The Official High-Definition TV thread

[Mike Olbinski]

I just got done going up to my roof and installing a VU-75XR antenna from Radio Shack. Was only $40.

My signal strength on the WB was only 84 before install, new one has it at 92. Woo!

The WB's signal goes down at night for some reason, and Gilmore Girls and Supernatural all looked bad last week, pixely, dropped audio, etc.

So hopefully this fixes it.

Mike

 

[Kolo]

Chandler Mike, we just bought a 55" Grand Wega online--any clue whether we should get the 4 year extended warranty (parts and labor) the dude is trying to sell us for $199?

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Chandler Mike, we just bought a 55" Grand Wega online--any clue whether we should get the 4 year extended warranty (parts and labor) the dude is trying to sell us for $199?

I actually bought the extended warranty from SonyStyle.com I think...hmm, wonder if I even did buy that...

Sony has their own for cheaper...

Mike

 

[Kolo]

And I'm pretty dense when it comes to this sort of stuff--but I always thought rear-projection tvs were the ones which faded and darkened as you viewed from the side--and I also thought LCD's were not rear-projection--but when I read the materials on the Grand Wega, it said it is a rear-projection LCD. But it doesn't darken from the side, at least the one I saw (an A20) at Best Buy. What am I missing here?

 

[Mike Olbinski]

And I'm pretty dense when it comes to this sort of stuff--but I always thought rear-projection tvs were the ones which faded and darkened as you viewed from the side--and I also thought LCD's were not rear-projection--but when I read the materials on the Grand Wega, it said it is a rear-projection LCD. But it doesn't darken from the side, at least the one I saw (an A20) at Best Buy. What am I missing here?

It will darken as you get to the sides of it, but mine isn't that bad, just like you, I saw it in Best Buy first.

It's just a really good TV.

Now vertically, it will get worse quicker than moving sideways...

Mike

 

[Kolo]

It will darken as you get to the sides of it, but mine isn't that bad, just like you, I saw it in Best Buy first.

It's just a really good TV.

Now vertically, it will get worse quicker than moving sideways...

Mike

Then which types of TV's don't darken from the sides?

 

[Chaz]

Then which types of TV's don't darken from the sides?

Direct view CRTs, LCD and plasma panel displays and front projectors.

I think any rear projection TV would darken to the extreme sides. The bigger LCDs, DLPs, and CRTs are rear projection.

I think mine is about 145-150 degree view side to side with out any significant darkening of the picture. If you stand up more than 18" the screen brightness is about 1/2. It doesn't bother me because I don't stand up or sit to the sides to watch TV.

 

[Kolo]

Direct view CRTs, LCD and plasma panel displays and front projectors.

I think any rear projection TV would darken to the extreme sides. The bigger LCDs, DLPs, and CRTs are rear projection.

I think mine is about 145-150 degree view side to side with out any significant darkening of the picture. If you stand up more than 18" the screen brightness is about 1/2. It doesn't bother me because I don't stand up or sit to the sides to watch TV.

So I assume that direct view is more expensive--is it possible on the 55" we've ordered?

I also (based on what you've said) assume that if the TV watching in my home is essentially my wife and I parked on the couch 15 feet away, the 55" Grand Wega A20 is a good bet.

Thanks, Mike and SirChaz.

 

[Chaz]

So I assume that direct view is more expensive--is it possible on the 55" we've ordered?

I also (based on what you've said) assume that if the TV watching in my home is essentially my wife and I parked on the couch 15 feet away, the 55" Grand Wega A20 is a good bet.

Thanks, Mike and SirChaz.

Outside of a front projector, I don't know of any direct view 55" TVs.
Well, except $10,000 plasmas.

 

[Pariah]

Here's another few novice HD questions:

I have Directv. I have an HDTV ready TV. I understand that I'll need a new reciever to get the DTV HD channels. In order to get my local channels I'll need another antenea, right? Will I have to change the TV input everytime I want to watch "Lost" in HD, or can I just tune to channel 7 as I would normally? Is the antenea a pain to install?

