Talk me out of Satellite & HDTV? (part 2)

Bob_Skurka · Jan 1, 2005

I am a big Star Trek fan. With this system when James Kirk, Jean-Luc Picard, or Kathryn Janeway gives the order to fire a Photon torpedo , you sit up and take notice.


Dave: The lovely Mrs_Bob loved Picard/Next Generation, Jr.Miss_Bob loved Janeway/Voyager, but I'm a Sisco fan (and have the D.S.9 series on DVD). As with you, our old system was a Dolby Pro Logic system, that is now relegated to the family room with the old analog TV set. The new Denon AVR we have sounds very similar to your Yamaha in that it is a 6.1 with 5.1 default. Our room is very large, I'm a big fan of the bi-polar speakers for rear channels. The old set up used DCM Time Windows with the speakers set on 60-degree axis angles, the new rear channels are Paradigm ADP units which have a much greater axis differential . . . talk about room filling sound! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Hank · Jan 2, 2005

DirecTV charges several hundred dollars for their HD receiver, they only sell it so it is an upfront cost. 

Another option is a third party set top HD box with a DirecTV card in it. I have the Samsung "DirecTV High-Definition Receiver", model SIR-TS160. I've not compared it to the DirecTV product, but the folks at AVSForums think this Samsung box has a superior over-the-air receiver for HD. It was about $50 more than the DirecTV set top box.

I have the DirecTV HD package, HBO (which includes one HD channel....the main HBO movie channel is mirrored on the HD channel). Plus, all of the Phoenix stations are broadcasting in digital, so I get all available broadcast HD programming. All of these channels integrate seamlessly in the on-screen program guide on the Samsung box.

The biggest source of HD programming, for what I watch, is the free, over the air broadcast programming.

Another neat thing, this is coming out on the HDNet channel: any programming that was originally recorded on 35mm film can be easily converted to HD, because all of the picture "information" is there. Every week, they are releasing newly HD-converted episodes of Hogan's Heroes and Charlie's Angels.

jwstewar · Jan 3, 2005

We ended up getting a 60" Panasonic LCD Projection. It is HD Ready - does not have an HD tuner. It will do 480, 720, and 1080 Lines of Resolution. If was originally thinking I wanted a Mitsubishi, but they use DLP technology (whatever that is) but when I compared it to the LCD I liked the LCD better. I also thought I wanted the HD tuner, well after thinking about it I decided it didn't make sense to fork the money out for it right now. We can't receive current TV signal over the air (we live at the base of several hills and it makes it virtually impossible to receive a signal, we can only get usually 1 or 2 radio stations). So we figured if/when we wanted to have HD TV it would come via Dish Network - can't get cable even though it runs across our property. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif. We're pretty happy with it so far, we've had to watch The Fast and the Furious twice already to enjoy the surround sound (already had that). I'm starting to look around a little bit at new DVD players that'll do HD, but we'll probably hold out a little longer for one that'll also record. I did buy an extended warranty (I usually don't) for $400 for 5 years for all parts/labor including the buld which is $299. If we don't use the warranty we get $150 store credit so at least we get something. We also got 3 years no interested financing. That is what made us decide to go ahead and get the TV we wanted. Time to go buy some more DVDs. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Bob_Skurka · Jan 3, 2005

I'm starting to look around a little bit at new DVD players that'll do HD, but we'll probably hold out a little longer for one that'll also record. 

Technically, there are no HD DVD players available in the US. Also, DVDs are not HD. The "upconverting" DVD players from Samsung and the "scaling" DVD players from Denon are not technically HD. They do increase the resolution to something that is higher than a progressive scan DVD player can produce, but they are technically not HD. Also, HD DVDs are not even available here in the US, but you can get them in Japan and a few other places. If you try to play a HD DVD in a regular DVD player (even if it is a "region free" player) the HD DVD will not play in the standard DVD player because the technology is different.

Right now the best you can hope for is an upconverting/scaling DVD player with a recorder (but I was not able to find that from any brand).

ANDYM: this might be of some interest to you regarding the sales of your records: Record Collector Sells off Inventory

jwstewar · Jan 4, 2005

( Technically, there are no HD DVD players available in the US. Also, DVDs are not HD. The "upconverting" DVD players )

/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Actually that is what I was meaning to say, just got a bit lazy in my typing. Though I still think I'll hold out for an upconverting Recorder.

