Who has an HDTV?

Anyone have one, there kinda pricey still, but I must admit beautiful picture !! :)

I've been looking at them, what make and model do you have ?

How many channels do you get in HDTV ?
The resolution for analog is probably good as well.

I have a Toshiba 56" widescreen HDTV with a model 6000 receiver and JVC progressive scan DVD player. I purchased them last May and don't regret it at all. So far we have no digital broadcasts in our area but DVD's look wonderful! Well worth the purchase just for those. I also subscribe to HBOHD and Showtime HD and occasionally watch true HDTV 1080i movies. I like having them available to me but admit I don't use them often because the selection of good movies on those two channels are quite slim.

At any rate, if you buy HDTV, be sure to spring for a 16X9 display. It's the only way to go.

I've got the Sony KP51HW40 tv and a Dish 6000 receiver with the 8vsb tuner. I also get HBO-HD and Showtime-HD from dish and also CBS-HD out of Los Angeles (I live in a CBS owned and operated city so I got the waiver for it). Over the air I get CBS, ABC, PBS, and the Fox 480p feed (new as of this week).

I have a Toshiba TW40X81 16x9 HDTV with a Dish 6000 with 8VSB tuner and a Panasonic RP91 Progressive Scan DVD Player and I love it.

Scott

Sometimes I could kick myself in the rear....About 1 yr ago I bought a 36" Sony Wega, for the money I spent on it with an additional few more bucks I could have had an HDTV.
I just can't stop eyeing those HDTV's when I go in an electronics store.

Must be a prerequisite here to be a moderator, an HDTV....LOL...:D

I don't think that Steve has one yet...but give him time - he's still young :lol:

:D

Nope, no HD yet, just plain old 32" NTSC. You should see me in Sears and Best Buy Im practically drooling over them. But their a bit out of my price range ;) I got my eye on the Philips 34PW9815. Its a 34" 16x9 set that does 1080i but no 720p :( Due to the size of my room I wouldnt want a TV bigger then 36".

I have a Panasonic PT-52DL10 HDTV DLP TV (has the Texas Instruments Digital Light Processor system) with the Panasonic TU-HDS20 DirecTV/HDTV receiver. Without a doubt, the DLP system is the brightest/clearest HDTV system out there.

Comparing the Olympics on DirecTV HDNet and also simulcast by my local NBC station in HD, there is NO difference in quality between the DirecTV HD and over the air HD.

I have had a Toshiba 50HX81 for about a month. I just added the Toshiba DST3000 receiver and now get HDNet and HBO-DT via DirecTV. I am starting down the local HDTV route via OTA so don't have experience there yet. I love the TV and the receiver, haven't had any problems and the HD pictures - HBO movies and HDNet Olympics have been spectacular.

Chris writes "At any rate, if you buy HDTV, be sure to spring for a 16X9 display. It's the only way to go."

But doesn't depend on what you watch? If you, like me, do not watch many DVDs but mainly watch TV wouldn't a 4:3 be better? Its my understanding that most broadcasts are in 4:3. It seems its a trade off of where you want to see the black bars more often. I'm used to seeing them on top so I think that when I buy I'll look closer at a standard aspect set. Besides, it will fit my entertainment center better.

Swamp,

Yes, it does depend on what you watch but what about what you WILL watch in the future? Sure, right now you are watching a lot of 4X3 material but over the next couple of years most local broadcaster will be fully up and running with much more 16X9 material. Sure, you will be able to watch that material on a 4X3 monitor but you will be seeing an effectively smaller picture due to the screen size. (see this site www.cavecreations.com/tv2.cgi (http://www.cavecreations.com/tv2.cgi) ).

And what about DVD's? Sure you don't watch many of them now but how about in the future? I guess what I'm trying to say is to try to leave your options open. If you base your purchase on a monitor that contains features for what you watch now, you may be setting yourself up for obsolescence from the get go.

hi everyone! My first time writing on this board, i found it after i bought my Samsung 47" widescreen HDTV. Wish i would have found it before.I do not have the decoder yet becuase i can only afford it one thing at a time.I love the way it looks with DVD's but with my satelite it doesnt look good.In order to watch 4:3 aspect full screen i have to streth the screen out making it not look clear at all.Or I can put it in panoramic then the outer 3"to 4" are stretched and makes everything look weird.I can put it in normal then it has grey bars that run on each side of the screen(there grey not black and too bright)cant watch it like that either. I can not decide if i should return it for a square tube or not.The colors im also disappointed in the colors.Is it worth me keeping this TV for a year till i can afford a decoder? watching everything distorted besides DVD's.

