There are three ways to receive primary HDTV. Via Satellite, from cable or fiber optic providers, and over the air. Note: Verizon's FiOS is a fiber optic verses coax cable way of providing service. As for Satellite the main providers are. Voom, DirecTV, and Dish Network. There's also Express Vu, and Star Choice. These are Canadian companies and may require that you purchase there service through an address broker such as Freeway Support. Also a new service provider to look into C/KU Band where you can receive signals directly from their source.
All three methods require a Set-Top-Box, or STB to decode the HDTV signal. It is important not to confuse HDTV and DTV. DTV is digital TV. A provider may have both DTV and HDTV. However the STB you use needs to be capable of decoding HDTV and DTV. The same STB you may have been using for DTV may not decode HDTV.
All three methods will you a different line up of channels, as well as different HDTV resolutions. In other words the same channel may be in different resolutions from different sources. Ex. from satellite the signal resolution might be 1080i, but via fiber optic the might be providing 1080p. Currently providers are advertising HD, but not the resolution there signal is for specific channels. I say specific channels because not all the channels are at the same resolution. This will change as HD use progresses. Currently most sporting events are in 1080i, but you can still find channels in 720p.
The other method is to modify your home computer to receive HD signals. similar to Over the Air this is best accomplished with an antenna, vs. a dish. Once modified you can transfer the signal to your HDTV via an S-Video cable.
Last but not least, do not confuse HD, HDTV and HDTV signals. There are new camcorders now that record in HD, and NASA has a new satellite that takes pictures and records in HD. This does not mean that these are HDTV signals ready for your STB to decode. Unless your STB is decoding an HD signal, or the signal is coming from another HD source directly into your HDTV it's most likely not going to be in HD. However a direct signal from a HD source such as a HD or BlueRay disc player, a HD camcorder, or a computer modified to decode HDTV signals will be in HD.
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information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
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