The Official High-Definition TV thread

[D-Dogg]

CSI HD looks great....

 

[O]

How good is this season of TV so far in HD?

Prison Break looks amazing, as does CSI.

NFL Ticket...is just sick.

Mike

Everything in HD gets a , I wish I had ESPN2 in HD right now though.

Mike is that you I see posting over on Arizons HDTV?

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Everything in HD gets a , I wish I had ESPN2 in HD right now though.

Mike is that you I see posting over on Arizons HDTV?

Yup

Becoming a regular complainer over there

Mike

 

[O]

Yup

Becoming a regular complainer over there

Mike

Thought so, good site.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Thought so, good site.

Mostly ABC, they suck...never watched ONE show in HD on that station without some kind of problem.

It is a good site there, Ryan from ABC15 is a good guy, keeps us informed.

Mike

 

[O]

Mostly ABC, they suck...never watched ONE show in HD on that station without some kind of problem.

It is a good site there, Ryan from ABC15 is a good guy, keeps us informed.

Mike

ABC 15 does have issues with their HD.
I lot of companies could learn about customer service from Ryan.
I have called channel 15 and e-mailed them several times complaining about HD issues, always leaving my phone number or return address. Each and every time I have received a either a phone call or e-mail explaining what the problem was and what they were doing to correct it.
I've always been impressed with that considering we aren't really customers per se,

Spealing of shows in HD, Charlize Theron on Arrested Development. Doesn't get better then that.

 

[AZ Shocker]

I'm actually leaving DirecTV tomorrow.

Yeah it was great for the year and a half I had it, but it doesn't offer HD programming for the local Phoenix channels. wtf...tomorrow when COX comes to install...I will be able to watch local channels (football) in HD on local channels. Yeah baby!!!

DirecTV is okay and all, but with COX you don't have to buy all this "extra" HD crap. DirecTV wanted me to purchase a new satelite and receiver for like $250 plus spend an extra $10.95 per month. Screw that...maybe if you offer it for free...

DirecTV has failed in the Phoenix market. COX beat them to the punch with their ability to air local channels (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and channel 8) in HD.

With COX, you just hook up and get HD for only like $10.95 extra per month period.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

I'm actually leaving DirecTV tomorrow.

Yeah it was great for the year and a half I had it, but it doesn't offer HD programming for the local Phoenix channels. wtf...tomorrow when COX comes to install...I will be able to watch local channels (football) in HD on local channels. Yeah baby!!!

DirecTV is okay and all, but with COX you don't have to buy all this "extra" HD crap. DirecTV wanted me to purchase a new satelite and receiver for like $250 plus spend an extra $10.95 per month. Screw that...maybe if you offer it for free...

DirecTV has failed in the Phoenix market. COX beat them to the punch with their ability to air local channels (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and channel 8) in HD.

With COX, you just hook up and get HD for only like $10.95 extra per month period.

You still have to pay for the HD receiver at Cox per month I believe. Or maybe it's an HD DVR.

You get local channels in HD with DirectTV, but you just need an Over the Air antenna.

Sorry to say, your Cox HD signals will not be as good as you can get with an OTA. Cox has to compress it's signals, for bandwidth reasons, as does DirecTV over their statellite.

Oh well, I think DirecTV has tbe best quality picture, way better than cable. You could have all those local channels in HD, but yeah, you have to pay a bit.

Hope Cox works out for you...

Mike

 

[TucsonDevil]

Hey Experts,

Background - I have had an HDTV monitor for nearly 18months, but never had an HD receiver (I live in Tucson) and there wasn't much programming at the time. Finally, before the ASU / LSU game, I went into Cox and switched to the HD receiver - SWEET. However, the only local channel that broadcasts with Cox was CBS, so I then went out and purchase rabit ears and a HD receiver from Radio Shack - now ABC and FOX in HD - SWEET! (still can't get reception for NBC... hmmm).

Well, here is my question - What channels does Cox carry in HD in Phoenix? Do they have the local channels? I have family in Mesa, and I will be visiting them for Thanksgiving and Christmas - and I want to get my Father-in-law to get HD so I can watch the games.... For some reason, I just can't watch regular programming anymore.

