Direct TV HD Recievers with a CRT HD TV

[deafcorn]

Greetings!!

I'm finally making the switch from Dish to Direct TV (Finally going to enjoy Sunday Ticket) and wondering if the HD receiver and package would be of any benefit to me.

My TV is a 2005 RCA D52W23 HD Monitor. It has the HMDI and DVI connections on the back of it, plus the normal A/V, etc... I have the standard Dish receiver and 80% of the programs look awful (slight blur, uncrisp). Every now and then a show will come thru and look good, granted not plasma or LCD good, but cleaner and crisper than the normal blur. I have a Nintendo Wii hooked to it and the graphics are much better than most of the standard Dish receiver pictures.

My question, with the CRT HD TV, do you think it'd be worth upgrading to the HD package?

Also, I'm going to try using the referral program for 50 off and also the AAA for 10 off (x 24 months). Any other current deals that I may want to check into?

Thanks!

[w6fxj]

Welcome to DbsTalk! Neither Dish or DirecTV SD channels are a good test to evaluate a monitor. You really need to see an HD program on one of the better HDTV channels. That said, your RCA CRT might be getting soft or need some tweaking. A good CRT monitor is the equal of similarly sized LCD's or Plasma monitors. But they get old and tired after many hours of viewing.

Go for it and if the RCA does not hack it see about getting one of the many LCD HDTV's that are so cheap these days!

[Stuart Sweet]

:welcome_s deafcorn!

Certainly you will get something out of your TV, it is still an HDTV. That being said, now's a pretty good time to upgrade to an LCD. If you buy one at Circuit City at the same time you sign up for DIRECTV there are all sorts of discounts, free HD DVR, etc.

But that's off topic. My answer is, I do think it's worth going to HD.

[deafcorn]

Thanks for the reply.

Do you know if it's possible, if I choose not to continue with HD, to downgrade from the HD package without penalty with Direct? I'm assuming the HD receiver will receive standard signals as well, right?

[Mertzen]

I used to have a HD DVR hooked up to a 30" CRT widescreen TV. I loved the picture of it. I liked it way better then a majority of the low end LCD that I see out in the field. Can't beat those black tones of a CRT.

[Mertzen]

Thanks for the reply.

Do you know if it's possible, if I choose not to continue with HD, to downgrade from the HD package without penalty with Direct? I'm assuming the HD receiver will receive standard signals as well, right?

It can indeed do SD only but D* might require you to return the HD IRD if you cancel the HD Access package. Call to find out.

[feschiver]

Your tv will look great using the HD DVR. you did not say what the higest res your tv displays. If you have money to have your sports you must get the HD package you won't go back:D

[northrk]

which connection type are you currently using (svideo, composite or coax)?

[GregLee]

I have a Nintendo Wii hooked to it and the graphics are much better than most of the standard Dish receiver pictures.

My question, with the CRT HD TV, do you think it'd be worth upgrading to the HD package?
Yes. I have a 2004 Panasonic rp crt and a Wii. The HD TV is generally better than SD and typically as good, or occasionally a little better, than the Wii at 480p. You'd think it would be lots better at more than twice the resolution, but it's not --- still, it is appreciably better than the typical SD satellite/cable picture.

[Redlinetire]

I have an 5 or 6 year old Toshiba CRT HD TV (34") and of course it's worth the HD package! I can't believe that's even a question to consider...

The MPEG-4 channels are amazing, and I like the colors better than current LCD/plasma systems. But that's just me.

Yes, some of the SD channels look rough, but that was true when I had cable. A brand new LCD isn't going to change that.

I have it hooked up via an HDMI->DVI cable (my TV only has DVI) and it looks great!

[dennisj00]

We upgraded to the 46" Sony listed below last August and HD D* in September and promptly sold our remaining NFL Season tickets. The game is better, the picture is immaculate, and the beer is a lot cheaper!

[ladannen]

if I choose not to continue with HD, to downgrade from the HD package without penalty with Direct?

No first hand experience on this but after reading the boards here for a while, I have come to the conclusion that choosing between a SD setup or a HD setup should done before the install, with little chance of changing your mind.
1st scenario: You choose SD install now, but decide going to HD 3 months from now:
The installer installs a "SD dish" and sells you SD boxes. Upgrading to HD boxes later isn't difficult, but upgrading to a "HD dish" might not be free, and may result in more holes in your roof Also, any deals on discounted HD boxes may be gone.
2nd scenario: You choose HD install now, but decide going to SD 3 months from now:
The installer installs a "HD dish" and sells you HD boxes. When downgrading to SD, you will need to return the HD boxes, and buy new SD boxes.
See this thread: http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=130029

[xzi]

I use a 51" RPTV CRT HD Sony (KDP-51WS655) and it looks better than any LCD or plasma with HDMI and HD. You will not get a better picture than a CRT--even these days--when done right.

Just have to turns the lights down sometimes ;)

[deafcorn]

I just checked the back of the TV and I was wrong about it having HMDI connection. All it has is one labelled DVI-HDTV which is a female connection, 24 prong (3 rows of 8). Kinda new with all this, so not really sure if this means anything in regards to possible HD viewing quality. Currently, I have the standard Dish receiver running to it with composite cable (A/V - Yellow, Red, White).

[rsonnens]

I just checked the back of the TV and I was wrong about it having HMDI connection. All it has is one labelled DVI-HDTV which is a female connection, 24 prong (3 rows of 8). Kinda new with all this, so not really sure if this means anything in regards to possible HD viewing quality. Currently, I have the standard Dish receiver running to it with composite cable (A/V - Yellow, Red, White).