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Here's another few novice HD questions:

I have Directv. I have an HDTV ready TV. I understand that I'll need a new reciever to get the DTV HD channels. In order to get my local channels I'll need another antenea, right? Will I have to change the TV input everytime I want to watch "Lost" in HD, or can I just tune to channel 7 as I would normally? Is the antenea a pain to install?

No, your HD Receiver will have an input for your antenna right alongside the satellite input (or inputs if you get the DVR).

And the channels will appear in your normal DTV guide as 12.1, 15.1, 5.1, etc, which are the Digital/HD channels.

Mike

 

[Pariah]

Could I just get an antenna and and hook it through with my DTV box and get the local channels for free (not paying the extra HD package charge and NOT getting HBO,etc in HD)? Would those channels show up in my gude if I did that?

Or, could I put the HD antenna signal in another input and watch local channels in HD by switching to that input?

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Could I just get an antenna and and hook it through with my DTV box and get the local channels for free (not paying the extra HD package charge and NOT getting HBO,etc in HD)? Would those channels show up in my gude if I did that?

Or, could I put the HD antenna signal in another input and watch local channels in HD by switching to that input?

No, since your TV is a HD Monitor, it doesn't have an HD Tuner/Receiver in it...so you'd need that first.

If you can buy one somewhere, then you could also buy an antenna and hook it up directly to your TV, but then you'd be switching video inputs for cable and TV.

Mike

 

[SpokaneCardfan]

I almost forgot Cox cable has HDTV and they rent the HDTV STBs.

They carry about 8 HDTV channels plus HBO, Showtime and Starz if you already subscribe to those channels.


The big thing coming (from COX) is an HD-DVR that is a recorder like Tivo that can record shows in HD. Tivo has had an HD-DVR out for a while now.

I just got one from Comcast and it is awesome . I do not have a HD TV but I recieve the HD chanells and even without HD those chanells are way better looking than the standard ones . Last night I watched the Monday night football game on the HD and you can see way more of the field . AWESOME!!

 

[Kolo]

Just got my 55" Wega, and it's great, takes up half the wall, the Yotes looked good last night on it. I'm a moron when it comes to high-tech stuff, and this is very basic I think, so I'm hoping somebody can help out.

I've got Cox cable, a dvd player, the tv, and an amp. Does it make a difference if I connect cable to dvd to tv to amp in a single line, or should I have separate connections to the amp (cable to tv to amp, and then dvd connecting both to the tv and amp on separate lines)? I've heard it makes a difference in some way, but not sure how or even if it really does.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Just got my 55" Wega, and it's great, takes up half the wall, the Yotes looked good last night on it. I'm a moron when it comes to high-tech stuff, and this is very basic I think, so I'm hoping somebody can help out.

I've got Cox cable, a dvd player, the tv, and an amp. Does it make a difference if I connect cable to dvd to tv to amp in a single line, or should I have separate connections to the amp (cable to tv to amp, and then dvd connecting both to the tv and amp on separate lines)? I've heard it makes a difference in some way, but not sure how or even if it really does.

Do you have a receiver for your Cox? I am sure you do. That should have your sound going to the Amplifier I guess, and the video to the TV.

If it's a HD receiver from Cox, then your component cables need to go to the TV of course, not to your DVD player first...

I probably am confused...

Mike

 

[Chaz]

Just got my 55" Wega, and it's great, takes up half the wall, the Yotes looked good last night on it. I'm a moron when it comes to high-tech stuff, and this is very basic I think, so I'm hoping somebody can help out.

I've got Cox cable, a dvd player, the tv, and an amp. Does it make a difference if I connect cable to dvd to tv to amp in a single line, or should I have separate connections to the amp (cable to tv to amp, and then dvd connecting both to the tv and amp on separate lines)? I've heard it makes a difference in some way, but not sure how or even if it really does.

Does your amp have video switching?

