Community Newsletter: Q&A: 9/8/06 Is an HDTV worth buying even without an HD source?
- 9/7/06 4:35 PM
HD or ED
by Wolfpacker96 - 9/11/06 6:36 AM In reply to: Maybe I didn't make a mistake! by D. NessWell, you didn't state whether the monitor was an HDTV or an EDTV. If the monitor is an EDTV you can still hook it up to an HDTV box. It would look better than your old CRT tube, and better than your analog cable, but it's still not true HD. You can't view true HD through an ED monitor. Just not physically possible. So, since I doubt you are talking about a HDTV (the way you mention being steered toward the TV), your "trusted" salesman didn't know what he was talking about. Happens all the time. It's usually not the salesmans fault, they just don't train them well.
But, did you make a good purchase? Depends on who you talk to. If you still don't have any way to view HD stations, then you're just fine with the EDTV. Plus, two years ago you saved a ton of money by going with ED.
Availabilty of NTSC Video after 2009
by amanetti - 9/8/06 4:05 PM In reply to: 9/8/06 Is an HDTV worth buying even without an HD source? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Your claim that NTSC video will ''go dark'' after 2009 needs a bit of clarification. Although over-the-air NTSC broadcasts will cease at that time I believe most cable companies will convert and cablecast digital broadcasts in NTSC format (at least for a time).
In the area where I live, for example, Comcast has been hardwired directly to the digital feed from all local stations for some time. The on-air signal is not used. I believe this is the case for most metropolitan cable services.
So, while cable companies can always require subscribers to rent a settop box in the future, there is no technical reason for doing so.
Thank you for the clarification...
by BlazeEagle - 9/8/06 8:37 PM In reply to: Availabilty of NTSC Video after 2009 by amanettiI was pretty ticked of when I first read the report. Your post helped to ease my knee jerk reaction to this.
Not a good forum
by Wolfpacker96 - 9/11/06 6:53 AM In reply to: Thank you for the clarification... by BlazeEagleYeah, I agree totally. Not a good forum starter at all. They need to pull it and start this whole thing over with correct information!!!!!
Hard wired!
by Wolfpacker96 - 9/11/06 6:52 AM In reply to: Availabilty of NTSC Video after 2009 by amanettiWell, that's nice to know that they are hard-wired. In one of my responses I opined about that very thing. I'm sure most areas are that way.
HDTV worth buying?
by rickinAZ - 9/8/06 5:10 PM In reply to: 9/8/06 Is an HDTV worth buying even without an HD source? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
For me, YES and I was in a similar position but already had a cable provider that requires use of their set top box for basic and premium channels. A single set top box will do multiple TV's and a DSL link. However to get their HDTV required another (2nd) set top box which with its associated cost (installation, monthly and premiums) was not worth it.
My solution was based primarily on cost so I ended up with an inexpensive 37'' LCD HDTV (ATSC and QAM tuners) and simply purchased an RF splitter. Used the TV input for viewing regular cable and the DTV input for OTA HD channels. Not exactly 'free' HD but did not have to buy a second box.
Bottom line like Barry said. You have to know the specifics of the HDTV (type-No of inputs, tuners) and what the cable company is/can provide. Getting specifics from the latter can be difficult.
Rick
Remember when it was called PAY TV?
by answare - 9/8/06 6:01 PM In reply to: 9/8/06 Is an HDTV worth buying even without an HD source? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Before the fancy marketing folks thought it through and decided no one would pay for TV when you could get it free.
Call it what you want, but I still call it pay tv and thus do not subscribe to cable, satellite or dish.
What will happen to us minority folks (I've heard its about 15% of the TV sets in the US) when those signals go dark? Will I have to start to pay for TV?
I have three wonderfully good TVs in my house and they all get free programming. My ratio of internet to TV is at least 10 to 1, so what do I do?
''Pay'' TV
by rickinAZ - 9/8/06 8:06 PM In reply to: Remember when it was called PAY TV? by answareSure do remember pay TV and before that, it was actually called 'cable' simply because it was different medium. And the fee was insignificant but it was the principle of the thing that bugged many people.
We had it in a remote location in So Cal in the early 1970's and it was so full of glitches no one even bothered to 'steel'' it. Instead, spend $$$ on a high performance antenna.
I just started reading this thread and was not aware of the demise of ATSC in 2009 but it does not susprise me. And unfortunetely, nothing susprises me anymore since the advent of digital electronics and the subsequent 'boom' in communications coupled with globalization.
Its all about bandwidth and who get what, for what, e.g., the ultimate social-political-economic-high tech argument.
Ironically, what was considered impossible to implement a while ago is now comerically available and there is competition to bring it to you and lastly, it's never free anymore.
Even in the early days of 'free' video, aka TV the reception was lousy, least wise in the areas I lived. So free went to expenditures for better receivers, antennas etc. Granted, you did not pay monthly but you paid just the same. The only good thing was you did not have planned obsolense built into the product.
My general suggestion to all the Pay ''hold outs'' is: Set aside a budget for communications period. Then split it up between your voice, internet, audio and even amature comm needs If they are not already digital, they all going to be..
And obvisously it is all going to cost you, and cost you and cost you...
