Talk me out of Satellite & HDTV???

[riptides]

Hey Bob,

I am not going to help you out here, I am just going to throw something at everyone and leave for the day.

What about Internet access? How do you do it now? Will you make the total switch to satellite? Or will you support two systems, one for TBN, one for TV? The cost and support is something to think about.

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[ronjhall]

<font color="blue"> Talk me out of Satellite & HDTV??? </font>

Nope! Go for it. The lovely Mrs_Bob will thank you. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
I have a Wide Screen HDTV. Started with Dish Network. But they could not find a good place to mount the second satellite dish for HD channels. While I had them I noticed on HD channels did not look good on the TV. Had block like look and washed out colors. Nothing seemed to fix the problem. Because of a previous problem with Direct TV I did not even try them. Converted over to Comcast cable when they put a new line in my neighborhood. The pictures are much clearer on the non HD stations. The HD channels are fantastic.

But there is a problem. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Non Wide Screen HD programs are shown in the normal width. Which leaves a blank area on either side of screen. This has started to leave a line on either side of the screen. When watching non HD programs a mode that is called stretched can be used to stretch out screen on the sides. This makes people look funny if they are on the edge of screen. I gotten use to it. In HD this feature is not a available. Since most of the HD local and HBO, Cinemax, Showtime are broadcast in both HD and non HD I can use either mode to solve the problem. By the time I realized what was going on, screen was already marked.
Voom is a startup company. They have been sending me advertisements for about a year. So I don't know how long they will be around. If they offer a DVR like Dish Network does, get one. You will never regret it.
My TV is a Mitsubishi 65" wide screen in a 23' room.

IMHO you may be looking at to small of a unit for wide screen. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[eee]

Bob,
How much do you want for the Betamax ?

 

[dbelisle]

I built a 20 x 20 room with a vaulted ceiling, indirect lighting and pre wired it for surround sound about 15 years ago.

The 55 inch Mitsubishi HD projection works just fine in that room and isn't to big.

Even though the satilites are broadcasting in digital and some cable channels , unless it is a HD channel and a HD tv with a built in or exturnal receiver, it is all converted to analog. My HDTV is only a monitor , I had to buy a receiver to get HD. Even the best analogs with great pictures like Sony only have 250,000 pixels . On a HDTV there are over 2.2 million, and the format is wide screen.

Would you rather have a tractor that is 60 or 70 HP or one that is 6 or 7 HP.

That's how big a differance there is between analog and HD.

All the channels where supposed to be HD by 2006. It may be closer to 2010 or 2020 be for it happens, but it will happen. If you go HD , go all the way, all lot of people buy a HD ready TV and think they are watching a great picture. If they only new what there TV was capable of, They would get a HD reciever and HD programing in a heart beat.

Dave in NH

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="red"> What about Internet access? How do you do it now? Will you make the total switch to satellite? Or will you support two systems, one for TBN, one for TV? The cost and support is something to think about.
</font>

For TBN (ok actually for work at home, and occasionally to play on TBN) I use a bi-directional business satellite service called Skycasters. They do offer some TV but it is a sideline for them, not what they really do. Their service guy didn't recommend it, and said I'd get a better price/deal/package with one of the other services. Plus, even if I use them, I need a second dish for HD anyway.

So I'm looking at 2 dishes, no matter what.

VOOM seems to be the logical choice of services for HDTV because they offer about triple what the others have . . . but I'm still not sold on the idea. This is NOT something I am going to rush into. It is not a Christmas gift for the family. At the soonest, it would be spring. VOOM does not currently have a DVR, but claims it will be available soon, I would not order their system without it.


AndyM . . . regarding temptation to watch, I'm THAT guy. I'll admit it. But given that HDTV would be in the living room, and given we use that as a family place, and almost exclusively on the weekends, it seems unlikely I will be sucked into TV nirvana.


dbelisle . . . I'm under the impression all the broadcasts in 2006 will be digital, not HD. HD is sort of like supercharged digital but requires more, better, faster, niftier equipment? Digital allows more efficient use of the bandwidth, HD allows more defintion within the bandwidth. Am I mixing these up?

 

[ducati996]

Bob,

Go for it ! you might want to read up on a few things regarding equipment and services offered by cable & satellite providers. Its the best site on the web for HDTV and high end home theater....good luck and update us when all installed!!

www.avsforum.com


AVS forum

Ducati

 

[Hank]

Here is a link to current programming in HDTV, from all sources, over-the-air, satellite, and cable.

Note the large amount of it that is FREE, from over-the-air broadcast sources. Not only most prime-time programming, but all major sports events are broadcast in HDTV: World Series, Super Bowl, some PGA, some NASCAR, US Open tennis, Summer Olympics, NBA finals, NHL finals, college basketball final four, Triple Crown, and the list keeps growing.

 

[fishman]

Bob,

A couple of years ago we replaced our 27" tv with a 36" color tv. Our main viewing points are from 12-15' away. It made a huge difference and is much easier to watch. With the widescreen format DVD's I actually find myself wishing for bigger. I don't think anything under 50" would be too big, and given the fact that what you're looking at would be 2' thinner, thus further away, you could easily justify bigger imho.

We may watch a little more tv than we did before we had Directv, but, it's usually good stuff. All of the history, science, and learning channels, along with food network, hgtv, and other do-it-yourself channels rank right up there with TBN. Well . . . almost. I'm always learning something neat. That's what we usually watch, or a good action/comedy movie.

You'll like it.

 

[dbelisle]

It would be like taking a new corvette and sticking a Pinto engine in it. You could do it but who would want to.

The best analog TV you buy right now will not pick up digital without a coverter to convert it to analog and its limitations.

It is going to be a big expense for the broadcasters to go digital. I think you will find anything new that is broadcast in digital from this point on will be HD and not converted back to analog.

Dave in NH

 

[jpr62902]

I remember when I first walked into an electronics store to shop for an HDTV. I looked at what I first thought was a wall of aquariums with the exact same fish, swimming in exactly the same patterns. The picture quality was THAT good.

With a picture that size, HD is almost a must. I also recommend a TV with an HD tuner built in. I'm 20 -25 miles away from our "local" stations and still pic up HD broadcasts over the air in my basement with only a $15 set of rabbit ears from Wally World. The HD programming is also typically broadcast in Dolby 5.1.

Surround sound is also a must. I have 2 rooms wired for Dolby 5.1 and the sound is incredible. Nothing like hearing the crowd noise envelope you while you're watching the big game. It's also a great way to listen to classical music -- particularly waltzes. Close your eyes and you'd swear you're at Music Hall. Surround sound receivers can be had pretty cheaply on eBay for $150.00 and up -- new and with a warranty.

A word on programming. TV has come a long way in both good and bad ways. In terms of the big three, they're in the toilet and sometimes that's literally. On the other hand, I really enjoy channels like Discovery and History. I also like some of the home improvement channels, but I must admit to tiring of listening to some pretentious fancypants with a lisp tell me how "this piece really defines the space ..." It's not a piece, it's a table, and of course it "defines the space." It's THE DINING ROOM. Where's Norm Abrams with his flannel shirts and earthy wisdom when you need him?

For a DVD player, get progressive scan and DVD-R, DVD-RW, CD-R and CD-RW play ability so you can also watch\listen to your favorite burned DVD's and CD's.

Aaaahhhh. Home theatre. Gotta go now. The Discovery HD channel has a show on water bugs on and I don't wanna miss it.

Almost forgot. What's a Betamax?