Hi Jamie,

Welcome to DBSTalk. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT return your new HDTV. I know having the 16X9 aspect ratio is a little weird at first, but you will get used to it. Also, use the stretch modes more often and after a while you will get used to them.

Over the coming years, more and more HDTV 16X9 programming will be available. When you finally do get your decoder, you won't regret having the monitor you have now. Just hold out for a little while longer.

I would love to have an HDTV. I consider myself an early adopter of every new cool technology there is. However, HDTV is the exception.

Why? Well, it turns out that I'm too dependent on my PVR!! Since I have a ReplayTV, I hardly watch live TV any more. And since no PVR (that I know of) supports recording of HDTV signals yet, it becomes for me a choice between the amzing picture in HDTV and the freedom and flexibility of the PVR life. I have chosen the latter.

Of course, the day an HDTV-ready PVR comes to the market, I'll be the first one to have it :).

[Mark Lamutt]

I know what you mean, Unr...

I ended up recently building a computer with a Telmann Hipix DTV-200 card just so I could timeshift HDTV. I've got 160GB of drive space dedicated to HD storage, which gives me just under 20 hours of recording time. It's not quite a pvr, but at least it lets me watch what I want when I want, and skip commercials. A little better than a digital vcr for about the same cost.

If you dont, you are really missing out. Even if you dont have a HD signal going to it, you can still see much improved viewing from your cable/ satellite and DVD sources

Regards
Gregg Loewen
ISF Video Calibrationist

[invaliduser88]

Originally posted by Unregistered
If you dont, you are really missing out. Even if you dont have a HD signal going to it, you can still see much improved viewing from your cable/ satellite and DVD sources

Regards
Gregg Loewen
ISF Video Calibrationist

Yeah, when Dish has enough capacity to stop compressing the heck out of their signal! :P

[Scott Greczkowski]

Gregg did my set two weeks ago, and this Dish Network picture looks MUCH MUCH better, the only time I notice the compression now is when there is fast motion on the screen. On Black and white films the blocky backrounds are gone, worth the money just for the improvement here!

[tubbyaz]

I picked up a Sony KV36-XBR450 last summer, and it has changed my life. I stuck with the 4x3 screen format, as I really doubt that there is going to be much more 16x9 content available for the next few years. There so little HD up there on the satellite now, I haven't bothered to get a receiver yet, I just enjoy the DVD resolution.

Local broadcast HD will never be an option for me, as there is a group of mountains that cut across Phoenix between me and the xmitter towers on South Mountain.

[EricG]

Tubbyaz-

Since you have a 4:3 set, do you watch those DVDs in widescreen or P&S?

[DarrellP]

I have a Dish 6000 and am currently viewing on my computer monitor from 20" away, giving the impression of bigscreen.

I am waiting for the new DLP projectors to drop in price and go up in contrast resolution before plunking down the big bucks.

My "magic" price barrier will probably be in the mid $2k's. (Wake me when this dream comes true, please).

[tubbyaz]

EricG-

I watch the 16x9 widescreen DVDs in that format, with the black bars above and below. The Sony does a fantastic job with this (they call it 16x9 Enhanced mode), and I really don't notice the bars. They're "blacker than black" (to quote Spinal Tap).

I have an odd-shaped living room, not very deep but very wide, which ruled out all rear-projection units. My only regret is not waiting another 6 months for the 40" XBR700!

[Nyte_eyes]

Im looking into the Hitachi 61Swx10B. Nice picture, 61" and from I understand, self-calibrating. They say its the only brand with that feature. Dont worry, not gonna buy yet, Im still doing my research. It has a price tag of $4K, so i will make sure its "the one". lol

[dinkster]

I have a Mits WS55807 (55" 16x9) with Dish 6000/8VSB and Sony DVP-9000ES. Here in Houston I receive ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, FOX, UPN through the OTA Tuner and SHO-HD, HBO-HD from Dish.

