Home cinema - HDTV Newbie wants a little info...

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HDTV Newbie wants a little info...

Hi All-

I have been looking at HDTV's lately, the more I look, the more
confused I become. It seems to me that unless I want to spend 3-4
grand, and I really don't, all of them are "HDTV Ready" or "HDTV
Monitors" and from what I have read about them they require a STB to
actually watch HDTV, correct? First question, if I were to get a HDTV
without tuner built in, does a hdtv box from my cable company count as
the STB? I have Time Warner cable and on their web site for my city,
they state they have a few HDTV channels and that "All you need is a
high definition TV and a Time Warner Cable HDTV converter." So this
TWC cable HDTV converter, does this take the place of the $200-400 STB
that I see. If I have this box, what will channels without HDTV look
like?? Would it be a big mistake to buy a HDTV without the tuner built
in? Also, I am SO confused about all of the different types and
brands of the tv.....CRT, LCD...some others....rear projection, front
projection....I just don't know. I have read that front projection is
not that great in lighter rooms, is this true? What is the most
common bought? What brands are the best? Thanks in advance for all
of your help.

M

Mandy...

I just took the 16:9 HDTV plunge in Wisconsin..

There is a lot to consider.... Info must be accumulated!!

Where are the Digital TV towers?... How much does
Digital Cable cost?... What Stations/Channels
(generally UHF) transmit Digital TV?? & HDTV??

My steps were to buy a $25 Channel Master Antenna and
set top box (Digital Tv Tuner) and run the new signal
into my old Sony analog TV... I watched Digital Tv
and also reviewed Digital Signal strength via Set top box.

Antenna Channel Master 3021,.. Set top box Samsung T-151.
The T-351 is newer & probably better now.

I'm now $350+ into Digital TV now.... and learning Local
DTV & HDTV availability.

I was set on CRT (tube type HDTV set). I read Sony & Toshiba are
best... I bought the big & heavy Sony 34" 16:9 34HS510.

I now have both regular Analog Cable (Channels 2-99) & a TV attic
antenna for Digital & HD TV reception.

If you buy a good HDTV set with line doubler.. Analog cable TV
on a HDTV set can be very GOOD if the original analog picture
is above average picture quality (not grainy)... If grainy..
HDTV makes it look worse...

Then there are Black & gray Bar & Zoom issues to LIVE with.....

Then there are both DTV & HDTV transmissions in 4:3 format..
This is the source of the bars.....

TitanTV.com gives a decent level of DTV & HDTV in your Zip code.
If you are in the suburbs of a Bigger city & have TV towers...
You have a very good chance to get HDTV via Antenna... FREE!!

Ask around.... Call your local TV Engineers for 'a local start'..

HDTV is not on a Gold platter format yet... But it's surely
bronze by now.

About Cable Digital & HDTV... In my area there is a $21 Cable
increase
to move from Analog to Digital including some HDTV on 700
channels.
The Analog Cable Box must be exchanged for a Digital Cable Box
to receive Digital or HDTV cable... The regular analog
box works just fine as HDTV antenna in For current ANalog
channels...
I'd guess that local Cable may not yet carry all the Local Digital
cable stations available... Some of the local DTV stations
offer Digital but not HDTV even if their Network offers HDTV.
(NBC in my case).... In most cases, local TV is sending both
Analog & Digital signals at the same time on two different
channels.

I'm not sure if this post is educational or more confusing....
HDTV is still in the growing stages but has that Superb
HDTV picture for those who venture $1400 or more at this
time....

http://www.titantv.com Give 'em Your Zip Code etc...
and you will get back Digital Programs & your Station location
Info.

