The Official High-Definition TV thread

[Mike Olbinski]

It was fun reading this whole thread,very interesting.I took Heavy's advice and bought Sony's KDS 50XBR1 and am loving it.I don't have digital cable yet and am thinking maybe I don't need it.Every channel looks great and the HD is out of this world.How is this happening?

What are you getting your HD with?

 

[GreenCard]

Beats the heck out of me.I have NPG cable and just the cable from the wall.The same one I was using for an old 15yr old RCA 35"

 

[DWKB]

I thought I could add my experience to this thread, might give people some ideas.

I was a DirecTV subscriber who was no longer under contract. I called them up and asked for the "retensions" dept. Told them Cox was giving me a killer deal to offer up a free HD box, wiring up my house, and 3 mos of HD package for free.

DirecTV came back with an offer of a free HD receiver, new 5 LBD sat, and 3 mos HD package free. I had to pay $115 for installation and shipping.
I previously had a 2 tuner TiVo receiver and I kept that along with the basic receiver in the bedroom. I could have upgraded to to HD DVR for $300, but I didn't see the value. For $5 a month extra for my TiVo receiver, it would have taken 60 mos to break even.
BTW, HDMI is a digital signal, 1's and 0's. There is no need to spend a lot of money on a cable that is digital, shielding isn't an issue. I bought my cable at Fry's Electronics for $15.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

I could have upgraded to to HD DVR for $300, but I didn't see the value.

But you could tape shows in HD? How is that not worth it

Mike

 

[Lefty]

Okay, I have not read the entire thread so I don't know if this was brought up but where is the best place to buy a 42"-44" LCD TV? Also, for about $2000.00, what brand would you go with?

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Okay, I have not read the entire thread so I don't know if this was brought up but where is the best place to buy a 42"-44" LCD TV? Also, for about $2000.00, what brand would you go with?

Well, if you are looking for a store in town to get it, probably Best Bur, Costco, Ultimate Electronics, Circuit City, etc.

I bought mine online and it worked out okay. Saved about $500.

The best brand for an LCD is Sony. At least, the Rear Projection LCD's, which is what I have. They have a few 42 inch models, the Grand Wega's and I love mine to death.

Mike

 

[MigratingOsprey]

costco, imo, has the best prices in town

 

[MigratingOsprey]

just made the plunge

will have the dish, hd dvr and antenna installed on friday - will have the current DVR relocated to a different room

gave a $200 rebate, free instalation, free handling and 1 month of HD programming - still kind of pricey though - oh well, a sunk cost for some good entertainment

 

[MigratingOsprey]

i posted this in another thread - but will put it here as well

DirecTv is unleashing a new dish & hd receiver

they have a newer larger satalite that will allow you to receive local stations in high def through your receiver - also the new dish/receiver combo will have the ability to eventually host up to 200+ HD stations

they are developing the DVR that goes with this dish and that should be out in the summer sometime

also they are allowing you lease the equipment instead of ownership - for the new basic HD receiver it costs $450 to purchase outright, or a $99 lease fee

i was going to get the HD DVR installed last weekend, but cancelled and ordered the new technology instead - i'll upgrade my equipment lease this summer to the newer DVR

 

[Mike Olbinski]

i posted this in another thread - but will put it here as well

DirecTv is unleashing a new dish & hd receiver

they have a newer larger satalite that will allow you to receive local stations in high def through your receiver - also the new dish/receiver combo will have the ability to eventually host up to 200+ HD stations

they are developing the DVR that goes with this dish and that should be out in the summer sometime

also they are allowing you lease the equipment instead of ownership - for the new basic HD receiver it costs $450 to purchase outright, or a $99 lease fee

i was going to get the HD DVR installed last weekend, but cancelled and ordered the new technology instead - i'll upgrade my equipment lease this summer to the newer DVR

I will get upgraded for free to this new HD DVR when it they are ready to ship them everywhere...

Mike

 

[MigratingOsprey]

i shall break into your house and steal it for free

 

[Mike Olbinski]

i shall break into your house and steal it for free

 

[Pariah]

How's the Directv Tivo DVR/Reciever working out for folks? I'm starting to shop around for HTDTV DVR options...

 

[Mike Olbinski]

How's the Directv Tivo DVR/Reciever working out for folks? I'm starting to shop around for HTDTV DVR options...

My DTV Tivo is awesome, but they aren't selling them anymore, DTV has their own HD DVR, which actually isn't being distributed yet either.

You can still buy a DTV Tivo online at places, but they've upgraded everythign to Mpeg4, which my HD Tivo can't read, so I'll need their new HD DVR when it's ready.

 

[Ryanwb]

I was reading this article on line a few weeks ago that said close to 36% of people who think they are seeing an HD picture either don't have their system hooked up right, or have an HD TV but don't understand they need to purchase the programming.

 

[CardFan67]

I was reading this article on line a few weeks ago that said close to 36% of people who think they are seeing an HD picture either don't have their system hooked up right, or have an HD TV but don't understand they need to purchase the programming.