I installed this equipment 1.5 years ago.

While I would love to see more HD programming on the majors and via sat, I have seen the HD content increase dramatically during this time. With the recent annoucements of more primetime HD programming, I am certain that this situation will continue to improve. I am optimistic that Dish will carry the Discovery HD channel as well.

I have not regretted the investment for a moment.

[Phil T]

I get my Sony KP61HS30 delivered on Sunday. I went for the big 4x3 because that is still what we watch the most. I understand that in the 16x9 mode the picture will be as big as a 55" wide screen. I am really looking forward to hooking this mother up!!!!!

[TBarclay]

Just hooked up my Dish 6000 today to go with the Toshiba 53H71 I got last month. I've been watching the Dish Demo channel all afternoon. What beautiful pictures! I also get HBO HD and the CBS East HD channel. I decided to go for a 4x3 set instead of 16x9 because I'm not a big movie watcher. By far the majority of what I watch is 4x3 programming and I don't expect that to change anytime real soon. I'm in an area where I can't get any over-the-air network signals and so my HDTV options will remain limited for a while. I certainly do hope Dish will add the Discovery HDTV Theatre and it would be great to get other networks to put up a national HDTV signal. My biggest concern was whether or not I should wait for the "rumored" 921 receiver. I have a Dishplayer 7200 and LOVE the PVR features even with all of the (&*#$ problems that receiver has had. I would really like a Hi-Def PVR but in the end, the gadget-freak in me couldn't wait. (That gadget-freak bone some of us have sure can cost a guy a lot of money in the long run!!!)

[John Walsh]

I have a Toshiba 57H81 widescreen HD ready. I have not ever seen a real HDTV signal though. I am waiting for the 921 reciever if it ever comes out. I do have a Progressive scan DVD player and a few dvds to watch on it. I am moving within the next two weeks, after that I plan on having the TV adjusted. I can't quite seem to get the convergence or the colors exactly right

[HTguy]

Originally posted by Unregistered
... Even if you dont have a HD signal going to it, you can still see much improved viewing from your cable/ satellite and DVD sources

Regards
Gregg Loewen
ISF Video Calibrationist

Gregg, I see you are ISF trained so I have a lot more respect for your post than many others.

I will agree that WS (anamorphic) DVDs can look great on 16:9 sets especially if the set as a good upconverter or the player has a good deinterlacer for "progressive" output.

But I will have to repectfully disagree about watching NTSC content such as OTA, cable, or even DBS on such sets. In my experience, and in the experience of many other "pros," NTSC content generally looks worse on these sets compared to SD or even 4:3 HD sets. There are several reasons for this, some subjective, some objective.

Personally, I think the best overall compromise for NTSC vs. ATSC, SD vs. HD for a long time to come is a good HD ready 4:3 bigscreen like the SONY 61" Phil T mentions.

[Phil T]

Ok, now I have gone and done it. I picked up a 6000 and a 8VSB tuner today from a local dealer who went to distribution center and got it for me. I read through the book and I am open to any recommendations for setting this puppy up.

I take it I am supposed to let it download the software before I put the module in. Is that correct?

Do I hook up both the S-video for SD and the Y Pb Pr for HD?

Do I use the 4x3 option #1 (vertical comperssion) or #2 (without) for my Sony?

The TV is delivered on Sunday so I am trying to get a jump on understanding this stuff.

As you can tell, I am a HDTV rookie!!!!!

[HTguy]

Originally posted by Phil T
Ok, now I have gone and done it. I picked up a 6000 and a 8VSB tuner today from a local dealer who went to distribution center and got it for me. I read through the book and I am open to any recommendations for setting this puppy up.

I take it I am supposed to let it download the software before I put the module in. Is that correct?

YES

Do I hook up both the S-video for SD and the Y Pb Pr for HD?

YES

Do I use the 4x3 option #1 (vertical comperssion) or #2 (without) for my Sony?

4X3 #1

The TV is delivered on Sunday so I am trying to get a jump on understanding this stuff.

As you can tell, I am a HDTV rookie!!!!!


Also, set Analog Type to "Off Air" & TV Type to "1080I."

