HDTV question...

Grimster74

Been trying to decide for a while know if I should go HDTV or not. I've asked the wife to get me the Hughes E86 High-Def receiver and of course her responce was I'm not going to spend $500 on a satellite receiver. Well I was just on CC website and seen that the E86 is on sale for $349. I currently have a triple LMB dish on my house. Is $349 worth the purchase or is HDTV not all its cracked up to be. I know there is not that many HD channels out there yet but for the people that currently have HDTV, is it worth the purchase or not. Thanks.

fireshoes

Yes, HDTV is worth it, so go get a box. However if your tv has a DVI input, you'd be better off getting a box that has DVI as well (the E86 doesn't).

Grimster74

Fireshoes, I beleive that is the only downfall to my television, it DOES NOT have a DVI input. DVI really wasn't on the market, at least not big on the market when I purchased my tv.

polkatese

Grim,
the other option is (while you are saving for a good HDTV tuner box) is to invest on OTA antenna. It's about $50 investment plus RG6. I spent less than $100 to put up my antenna in the attic and instantly got about 8 HDTV terrestrial broadcasts (on some program, 1080i, mostly 720p) Go with Channel Master antenna, very reliable. If you can get PBS 28.1 channel, it's constantly broadcast in 1080i. Also, check out Zenith 520 box, it's about $500-$600. I went with Sony HD200, which is now has been replaced by HD300. Have fun!

gmorris

My opinion on the whole HDTV debacle is this: If you’ve waited this long, keep waiting. The way I see it is this; with the limited number of choices of HDTV channels to choose from, why spend $300-500 for a receiver, $100 dollars for an OTA antenna, & all the other unforeseeable expenses? As is the case with new technology, prices will go down over time, and available material will go up.

9 out of 10 people don’t even know what HDTV is, much less even care about it. As the HDTV wagon gets rolling, it will become more accessible to a wider range of consumers. So again, I’m saying just wait. In my area I know of 5 HDTV OTA channels. 5!! I’m not spending almost $700 dollars to watch 5 channels. And one of those is PBS. Nothing against PBS, but who watches PBS? Will watching PBS in 1080i make it that much better? I think not.

The other thing that chaps my **** about HDTV OTA is the need for the antenna. TV antennas were rendered obsolete 20 years ago with the advent of cable TV service. Now I have to put up an ugly antenna again? CRAP.

My theory is this: Satellite TV services are the way to go. They have HDTV channels already available. Now you may ask yourself “What about the local OTA channels?” I believe as the technology gets more advanced, the local HDTV OTA channels will become available to the Satellite TV services, just as the regular local channels came on line with the Satellite TV services. For those who don’t know, when Direct TV & Dish Network (and any others) came about a couple years ago, local channels were not available. Only in the last few years have Satellite customers been given access to local channels, as part of the basic subscription package.

These are my thoughts, and I hope this helps. I for one am going to wait until the mess is cleaned up, then jump in. In the meantime, enjoy some DVD’s on your digital televion.

wrxmy02

HD does look and sound [5.1] very good. You do have to balance
what your going to spend for those few HD channels. More being added all the time. It's a steep curve now, but by the end 0f 2004
thier should be a fair amount of channels.

polkatese

There is no dispute that it's a novelty item still, at this point. All of the local broadcast affiliate of the majors are still experimenting with OTA HD. The transmission power is still an issue and coverage is sporadic at best. The most used for me is actually on the broadcast OTA, specifically on NBC, and a little bit of HBO-HD (I have DTV HBO only). Having said that, the PQ is much better on OTA on RPTV (is not that much better on regular tube, though). I found myself cringe watching regular DTV local channels since the veil of blurriness start to bother. Would I spent what I spent for the sake of having HDTV, had I not forced (since one of my regular DTV tuner failed) to buy one of the HD tuner? may be not. Am I regretting my decisions? no, it's the direction of change anyways.

Btw, as far as I understand it, DTV would never carry local HD on their service due to bandwidth issues, caused by the requirements of local broadcasters nationally. If you think of the permutation of the number of local HD broadcasters (i.e. 2 for Fox, 3 for PBS, 3 for WB, etc.) then it could definitely be an interesting hurdles, plus the bandwidth capacity for each channels.

