Televisions: Plasma vs LCD flat panel, direcTV & Hi-definition

[1 FMF]

any of you guys knowledable about hi-definition programming? I currently have directTv, I have the oval dish (18x20 I think) not the round one. And there's 2 LNB's on it, however it's only a 1 receiver system- a single cable going from dish to 1 receiver.
I will be buying either a 16x9 plasma or LCD flat panel tv, and it will be getting hung on the wall. Probably 42" size because that's the best price today, and large enough for my needs. In addition to recommendations on that, what's the current story with hi-def programming? I know I will have to buy a hi-def receiver. Can I just buy that and get hi-def programming on the handful of channels which broadcast HD? Or do I have to sign up for HD with DirectTv and pay an extra $10 or something a month? If that's the case, then I'll stick with my $45 month tv bill but will the picture still be better than on my regular 27"?

 

[keith]

In Shelton CT, I would think you can get OTA HD with a smallish antenna. Check here:

AntennaWeb

I'm in Bolton CT and have a larger antenna in the attic. Get ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, WTXX and PBS on the antenna. Most network prime time programming is in HD. Last night I watched CSI: Miami and it was gorgeous. I have Dish and don't bother with their HD package. I have a Dish 811 receiver and a FusionHDTV card in the PC. The PC is hooked to a front projector and the HD programming is stunning on the big screen, and usually Dolby Digital 5.1 too.

Good luck. Once you've seen and heard HD, you'll be glad you made the investment.

 

[k1xv]

I don't know if I can answer all your questions. I am on Dish Network. We have 4 sets in the house, one of which is a 50" Samsung DLP HD set. It is beautiful.

On the Dish set up, there is a "switch" in the house. We need to pick up signals from three satellites, one at 110, one at 119, and, now, we can get 10 of the former Voom channels, along with a WCBS New York HD feed, on 61.5, which we just installed. All of the satellites feed into the switch, and the signal out to the 4 sets feed out of the switch. So, we have one "Dish 500" antenna that picks up 110 and 119, and a second, smaller antenna pointing at 61.5

In the case of Dish, we had 5 full time standard HD channels (not broadcast channels) for $10 per month. The channels were TNT-HD, DiscoveryHD, ESPN HD, HDNet, and one other one whose name escapes me. We also have some NBA HD in that package as well.

Today, I added 10 former Voom channels for an additional $5 per month.

Also, because I am in an area where CBS does not offer HD off the air, I can get the WCBS New York Channel 2 in HD as part of the $10 a month package.

The system has the capability of integrating off the air HD signals, if I had any, but here in the middle of nowhere there is no off the air HD.

I assume you are going to get yourself to a circuit city or some such store to look at the HD hardware. Take a hard look at the DLP sets, such as the Samsung. Side by side, we liked it best regardless of price.

 

[427Z06]

quote:

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Originally posted by 1 FMF:
any of you guys knowledable about hi-definition programming? I currently have directTv, I have the oval dish (18x20 I think) not the round one. And there's 2 LNB's on it, however it's only a 1 receiver system- a single cable going from dish to 1 receiver.

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It's been a couple years since I used DirecTV, but when I had DirecTV, I jumped on the HD bandwagon as soon as it was available. The Oval Dish required 3 LNBs. The third LNB was needed for a third HD satellite IIRC. The HD receiver was built into the set I had at the time, but most people had to buy their own. I'd call DirecTV to see if they offer a HD package that includes the HD receiver now. IIRC correctly, DirecTV is going to switch from MPEG-2 compression to MPEG-4 compression in the near future, so be careful if you decide to buy something on your own, it might be obsolete in the near future.

As far as what set to buy, the best thing to do is go and look at the various technologies available, Plasma vs LCD vs DLP, and direct view vs rear projection vs front projection. They all have their strengths and weaknesses.

 

[Bill J.]

FMF you will not receive any HD programming either from an antenna or any satellite receiver on your "regular" TV set. You need a digital TV set.

Satellite Guys Forum

Two years ago we purchased a Sony set based on a side by side comparison with about 50 other TV's, but the 18 months no interest deal was the clicher. Recently I was hard pressed to detect any difference in brand quality when looking at new HD sets.

Some of my neighbors who had Direct TV were unable to upgrade to a HD receiver and were told they had to purchase new equipment. Their contracts were expired, they refused to renew and they signed up with Dish, complete installation was free and they lease the new equipment for cheap. Never purchase the equipment, if possible. I assume the converse is also true should someone go from Dish to Direct. Check out this website and see what the latest package deal is for a new customer...Dish Network

Satellite programming is being expanded and upgraded (at least one new satellite) later this year so dont be squeezed into buying any equipment that may not be state of the art soon. You lease the equipment from the satellite providers and it's cheap. It breaks they fix it, it belongs to them.

