By Bill Husted, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Mar. 12--I GET GREAT HDTV RECEPTION -- better than from my HDTV cable box, better than from satellite.

And unlike the other choices, it's free.

The technology I use isn't secret or new. In fact, it's older than the most ancient TV set in your basement. Yet the picture is likely crisper than any you've seen before. It puts HDTV from cable and satellite in the shade.

I'll tell you about it in a moment. Today we'll talk about several ways to get more enjoyment from your HDTV set.

We'll start with my recipe for free, crisp pictures. I don't want to keep you in suspense unless it is absolutely necessary.

The best possible HDTV pictures -- no exceptions, no quibbles -- come from those you get using an antenna. Here's why: When cable or satellite companies broadcast HDTV programming, they use compression techniques to get all that data into their comparatively narrow pipeline.

Compressing the data is good for the folks who deliver the signal -- it lets them cram more programming into the bandwidth available. It's bad for you. Hey, condensed milk tastes different from fresh milk, and condensed TV looks different from what you get if you didn't tamper with the signal.

Broadcast TV doesn't compress the signal. I live in town, so I can get away with a simple indoor antenna I picked up at Radio Shack. If you want an even better setup, or if you live a long distance from a broadcaster, you may need an antenna in your attic or even on your roof.

You won't have any trouble finding old-fashioned antennas -- anything from rabbit ears to the big roof-mounted jobs. In fact, HDTV has created a resurgence for the antenna.

Here's a quick way to find out the specifics of what you need to do from your own home: The Web site www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx will tell you which stations are broadcasting in your area and what kind of an antenna you'll need.

In my own case, there's an added bonus besides the great picture -- my cable company doesn't carry the HDTV feed for at least one station in my area. But the HDTV version is available using my home antenna.

Truth is, as great as the pictures are, I won't be giving up my HDTV cable service. It offers premium movies and other programming that isn't available over the airwaves.

So let's talk about some ways to get better pictures when you're using a satellite receiver or an HDTV cable box.

The cable you use to connect your satellite receiver or cable box to the TV is really important. Don't scrimp when you buy the cable. The cheap stuff produces a cheap signal. There's a simple rule that holds true: The larger in diameter the wire, the more capacity for the signal.

And the type of connector is a big deal, too. If your HDTV offers a connection type called HDMI, use it. HDMI will give you the best possible way to transfer the signal from the receiver to your set. HDMI was once was an upscale option found only on top-of-the-line HDTV sets. But it's common now. Use it if you can, instead of component connection. And avoid S-video connections, since that technology just doesn't do a good job compared to what is available now.

The next thing to consider is a tune-up for your HDTV.

Even brand-new HDTV sets, fresh from the box, need some adjusting to get the best picture. There are two ways to do this. You can simply spend some time with the set and adjust it to best suit your eyes, or you can use a DVD made for that purpose.

If you decide to go the DVD route, look for the Avia Guide to Home Theater or Digital Video Essentials: Optimize Your Home Entertainment System. These are the two discs that are most commonly used. But there's another called the Ultimate DVD -- Home Theater Fine Tuning Made Simple that is a little newer. All three of these DVDs are available at Amazon.com. Or, if you live near a large consumer electronics store, you will be able to find them there.

The experts universally recommend using some sort of a disc like this, or even an outside consultant who comes to your home and adjusts the set in a much more precise manner than you could do with a DVD.

In my case, after trying a DVD, I decided to do the adjusting to suit my own preferences. Hey, you're the one who will be watching the set, so even if you favor a picture with warmer or cooler colors than are accurate, go for it.

The whole notion of HDTV is to get a picture with quality that rivals what you'd see out a window. My tips will help you get there.

These aren't radical changes. But they make a difference. So the next time you feel like blowing up your TV, try my tips instead.

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AMZN,

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

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