.
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