I've tried a few on my laptop, my only complaint is that it automatically analysis my connection with no option for higher quality. I'm on about 1.5-2mb/sec so the movie starts within seconds but the quality is not the best. I would rather have the option of waiting 5-10 minutes for a higher quality feed to stream.
HD TV-Love it, hate it!
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I've tried a few on my laptop, my only complaint is that it automatically analysis my connection with no option for higher quality. I'm on about 1.5-2mb/sec so the movie starts within seconds but the quality is not the best. I would rather have the option of waiting 5-10 minutes for a higher quality feed to stream.
Senate voted yesterday to extend the date from February 17 to June 12, 2009 so we all can figure it out.
With pretty much all the TV stations currently operating both an analog and a digital transmitter simultaneously, with each transmitter using 5-12 million watts of electricity,
that would mean wasting an awful lot of money, and energy, for yet another four months. This extension certainly goes against environmental concerns. That's around 1700 stations, using an average of 8 extra mega watts, equaling 1360 million watts of power.
An average U.S. household uses about 11,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity each year.
One megawatt of energy can generate about 8.77 million kWh annually. Therefore, a megawatt of energy generates about as much electricity as 800 households use.
So, the 1360 megawatts wasted, is enough to power over 1 million homes, for a year.
Surely after another four months, Since years of preparation has not done the trick, there still will be people not ready, then what?
RonMar
Elite Member
With pretty much all the TV stations currently operating both an analog and a digital transmitter simultaneously, with each transmitter using 5-12 million watts of electricity,
That's around 1700 stations, using an average of 8 extra mega watts, equaling 1360 million watts of power.
An average U.S. household uses about 11,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity each year.
One megawatt of energy can generate about 8.77 million kWh annually. Therefore, a megawatt of energy generates about as much electricity as 800 households use.
So, the 1360 megawatts wasted, is enough to power over 1 million homes, for a year.
Surely after another four months, Since years of preparation has not done the trick, there still will be people not ready, then what?
Excellent post! If you were basing those numbers on transmitter power, the numbers are actually worse than what you say. Transmitters are not 100% efficient, so 8MW of transmit power probably takes 9MW-10MW of electrical power...
DANOCHEESE
Gold Member
We the cable compnaies would love to offer Al-carte programming. The FCC will not allow this. I suggest that you take the issue wup with your locla politician we have. We can make as mcuh money probably more with ala-carte than with all you can eat.
The numbers are from a web site of a manufacturer, and are based on actual power usage.
RonMar
Elite Member
Either way, it is a incredible waste of power...
On this Roku Netflix device, you can go into a debug screen and fix it to a set rate. I have fixed mine to 1.2 Mbps and its very watchable on a 58" TV.
It will not perform the test now.
To get into the debug screen, press home, home, home, home, home, rewind, rewind, rewind, fast forward, fast forward. Select the speed from there.
dmccarty
Super Star Member
Regarding DVRs and such.
We looked at buying one a few years ago but we wanted one that could burn DVDs. This drove up the price such that the DVR was almost as much as a decent PC. When it was time to buy a new PC we got a Media PC that acts as a DVR. I can watch TV on the computer, record or playback shows. I have burned some of the shows to DVD....
But that is a real pain and time consuming. What I quickly discovered is that we just needs gobs on disk space. We had a 500GB drive for backup. I just bought a 1TB drive to be the backup drive and the 500GB drive is for recorded media both TV and ripped CDs.
We have not done it yet but we might by the device that will receive streamed media from the PC to the TV/audio receiver. OR we just might move the Media PC to the TV stand and use it purely as a Media PC. This won't happen until the PC starts to age out which will take awhile.
Later,
Dan
We looked at buying one a few years ago but we wanted one that could burn DVDs. This drove up the price such that the DVR was almost as much as a decent PC. When it was time to buy a new PC we got a Media PC that acts as a DVR. I can watch TV on the computer, record or playback shows. I have burned some of the shows to DVD....
But that is a real pain and time consuming. What I quickly discovered is that we just needs gobs on disk space. We had a 500GB drive for backup. I just bought a 1TB drive to be the backup drive and the 500GB drive is for recorded media both TV and ripped CDs.
We have not done it yet but we might by the device that will receive streamed media from the PC to the TV/audio receiver. OR we just might move the Media PC to the TV stand and use it purely as a Media PC. This won't happen until the PC starts to age out which will take awhile.
Later,
Dan
With pretty much all the TV stations currently operating both an analog and a digital transmitter simultaneously, with each transmitter using 5-12 million watts of electricity,
That's around 1700 stations, using an average of 8 extra mega watts, equaling 1360 million watts of power.
An average U.S. household uses about 11,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity each year.
