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Are there, in fact, new plasma screens that "absorb" ambient light and not as reflective (as some of the marketing material claims), or do plasmas only truly work well in darker rooms?

After years of watching HD only in a very dark basement, I'm ready to add a second HD display in my family room. It has a lot of windows, some of which are up high and difficult (and expensive) to screen with shades, curtains, etc. While most of my viewing will be in the evening, we will...

I use a high quality switch from Inday that handles 4 component video devices. It has a very high bandwith that you need for HD - which is something that I understand some of the other component switches on the market fall short on. Take a look at Inday.com

Thanks Jeff. I'll look through my code sheets to see if there are discrete on/off switches. Steve

OK - I did it! I programmed my brand new RS - 2104 remote with several advanced codes and two macros. Very exciting, BUT, the macros only work properly when I'm first turning the power on to all my devices. I set up one to watch DVDs and one to watch cable TV. Each macro includes the "power"...

Stefan - I just tried sending you an email directly, please let me know if you received it.

1. I continue to have problems connecting my new Comcast HD Digital Cable Box. The component video outputs are plugged into the component inputs on video 5 of my Sony 61HS10. I have plugged the composite video output into Video 4. This setup keeps me from having to change the cable box menu from...

Stefan - I have now confirmed that HBO HD does stretch all the movies to fill a 16:9 screen, in fact, they use Pan and Scan to do so, thus you are loosing some of the sides of the images on the 2.35 films. Cory - instead of switching your audio cables, you can switch the HD cable box between...

Now that you mention it, I have noticed that every movie on HBO HD is presented in 16:9. Maybe one of us should post a new message to find out if that's something unique to HBO? I have discovered something else about the new HD Cable box. It appears that I can leave it set at 1080i and run two...

Stefan - the problem you are describing in point #4 is the same problem I have with the cable box settings. I use my Sony TV's Video 5 component inputs, and if it detects a 1080i signal, it locks in a 16:9 aspect ratio and looks great. If there is a non-HD signal, then the picture is letterboxed...

Two more strikes for Comcast - no HD for ESPN and no HDNet.

I finally have an HD STB and have noticed quite a range of image quality from various "HD" material. Some of the network TV shows look OK, but not great. What does HBO, for example, use to store and replay the HD movies? Is there some kind of digital tape that has the ability to store the extra...

Unfortunately, Comcast does not have CBS on HD. Do you know if either NBC or ABC broadcast any sports in HD?

Have had Comcast HD STB for a little under a week now. I have a 1080i HD ready TV (Sony 61HS10) and it seems like the ABC HD image is not as good as the NBC and HBO HD signals. I know that ABC uses the 720p technology. Since that signal is presumably upconverted to 1080i, does it makes sense...

To all the members of this board from my former hometown of DC (well, actually Montgomery County) - we have Comcast HDTV in Baltimore NOW - so far so good. You need to call Comcast and push them to hook you up. On my first call I was told they were still testing it with employees only. I...

Ufanco - the box is a Motorola DCT5100/1000. Pretty wild, in addition to the usual digital cable features, it has a slot for Smart Media cards, and a cable modem for PCs - although I'm told neither of these features has been activated. Let me know if you find out anything about this box...

Bill - that's exactly my concern. Although, if the Sony doubler in effect turns 480i into an effective 960i, isn't it possible that the 1080i signal isn't going to be that much better? I've heard that Comcast and other cable companies are getting the HD bandwith with lots of compression...

Crutchfield lists the JVC unit as having 30Mhz bandwith so it "can pass through an HDTV signal with no picture degradation." But, that doesn't mean it really passes through the entire signal. I thought HD uses much more bandwith.

I don't remember what the cost of the Digital Service alone is - but I do recall that adding HBO only vs. Digital Cable Plus HBO (which gives you 10 or more channels of HBO) was about $5.00 per month more. That includes the cost of renting the digital box - which is $2.95 - whether you choose...

Eric - I just got my Comcast HD Box today. One of the first customers in the Baltimore Metro area to get it. A few questions, one of which you just answered I think. My Sony only does HD in 1080i and I read that ABC is only doing it in 720p. Are you saying that the box will convert it into a...

They just finished installing the HD Digital Cable Box in my house. Very excited to say the least. I was ready to get a satellite or OTA system until yesterday, when I saw that Comcast was going to start limited HD service. So, I jumped right on it and was one of the first customers to get the...

Oops, I did mean Component Video not composite - thank you Keith! So, what do I need to purchase to be able to switch component video? I'll need a switch that can handle at least 2 input devices (DVD and HDTV) and one output. And, is there anyway to change the subject line and text of my...

As I get ready to provide a HDTV signal to my Sony 61HS10, I'll need some sort of switch to change between the DVD player and the HD feed (whether it's satellite or OTA). The Sony only has one set of composite video inputs and I do not have a receiver that is capable of switching HD or composite...

Can you tell me more about the OTA STB options? Does the Samsung unit only work for OTA? I was thinking I should get a unit that handles both satellite and OTA. Also, you mentioned that the new one has a video switching option. The problem with my TV is I have only one set of component inputs...

Ron - I am probably 10-15 miles or so from the transmitters (two of which are in the same location), but there are also two powerful non - HD transmitters from the local PBS station less than a mile from my house that have the tendency to intefere with other TV signals. I do have room in the...

There are 4 members in our family, so at most, there could only be 4 different sets in use. If I did that, I assume I need four receivers. Are you suggesting that the receivers would all be located in one place and that certain receivers would be split to send signals to multiple TVs? How do the...

I have a 61" HDTV Ready Sony TV (61HS10). Very happy with it. DVDs look great, and TV via Comcast Digital isn't bad. But, I just heard that Comcast won't have HDTV signals in the Baltimore area until 2006! I can't wait that long for HD. We have 6 TVs in our household and I assume that satellite...

Dave - thanks for the help. I think I'll buy a progressive scan unit that's returnable, and see how much of a difference it makes. As for the convergence, I had it done once by a tech who was not very skilled and it seems worse than before he did it. I don't think the flash focus works well...

Dave - are you still not using the progressive output from your DVD player? This was (and still is) such a big selling point for HD ready TVs and I find it hard to believe that the DRC in our sets is better than the conversions (if that's the right term) done in the newer progressive scan DVD...

I have a 2 year old Sony HD ready 61HS10 and have been using a non-progressive scan DVD player. I have been very satisfied with the picture quality. Yet, given the huge drop in prices for progressive scan DVD players, I'm thinking about upgrading. Two questions, one - will I notice much of a...