HDTV PART II: Need a little help with HD programming

Ryan Leemhuis · 06-11-2005, 11:04 PM

Ok those of you who caught my last thread, I appreciate it. The TV's at work are now displaying DISCOVERY HD and the HD receivers are outputting in 1080i.

Just a few questions I have to get cleared up so I can answer questions about HD programming.

1. Why do the EDTV plasmas look so good(detail wise) if they only are capable of 480 lines of resolution? You would think the difference would be night and day. Is it just a very good down-conversion from 1080i?

2. For an HD monitor, does the HD receiver that comes with HD service from dish network work as the set top box needed? I am a bit confused why you would need the HD receiver in the TV.

3. Can you get any HD channels over the air? As in no cable service or dish. I just need the basics of ways to get HD programming

Thanks for all your guys' help. I just have never really been interested in HD programming because its beyond my reach right now, but I want to know what I am talking about when I need to tell customers what they need. Thanks!

Michael Reuben · 06-11-2005, 11:16 PM

Your previous thread was borderline between programming and hardware issues. This one appears to concern the latter; so I'm moving it to the Display area.

M.

Holadem · 06-12-2005, 12:26 AM

3. Yes.

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H

Ryan Leemhuis · 06-12-2005, 12:35 AM

alright, so I would just gain another channel if I had a HDTV antenna?

Evan M · 06-12-2005, 12:44 AM

well, you still have to have an HD Tuner and an Antenna capable of picking up the HD signal. There are lots of models of TV that have the tuner built in, but you probably pay more for it that way? Anyways, as far as #2 goes, for the Satellite stations, definitely... for the OTA stations (IE: Local channels in HD) it will depend on the model of Satelite reciever, but I believe most of them have inputs for Antenna so you can use it as a receiver for your OTA stations. The built in receiver is primarily for those who want to get HD stations without Satelite service, or for greatest future compatibility. Personally,I recommend against getting a built in tuner, and would lean toward just purchasing a separate HD receiver (You can get them for about 100 bucks)

What type of Antenna depends on location relative to the stations tower.

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Mike Slade · 06-12-2005, 05:10 PM

For over the air HD you can go to www.antennaweb.org to find out what's available in your area.

John S · 06-13-2005, 12:20 PM

1. Keep in mind 480p is more or less the same as 960i, so not near as far from 1080i / 540p as many would like to believe. But Color tracking/decoding and grey scale accuracy have just as much if not more to do with the PQ than raw resolution.

2. Little bit of a grey area, but having a built in tuner is never a bad thing. Most that have internal tuners, still use external tuners anyways.

3. I get lots of free HD Over the Air here in the Denver Metro area. You should research for your particular area.

Charlie Campisi · 06-13-2005, 01:37 PM

Another advantage of having the built in tuner is that you can use it for PIP.

Ryan Leemhuis · 06-14-2005, 10:42 PM

Ok, I got a question that I wasn't able to answer today. If they buy a HDTV(no monitor) do you need the HDTV receiver from Dish Network? Is this only necessary if its a monitor?

Thanks for all your help, I am definitely the customers fav

. I don't dance my way around questions

PeterTHX · 06-14-2005, 10:53 PM

DO NOT BUY AN EDTV!

EDTV can't even properly reproduce DVD's full resolution & color spectrum. If you watch a well transferred DVD on a properly calibrated HD and ED monitor the differences will be obvious.

TRUE, direct HiDef feeds will have a very big difference.

Don't buy a Porsche with a VW engine.