One megawatt of energy can generate about 8.77 million kWh annually. Therefore, a megawatt of energy generates about as much electricity as 800 households use.
So, the 1360 megawatts wasted, is enough to power over 1 million homes, for a year.
Surely after another four months, Since years of preparation has not done the trick, there still will be people not ready, then what?
"One megawatt of energy can generate about 8.77 million kWh annually."
This fact is incorrect, as Moss pointed out, I did not fact check it, before using it.
Currently, I have recalculated the number of homes that could be powered for a year, to be around 350,000. and I am waiting to see if this number holds up.
germ-X
Member
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2009
- Messages
- 28
definately..
ctpres
Gold Member
Decided to switch from Dish to Direct. This should be easy. Oh-Oh antenna angles different and Direct can't see sky from Dish antenna location. I ran RG-6 coax from new antenna location so install should be easy. Wrong. Installer shows up and says "new antenna to heavy for eave mount, I'll put it on the roof." My answer, no way your going to punch a bunch of holes in my roof. He says need pole. Shows me pole mount and leaves. After a lot of internet research I find antenna needs two inch od pipe. Turns out not to be a common size. Finally figure out that muffler guys use two inch pipe all day. Comes in 7.5 or 10 foot lenghts and can expanded on end for coupling. Pole problem solved for about $25.00 for my 15 foot pole. Will install in ground and brace at eve today and reschedule installer.
Ditto on "not my ten bucks for HD" I figure double programming transmission is costing them a lot of bandwidth and eventually demand for more HD will force them to drop digital.
Ditto on "not my ten bucks for HD" I figure double programming transmission is costing them a lot of bandwidth and eventually demand for more HD will force them to drop digital.
I did a bunch of these years ago, and never used anything other than 2" sch. 40 galvanized steel pipe. Yes, it's 2 1/8" there should be plenty of adjustment to fit on there.
They wobble enough with the galvanized pipe, if your going to use exhaust pipe, I would keep it short.
Also, if the water collects in the top of the exhaust pipe, it is going to rust out.
CurlyDave
Elite Member
When I got Wild Blue satellite internet, I asked them about the dish angles. They gave me an azimuth and an elevation, I picked out a spot and mounted the correct pole. Looked at the azimuth they told me and there is a huge tree.
Well, out comes the chain saw and a few hours later the tree is gone.
Installer shows up and aims the antenna, way off from the azimuth they told me. I asked what gives and he shows me his compass. He is using magnetic north as 0 degrees. I was using true north as 0 degrees. Where I live declination is 17 degrees.
The bottom line is I cut down that tree for no reason at all. I was completely astonished that the satellite internet company, who is technically savvy enough to get me internet from a satellite, is so primitive that they can not correct for true north vs. magnetic north, something I learned as a cub scout, not even a boy scout. Now, the orbit & location of that satellite is based on true north, not magnetic north.
Anyway, if you are installing a new antenna and the company gives you an angle, make sure you know what they consider north.
Highbeam
Super Member
Installers don't know big words like declination. Easier for the company to spew out magnetic numbers than to try and teach the installer what declination is.
chili
Bronze Member
Has anybody tried to make a fractal antenna? I seen something about how great the signal was after using a fractal antenna. I am assuming it works with digital signal also. Just google "fractal antenna" for more information if interested.
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
I've been looking at TV's and trying to do some research, but every time I think I know what I want, something new comes along. Plasma and LCD seem to be so close to each other now that I'm not sure I can tell the difference. But laser TV seems to be the big new thing.
I googled laser TV and read what I found, but wonder if it's as good as it's being hyped up to be. Our big screen is still working fine, so I'm not in a rush, and it might be another year or two, but of course, I might have to buy next week. Either way, I want to get the best that I can afford without paying for features or extras that I don't need or can't even see.
Any thoughts on laser TV?
Eddie
I googled laser TV and read what I found, but wonder if it's as good as it's being hyped up to be. Our big screen is still working fine, so I'm not in a rush, and it might be another year or two, but of course, I might have to buy next week. Either way, I want to get the best that I can afford without paying for features or extras that I don't need or can't even see.
Any thoughts on laser TV?
Eddie
the_sandman_454
Silver Member
High Definition TV and video sources absolutely rock. I cringe every time I'm forced to look at a standard definition feed. Standard definition (480) is simply awful after seeing the true capabilities of HD picture and sound.
Redneck_Randy
Platinum Member
LaserVue didn't take off like they thought and it's just way over priced for what you get. Last year (2008) the hottest TV's were LED DLP's. The newest upcoming tech in TV's now is OLED but will be a year or two before you see them in sizes over 50 inch. If you really want to research TV's go to AV Science Forum