Frank Z

I think it's well worth the investment, but that's just me. I've got Dishnetwork's HD-Pak which includes ESPN-HD, HDNet, HDNet-Movies, and Discovery HDTheater, all for !09 per year. I also have 1 CBS local-OTA in HD, I fox local in EDTV (480p), and our PBS station will up in the very near future. The difference detween SD and HD is night and day, once you've seen it, well it's really hard to watch anything else. As for antennas, don't believe the "Digital Antenna " hype. I hve a $9 Target special hidden behind my center channel speaker and it provides better reception (signal strength) than my $100 Terk TV55.

There are more and more stations going HD everyday, and the amount of programmong is increasing all the time. I really enjoy watching older movies on HDNet-Movies, the quality is excellant.

True there is an investment that has to be made, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune. I picked up a 27" Zenith HDTV for less than $600 for my bedroom. It's a 4:3 set but for my bedroom it's just fine. Dishnetwork had, and may still be having a special deal on the model 811 HD receiver for $199, it comes ready to use, no modules to plug in.

Check out WWW.TitanTV.COM for info about what stations are broadcasting in your area right now. You can also find out which stations will be comming soon.

Find a retailer that has a Dishnetwork or DirecTV system set up and pay them a visit and check out some the programming, I think you'll be more than impressed.

HBombToo

I started of with the E86 and HATED IT from the start. That box gets HOT!

That said HDTV is worth EVERY DIME and I am very pleased with my Zenith 520. I bought a 15 dollar RCA rabbit ears and thats all I needed. Not bad for all the OTA HD I tell ya.

I say pull the trigger you will not regret it just make sure you get OTA capability.

HBomb

Grimster74

HBomb, do you know if the E86 is OTA compatible. Thanks.

gmorris

Originally posted by polkatese
Btw, as far as I understand it, DTV would never carry local HD on their service due to bandwidth issues, caused by the requirements of local broadcasters nationally. If you think of the permutation of the number of local HD broadcasters (i.e. 2 for Fox, 3 for PBS, 3 for WB, etc.) then it could definitely be an interesting hurdles, plus the bandwidth capacity for each channels.

This is certainly true, but it is also just the bullshzhit excuse of the moment. If I'd have asked you to email me a 100 MB file 10 years ago, how long would it have taken? If I asked you to email me the same 100 MB file right now, how long would it take? The technology will come...

If you have the disposable income to invest in a full blown HD setup, you are more fortunate than I, as well as most consumers. If you can do it, and want it, then go for it. I'm still going to wait until it becomes, excuse this term, more cost effective.

PhantomOG

Originally posted by gmorris
If you have the disposable income to invest in a full blown HD setup, you are more fortunate than I, as well as most consumers. If you can do it, and want it, then go for it. I'm still going to wait until it becomes, excuse this term, more cost effective.

you make it sound like HD costs a billion dollars or something. i have a 32" Sony Vega HD that I bought a couple years ago for a decent price and now HD tv's are even more affordable.

as far as programming, I get Time Warner Cable which gives me HD programming for not ONE DIME more than regular cable. watching prime time shows/sports in HD is unbelievable. I sometimes sit and watch the Discovery HD channel and am just amazed at the picture quality on the scenery from around the world. all this without any extra cost and no silly antennas either.

now, i'm not saying HD is for everyone. alot of areas don't have cable service which offers HD but luckily i'm in one that does. if you feel that all of the hundreds of cable channels have to be in HD before you make the jump, fine, sit and wait. meanwhile i'll be enjoying all my local broadcasts and Discovery, HBO. etc. in HD and loving every minute of it.

a more fair argument against HD would just be the technology. everyone seems to be going about things in their own way (different resolutions, connectors, etc.) it could be argued that one might wait until everything is more standardized. but i figure, if i need a tv now, i might as well get one that gives me the best picture now and enjoy it now. new technology is always coming out and if you want to, you could always find something to keep waiting for and never buy anything.

HBombToo

Originally posted by Grimster74
HBomb, do you know if the E86 is OTA compatible. Thanks.

Yes it is but again be carfull because the box gets hotter than a class a amp.

Make space for it away from your other gear that is very well ventilated.

HBomb

gmorris

All very good points, PhantomOG. I guess I did make it sound as if it were very expensive to go HD viewable. But, for the amount of channels you get, even with a same cost cable provider, the cost of hardware is just not worth the price of admission to most people, myself included.

I also agree whole heartedly with your assesment of the rapid technology race. I am now of the camp which you just described, waiting for a standard of some sort.

I have seen HD for myself at CC & other places, and I will admit the picture quality is as good as everyone makes it sound. But Grimster74's original question was "is it worth the purchase or not". The key word in that question to me is "worth". I believe the answer to the question is a solemn NO.

