Direct TV HD Recievers with a CRT HD TV

2467 Views 24 Replies 18 Participants Last post by JerryElbow, Jul 14, 2008

deafcorn

Discussion Starter · Jul 8, 2008

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!

1 - 20 of 25 Posts

w6fxj

· #2 · Jul 8, 2008

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

· #3 · Jul 8, 2008

: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

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jul 8, 2008

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

· #5 · Jul 8, 2008

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

· #6 · Jul 8, 2008

deafcorn said:
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

· #7 · Jul 8, 2008

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

northrk

· #8 · Jul 8, 2008

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

GregLee

· #9 · Jul 8, 2008

deafcorn said:
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

· #10 · Jul 8, 2008

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

· #11 · Jul 8, 2008

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

· #12 · Jul 8, 2008

deafcorn said:
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

· #13 · Jul 8, 2008

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

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jul 9, 2008

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

· #15 · Jul 9, 2008

deafcorn said:
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

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jul 9, 2008

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

JimTed

· #17 · Jul 9, 2008

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

· #18 · Jul 9, 2008

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

cowart

· #19 · Jul 9, 2008

deafcorn said:
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

· #20 · Jul 9, 2008

deafcorn said:
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.

1 - 20 of 25 Posts

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