[Chris Blount]

Originally posted by Phil T
Ok, now I have gone and done it. I picked up a 6000 and a 8VSB tuner today Congrads Phil! You will love having the 6000. Do you have local OTA HDTV broadcasts in your area? If you do, there is an auto-setup selection that searches and finds local DTV broadcasts. Use this web site:
http://www.antennaweb.org/antennaweb/

Point your antenna in the right direction and away you go.

Showtime and HBO also have excellent HDTV material if you have a dish pointed at 65 or 148.

Again, congrads and don't hesitate to ask us for any help with your new TV and receiver.

[Mark Lamutt]

Hi Phil! Another Denverite! I've got a 6000 and have everything set up to watch OTA and dish HD in the area, so if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. What part of Littleton do you live in? If you're not terribly far south, and below a hill between you and downtown, you have a reasonably good chance of picking up KCNC (channel 35-1), KRMA (18-1 and 80-3) and KDVR (32-1). KDVR is broadcasting from Lookout, and KCNC and KRMA are broadcasting low power from the top of Republic Plaza downtown. Normally I would agree with Chris' recommendation of antennaweb, but not in our case. I can help you with antenna setup once I know where you live. KMGH (17-1, 17-2) is also broadcasting, but from the top of their building at 6th and Speer, so I doubt you'll be able to pick them up easily. I'm near 2nd and Sheridan (4 miles from KMGH) and can just barely get a signal from them. Welcome to the Denver club! There aren't many of us, but we are enthusiastic about HD. Also, I don't normally pitch other forums (being admin here and all), but we have a long-time running Denver specific thread over at avsforums. I'd invite you to join us there as well - it makes for some interesting reading on the history of HD in Denver, and what's happening these days. Address is HERE (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=28456)

[Phil T]

Thanks for all the help and support!

I activated the 6000 Friday and hooked it up to a 27" Panasonic analog TV just to play with it.

I live in the Columbine Hills area near Chatfield Reservoir and to my suprise, I was able to pick up 18 PBS (listed as channel 80), 32 KDVR Fox and 35 KCNC all with a small UHF loop.

No sign of 17.

I live on the crest of a hill so that must help. When the wind kicked up last night I lost lock on all three channels.

I have an attic antenna and tomorrow, when the TV is delivered, I plan to hook it up and hope I have a better signal. If not, I guess I am open for suggestions on a outdoor UHF.

I have been a lurker of the AVS - Denver Tower forum for quite a while and just signed up for their e-mail notifications.

Activating with Dish was interesting. I finally got it done, but I was on hold a long time. It seems that the El Paso CSR's are not very familiar with the 6000.

I asked about the CBS HD. At first I was told I didn't qualify (Denver is a CBS O&O city). Then I was told there was no HD on 148. Finally I was transferred to a higher level CSR who was very helpful. She said the computers were down but she would make sure CBS HD was activated today.

I will give you an update after I get this all pulled together tomorrow. :D

[Mark Lamutt]

Sounds to me like you are a little far out to get 17, although with a big rooftop antenna, who knows? What signal strengths are you getting on 18, 32, and 35? I've found with the 6000 that you need to keep at least 55% signal otherwise it starts breaking up. The wind last night was definitely moving the trees around, whick was causing just enough multipathing that your receiver couldn't maintain the lock.

You know about the Jeffco planning commission meeting on Wednesday night for the Mt. Morrison proposal? Enjoy your new television! HD is awesome!

[G. A. Lopez]

I have the 61" Sony and it does both 4:3 and 16x9. I bought my first Sony KP51HS10 back in April of 2000. Moved to Indy from Alexandria Virgina and decided that I could use a bigger one and got the 61" Sony. Pics look great! I have had the Echostar 6000HD for Dish since it first came out late in 2000. Had to wait for the 8VSB module to be released but here in Indy there is now quite a few HD OTA broadcasts.

I went for the 4:3 / 16:9 combo for three reasons:

1) Picture quality was better than any others on display at that time. (Make sure that YOU adjust the set *contrast, brightness, and tone, before deciding your purchase as many retailers try to over brighten the pics on the sets they hope you will buy) and the 4:3 is good for the wife as she has little to no interest in adjusting anything and prefers to just turn it on and watch reruns of "Lifetime's Olden Girls" listening to sound through the set. I go full out Digital " when I watch and I love my collection of remotes for DBS, and Digital Cable.

