BS: HD TV Questions (mainly UK)

Subject: BS: HD TV Questions (mainly UK)
From: Dazbo
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 08:55 AM

Firstly, I have no desire to get HD but from when, if ever, will I not be able to use a normal, non HD, TV?

The only HD TVs I've seen are the really big ones that take up half a wall, and I admit the picture looks fantastic, but I don't want a screen anywhere near that size. How much clearer is the HD picture on say a 24" widescreen TV (which is what I currently have)?

Do you need HD video recorders or will normal ones work (I still use tape)?

This post makes me sound like a luddite but I can honestly say that I just don't see the need for HD TV in the home on a small screen.

Subject: RE: BS: HD TV Questions (mainly UK)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 10:26 AM

In the U.S. we're able to buy converters that are simply receivers that are attached to standard televisions. The improved picture is like the picture we get from satellite or cable digital pictures. VCRs had standard receivers, but it makes sense that now they would have HD receivers. I have my new converter box (HD receiver) plugged into the VCR and from there into the television, and I have to have the VCR on to watch the television (the VCR and the television are set to "line in" or channel 3).

The picture is much better, and there are extra channels we can see here. I get all of the weather information I could possibly want (and that was something I thought I'd lose when I cut off the DishNetwork last spring). I get the rest of my films and programs from local channels or through Netflix or watch them online. I don't need cable or dish for my viewing needs, and I don't need to buy a new television or a huge television.

Hope this helps.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: HD TV Questions (mainly UK)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 10:55 AM

HD TVs do make regular pictures clearer-- not all broadcasts are SENT in HD. But they are best for channels broadcasting in HD. More channels will be HD when more people demand them for their HD TVs.

BTW, when we shopped, we thought the difference in picture quality at the store was the TV-- but no, it's that they run so many sets, splitting off from one cable input, that some are clear and some have a watered-down signal.

The real key to quality is the features the TV and remote have, and the tech specs. Good idea to study up on specs before fallig in love with a pretty picture at the store, because you will get a different picture at home and there are so many variables that will affect that.

How people used to obsess over hi fi sound for records, they now obsess over HDTV speakers, for instance; we do tend to be musicians around here..... what music programming are you contemplating might be a factor..... just plan on your first buy becoming your second TV, before long.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: HD TV Questions (mainly UK)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 11:05 AM

In the U.S. there is a coupon available to help pay for the converters. The one they sell at Radio Shack (DigitalStream) has a pass-through feature so you see both the HD and non-HD channels.

I'm not planning to buy any new television any time soon, but with the boxes for about $20 each (after coupon) we'll limp along for a while.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: HD TV Questions (mainly UK)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 11:34 AM

I think we should be able to use ordinary TV sets will continue to be able to cope as long as they keep working.

Existing sets work perfectly well with digital TV, so long as you have the right connections.

They won't be able to show specifically HD broadcasts, but I think it'll be a long time before that will mean you miss anything significant.

Subject: RE: BS: HD TV Questions (mainly UK)
From: Bill D
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 12:28 PM

There is some confusion, at least in reference to the US situation, between DIGITAL and HD. Next year, we will all have to have **digital** enabled TVs, or get a converter. That is, **unless* we are connected to cable. I am connected to cable, so my provider does the digital conversion for me, and I do NOT need to buy converters. None of this has any relevance to HD, which is a separate issue involving how a program is broadcast.

I have 3 TVs, (none of which are digital-ready), and if I tried to run them from over-the-air antennas, after next February?, they would not work, but I will get a good picture because, as I say. I have cable. I will not get an HD picture. That requires a new TV capable of interpreting HD broadcasts.

I saw a demo of HD at a shop the other day, and while it is obviously quite nice, I see nothing that would compel me to spend $$$ I can't justify right now.

Subject: RE: BS: HD TV Questions (mainly UK)
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 12:32 PM

(US) How does one get one of the discount coupons?

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: HD TV Questions (mainly UK)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 01:38 PM

Any of your local television stations with their own web sites probably have links to the government site that issues them. They are credit-card like things that expire after two or three months.

With the HD converter box going into the standard television, the picture looks a lot better. The box is the go-between for the new HD signal and the old television receiver technology. The HD converter box is like a new receiver for the television screen. As the VCR acts when you view the VCR receiver through the Line In portion of the TV options. I have CRT televisions here, one is a couple of years old, the others are in the 5-year-old range.

The antenna routine is a different story. The HD receivers need a strong enough signal to work, so we do some adjustments with the rabbit ears. I'll probably put a rooftop antenna up one of these days.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: HD TV Questions (mainly UK)
From: Cluin
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 01:40 PM

All I'm gonna say is, once you've watched hockey or Austin City Limits on HD, you won't wanna go back.

Subject: RE: BS: HD TV Questions (mainly UK)
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 02:35 PM

SRS:   Thanks for the application suggestion.

I got onto the site, and have applied for the coupon. I should get it about the middle of November, I gather.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: HD TV Questions (mainly UK)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 04:19 PM

I went to Radio Shack, where they were out of stock but they said they'd ship it to me free in the next two weeks. It arrived two days later. I also bought a little rabbit ears antenna on sale at the same time and they shipped together.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: HD TV Questions (mainly UK)
From: Bill D
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 04:28 PM

SRS...are you sure you mean ".. HD converter box going into the standard television, ..."

I don't think that's possible. As I tried to say above, the only converter boxes *I* am aware of are those to convert a regular TV to *digital*.

If you have been getting TV thru an aerial, it will surely look better with a converter, but not AS good as if you also have an HD television.

