Can You Upgrade From Regular Cable to HD Cable for Free?

If you still have a tube TV -- a large, wide TV that looks like a box -- then your options are limited. Very few tube TVs are HD capable. While you can watch HD channels on a tube TV, you will not get a high-definition picture unless the tube TV is HD capable. In this case, part of the cost of upgrading to HD cable will be purchasing an HDTV.

If you currently receive cable TV service through a cable box, check if it is HD capable. If it is not, you'll need to upgrade to an HD-capable box. You will also need to look into the types of HD cable service packages your cable service provides. Here, you'll be faced with a cost, sometimes for both the box upgrade and the service package change. Some cable providers offer free access to a certain number of HD channels, and then provide additional access for another fee.

If you don't have the proper hardware to get the best picture possible, there is little point to owning an HDTV and paying for HD cable service. If you don't have an HDMI cable, you will miss out on enjoying all that your TV has to offer. An HDMI cable ensures you get the best high definition picture on your TV.

When you have access to HD shows, you'll may want to ensure any recordings you make replicate that HD picture properly. This is not possible using a regular DVD or VHS. So, even if you already have an HD-ready cable box, and an HDTV with the proper hardware, you'll need some sort of service that allows you to make DVR recordings, which record right from the HD cable box. This service is usually extra through your cable service, but there's the chance you could get it for free, especially if your cable provider is running a promotion.