2)Price. It beat out anything that even came close to the pic quality and features at this price so early in the HD game.

3)Service mode on this thing is a piece of cake. (Just don't do it unless you know what you are adjusting). Your best bet is to find an ISF certified tech to calibrate it.

Regular analog broadcasts are NOT great for this set though as it definitely will show every bit of snow or grain in bad analog signals. I feel that it is because the set allows such great detail that it enhances noise in the picture. But again my wife is the only one that watches in analog 4:3 mode!

The one bad thing on the 1st set of the HS series from Sony was the early ones had only one (1) digital (HD) input.
The newer series has two (2). Two input's are great for HD as well as a Progressive Scan DVD.

The 16:9 on this set is still going to give you a good size picture comparable to the true "Wide Screen" sets but may only appear smaller due to the actual TV screen being so big to accommodate the 4:3 pics.

If you happen to have one of the original HS series with only one digital input my suggestion is to buy a "good quality"receiver with "component video switching" and that will solve that problem as well as give you an excuse to buy that new Denon you have been eying! Worked for me

Have a great weekend all!



Greg



[I]:D :wave:

[Phil T]

I have had my set up about a month now and really like it. I have both a 501 and 6000 connected to the set along with a Toshiba SD 4700 P/S DVD and an Onkyo HTS 650 HTIAB. I am still learning all the set-ups.

I had to put up a 4th dish looking at 61.5 for Discovery HD. For now I use the 501 for all regular viewing and the 6000 for HD viewing only. I set up a favorites list with only the HDTV channels. This seems like a simple way to go so that the rest of the family can watch the 501 and I can play with the HD.

I notice that digital OTA signals (low power Denver affiliates) are all over the place even with an outdoor antenna. Is this normal? I have seen signals go from 80 to 40 in a few seconds and breakup. I am pointing at trees. I am surprised the the digital OTA signals are this unstable but guess it is due to them being low power. I really do enjoy the PBS DH feed from KRMA. :hi:

[Mark Lamutt]

Yup, that's what we get to deal with here in Denver with our OTA...With KCNC and KRMA broadcasting at 15kW power rather than 5 MW and 1MW respectively, the leaves on trees will definitely cause breakup. And don't even get me started on the 7kW transmissions from KMGH from the top of their 10 story building! I can't even get them at the moment from 3.5 miles away!

One day, sometime around 2026 I'm guessing, we'll have HD locals off of a satellite somewhere that we can watch consistently...the signals sure won't be from some nice mountaintop location bathing the entire Denver metro area with the lovely rf radiation bringing the signals to our antennas...

Of course, I could be wrong...:D The LCG application went in yesterday, as you know if you've been keeping up with the Denver thread at AVS. We'll now have 3 or 4 months of hoping until the Jeffco planning commission shoots it down for whatever reason.

[DP1]

Thats wild Mark, are you saying you cant get 17 these days due to the foliage then? Cause I cant get it reliably *unless* theres foliage down here off Ken Caryl and Wads. I got it good all last summer and then was shocked that I lost stability all fall/winter once the leaves dropped. Then I got it back reliably 24/7 once the leaves came back.

My problem has been the loss of 35 with the same antenna config (big outdoor Yagi) since the leaves came out and/or wasnt there another small non digital station affecting 35 somehow also broadcasting from Republic as of a while back.. in any event I had to use a second small antenna pointed slightly different to get 35 nowadays (go figure) cause while theres certainly at least some leeway with antenna pointing for 35, for me theres zilch leeway for 17 and that specific placement wouldn't fly for 35.

DTV in this town isnt just a hassle..it's an adventure :)

[Mark Lamutt]

Hey Dan - nice to see you over here!

As soon as the weather warmed up and the leaves came out, I lost 17. My average signal strength (Dish 6000 and Hipix) dropped from about 60 to 10. I'm still getting 18 and 35 just fine, but I'm only 4 miles from Republic and have a direct line of sight with no trees in the way. Trees are definitely in the way towards 17 for me. An adventure it is, no doubt!