If I have missed something here, PLEASE enlighten me, as adding HD for $20 would be of interest.

Subject: RE: BS: HD TV Questions (mainly UK)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 04:37 PM

More likely it means it can receive HD channels, but of course the picture itself won't be HD without an HD TV set. It'll just be digital.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: HD TV Questions (mainly UK)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 04:41 PM

PS, confusion aout the differences between digital and HD is not at all merely in our minds-- it's implanted by the marketing strategy. That's why so many people are buying HD TVs right now-- they'[ve been led into exactly that and all the commercials about the changeover in Febvruiary are no help.

But Cluin is exactly right. If only it were like dope-- the first one free? :~)

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: HD TV Questions (mainly UK)
From: Dazbo
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 09:41 AM

So, I can only watch HD TV if I have a suitable TV but I can continue as I am at the moment even if all programmes go HD (I currently use a set top digital decoder box so I'm okay with plugging extra boxes into the tv)

Cheers

Subject: RE: BS: HD TV Questions (mainly UK)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 10:18 AM

I think you're right, Bill, it is a receiver that is set to receive the HD signal that the standard set can't pick up. The picture tube doesn't change, this is a flat screen CRT displaying a digital image from broadcast channels sent in their HD format that looks comparable to the digital cable or satellite channels. The point being, it looks a lot better than the old transmission channels on the same television. You don't need to purchase a new set to get the HD signal.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: HD TV Questions (mainly UK)
From: Cluin
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 08:35 PM

When you see a regular channel stating "the following program is broadcast in HD where available" that does not mean you can get that HD signal on that channel. It has to be coming in on a designated HDTV channel, which is usually an extra service package you can purchase from your cable provider. You will need an HDTV capable TV to view HD channels, and possibly a separate HD converter box (my HDTV has a built-in HD QAM convertor which is useless in my area because my local cable company uses a proprietory conversion so I have to purchase THEIR convertor to get HD). These dedicated channels send an HD signal which may have at least at least one (and perhaps all) of the following characteristics:

1. a higher resolution picture, vertically 720 pixels or 1080 pixels (as opposed to the regular 480 pixels found on regular TV channels) with either progressive or interlaced scanning and faster fram rates + much better picture and movement display

2. a widescreen picture, if the program was filmed/processed that way

3. full 5 channel digital surround sound, if the program was recorded/processed that way

For the first 2 characteristics, you use a component video cable and a separate audio cable (mono or stereo). These all have RCA type plugs on either end and go from your converter box to the TV set. The component video cable is that 3 wire, 3 colour (red, blue, green) RCA type jumper to handle the increased vid info needed for HD. This cable will likely be included with your converter. DVD players also have this kind of output to supply a better quality (though not HD) signal to your TV/monitor.

To get the full effect of the 5 channel digital sound, if you want it, an HDMI cable is needed. That one cable has all the wires in it to handle both the video and audio signal in its full HDTV/5 channel audio capabilities. Personally, I don't require 5 channel sound; I like my audio to come from where the screen is.

By the way, if you are going to get an HDMI cable (they don't often come with either your HDTV set or converter box), shop for and order one online. You will pay from 5 to 10 times as much at the store. Electronics stores make very little profit on big ticket items like HDTV sets. They make most of their profits from accessories like cables. The non-name brand ones you get from an online outlet are just as good and can cost as little as 10% of the big names like "Monster" cables. Don't listen to the salesman when he tells you different. Consumer testers have proven there is no difference in the signal transmission among all manufacturers.

To record an HD program in HD an HD compatible recording system is need: Blu-Ray recorder, D-VHS, TiVO series 3, or some other Hard-disc type PVR which may be part of your convertor box as a more expensive option (I love mine). You won't be able to record HD on a videotape recorder or a DVD recorder.

All of this is applicable to HD channels only. The regular digital cable channels or analog channels (which are the ones being phased out) will record normally with the older media recorders.

An HDTV will actually display analog channels worse than an older regular TV because of conversion artifacting, but in future this won't be a concern as those channels are all going to digital.

Subject: RE: BS: HD TV Questions (mainly UK)
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 30 Oct 08 - 08:21 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Set-top_box

I'm in Aus - I just bought a DGTech HD set top box (
My set top box has HMDI, and the BNC connectors (yellow - video, red & white audio) as well, so it will connect to my current (tube) sets, and my connect to a new HDMI omonitor - or it might if the Microcrap 'protection (racket)' stuff hasn't invaded it....

I'm seriously thinking of eventually buying more than one box, as I currently have more than one TV in different rooms, and not all have access to antenna points. When the analogue system dies, I will have no other choice anyway if I want to use all the sets... but currently there are very few (different) programs (that are yet worth watching!) on the digital service that are not just echoes of the analogue service.

The only plus so far, is that ABC2 on Sundays currently has replays of Red Dwarf.... !!! :-)

Subject: RE: BS: HD TV Questions (mainly UK)
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 30 Oct 08 - 08:33 AM

I can convert my television to HD simply by wearing my spectacles when I watch it.

Subject: RE: BS: HD TV Questions (mainly UK)
From: Tyke
Date: 30 Oct 08 - 11:12 PM

In the past the UK we always seemed to be behind the trends in the USA but know we are behind Japan who went HD years ago. I forget what the latest Gizmo TV wise is now in Japan.

I'm debating HD Sky for my Mum who is 89 and going Blind and Deaf at least she won't have all the diferent remote controls to cope with. Personaly I think the Sky remote is well desined has any one got any views on this as some of the New sets have built in Free View HD.