I would agree with this... My buddy came over and was WOW, your picture is so much better than mine...

Needless to say he was watching his HD programming through his HD monitor via S-video... Instructed to do so by his Best Buy Salesman... I have all of my inputs hooked up so I could show him the difference for each connector...

 

[Mike Olbinski]

I would agree with this... My buddy came over and was WOW, your picture is so much better than mine...

Needless to say he was watching his HD programming through his HD monitor via S-video... Instructed to do so by his Best Buy Salesman... I have all of my inputs hooked up so I could show him the difference for each connector...

I just find it funny that someone could hook it up that way and still not think something is wrong...

 

[CardFan67]

I just find it funny that someone could hook it up that way and still not think something is wrong...

You know what is really funny is that this guy is blind as a bat so the only reason for him even having HD is neighor status... not really, because obviously he can tell the difference... but he is not really into watching television much at all, so it is a status thing for him...

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I would agree with this... My buddy came over and was WOW, your picture is so much better than mine...

Needless to say he was watching his HD programming through his HD monitor via S-video... Instructed to do so by his Best Buy Salesman... I have all of my inputs hooked up so I could show him the difference for each connector...

Well, what sucks is the difference in PQ between Cox HD service, and a service with DirectTV for example. I live in an apartment complex less than a mile away from my brother who had a new HD satellite, (at least I think that it is new) and we nearly have the same Mitsubishi 62" DLP TV (might is slightly better, and I do mean slightly).

It doesn't matter if I use component or HDMI, the picture is still inferior. I will be doing an AVIA on my TV this weekend, but I am pretty sure that the source from Cox that is what is causing the PQ difference.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Well, what sucks is the difference in PQ between Cox HD service, and a service with DirectTV for example. I live in an apartment complex less than a mile away from my brother who had a new HD satellite, (at least I think that it is new) and we nearly have the same Mitsubishi 62" DLP TV (might is slightly better, and I do mean slightly).

It doesn't matter if I use component or HDMI, the picture is still inferior. I will be doing an AVIA on my TV this weekend, but I am pretty sure that the source from Cox that is what is causing the PQ difference.

I assume you are likely talking about the local channels...which would make sense, since DTV subscribers get locals over the air on antenna's...uncompressed signals...while Cox compresses theirs...so you lose quality.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I assume you are likely talking about the local channels...which would make sense, since DTV subscribers get locals over the air on antenna's...uncompressed signals...while Cox compresses theirs...so you lose quality.

Not only local because I do not watch local TV much. Channels like HBO and TNT I still notice a major difference.

I don't have the extra $200 or so right now to have my set calibrated. Since satellite companies force you to have a 1 year commitment and my lease ends in 5 months. I am stuck with the lower PQ.

Needless to say he was watching his HD programming through his HD monitor via S-video... Instructed to do so by his Best Buy Salesman... I have all of my inputs hooked up so I could show him the difference for each connector...

I cannot do that for all of the outputs for the HD DVR that I have through COX. Once the HDMI is connected, the Component gets disabled, so I could not do a side-by-side comparison. I do have Composite and HDMI connected right now, for when I want to switch between standard and HD TV.

 

[Pariah]

My DTV Tivo is awesome, but they aren't selling them anymore, DTV has their own HD DVR, which actually isn't being distributed yet either.

You can still buy a DTV Tivo online at places, but they've upgraded everythign to Mpeg4, which my HD Tivo can't read, so I'll need their new HD DVR when it's ready.

I already have 2 relatively new DTV Tivo recievers (non HD). Is there a reason why I shouldn't buy a DTV/Tivo HD reciever online?

What do you recommend I do?

 

[HeavyB3]

I bought a 360 yesterday... Good lord it looks awesome on my HD tv.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

I already have 2 relatively new DTV Tivo recievers (non HD). Is there a reason why I shouldn't buy a DTV/Tivo HD reciever online?

What do you recommend I do?

Well...if you buy the DTV/HD Tivo, it will be outdated soon because it only accepts Mpeg2 technology, and all satellites are upgraded to Mpeg4 now...and all future HD broadcasts will be Mpeg4 I believe.

I'm holding onto my HD Tivo for as long as humanly possible, mostly because I get my Local channels over the air...so I don't care about getting them with my receiver.

I am not sure...if you found one really cheap, like $100 or less, I might do it just to have.

I don't like the new DTV DVR's, so that's why I'm holding out.

 

[Pariah]

Well...if you buy the DTV/HD Tivo, it will be outdated soon because it only accepts Mpeg2 technology, and all satellites are upgraded to Mpeg4 now...and all future HD broadcasts will be Mpeg4 I believe.

I'm holding onto my HD Tivo for as long as humanly possible, mostly because I get my Local channels over the air...so I don't care about getting them with my receiver.

So, with the Mpeg4 technology, my reciever won't receive HD signal at all, or is the only difference that I'd have to get my local HD feed from over the air but still get, say, ESPNHD fed through my DTV HD Tivo?

Sorry for what might be remedial questions. I wish they'd make HDTV a little more simple. Feels like you have to jump through a lot of GD hoops.