HDTV

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

That LG Combo HD-DVD/Blu Ray player is a piece of junk.

 

"LG is deceptive selling this player. It is not a real HD DVD player as claimed - it does not support HDi which is one of the biggest and coolest features of HD DVD that is used virtually everywhere down to the most basic menus most of the interactive features and lots of extras found on highdef discs will be inaccessible with this player.

 

Its not even an "official" HD-DVD player since not having HDi capability means it doesn't meet HD-DVD specs and it doesn't even carry the HD-DVD logo. So basically its a really crappy unauthorized HD-DVD player which is how they managed to get it to market in stores. Id venture to say a lot of HD-DVD movies wont even work on it. $1200 for it? HAHAHA

[Ripper 0]

Wait. Didn't LG say that they weren't going to go with the combo unit? This thing actually exists

?

[Ripper 0]

Wait. Didn't LG say that they weren't going to go with the combo unit? This thing actually exists

?

 

 

Well apparently it does. Funny. I was at CES and didn't hear jack shit about it.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Wait. Didn't LG say that they weren't going to go with the combo unit? This thing actually exists

?

 

 

Well apparently it does. Funny. I was at CES and didn't hear jack shit about it.

 

It was one of the bigger talked about HD related items until people realized how crippled the HD-DVD side of it was given that LG is in the Blu Ray camp.

 

Now most people say for $1200 just buy a PS3 ($599) and the Newer Toshiba HD-DVD player ($499)..

[Ripper 0]

Or screw the HD player since most TV companys are abcking the Blu Ray.

[Guest Smues]

Or screw the HD player since most TV companys are abcking the Blu Ray.

 

Porn companies > TV companies

[Craig Th 0]

That LG Combo HD-DVD/Blu Ray player is a piece of junk.

 

"LG is deceptive selling this player. It is not a real HD DVD player as claimed - it does not support HDi which is one of the biggest and coolest features of HD DVD that is used virtually everywhere down to the most basic menus most of the interactive features and lots of extras found on highdef discs will be inaccessible with this player.

 

Its not even an "official" HD-DVD player since not having HDi capability means it doesn't meet HD-DVD specs and it doesn't even carry the HD-DVD logo. So basically its a really crappy unauthorized HD-DVD player which is how they managed to get it to market in stores. Id venture to say a lot of HD-DVD movies wont even work on it. $1200 for it? HAHAHA

I thought you were a BR guy?

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

That LG Combo HD-DVD/Blu Ray player is a piece of junk.

 

"LG is deceptive selling this player. It is not a real HD DVD player as claimed - it does not support HDi which is one of the biggest and coolest features of HD DVD that is used virtually everywhere down to the most basic menus most of the interactive features and lots of extras found on highdef discs will be inaccessible with this player.

 

Its not even an "official" HD-DVD player since not having HDi capability means it doesn't meet HD-DVD specs and it doesn't even carry the HD-DVD logo. So basically its a really crappy unauthorized HD-DVD player which is how they managed to get it to market in stores. Id venture to say a lot of HD-DVD movies wont even work on it. $1200 for it? HAHAHA

I thought you were a BR guy?

 

I am but I supported the combo idea.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

So if I'm paying for 80 analog channels, and my new Philips 37" LCD (YEAH!) picked up most to all of the 200 digital channels that tack on an extra $39.95 to a cable bill, will Time Warner realize this?

 

Not that I don't mind them blocking the extra channels, even though they include ABCHD, FOXHD, NBCHD and CW, but will they say that I'm committing an illegal act?

 

Your TV has a QAM tuner in it and your cable company doesn't scramble the digital channels. The QAM tuner can pick up the unscrambled digital channels your cable company feeds. It probably also has a Cable Card slot to allow reception of the scrambled channels without a cable box. As far as the legality goes, if they aren't scrambling them then you are fine..but odds are good at some point they'll wise up and scramble them, especially if they are already offering a digital channels package.

 

Two potentially really stupid questions re: the QAM tuner.

 

1) Does a satellite receiver(which I have) = a digital cable box as far as unscrambling digital channels? My satellite is running just off coax and not RCA, as my XBox takes up my only RCA input.....difference made there, if any?

