1. What is HDTV? 
2. What equipment will I need in order to view HD programming? 
3. Do I need a new television to view an HD signal? 
4. Will Cox High Definition Cable support plasma TVs? 
5. Is digital cable the same thing as HDTV (High Definition Television)? 
6. How is a high-definition television receiver different from my current digital receiver?  
7. What is the difference between “HD-ready" and "HD-capable" TVS? 
8. Which channels will Cox High Definition Cable offer?
9. What is the difference between DTV, HDTV, and SDTV? 
10. Why is Cox High Definition Cable better than satellite? 
11. I keep hearing about 1080p, 1080i or 720p signal formats. What is Cox going to support?
12. 4:3, 16:9, widescreen, sidebars, letterbox, stretch, pan and scan --- what does it all mean? 
13. Will I be able to view tapes with my VCR/DVD on my HDTV? 
14. How will high-definition programming look on my regular analog television
15. What is the difference between the terms HDTV Ready, HDTV Capable and HDTV Integrated?

1) What is HDTV?

High-definition television (HDTV) is a high-resolution digital TV format. A high-definition TV signal has up to two times the color resolution and a picture that is up to six times sharper than that provided by a traditional regular TV set. HDTV also provides enhanced audio, such as Dolby Digital^®. 

2) What equipment will I need to view HD programming?  

An HDTV set and a special HDTV receiver are required. To work with our initial HDTV offering, your HDTV set must have a YPbPr component input and must support 1080p, 1080i or 720p format. Most new HDTV sets support the 1080i format. Please refer to your owner's manual or the manufacturer's website to determine if your HDTV supports 1080p, 1080i or 720p.

3) Do I need a new television to view an HD signal? 

You must have an HDTV-capable TV to view any of our high-definition programming in high-definition format.

4) Will Cox High Definition Cable support plasma TVs?

Most plasma TVs will have a YPbPr component input and be capable of supporting HDTV in 1080p or 1080i format. Please consult your owner's manual or the manufacturer's website to verify HD capability of your plasma set.

5) Is digital cable the same thing as HDTV? (High Definition Television)

Cox High Definition Cable refers to a type of digital cable that is at a higher-resolution than Cox Digital Cable. In order to receive Cox High Definition Cable, an “HDTV-capable” television set and a special HD receiver will be required. 

6) How is a high-definition television receiver different from my current digital receiver?  

The HD receiver will be much the same as your current digital receiver. The special HD receiver has the component inputs and outputs that will allow us to pass HD signals to your HDTV set.

7) What is the difference between “HD-ready" and "HD-capable" TVs? 

Today's HDTV sets come in two forms: HD-ready and HD-capable. HD-ready sets have an HDTV receiver/decoder built-in, while HD-capable sets simply act as a monitor and require the addition of an external receiver/decoder to receive high-definition signals. Since most HD-ready sets only include receivers for off-air broadcasts (i.e., signals that are received using an antenna), you will still need a separate HDTV receiver to view HDTV programs with Cox High Definition Cable.

8) Which channels will Cox High Definition Cable offer?

Review all our HDTV Programming!

9) What is the difference between DTV, HDTV, and SDTV?

"DTV" is a general reference to digital television, as compared to "regular" television. HDTV is "high-definition" television, the highest resolution digital TV format. SDTV is "standard definition" television, like Cox Digital Cable.

10) Why is Cox High Definition Cable better than satellite?

Cox High Definition Cable is easier to subscribe to and install, and with the inclusion of local channels, we offer more programming than satellite.  In addition to HBO HD and Showtime HD, which are available with your paid digital subscription to HBO and/or Showtime, Cox will deliver the local versions of NBC HD, CBS HD and ABC HD, and national PBS HD programming.  Satellite TV may never be able to offer local hi-def channels due to bandwidth limitations.

11) I keep hearing about 1080p, 1080i and 720p signal formats. What is Cox going to support? 

Cox High Definition Cable will work with high definition televisions capable of receiving 1080p, 1080i or 720p format.

12) 4:3, 16:9, Widescreen, Sidebars, Letterbox, Stretch, Pan and Scan --- what does it all mean? 

4:3 (width: height) is the standard television shape. HDTVs have been manufactured in both 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios. 

16:9 (width: height) is the traditional shape of an HDTV, although some HDTVs have been designed with a 4:3 aspect ratio.

Wide screen is a term used for the 16:9 aspect ratio. Most HDTV sets are easy to identify because of their wide screens. These screens, which are usually a lot wider than they are tall, closely resemble their movie theater counterparts. 

Sidebars present the entire picture in the middle of the screen and display black bands on each side of the picture. Sidebars are used when non-HD content is displayed on HDTVs with aspect ratios of 16:9.
Stretch is a tool that can be used on some HDTVs to stretch a 4:3 image to a 16:9 screen (vs. sidebars).

Letterbox presents the entire picture in the middle of the screen and displays black bands above and below the picture. Letterboxes are used to show HD content on a 4:3 aspect ratio TV. However, with a 16:9 aspect ratio HDTV, you will be able to view movies in their original wide screen theatrical format.

Pan and Scan are tools that can be used to present 16:9 content onto a 4:3 television (vs. letterboxes).

13) Will I be able to view tapes with my VCR/DVD on my HDTV? 

Yes, HDTVs will allow for VCR & DVD connections. Please consult your VCR/DVD owner's manual or manufacturer's website to determine if your equipment is capable of HD playback.

14) How will high-definition programming look on my regular analog television? 

Regular analog TV sets are not capable of displaying high definition programming.

15) What is the difference between the terms HDTV Ready, HDTV Capable and HDTV Integrated?

HDTV Ready or HDTV Capable (the terms are used interchangeably) means that the HDTV set is capable of delivering the HDTV signal, but requires the addition of an external receiver/tuner or HD cable receiver to pick up the HD signals.

An HDTV Integrated set, a significantly more expensive option, is one with an HD tuner built in. While this type of HD set will allow consumers to pick up unencrypted HD broadcast signals without an external receiver/tuner or receiver, most of these integrated sets still require the external receiver/HD receiver to get the full array of HD channels. With Cox San Diego, those channels include Universal HD, ESPN HD, Discovery HD Theater, HBO HD, Showtime HD and InHD 1 & 2.