It should work with an hdmi->DIV adapter plus you will also need to use the RCA plugs for audio ( I use to do this on a Sony Wega set.) If it is really an HD then things should look great. You could also use component connecters which your TV likely has -- this would be cheaper and provide you just as good a picture. My Sony was NOT an HD set and I eventually upgraded to an LCD.

[deafcorn]

It says HD Monitor on the front, and everything I researched on the web listed it as HD, so thinking (hoping) it is.

[JimTed]

I have two CRT HDTVs connected to the Directv HD package and I would definitely recommend it. I also think a quality CRT provides a terrific HD picture, and handles SD better than many fixed pixel HDTVs.

JimTed

[finaldiet]

I have a 2002 sony 34" crt and its picture is great, especially HD. I wouldn't get anything else but HD!:D

[cowart]

It says HD Monitor on the front, and everything I researched on the web listed it as HD, so thinking (hoping) it is.It is an HD set, but you don't have it connected in HD mode. You said earlier that "Currently, I have the standard Dish receiver running to it with composite cable (A/V - Yellow, Red, White).". That cabling does not provide HD picture quality - you need to use component cables or an HDMI-to-DVI cable.

[northrk]

I just checked the back of the TV and I was wrong about it having HMDI connection. All it has is one labelled DVI-HDTV which is a female connection, 24 prong (3 rows of 8). Kinda new with all this, so not really sure if this means anything in regards to possible HD viewing quality. Currently, I have the standard Dish receiver running to it with composite cable (A/V - Yellow, Red, White).

On the SD Dish recveiver, it should be connected via a Svideo cable for better pic quality.

When you get the HD recvr I would try the component (red, green, blue video) type connection (should come with the recvr) and then buy and try a hdmi to dvi cable. Depends on the TV which one looks the best.

Also adjust the pic controls (brightness, hue, contrast, tint, etc with each type of connection. Each input will have different settings.

[deafcorn]

I didn't try the Svideo cable.

I did pick up an hdmi to dvi cable awhile back and tried it out. I couldn't tell any difference in the picture, so I got my money back on it. So the component cables should work pretty good with the Direct HD receiver? I'm guessing Direct doesn't include an hdmi-dvi cable in the box.

[cbearnm]

I have a 5 year old Toshiba 46" projection CRT and the picture is amazing. CRT projection does require convergence tuning to keep the picture sharp, but is well worth the effort. I actually have 2 HD DVRs hooked up to it, as well as an HD-DVD player and all look incredible. Now, a badly tuned (out of convergence) CRT will look bad and LCD doesn't require this. Depending on where you live, there might be a technician that can do this for you for ~$150, well worth the investment.

Aside from the viewing angle issues, which you are already aware of, there is no reason that you can't get as good a picture as LCD or plasma. There will be arguments about this, but the best pictures I have seen have been a well tuned CRT. There are bad LCDs out there, so don't buy into the "LCD is Better' myth.

By all means, upgrade to HD on D*. You will notice an immediate and marked improvement. Also, with an HD signal capped at 1080i or 720p, there should be no noticeable difference between HDMI and component cables (the RBG cables, not the red/white/yellow).

From what I can see, your TV has only 1 component input and 1 DVI. The DVI input typically only carries the video signal, audio is separate.

And as far as this being a great time to 'upgrade' to LCD or something else, it isn't as if prices are going to be going up. Next year's models will have a slightly bigger picture with more features for the same price as today.

Long story short, if you are pleased with your TV with SD content (or the image from Wii), you will love HD. Take it in steps. Your CRT will almost definitely look better with HD (assuming it's close to converged, if Wii and DVDs look good, so will HD). IF in a year or two, you want to jump to CRT (or OLED or whatever is hottest then), then do it. But every day you stay with SD only, is a day you aren't enjoying your TV as much as you could.

[kw2957]

I have a very similar model to yours (D52W26) and just had an HD DVR installed this week, in fact. I must say that the picture quality is fantastic and is definitely worth the switch. I use the component connection, as it lacks HDMI, but I am still very impressed.

Go ahead...give your TV the picture quality is deserves! :D

[deafcorn]

Thanks everyone!

Direct was installed yesterday and in regards to the HD quality on my CRT, all I can say is WOW!!! What an incredible difference! Not sure if I'll ever be able to go without HD again.

[JerryElbow]

My question, with the CRT HD TV, do you think it'd be worth upgrading to the HD package?
Absolutely! It doesn't matter whether your TV is based on CRT, DLP, LCD, LCOS, Plasma or whatever technology. If it can take in an HD signal and deliver an HD image, than it's defiinitely worth getting an HD source with as much HD material to choose from as possible. Until just this week, the source with the largest number of HD channels available was DirecTV. As of this week and for the next few weeks, that has changed to DISH Network. Once DirecTV's 11th satellite is up and running (it's apparently being jockeyed into position and tested as I write this), I would expect DirecTV to reclaim the #1 position for greatest variety of HD material offered.

I had a CRT-based rear screen projection TV for several years that gave an excellent (if not terribly bright) HD image and I hungered for more HD material than the handful of channels my local cable provider offered. While they've gotten marginally better, it looked last year like DirecTV was really going to take off with a couple of new satellites specializing in HD. I bought a new DLP "main" HDTV for the home theater and a CRT "direct view" HDTV for the loft and signed up for DirecTV (which gave me an additional $300 off the TV at the time) and have loved HD material on both TV since then. Take the plunge!