 

2) If I'm running (hypothetically) an HDTV with nothing more than a set of rabbit ears and no set-top box of any kind, what happens to the QAM tuner then? Rendered useless?

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

1)Interesting question...all satellite channels are digital so yes, but there would be a difference from a regular Satellite box and one thats HD capable.

 

2)QAM Tuner is only for digital cable, so its useless, but your TV probably has an ATSC tuner since its hooked up to rabbit ears and getting a picture with no STB.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

1)Interesting question...all satellite channels are digital so yes, but there would be a difference from a regular Satellite box and one thats HD capable.

 

2)QAM Tuner is only for digital cable, so its useless, but your TV probably has an ATSC tuner since its hooked up to rabbit ears and getting a picture with no STB.

 

Hypothetical...I'm about a year away from getting an HDTV. As I mentioned earlier, I work at Wal*Mart, which gives us little to no product training, so I'm just trying to learn as much as I can about stuff I didn't already know.

 

Well, let's say half-hypothetical, as the TV I'm looking at is a Sanyo LCD with a QAM (and ATSC) tuner. I've already got a standard satellite box, but obviously I'll need to upgrade to an HD receiver. I take that back. I won't technically need to, but we only pick up, I'm told, two channels in HD with rabbit ears as opposed to 30ish with Bell.

 

So, if I stick with my current Bell receiver (satellite), this QAM tuner means nothing to me? What can I expect of the QAM tuner, if anything, with an HD-ready receiver? The ATSC means nothing to me due to the fact I'm bound to Bell for two more years (and didn't plan on dropping it anyway, regardless of my tv-buying decision).

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

QAM tuners only work with cable.

[Guest Princess Leena]

I'm viewing this thread on HDTV, and I'm not wowed.

 

Wow me, Marvin.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

I'm viewing this thread on HDTV, and I'm not wowed.

 

Wow me, Marvin.

 

Watch something in actual HD!

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Co-worker tells me that my trusty old JVC 32 CRT will be useless as of Feb. 17, 2009 because of the HD switch;

 

Said co-worker also told me to buy an HDTV three weeks ago specifially for the Rumble I ordered that night because "It's an HDTV, therefore the Rumble will be in HD".

 

As such, I'm taking what he said with a grain of salt...is he right about the first thing?

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Co-worker tells me that my trusty old JVC 32 CRT will be useless as of Feb. 17, 2009 because of the HD switch;

 

Said co-worker also told me to buy an HDTV three weeks ago specifially for the Rumble I ordered that night because "It's an HDTV, therefore the Rumble will be in HD".

 

As such, I'm taking what he said with a grain of salt...is he right about the first thing?

 

Do you receive any OTA stations from the United States, and do you trust the U.S. government to not stall and delay the deadline again?

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Co-worker tells me that my trusty old JVC 32 CRT will be useless as of Feb. 17, 2009 because of the HD switch;

 

Said co-worker also told me to buy an HDTV three weeks ago specifially for the Rumble I ordered that night because "It's an HDTV, therefore the Rumble will be in HD".

 

As such, I'm taking what he said with a grain of salt...is he right about the first thing?

 

Do you receive any OTA stations from the United States, and do you trust the U.S. government to not stall and delay the deadline again?

 

We don't in St. Kitts, although I work in a Buffalo-border town some 40 miles away. I'm told the only OTA stations in the Fort Erie area, however, are both from Toronto.

 

And yes, I think this deadline's for real, or, at least, far more sincere than past efforts.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

I dont have any clue how Canada is dealing with their digital transition...

 

Anyway, if you dont depend on the OTA and have cable or something then, you should be fine..

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

I dont have any clue how Canada is dealing with their digital transition...

 

Anyway, if you dont depend on the OTA and have cable or something then, you should be fine..

 

 

Can you elaborate on that a little? What happens to a person who doesn't have cable/satellite 24 months from now? How bout someone with a CRT tv that isn't HD ready, though has cable without a set-top box?

[SuperJerk 0]

Co-worker tells me that my trusty old JVC 32 CRT will be useless as of Feb. 17, 2009 because of the HD switch;

 

Said co-worker also told me to buy an HDTV three weeks ago specifially for the Rumble I ordered that night because "It's an HDTV, therefore the Rumble will be in HD".

 

As such, I'm taking what he said with a grain of salt...is he right about the first thing?

