How to Get HDTV for Free

HDTV provide a higher resolution and clearer picture than standard TV. Instead of paying subscription and installation fees for HDTV, consider using an HDTV to receive it. This page is a guide on how to get HDTV for free.

Introduction

(Creative Commons photo by marcopako)

If you have a TV which is HD ready or HD capable, you can get HDTV (almost) for free. Instead of paying subscription fees, buy an HD antenna to view HDTV over the air.

Step 1: Digital TV Transition

U.S. is converting to digital TV transmission and many in the country have already converted. If your TV is HD capable or ready you will probably not need to worry about the conversion. However, digital TV does not eliminate the need for HDTV, however, as the quality of digital TV image varies. HDTV will still provide a higher quality picture than traditional digital TV.

Step 2: What You Need

To get free HDTV, you will need a TV with HD capacity. This is, of course, not free and usually cost hundreds of dollars. But if you already have an HDTV, you can save on subscription costs by viewing channels in HD without signing up for a cable or digital TV service.

If you have an TV that is "HD ready" you can use it to view local stations in HDTV by purchasing an antenna. You will need to buy an HD antenna for this. Note that there are several different types of antennas and you should buy one that works for your area. For more information, visit Antennaweb, a Web site by the National Association of Broadcasters. You can search the site to see which antenna will work best for your area. Click on the following link to visit Antennaweb: Welcome.
If your HDTV is "HD capable" you need to buy an antenna and an HDTV receiver to get HDTV signals over the air.
You need to live in an area where you can receive broadcast signals.
For more information on the channels which are available in HD over the air in your area, visit Antennaweb.