Mandy wrote:

Hi All-

I have been looking at HDTV's lately, the more I look, the more
confused I become. It seems to me that unless I want to spend 3-4
grand, and I really don't, all of them are "HDTV Ready" or "HDTV
Monitors" and from what I have read about them they require a STB to
actually watch HDTV, correct? First question, if I were to get a HDTV
without tuner built in, does a hdtv box from my cable company count as
the STB? I have Time Warner cable and on their web site for my city,
they state they have a few HDTV channels and that "All you need is a
high definition TV and a Time Warner Cable HDTV converter." So this
TWC cable HDTV converter, does this take the place of the $200-400 STB
that I see. If I have this box, what will channels without HDTV look
like?? Would it be a big mistake to buy a HDTV without the tuner built
in? Also, I am SO confused about all of the different types and
brands of the tv.....CRT, LCD...some others....rear projection, front
projection....I just don't know. I have read that front projection is
not that great in lighter rooms, is this true? What is the most
common bought? What brands are the best? Thanks in advance for all
of your help.

M

I have been looking at HDTV's lately, the more I look, the more
confused I become. It seems to me that unless I want to spend 3-4
grand, and I really don't, all of them are "HDTV Ready" or "HDTV
Monitors" and from what I have read about them they require a STB to
actually watch HDTV, correct?

Firstly, just like regular TV, there are several ways of receiving HDTV.
Most common is through cable, satellite, or putting up an antenna. The
built-in tuners you seen on the HDTVs only matter if you go the antenna
route. With cable or satellite, the box your provider gives you handles the
decoding and just sends a plain video signal to your HDTV.

Which option is best primarily depends on where you live and what you can
get locally.

So this TWC cable HDTV converter, does this take the place of the
$200-400 STB that I see?

Yes, the Time Warner box is all you will need if you get your content via
cable.

Would it be a big mistake to buy a HDTV without the tuner built in?

If you are never going to put up an antenna to get HDTV content, you don't
need a tuner.

Also, I am SO confused about all of the different types and
brands of the tv.....CRT, LCD...some others....rear projection, front
projection.

Four main types of HDTV sets: CRT, LCD, DLP, and Plasma. The first three
are also available as rear projection. Each type has benefits and
drawbacks, and your best option depends on what you are looking for. LCD is
on its way out, but the other three will be around for a while.

I have read that front projection is not that great in lighter rooms, is
this true?

Yes. You are projecting light onto a white or neutral grey screen.
Unfortunately, there is no way to shine black on something. However dark
your screen is when the projector is turned off, that is the deepest black
you will see. In a bright, sunlit room, that's not very dark at all, and
will give you a washed-out picture. An appropriate level of light would
make it difficult, but not impossible to read by, which precludes many
activites commonly performed while watching TV.

On the other hand, in a properly prepared room, rear projection is truly
stunning. You may not want to do anything else at the same time. It's not
terribly unusual to get both front and rear projection sets with a screen
that pulls down in front of the TV.

"Eric Nielsen" wrote in message
et...

Four main types of HDTV sets: CRT, LCD, DLP, and Plasma. The first three
are also available as rear projection. Each type has benefits and
drawbacks, and your best option depends on what you are looking for. LCD
is
on its way out, but the other three will be around for a while.

I wouldn't touch LCD with a ten foot pole. Plasma is very nice but you'll
be beating yourself with a baton when the price drops in 1/2 next year. DLP
should have a bright future after a few kinks have been ironed out. CRT is
on the way out but it can't be beaten for its price.

CRT is on the way out but it can't be beaten for its price.

Or its picture quality. Sharpness, contrast, brightness and hues all
look the best on a CRT. Nothing can compare to a flatscreen CRT...

"Ender.Wiggin" wrote in message
om...
CRT is on the way out but it can't be beaten for its price.

Or its picture quality. Sharpness, contrast, brightness and hues all
look the best on a CRT. Nothing can compare to a flatscreen CRT...

Flat screens on CRTs have nothing to do with any of the picture parameters
you mentioned. They require more advanced circuitry and deflection yoke
design to account for the greater non-linearities of scanning a flatter CRT.
There is nothing wrong with a well designed flatter CRT, but one should not
assume that they are flat to improve the display performance in any regard
other than to make them look more flat.

Also, there are some good arguments for a well calibrated CRT based RPTV
over direct view sets. As CRTs get larger, irregularities in deflection
geometry, focus, convergence, and purity become a much bigger issue.

Leonard Caillouet