Rick
Is EDTV Actually Better for SD Reception?
by shimma - 9/8/06 7:15 PM In reply to: 9/8/06 Is an HDTV worth buying even without an HD source? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I sit about seven feet from my 37" Panasonic TH-37PD25. At that distance they say you can't discern much difference between EDTV and HDTV because for one thing, the pixils are smaller. One rarely sees plasma sets displaying SD transmissions in consumer showrooms and, frankly, I've never attempted to compare EDTV vs HDTV there.
However, I've read that many HDTV sets actually look worse than EDTV when viewing SD broadcasts because of the extra down conversion required from HDTV native resolution.
Dish Network gives me 25 HD channels and the rest is SD. If a higher resolution HDTV could offer only a minor improvement at my viewing distance, and the SD channels are degraded, I'll keep my TH-37PD25 for the near future. Until many more stations broadcast in relatively uncompressed HD, unlike the Dish local channels which are a joke, and the new HD DVD formats stabilize, I'll enjoy my "obsolete" tv.
Thank you for offering me an opinion here.
Additional Information re. Cable Cards
by mavericke - 9/8/06 7:16 PM In reply to: 9/8/06 Is an HDTV worth buying even without an HD source? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
There's some additional information worth noting with respect to cable cards. I have a cable card from Comcast in my HDTV. Although I canceled my premium channels a little over a year ago in favor of a satellite receiver, the cable card was unable to unscramble all the premium channels I was paying for. When I asked a service tech about it, he said that the cards were still somewhat glitchy. I don't know whether the problem was exclusive to Comcast, or whether it's been resolved.
The other problem with the cable card is that it doesn't get program information like you'd see with a set top box. My understanding from what I've read is that this is a limitation of current-generation cable cards. Given your original question, I assume that's not an issue, but it's something to consider.
Re: Re: Cable cards
by Wolfpacker96 - 9/11/06 7:12 AM In reply to: Additional Information re. Cable Cards by maverickeBut can't cablecards be easily removed and replaced? (I have a pre-cc TV) Don't know how comcast is, but time warner lets me update to new equipment anytime I want to for free.
2/17/09
by Mark ___ One - 9/8/06 8:17 PM In reply to: 9/8/06 Is an HDTV worth buying even without an HD source? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
It is probable that analog televisions will not "go dark" on 2/17/09. This is a hot discussion topic both within the FCC and the rest of the industry, which simply may not be ready. From all reports, this date will be extended, possibly by a couple of years.
Original date was 2006
by mpl0194 - 9/9/06 9:02 PM In reply to: 2/17/09 by Mark ___ OneThis is entirely possible when you consider the original "go dark" date was 2006. That's when everything was supposed to be digital and analog TV's would quit working. I for one think that the "go dark" date will never happen. Take away Joe Sixpack's favorite TV stations? They wouldn't dare.
To Buy or Not to Buy, and What to Buy
by Kensheehan - 9/8/06 8:53 PM In reply to: 9/8/06 Is an HDTV worth buying even without an HD source? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have two DLP sets. A 46 inch for the bedroom and a 61 inch in the living room. Both sets have the ATSC and the NTSC tunner. More and more of our local channels are bring on line there digital systems. Once you really get into HD TV you may find yourself not wanting to watch anything but HD. I was talking to a friend of mine the other day. He told me "I don't like watching regular TV any more". I am the same way. If you keep watching the adds for local stores, you will find a good deal on a set. Avoid the EDTV, they are a waste of money. In my opinion the DLP set is much better than the LCD. I tried a LCD TV. The HD looked good, everything else was poor. Even my DVDs looked bad.
If you really like your DLP, why not get another one.
Good luck,
Ken
Corrections to your information
by rouse51 - 9/8/06 9:15 PM In reply to: 9/8/06 Is an HDTV worth buying even without an HD source? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
While it is true that NTSC will stop broadcasting in 2009, this has no effect on cable. Your TV will not go dark. Most cable stations don't broadcast over the air so they are not included in the law. Futhermore if you buy a TV over 27 inches as of 1 March 2006 it has to have an ATSC tuner in it unless it has no tuner at all. The new cable card standard has not been set yet. When it goes to two way communication I expect cable companies will stop supporting the current standard since you can't order Pay per view. Stay away from the current cable card standard.
Plasma EDTV's from a distance of just two feet look as well on with a digital or HiDef signal as any plasma. LCD EDTV's will not show a Hi-Def picture.(See ratings on Panasonic and Samsung EDTV on CNET.com)You can witness this at any consumer electronics store. A good EDTV at $1499 will look better then some cheaper HDTV models at the same price so look sharp when you buy.
Stay away from lower end models. Newer models have a half life of 60,000 hours. Some off brand models are still at 30,000 hours. More importantly the off brand models are not energy star compliant and put off enough heat to raise the room temp 5 to 10 degrees.
If you have windows in the bedroom go with an LCD. Reflections are at a minimum and the brightness will overcome the light. Be prepared to pay more money since they cost more to manufacture, most tend to have a worse picture then plasma on analog cable.
So the basic answer to your question is to go to a store watch each TV, change from Analog to Digital and find the best picture you can find for you. Make sure you view it from the distance you plan to watch it. The biggest mistake I see people make is paying extra for a TV because they checked them out from two feet away. Pay no attention to stats like contrast and refresh rate. Don't get caught up in Pixel count either. Samsungs 720p looks way better then samsungs 1080p when viewed with the same source. Since you made the flat panel choice already. Picture quality should be the only thing you are concerned with. As long as you are buying a TV over 27" everything that matters has been standardized.
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