Peter asked

10th February 2011

I want to install HDTV to watch Freeview but not to record it at all and for which I intend to buy a V HD box. At present I use Virgin which is a good reliable system. But it is important for me to continue using my Panasonic DVD recorder (Model DMR-EZ47VEB) to record standard Freeview documentaries and films as before.

Can I do this by just fitting the V HD box with the same connections. Otherwise how can I do this?

The configuration you describe should work. You'll want to connect the SCART output of the V HD box to your DVD recorder's SCART input and HDMI outputs of the DVD recorder and V HD box to your HDTV. You'll have to swap inputs on the television to switch between watching live TV and recordings but that's a pretty trivial task with the remote these days.

Fred asked

5th February 2011

Is it true that sky and virgin only transmit in 720 format and not 1080?

Both platforms support up to 1080i resolution and their respective boxes can be configured to output either 720p or 1080i. You won't notice a huge difference between the two but as a very general rule 720 tends to be better for most programming while 1080i can help with sports and other fast moving content.

Elaine asked

31st January 2011

I want to buy a tv for my kitchen, max screen size 22". If I buy an LED Full HD ready tv which has standard Freeview installed will I need to buy later a separate Freeview HD box in order to watch HD programmes?

If so, will the new box override the standard Freeview in the tv set? I can't seem to find a max 22" Full HD ready tv with Freeview HD already installed. What do I do for the best? I don't want to have to go out next year and buy another set and/or box. PS. Is LED better than LCD?

If your prospective purchase doesn't contain an in-built Freeview HD tuner you would need an separate HD decoder box later on if you want to watch in high-definition. The new box will just appear as a new input on the TV you will still be able to use the inbuilt standard definition tuner but you may have less reason to do so as the high-definition would give you the same channels plus the HD ones.

As for finding a sub-22 inch display with a Freeview HD tuner you may struggle as the benefit of HD on such a small screen will be much more limited than on a larger screen. Far from all Freeview content will be transmitted in high-definition for some time to come so it may make sense for you to not worry about Freeview HD and find a compact Freeview TV that meets your needs.

Pretty much all the TVs you will look at will use LCD display technology, but some may come with LED backlighting instead of florescent technology. LED backlighting will likely last a little longer and use a little less power overall but neither technology is inherently superior to the other.

Jim asked

31st January 2011

I have just purchased a Sony Bravia KDl-40EX403 Full HD LCD TV with Freeview HD tuner. I connected the TV to my aeial and tuned the TV - all Freeview channels were tuned, including the HD channels (50,501,52 and 54). No problem. I then connected my Panasonic DMR-EX83EB-K DVD HDD recorder using an aerial splitter (so I didn't use a "loop through" from recorder to TV) and connected to the TV with a Scart. Still no problems. I then connected an HDMI cable from the Panasonic recorder to the TV - all of the TV's HD channels were lost - "No signal". When I removed the HDMI cable, the HD channels returned on the TV. The Panasonic (NON Freeview HD tuner) seemed to be blocking the signals.

To test the theory, I changed the aerial configuration - I connected the aerial directly to the Panasonic recorder and looped it through to the TV. I lost the HD channels on the TV again. I then retuned the TV and the Freeview HD channels were not even tuned in.

Is this specific to either piece of equipment or is it simply that you cannot connect Freeview HD equipment via NON-Freeview HD equipment? As far as I can ascertain the problem is that the aerial into the TV isn't being "fed" the digital HD channel signal by the Panasonic recorder which cannot pick it up. If this is the case it makes a nonsense of the HD technology currently being delivered.

Your problem sounds as though your aerial reception is a little marginal and/or being interfered with. If the HDMI connection really is the cause of the problem there's no particular reason to use it over a SCART lead for standard-defintion programming so this may present the simplest solution to your problem.

To confirm a signal reception problem I would remove your splitter temporarily and connect direct to the television as the splitter divides the available signal in proportion to the number of outputs it has. If splitting the aerial signal helps you should make sure you have terminated any unused splitter outputs and experiment with a signal amplifier to overcome the problems.

Lester asked

28th January 2011

My question is what is the technology of 120 Hz and 460 Hz that I see on some HDTVs.

High-definition video usually has framerates that range from about 24 frames per-second to 60, which is to say they contain 24-60 'different' moving frames that making up the picture.

You could just as easily describe the framerate in Hertz (Hz) or cycles per-second and there's not really a whole lot wrong with watching the video as intended at 24-60 Hz. What you may occasionally notice during wider panning shots during films or sport is some juddering/jerkiness where by the pan doesn't appear to be smooth. To help with this occasional issue manufacturers interpolate new, intermediate frames from the existing ones to smooth out the motion and they market this as increased 'Hz' numbers.

Pretty much every HDTV does this these days and while at the margins you may find one system/number is better than another there's more important factors on which to base any prospective purchase.

Tracy asked

20th January 2011

I have just bought a Sony HDTV with built in HD Freeview. I have it in the bedroom, using a standard aerial wire, however the HD channels look no different to the normal Freeview channels. Any idea what I'm doing wrong? I have a DVD player connected to the TV via scart lead (don't think the DVD has an HDMI slot)

You don't mention where you live but the first thing to check is that you live in an area of the country where Digital Switchover is complete and where the high-definition Freeview channels are being broadcast. You can do that here:

http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/when_do_i_switch

David asked

14th January 2011

Please can you tell me what the various terminology means for picture contrast.

Picture contrast is usually expressed as a ratio of the brightest colour which is white to the darkest colour, black, that a screen is able to display. Ideally you want a screen with the highest contrast ration possible as this should give you the more realistic picture, however in practice this is hard to achieve.

Contrast ratios given by manufacturers unsurprisingly are measured under ideal conditions, namely a totally dark room so can't really be relied on as you're unlikely to always be watching in total darkness.

I'd suggest you pay a small amount on attention to the contrast ratios of anything devices you may be considering purchasing but there are probably many more important factors on which you should base any decision, not least of all how an HDTV looks in person.

Ian asked

6th January 2011

Do HD channels transmit in surround sound? If so would it sound like a DVD on a cinema surround receiver?

If you're thinking of the high-definition channels that are now available on Freeview HD the answer is yes that they do support surround sound however you need to make sure your reception and decoding equipment is compatible which you can read about here:

http://www.freeview.co.uk/Resolutions/About-Freeview-HD/About-Freeview-HD/Can-I-get-5.1-surround-sound-with-Freeview-HD

You also need to bear in mind that not all programmes will have recorded using surround sound so you won't always be getting the surround effect when watching TV programmes.