Dish offers free installation and the HD package is $10 a month extra. You will need a HD satellite receiver. Do Not let Dish or any other company do a free install of satellite equipment unless they have all of the HD equipment on hand at the time of initial installation. If you have to wait a couple weeks to get that dual HD recorder box or whatever, wait for it. If you get it after the initial installation, you will be charged.

An outdoor antennae is necessary if you want OTA broadcasts. It is a one time expense and the difference in cost between a cheap or top shelf antennae is chump change. The HD sat boxes have an antenna port for that purpose so your channel guide will be integrated - satellite and OTA. If the Satellite box goes out you still have TV with your antenna.

Find out if you have any VHF stations in your area. CBS (Channel 2) broadcasts on digital channel "3" the only VHF channel in the area. The rest are UHF. If you have one or more VHF channels you will need a VHF/UHF enabled antenna. Antenna Finder

 

[1 FMF]

thanks, my inlaws in monroe, 10 miles away, have only an antenna in the attic, and they barely get 4 channels. It was better when the towers in ny were there, but it also might be their tv, it is old.
will have to check antenna web, I like the idea of ota HD.

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

We purchased a 32" Sanyo HDTV with the built-in ATSC (HDTV) tuner for $577 at a Walmart about a half-hour away. It includes the HDMI in/out connectors. If your computer or DVD player supports it, just plug it in and watch your favorite HD movies/concerts.

Link to TV:
http://www.sanyo.com/entertainment/televisions/digital/index.cfm?productID=905

Most HDTV's don't have the over-the-air (OTA) tuner built in. That's another $150-200 you'll have to spend if you want to grab OTA channels. If you're using your cable TV/Satellite TV's HDTV signal and have all the extra equipment (such as Direct TV's 3LNB connector and a HDTV-capable set top box) you're all set. Otherwise, you'll need to fork out $$$ to get all that to work. Like any new technology that isn't completely and readily available, it's a piecemeal journey to get it all to work without spending a ton of $$$.

With a HDTV with the built-in HDTV tuner, you'll only need to purchase an antenna if you want to receive OTA HDTV signals.

This antenna is known as the Silver Bullet and will grab stations from a given compass point. Same Antenna at Amazon for a bunch less.

Helpful links to cut-through all the HDTV hype:
What you NEED to know about HDTV and HD tuners

DirecTV HDTV FAQ's

4 types of HDTV's

DVI and HDMI explained

Other opinions:
Watching football takes on a completely new dimension. Everything is crystal clear. Almost better than being there!

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

It's a bummer that DirecTV or DishNetwork charges an additional $10 for HDTV signals AND you have to have that 3-line LNB dish. What a pain.

I'm thinking about replacing a TV with a 32" Tatung LCD model, grab a local HDTV antenna, and enjoy watching DVD's in HD.

When will ALL channels be HD? Is it really to early to expect DirecTV, DishNetwork, and digital cable service to provide HD signals without additional costs or complexities??

 

[XS650]

quote:

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Originally posted by ToyotaNSaturn:
It's a bummer that DirecTV or DishNetwork charges an additional $10 for HDTV signals AND you have to have that 3-line LNB dish. What a pain.

I'm thinking about replacing a TV with a 32" Tatung LCD model, grab a local HDTV antenna, and enjoy watching DVD's in HD.

When will ALL channels be HD? Is it really to early to expect DirecTV, DishNetwork, and digital cable service to provide HD signals without additional costs or complexities??

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AFAIK, there is no requirement or proposed requirement to make all channels HD, so it will be a loooong time if ever.

What is coming down the road shortly is arequirement for all channels to be digital. There are many resolutions and qualities of digital, the lowest not being any better than good clean analog signal.

HD takes boatload more bandwidth than SD (standard definition).

BTW, DVDs as we know them aren't HD. They do look a bit better than normal on a good HD display because the display plays with the standard definition signal a bit.

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

The Patriots vs Steelers game was just amazing to watch in HD! I'm hooked!!!

Cool thing here in Nashville, channel 2 has a 24-hour local weather broadcast that's available over the air on HD Channel 2.2 (channel 2's second channel)! This is only available to Comcast customers if you don't have HD. Channel 5.2 isn't used yet.