BTW, CSI and CSI:MIAMI rock in HD! But HD football games... they bring tears to my eyes.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Hey Experts,

Background - I have had an HDTV monitor for nearly 18months, but never had an HD receiver (I live in Tucson) and there wasn't much programming at the time. Finally, before the ASU / LSU game, I went into Cox and switched to the HD receiver - SWEET. However, the only local channel that broadcasts with Cox was CBS, so I then went out and purchase rabit ears and a HD receiver from Radio Shack - now ABC and FOX in HD - SWEET! (still can't get reception for NBC... hmmm).

Well, here is my question - What channels does Cox carry in HD in Phoenix? Do they have the local channels? I have family in Mesa, and I will be visiting them for Thanksgiving and Christmas - and I want to get my Father-in-law to get HD so I can watch the games.... For some reason, I just can't watch regular programming anymore.

BTW, CSI and CSI:MIAMI rock in HD! But HD football games... they bring tears to my eyes.

I am pretty sure Cox has all the local channels in HD.

I am surprised that they don't have them in HD down in Tucson, I didn't know that...

Mike

 

[Lefty]

If you have $2100.00 to spend on a wide screen tv, what one would you buy? Thanks.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

If you have $2100.00 to spend on a wide screen tv, what one would you buy? Thanks.

Depends on what you want...or need.

Do you want one that fits on the wall? Or one that sits on a pedestal type entertainment center?

I have a rear projection sony Grand Wega LCD 42 inch and I love it...even compared to me neighbor's $3500 52-inch DLP.

Sony LCD's are awesome.

Mike

 

[CardFan67]

I see a large difference in quality from channel to channel, I am unsure as to why, but it may be related to my cable provider...

The Stuff on Discovery is just awesome, clarity beyond my wildest imagination... Anything I see on CBS HD is horrendous, the worst in quality - and there are gradual differences across the board, but for me those are the two ends, High and low...

 

[Mike Olbinski]

I see a large difference in quality from channel to channel, I am unsure as to why, but it may be related to my cable provider...

The Stuff on Discovery is just awesome, clarity beyond my wildest imagination... Anything I see on CBS HD is horrendous, the worst in quality - and there are gradual differences across the board, but for me those are the two ends, High and low...

That's weird...CBS broadcasts in better quality that other stations...1080i, where ABC and NBC are 720p.

Discovery and those HDNet channels are all 1080i.

Mike

 

[AZ Shocker]

You still have to pay for the HD receiver at Cox per month I believe. Or maybe it's an HD DVR.

You get local channels in HD with DirectTV, but you just need an Over the Air antenna.

Sorry to say, your Cox HD signals will not be as good as you can get with an OTA. Cox has to compress it's signals, for bandwidth reasons, as does DirecTV over their statellite.

Oh well, I think DirecTV has tbe best quality picture, way better than cable. You could have all those local channels in HD, but yeah, you have to pay a bit.

Hope Cox works out for you...

Mike

Yes me too! I will report back my findings and compare the two. btw...I could never get my amplified over the air antenna from Radio Shack to get a clear picture. I had to be doing something wrong. I'd get a piture, but too much snow to even justify using it. Any advice on that?

I recently purchased a 55" Sony LCD HD tv and am still searching for what all this HDTV is all about. Hopefully in a couple hours I'll finally get to see something in HD.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Yes me too! I will report back my findings and compare the two. btw...I could never get my amplified over the air antenna from Radio Shack to get a clear picture. I had to be doing something wrong. I'd get a piture, but too much snow to even justify using it. Any advice on that?

I recently purchased a 55" Sony LCD HD tv and am still searching for what all this HDTV is all about. Hopefully in a couple hours I'll finally get to see something in HD.

Is it a Grand Wega? Nice choice...

How far away from it do you sit normally?

Where do you live? Curious about your antenna signal...

Mike

 

[CardFan67]

That's weird...CBS broadcasts in better quality that other stations...1080i, where ABC and NBC are 720p.