PhantomOG

true, if i had to "buy" a cable box for 500 or even 350 i doubt that i would.

(un) fortunately, i live in an apartment so dish isn't really an option and Time Warner doesn't charge extra for HD.

acdds

Have any of you tried to call your cable co? I called Comcast and you can switch your digital cable box for a HDTV box for no extra charge. I couldn't tell you which model or how good it is but for free you can't be too picky! I am picking it up Sat and my TV (Hitachi 57F500) is coming on monday so if anyone's interested, I can post my impressions then.

bikezappa

I would think that to comment on HDTV costs/benefits you should HAVE HDTV now.

Just my $0.02

fireshoes

Originally posted by acdds
Have any of you tried to call your cable co? I called Comcast and you can switch your digital cable box for a HDTV box for no extra charge. I couldn't tell you which model or how good it is but for free you can't be too picky! I am picking it up Sat and my TV (Hitachi 57F500) is coming on monday so if anyone's interested, I can post my impressions then.

I have HDTV through Mediacom and the HD box is $3 more per month so the cost can vary. They only offer CBS, HBO, and Showtime though.

It's a great weekend for HDTV and football fans this weekend. There are 5 NFL games being broadcast in high def - Chiefs-Vikings, Patriots-Jets, Bills-Dolphins, Broncos-Colts, and Packers-Raiders. Giants-Cowboys and 49ers-Eagles are on in 480p widescreen. We get another 4 HD games next weekend too.

If you love movies, sports, or primetime network tv, HDTV should be a now thing, not a future thing.

Grimster74

Well, I just thought I'd let everyone know that I purchased the E86 last night. The only downfall I see to this whole thing is the wife said beings it a Christmas present, it has to be wrapped and opened on Christmas day, DAMUM... Well at least I'll be watching the Superbowl in HD this year.

fireshoes

I think you need to drop the 'Oh hell no I'm not waiting until Christmas - there's an assload of high def football on this weekend!' on her.

HBombToo

Originally posted by Grimster74
Well, I just thought I'd let everyone know that I purchased the E86 last night. The only downfall I see to this whole thing is the wife said beings it a Christmas present, it has to be wrapped and opened on Christmas day, DAMUM... Well at least I'll be watching the Superbowl in HD this year.

Good for you Grimster. What do you think about the temperature issue? I was thinking that maybe they redesigned it a bit to help that?

HBomb

Grimster74

Well, just an update on the HD receiver. The S.O. gave in and let me have the HD receiver Friday night. She said we didn't have enough wrapping paper to wrap it so she let me have it early. HBomb, as far as the heat issue, doesn't seem to be any warmer then any other Hughes receiver I've every owned but that may be due to the fact that I have plenty of ventilation over my A/V equipment. My question is... as far as getting the over-the-air broadcast in HDTV, do I need to purchase a HDTV ant. or will just a regular ant. work. Thanks in advance.

polkatese

Originally posted by Grimster74
She said we didn't have enough wrapping paper to wrap it so she let me have it early.

Is that her excuse or yours?

A regular Antenna would do fine, you don't need a HDTV antenna (there is no such thing, it's more marketing than reality). Try with indoor Zenith tabletop and see if you can get OTA HD. Make sure you have your STB to digital OTA, otherwise it would not register the broadcast. PBS stations and local broadcasters would be a good starting point. Good luck and have fun experimenting!

Grimster74

Originally posted by polkatese
Make sure you have your STB to digital OTA,

Can I get a little more clarification on the STB part.

polkatese

On my Sony HD200, in the setup, on preference, there is an option of Digital TV Input that has to be set to Antenna, as opposed to Cable (which is the default). Otherwise, during the channel scan, it will not picked up any of the Digital OTA. It took me about half day to figure this out since the manual doesn't clearly what it is used for. So, it will picked up all the analog OTA but none of the Digital. Assuming your STB is similar, this is one area that would save you from wondering why it doesn't picked up the HD OTA channels.

walk

Actually I think NOW is a great time to get into HDTV.

46" projection HDTV's can be had for well under $1500.

Comcast cable is offering (in some areas) HDTV for a whole whopping $5 extra per month. That gets you 3-4 basic cable channels (ESPN, Discovery), a few premium channels if you subscribe to those (HBO, Showtime) and 3-6 local broadcast HD channels, depending on where you live. But criminy for $5, how can you NOT get it?