If so you can connect all video and audio to the amp then the video output from the amp to the TV.

If not the TV should have multiple inputs.

You need the digital audio to the amp directly for 5.1 surround.

 

[Chaz]

BTW

Cox now has TNT-HD!!! Ch. 725

Whoo-hoo.

This means more HD basketball!

 

[Kolo]

Do you have a receiver for your Cox? I am sure you do. That should have your sound going to the Amplifier I guess, and the video to the TV.

If it's a HD receiver from Cox, then your component cables need to go to the TV of course, not to your DVD player first...

I probably am confused...

Mike

On matters like these, assume it's my confusion, Mike. And of course I have "a receiver for [my] Cox." I just got married.

I had a Cox cable box for my old tv, but I just plugged the cable directly from the wall into the Wega last night. Not sure whether I should use the box, or get the chip that goes in the back of the tv (I forget its name right now, but I think it's an HD chip). Maybe I should just ask what you'd recommend I do now that I've got the Wega as far as the cable company goes, because honestly I'm not quite sure.

 

[Kolo]

Does your amp have video switching?

If so you can connect all video and audio to the amp then the video output from the amp to the TV.

If not the TV should have multiple inputs.

You need the digital audio to the amp directly for 5.1 surround.

What's video switching? Multiple video inputs? If so, then yes.

And does the digital audio cord go straight from the tv to the amp, then?

 

[Chaz]

On matters like these, assume it's my confusion, Mike. And of course I have "a receiver for [my] Cox." I just got married.

I had a Cox cable box for my old tv, but I just plugged the cable directly from the wall into the Wega last night. Not sure whether I should use the box, or get the chip that goes in the back of the tv (I forget its name right now, but I think it's an HD chip). Maybe I should just ask what you'd recommend I do now that I've got the Wega as far as the cable company goes, because honestly I'm not quite sure.

The STB (set top box) from Cox will give you access to the channels over 100 if you have the service for them. If you have any movie channels (HBO, etc.) you will need to connect the STB.

If you only have the basic cable then there is no need for the STB. In that case than no it doesn't really matter.

I have the cable from the wall run through a splitter. One lead goes directly to the TV the other goes to the STB (HD-DVR). THe STB then connects via component connection to the component input on the TV for the HD and other digital cable channels.

 

[Kolo]

The STB (set top box) from Cox will give you access to the channels over 100 if you have the service for them. If you have any movie channels (HBO, etc.) you will need to connect the STB.

If you only have the basic cable then there is no need for the STB. In that case than no it doesn't really matter.

I have the cable from the wall run through a splitter. One lead goes directly to the TV the other goes to the STB (HD-DVR). THe STB then connects via component connection to the component input on the TV for the HD and other digital cable channels.

We've got digital cable so a few channels above 100, so I guess we'll have to set up the STB. But why have separate leads? Why not just go through the STB all the time?

 

[Chaz]

What's video switching? Multiple video inputs? If so, then yes.

We are talking about the amp not the TV right?

And does the digital audio cord go straight from the tv to the amp, then?

It would come from the video source (cable box, dvd player) to the amp.

If you use the analog connection from the TV (red and white RCA connectors) you will only get stereo sound(or pro-logic) not digital 5.1 surround.

 

[Chaz]

We've got digital cable so a few channels above 100, so I guess we'll have to set up the STB. But why have separate leads? Why not just go through the STB all the time?

I do it for the TV picture in picture. I can monitor the basic analog cable feed on a split screen though the TVs picture in picture.

I don't use it much anymore because the cable box has PinP built in as well.

 

[Kolo]

We are talking about the amp not the TV right?



It would come from the video source (cable box, dvd player) to the amp.

If you use the analog connection from the TV (red and white RCA connectors) you will only get stereo sound(or pro-logic) not digital 5.1 surround.

Yeah, the amp. It has Video 1, Video 2, etc...

So I should use the S-connection to get 5.1 surround, and run it directly from the tv to the amp?