Discovery and those HDNet channels are all 1080i.

Mike

yeah, I think it is my provider...

 

[AZ Shocker]

Is it a Grand Wega? Nice choice...

How far away from it do you sit normally?

Where do you live? Curious about your antenna signal...

Mike

Yes Grand Wega. Love it! I think I measured it once and I sit appx. 12-14 ft. away. I'm in Gilbert (Greenfield and Warner) so signal should be okay, but...

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Yes Grand Wega. Love it! I think I measured it once and I sit appx. 12-14 ft. away. I'm in Gilbert (Greenfield and Warner) so signal should be okay, but...

Grand Wega's are good, and 12-14feet away for a 55-inch is good I believe.

Our's is 42-inch, we sit about 8 feet or so away. It's perfect.

I'm on Cooper and Riggs, and my OTA antenna gets great reception.

Mike

 

[AZ Shocker]

Well...
The good, the bad, and the...what sounds like to be "very good"!
First the bad. Either I'm stoo-pid or COX is misleading in their marketing big-time. I was lead to believe when you upgrade to COX Digital Cable, you were gonna get "digital" quality picture. Nope!

Not only are all the local channels NOT "digital", but neither is...ESPN, Discovery, TBS, FX, WGN, TNT, USA, MTV, VH-1, MTV2, ESPN, ESPN2, CNN, etc, etc, etc! All the normal cable channels that most human beings on planet Earth are used to watching are "analog."
You've got to be ******** me! So how is that called "digital cable" then?

The only channels in digital quality that are worth watching are the HBO's. You see, COX only offers channels above 100 in digital, and this was only just explained to me when the cable guy was hooking all this up tonight. This eliminates appx. 95% of the channels most people most often watch. So my 3 telephone calls to COX earlier this month inquiring about their "digital" service proved to be worthless since nobody at COX informed me of this. Great...

BUT the good! Finally got to see what HD looks like in my own living room on my own tv! Wow! That is unreal! Kinda sick really...SportCenter on ESPN, HBO, Discovery, the new President show with Gena Davis. Wow!

So the "what could become very good" is that when I called DirecTV to cancel my satellite service they quickly sent me over to another dept. They politely asked why I was canceling. I told them that with my new tv I wanted to watch HD programming. Of course they said, "Well with DirecTV you can do that." Then I politely said, "Well sure, but in talking with you guys last week..you informed me that to get HD I would have to buy all this expensive equipment from you." Well...that's when they started negotiating...

Long story short, if COX lets me out of this deal tomorrow when I call, I will be a happy camper with a new HD installation and service from DirecTV!
After 35 years, sometimes this old boy still just has to learn to hard way.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Well...
The good, the bad, and the...what sounds like to be "very good"!
First the bad. Either I'm stoo-pid or COX is misleading in their marketing big-time. I was lead to believe when you upgrade to COX Digital Cable, you were gonna get "digital" quality picture. Nope!

Not only are all the local channels NOT "digital", but neither is...ESPN, Discovery, TBS, FX, WGN, TNT, USA, MTV, VH-1, MTV2, ESPN, ESPN2, CNN, etc, etc, etc! All the normal cable channels that most human beings on planet Earth are used to watching are "analog."
You've got to be ******** me! So how is that called "digital cable" then?

The only channels in digital quality that are worth watching are the HBO's. You see, COX only offers channels above 100 in digital, and this was only just explained to me when the cable guy was hooking all this up tonight. This eliminates appx. 95% of the channels most people most often watch. So my 3 telephone calls to COX earlier this month inquiring about their "digital" service proved to be worthless since nobody at COX informed me of this. Great...

BUT the good! Finally got to see what HD looks like in my own living room on my own tv! Wow! That is unreal! Kinda sick really...SportCenter on ESPN, HBO, Discovery, the new President show with Gena Davis. Wow!

