DISH Network HD Odds and Ends
Having read through our previous articles about all the great DISH Network deals on HD TV that are currently available, you might have wondered when the folks here at InternetLion.com would cover topics like HD broadcast TV, DISH Network HDMI ports, HD BluRay players, HD broadcasts in 1080p and DISH Network® HDTV receivers compatible with 1080p.
But we also recognize the importance of simply presenting our readers with as much useful information as possible. And we are also well-aware that people are searching Google, Yahoo and Bing for the keywords “HD broadcast TV,” “DISH Network HDMI,” “HD BluRay,” “HD broadcast 1080p” and “HDTV receiver 1080p.” So, we figured, if we were going to publish another article about DISH Network’s HD offerings anyhow, why not go ahead and explain these topics.
The resulting article should prove informative for those whose queries we’ve left out of our other pages. But this isn’t to say that it is, by any means, a definitive treatment of “HD broadcast TV,” “DISH Network HDMI,” “HD BluRay,” “HD broadcast 1080p” and “HDTV receiver 1080p.”
Rather, we’ve broken up this odds-and-ends page into bite-sized explanations with notes on where you can find more information on these topics
HD broadcast TV
“HD broadcast TV” isn’t an exclusive part of DISH Network’s HD services by any means, but is instead a feature of most subscription TV providers’ services as well as part of free-to-air TV received via UHF/VHF antennae. Basically, what the term refers to is high-definition TV programming transmitted from local TV stations affiliated with national TV networks. So, for instance, your local NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX and PBS stations’ digital HD signals would all count as “HD broadcast TV.”
Of course, receiving HD broadcast TV over UHF/VHF antenna only precludes you from accessing HD cable networks as well. In contrast, any DISH Network subscription would give you all the HD programming your local network affiliates offer, as well as plenty of HD cable-network and premium HD programming. So, yes, while you can enjoy some HD programming for the cost of hardware, including a UHF/VHF antenna, HD TV and digital converter box, you won’t be getting as much TV as a pay service offers.
Be sure to check out the many articles on InternetLion.com about the channel packages that DISH Network offers that offer local, HD broadcast TV channels and much more. Right now, DISH Network is offering 5 different channel packages for under $50 (including some ALL HD packages), so you’ve got lots of great options to choose from!
DISH Network HDMI Ports
One question many prospective DISH Network subscribers are bound to ask is whether there are built-in HDMI ports in DISH Network receivers, and if so, what the extent of DISH Network HDMI ports’ capabilities are.
But perhaps you aren’t part of this group of prospective customers because you don’t yet know what “HDMI” is and would only be curious as to its relation to DISH Network equipment after receiving an explanation of this information-transfer system.
As for that, then, “HDMI” stands for “High-Definition Multimedia Interface” and what this phrase refers to is a type of connection system meant to allow devices to exchange uncompressed multimedia signals. Or, to put it another way, it’s a kind of connection method, between receivers, video playing devices, videogame platforms and TVs, over which high-bandwidth signals that have not been turned into MP3s can travel.
Such a connection method is absolutely necessary for high-speed True HD and for 3D TV, both of which would suffer picture and sound degradation if they had to be compressed in order to travel over a more traditional coaxial medium. As a result, newer TVs, BluRay players and receivers typically have HDMI ports, and DISH Network’s newer receivers fall into this group.
DISH Network HDMI ports can be found in DISH Network’s ViP 922 HD DVR, for instance, which has high-speed DISH Network HDMI ports to allow for both 1080i and 1080p HDTV as well as 3D TV. Properly receiving such programming, then, requires an HDMI cable be connected to the ViP 922’s HDMI port and the HDMI port of the display device (computer monitor or TV set). But this isn’t to say that DISH Network’s HDMI ports are one-size-fits-all.
Rather, the DISH Network HDMI ports on the 922 are capable of 10.2 Gbps transference, making it a Version 1.3 HDMI device. As such it requires the smaller, Type 3 HDMI cable and, likewise, the devices you intend to connect this cable to must all have Version 1.3 HDMI capabilities. So be sure to read the specs of your devices very carefully and to discuss them with your sales representative. Otherwise, you might find that you cannot connect one piece of equipment directly to another.
HDTV Receivers And HD Broadcasts in 1080p HD
You might have heard the term “1080p” thrown around and wondered what it means in relation to HDTV. Well, if so, you’ll be happy to know first off that it’s not something you really have to concern yourself with. What “1080p” really means is that an HD picture is progressively scanned, rather than interlaced. Or, more simply, when a TV capable of displaying 1080p images receives a programming signal in 1080p it forms the picture by displaying each of all 1080 vertical scan lines in numerical order from one to 1080. This is in contrast to 1080i HD display, where the TV forms an image by projecting the odd number lines first, one to 1079, then the even lines, two to 1080.
The reason you need not pay much mind to 1080p resolution is that it is rarely used for programming transmission due to the amount of bandwidth it eats up. In some situations, such as when HD broadcasts in 1080p originate from a satellite TV provider’s own hub—as is the case with DISH Network’s Video On Demand and Pay-Per-View services—or when the transmission originates with an HD BluRay player, it is possible to have the signal in 1080p. But because most free-to-air and cable networks must package their transmission to accommodate cable, their transmissions’ maximum resolution is typically 1080i so as to avoid eating up cable companies’ more limited bandwidth. Having said that, satellite TV provider DISH Network is the leader in HD and offers HD broadcasts in 1080p with the best picture in the business.
On the plus side you now know that you can experience HD broadcasts in 1080p with top picture quality with the programming you receive through DISH Network. And you know that, because both HD BluRay players and DISH Network’s newer HD DVRs and HD receivers are capable of 1080p, they are also compatible. As a result, it should be no problem experiencing the HD broadcasts in1080p, or “true HD,” content that is available with DISH Network service and devices.
Click here to learn more about the HD features and programming offered by DISH Network. Get the best HD in the business by switching to DISH Network!
Disclaimer: Please note that this article was written when the satellite TV provider DISH was branded as DISH Network. As of 2/1/2012 DISH Network has changed their branding name to DISH. Article post date: 06/30/2011.