Please punch your co-worker in the face for that stupid comment about the Rumble.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

I dont have any clue how Canada is dealing with their digital transition...

 

Anyway, if you dont depend on the OTA and have cable or something then, you should be fine..

 

 

Can you elaborate on that a little? What happens to a person who doesn't have cable/satellite 24 months from now? How bout someone with a CRT tv that isn't HD ready, though has cable without a set-top box?

 

Scenario #1 (no cable/sat) in 24 months results in NO TV because analog will go bye bye and your tv wont pick up OTA like it does now unless you buy a converter box that they'll start pushing the hell out of next year.

 

Scenario #2 (you have cable without a set top box) in 24 months results in you still being able to watch tv unless your cable company switches completely over to digital and requires a box or a cable card.

 

The important thing to remember is that with the Analog shut off, only over the air (OTA) analog signals (the kind that you need an antenna hooked up to your tv to pick up local channels like CBS) are being shut off, cable companies can and probably will continue to provide analog for a couple more years. Sat is already digital..

[SuperJerk 0]

Marvin's right, except I'm not sure if we're talking just about digital transmission, or about HD.

 

I'd add, though, that even with the satelitte reciever that is designed for HD which I currently own, I could still watch HD programming on my regular non-HD set because it has standard AV and S-Video outputs.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Marvin's right, except I'm not sure if we're talking just about digital transmission, or about HD.

 

I'd add, though, that even with the satelitte reciever that is designed for HD which I currently own, I could still watch HD crappy downcoverted HD programming in 480i on my regular non-HD set because it has standard AV and S-Video outputs.

 

All the talk about people buying HD sets and not having HD STB..I cant imagine the reverse scenario that you have..why? Most HD programming costs extra and its not like theres enough different programming to warrant paying extra to see it in 480i.

[SuperJerk 0]

Marvin's right, except I'm not sure if we're talking just about digital transmission, or about HD.

 

I'd add, though, that even with the satelitte reciever that is designed for HD which I currently own, I could still watch HD crappy downcoverted HD programming in 480i on my regular non-HD set because it has standard AV and S-Video outputs.

 

All the talk about people buying HD sets and not having HD STB..I cant imagine the reverse scenario that you have..why? Most HD programming costs extra and its not like theres enough different programming to warrant paying extra to see it in 480i.

I'd like to draw your attention to my cunning use of the word "could," as in "I could still watch." I did not say "I watch HD on an SD set," because that'd be kind of dumb.

 

It was a hypothetical situation designed to show how someone with a regular TV could get around not having a HD ready TV in the event networks no longer broadcasted in SD at all.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

This is the TV I'll likely buy in the fall.

[MrRant 0]

Marvin's right, except I'm not sure if we're talking just about digital transmission, or about HD.

 

I'd add, though, that even with the satelitte reciever that is designed for HD which I currently own, I could still watch HD crappy downcoverted HD programming in 480i on my regular non-HD set because it has standard AV and S-Video outputs.

 

All the talk about people buying HD sets and not having HD STB..I cant imagine the reverse scenario that you have..why? Most HD programming costs extra and its not like theres enough different programming to warrant paying extra to see it in 480i.

 

Eh, usually you're paying for the upgraded box (at least with Comcast), not so much having HD service like DTV does, plus the box.

[the pinjockey 0]

HD noob question: If I am switching from a standard digital cable box to a HD-DVR box, does the cable company need to come out to do anything or can I just go to their place and switch boxes to hook it up myself?

[Craig Th 0]

Just plug and watch.

 

But sometimes, the signal isn't strong enough and the cable company does need to come out and change some stuff.

[Guest Vitamin X]

You can do it yourself, however, getting to the Comcast office, and them sometimes being out of it or not can be a pain in the ass, whereas if you have an installation date set up (most of the time they shouldn't charge you unless you're a first-time customer; otherwise it's just a service order) they'll just do it and you can get it over with.

 

Also, with a bit of technical know-how, having the DVR function on your HD box can be pointless. The DVR for Comcast's box is only 20gig, which is quite limited especially for HD programming. You can set one up through your computer for much cheaper.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

My Directv HD Tivo has a 250 GB hard drive (30 HRs of HD/200+ HRs of SD)