I have HD, but the picture quality is no better

Question

I have an HD-Ready TV and my Sky HD channels don’t seem much better. Do I need to change any settings on my TV to ensure they are seen as HD?

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Our Answer

Most HD TV sets will automatically show HD content in HD, provided everything is connected correctly. Here are some things to check:

Correct Hardware:

• You need an HD-TV set (capable of displaying HD)
• You need an HD Receiver. If you’re with Sky, this will be a black Sky+ HD box

The Sky+ HD Box with remote control

Correct Connection

You need to make sure you are connecting from the Sky box to the TV set using an HDMI lead. To the right is a picture of an HDMI plug.

Check you’re using an HDMI  lead, as this is required for HD.

Note: A SCART lead or an aerial lead do not support HD.

Correct Sky Settings:

You need an HD Subscription to be able to watch most of the HD channels on Sky. The BBC HD channels are free. If watching non-BBC HD channels, make sure you have a Sky HD subscription

Next, check that the HD box is sending out HD. To check, do this:

• Press Services and scroll to  Settings
• Select “HD Resolution Output”
• You should have options for 576,  720p, 1080i or Automatic. “Automatic” is normally the best option, but try either “720p” and “1080i”, which are the two HD resolutions

Check the TV

Make sure you are watching from the HDMI connection. HD TV sets support connection by all sorts of connectors: aerial, SCART, Component, composite, S-Video and SCART. Make sure you’ve set the TV so that it’s watching via the HDMI input.

Whilst most TV sets handle HD automatically, on some models, there may be some settings on the TV you need to adjust. Either look for an HD option in the on-screen menus (Picture/Display), or check the manual. If there is a 720p or 1080i option, use that.

Comparing the difference

BBC standard definition is on Sky channel 101, and the HD version is on channel 142 – toggle between the two and check whether there is a difference. You can also check Sky One (channel 106 and channel 170).

With HD, you should note that the image is sharper, showing more detail. If you can’t see a difference, something may not be right.

The ATEC AV420ds 42″ HD-Ready TV

The original question came from a user of this model. She tried everything on this page, but had no luck. She’d lost the TV set manual, and couldn’t find an HD setting. If you happen to have any information on how to adjust HD settings on this model of telly, please add a comment below.