Thanks for correcting my mistake so as not to confuse others. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Bob_Skurka · Jan 7, 2005

I still maintain that we don't need cable tv or satellite, but now I'm starting to look at the speakers on the wall and all of the components in our entertainment center, and that 19 inch television is starting to look a little puny... 

AndyM . . . spend the nestegg that you have been saving up for the dog and buy HDTV and VOOM satellite!

VOOM satellite was installed yesterday (installers were at the house until 9:30pm) and let me just say that when I did watch some TV after they left, all I have to say is WOW I cannot believe the difference.

Pre-VOOM I owned a 27" analog TV and a surround sound system. I upgraded at Christmas to a 56" widescreen HDTV, and upgraded the SS, DVD, etc. But I still didn't have HD capabilities until last night. In fact I had a big fancy TV that showed "snow" on 3 of the 4 major networks, and one of those was typically black & white. I had clear pictures on several other channels, but watching informercials without a snowy picture is not my idea of Saturday evening fun.

After the satellite install that required calling in a 3rd tech to come help (lets just say my house design presented them some extreme difficulties /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif) and after another 45 frustrating minutes (for the installers) everything began to work like magic.

The amazing thing is that my picture quality for the over the air (terrestrial) broadcasts for ALL my channels is now AMAZING. I am now getting over the air broadcasts in HDTV for CBS, NBC, ABC when they broadcast their primetime shows in HD. It was a stunning difference from a snowing black & white signal to something so vivid that you felt you could reach out and push back the individual strands of hair from an actress's face. In addition to that, I get another 21 HD channels and something like 60 total channels. I was up late surfing and checking everything out, but I was simply stunned by the difference.

So I suggest you downgrade the dog's food to the discount brand, tell Mrs_AndyM that she'll have to put in some overtime at the sweat shop, and you get yourself HD, Voom and a brand new La-z-boy!

Red_rider · Jan 7, 2005

Andy,
I can only echo what everyone else has already said. I live in an area that will probably never see cable/DSL in my lifetime. I purchased one of the first DirecTV systems in my area in the early 90's. Had to install it myself because there wasn't anyone in the area that knew about it at the time. Buying that dish was the best thing that happened! I could not believe the difference.

Last year we completely remodeled our old rec. room into a home theatre. We purchased a Sony LCD TV - much lighter and slimmer than the CRT projection models (don't like the price of plasma). All new amps, receiver, DVD, VCR, 6.1 surround with a subwoofer that you definitely feel. Even though we probably don't watch a lot of TV on average during the week, we have our Saturday night family movie time - and watching football on the big screen is a wonderful experience. I haven't heard one complaint from anyone in my family about the system.

Talk you out of Satellite and HDTV? Sorry, can't do that. My only regret is that I still can't get local channels with DirecTV. You might want to check with the "big 3" regarding local channels before you buy.

AndyM · Jan 8, 2005

We rented a movie last night and got to enjoy the "surround" effect of our new system. It sounds great, but just isn't right with a 19 inch television. However, we decided to stick with it until it either no longer works or it is no longer compatible with the broadcast format... More money for the pole building fund!

I watched a lot of television at my in-laws last week while we were at their house during Christmas. There are a lot of interesting shows on some of the cable channels. I even watched a little bit of RFD-TV. I may go for it someday in the future, but there are too many things that I think I would rather spend the money on or save the money for. After the garage is built, and the deck and fence projects, and the rest of my landscaping projects are finished, I'll think about sitting down in front of the big screen!

Tevi · Jan 9, 2005

Red Rider I had DirectTV and when local cahnnels came available they wanted to give me Lexington KY because of my zip code and I wanted Cincinnati.I called a Dish Network installer and he got me Cinci channels.Plus I got a better deal on PVR's(a definate).Direct had great service but Dish is a little better.Might be worth looking into

ducati996 · Jan 22, 2005

In case those who have Voom or considering Voom havent heard Voom is going under. And it will be happening rapidly..
Seems they will be selling the assests, and I doubt the services will continue (actually there is no chance)
Protect yourselves now and get as far away from them....the amazing part about it is they are still running ad's....

It was posted in Local papers and its true...since I know enough people that work there and cablevision

Ducati