So the "what could become very good" is that when I called DirecTV to cancel my satellite service they quickly sent me over to another dept. They politely asked why I was canceling. I told them that with my new tv I wanted to watch HD programming. Of course they said, "Well with DirecTV you can do that." Then I politely said, "Well sure, but in talking with you guys last week..you informed me that to get HD I would have to buy all this expensive equipment from you." Well...that's when they started negotiating...

Long story short, if COX lets me out of this deal tomorrow when I call, I will be a happy camper with a new HD installation and service from DirecTV!
After 35 years, sometimes this old boy still just has to learn to hard way.

Yes, DirecTV's Customer Retention Center will work major deals.

I just got a $200 credit and free HBO/Showtime for 6 months because they lowered the price on their HD Tivos...and I paid more for it than it is now.

If you threaten to leave for COx, they will do what they can to keep you.

Mike

 

[AZ Shocker]

I like that about DirecTV! They offered me a few different packages to remain a customer. Before yesterday when I switched to COX I had everything except HD programming thru DirecTV.

Now DirecTV is offering a great deal on the HD equipment/receiver/installation. Yeah baby! But they also are offering a nice reduction in price for the HDDVR. It's pretty expensive, but with their discount I may just have to take advantage. My question...is this a good HDDVR? Anybody have any experience with it? Or should I skip it and wait for the next generation? Thanks for your input ChandlerMike!

 

[AZ Shocker]

Well...
Back to DirecTV and no doubt I'm staying here. I really dunno what came over me. I've had DirecTV for a couple years...why did I ever think to go to COX? Guess I just wanted to test the waters.

Anyways, the new HD-DVR (Tivo) is pretty sweet! Totally new menu's and channel guides with all kinds of cutting edge features. Way more interactive and "customizable" than COX could ever dream of. Definentely worth it!

The only downfall is that I still can't get HD-tv from the local PHX channels. This sucks cuz I really wanted to watch the Cardinals on the local FOX station in HD. The installer was supposed to hook me up with an "over-the-air" HD antenna, but didn't because he said we wouldn't get the signal. WHAT!?! We're in Gilbert not Gila Bend for pete's sake! Maybe 20 -25 miles from downtown Phoenix. Argghhh!

So anyhow, now I'm back to DirecTV but without local channels in HD...which is why I switched to COX in the first place. To get local channels in HD.

DirecTV said just go to Best Buy and get a "amplified antenna" for like $50 to get local channels in HD. Does this really work? Sounds archaic to me...

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Well...
Back to DirecTV and no doubt I'm staying here. I really dunno what came over me. I've had DirecTV for a couple years...why did I ever think to go to COX? Guess I just wanted to test the waters.

Anyways, the new HD-DVR (Tivo) is pretty sweet! Totally new menu's and channel guides with all kinds of cutting edge features. Way more interactive and "customizable" than COX could ever dream of. Definentely worth it!

The only downfall is that I still can't get HD-tv from the local PHX channels. This sucks cuz I really wanted to watch the Cardinals on the local FOX station in HD. The installer was supposed to hook me up with an "over-the-air" HD antenna, but didn't because he said we wouldn't get the signal. WHAT!?! We're in Gilbert not Gila Bend for pete's sake! Maybe 20 -25 miles from downtown Phoenix. Argghhh!

So anyhow, now I'm back to DirecTV but without local channels in HD...which is why I switched to COX in the first place. To get local channels in HD.

DirecTV said just go to Best Buy and get a "amplified antenna" for like $50 to get local channels in HD. Does this really work? Sounds archaic to me...

That BS man...what are your crossroads?

Go to Antennaweb.org, put in your address, find out how far away you are from the antennas on south mountain.

I'm 17.5 miles away, I get them fine.

If you are further than 25 miles, you may need to get an amplified one, I dunno.

I bought a new one to replace the one DTV installed, going to test it today. Been having issues with the WB getting crappy at night.

You should have HD in Phoenix easy, UNLESS you are surrounded by tall buildings, trees, etc...

Mike

 

[Chaz]

As long as you have line of sight to South Mountain you should pick up the local channels no problem.


Like Mike said check out antennaweb.org and they can tell you what size of antenna you need.


BTW how much was the HD-DVR?