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A quickie and the right forum hopefully?

Anyone know the difference between a "HD ready TV" and a "Full HD TV"?

Thanks.

A HD Ready TV can only show HD pictures from another source, eg Freesat box, Sky HD Box or coming soon a HD Freeview box. It doesn't have the capabilities to receive the HD signal itself from the sat or from the terrestrial transmitter.

A Full HD TV does not need a seperate receiver for HD signals, it can receive and decode them itself.

Allsorts of other info, (some is waffle):
http://tinyurl.com/y9jj2wx

We have Freesat to a HD Ready TV which needs a Freesat box connected by HDMI lead to the TV, but the freesat box is also a hard drive recorder similar to the Sky+ box where you can pause and replay a live program as well as record 320GB of programs.
It does not play DVDs and you cannot record onto a DVD in the box, it needs a seperate recorder plugged in via a scart to be able to 'tape' a program to take to someone else.


dave

I thought it was more to do with the resolution of the screen - HD ready = 720p, Full HD = 1080p

HD Ready - HDTV set capable of accepting HD signals (may not be able to display at full resolution 1920x1080)
Full HD - HDTV set capable of accepting HD signals and able to display full resolution at 1920x1080

This was a bit I found:

In the UK -
HD Ready means that the set is capable of showing HD pictures if it is fed from a source of HD via an HDMI cable. This source may be something like a Sky HD box, Blu-ray player or Freesat HD. The television may have a digital (Freeview) tuner built in but it will not be able to receive HD through that tuner.

As I understood it there are generally 2 types of HD as Darren pointed out

HD or HD ready: 1280×720 pxls
Full HD or HD 1080p: 920×1080 pxls

HD ready guarantees a minimum standard by EICTA, but if a TV manufacturer has full HD they want to advertise it!

or you can have mine 2560 x 1600. (30" monitor)

so in a nut shell Full HD is better than HD ready

HD ready can only display maximum 1080i

Full HD is 1080p.

As far as I know nothing yet broadcasts in 1080p but it is handy for watching BD. Though there are numerous debates raging about the viewing distances for they eye to actually tell the difference between 720p and 1080p.

thanks gday2uk,,
What about gaming on TV, does it make a difference

Gaming on TV will never beat a decent PC though!

I got a 30" monitor, also have a TV card so no need for a seperate TV in the bedroom

Thanks for the info guys.
I think that has answered my question.
I currently have a std TV and sky box in freeview mode. I have ordered a HD sky+ box and am looking to get a TV (probably 32") to match. Think I want full HD to ensure its as future proof as can be and want it to have a HD freeview tuner incase I decide not to stay with sky after the 12 month contract finishes.

Thanks again guys.
I have ordered a "Toshiba Regza 32RV635DB 32-inch Widescreen Full HD 1080p LCD TV with Freeview"
Electronics; £349.99 from amazon.

Well done Mike, I think you won't regret it. I don't know if there is any noticeable difference on a 32" with full HD but as you mention its future proof, there are so many movies now like Avatar that would make good use of full HD

Future Proof.
Quad HD is on its way.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2160p

Must be true if it says so in wikipedia

What about 3D tv's that is already out in Japan and some computer games are now being written with 3D in mind.

With 32" I don't think you will really benefit with HD.....I have 37" and its looking really small now