After nearly 18 months, my HD television (LCD) finally has an HD signal

[AndrewR]

It's good to be a member of the club. Now, I want a bigger screen and higher resolution (mine's only 720p).

My wife hates that she married a gadget freak!

 

[Shawn]

why so long?

 

[neutralizer]

Yeah, I just got an HDTV, trying to get some antennae to get some OTA HD signals.

 

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: Shawn
why so long?

We couldn't get HD cable since we live on a military base (more or less), and they had an exclusive contract with a crappy provider that only gave cable to military customers (they couldn't compete otherwise!). Time Warner just became available, and people are dropping the old one in droves.

I ALMOST got satellite, but I had misgivings about each one available (Dish and DirecTV). I tried to find a relatively inexpensive HD OTA tuner (TV doesn't have one, obviously), but I couldn't -- found one at CompUSA on clearance that was completely inoperable. Flirted with putting an HD card in my pseudo-HTPC, but it's too small. I even tried an up converting DVD player, but the up conversion won't work through Component video, which is the only thing I can use without getting a HDMI-DVI cable (which I now need for the cable box). I've been stymied at every corner.

SO, Time Warner is here, and it's nice to see a sharp signal! Now I just need a good universal remote to control everything...

 

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: neutralizer
Yeah, I just got an HDTV, trying to get some antennae to get some OTA HD signals.

I have one -- want to buy it? It's a Philips.

 

[neutralizer]

Originally posted by: AndrewR

Originally posted by: neutralizer
Yeah, I just got an HDTV, trying to get some antennae to get some OTA HD signals.

I have one -- want to buy it? It's a Philips.

At this point, I have no idea what size I need. There are multiple OTA signals at completely different angles so I'll probably have to play around with some stuff.

 

[mwtgg]

Having a built in QAM tuner is nice.

 

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: mwtgg
Having a built in QAM tuner is nice.

Sure is, but when I bought my 30" LCD in Aug 2005, I couldn't find anything close to the price I paid ($1100--going price was about $1700). Built-in tuners were still not the norm at that point.

 

[mwtgg]

Originally posted by: AndrewR

Originally posted by: mwtgg
Having a built in QAM tuner is nice.

Sure is, but when I bought my 30" LCD in Aug 2005, I couldn't find anything close to the price I paid ($1100--going price was about $1700). Built-in tuners were still not the norm at that point.

I hear ya.

 

[doze]

Originally posted by: neutralizer

Originally posted by: AndrewR

Originally posted by: neutralizer
Yeah, I just got an HDTV, trying to get some antennae to get some OTA HD signals.

I have one -- want to buy it? It's a Philips.

At this point, I have no idea what size I need. There are multiple OTA signals at completely different angles so I'll probably have to play around with some stuff.

Start with a $30~40 antenna from Walmart or similar place with liberal return policy. My buddy had one like this and it worked pretty well

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: mwtgg
Having a built in QAM tuner is nice.

Damn straight! Although I would love OTA, the LCD is in the wrong room and the signal is super weak.

So we plug the LCD into the cable outlet, no HD box required, presto instant HD content at no additional cost

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: AndrewR

Originally posted by: Shawn
why so long?

We couldn't get HD cable since we live on a military base (more or less), and they had an exclusive contract with a crappy provider that only gave cable to military customers (they couldn't compete otherwise!). Time Warner just became available, and people are dropping the old one in droves.

I ALMOST got satellite, but I had misgivings about each one available (Dish and DirecTV). I tried to find a relatively inexpensive HD OTA tuner (TV doesn't have one, obviously), but I couldn't -- found one at CompUSA on clearance that was completely inoperable. Flirted with putting an HD card in my pseudo-HTPC, but it's too small. I even tried an up converting DVD player, but the up conversion won't work through Component video, which is the only thing I can use without getting a HDMI-DVI cable (which I now need for the cable box). I've been stymied at every corner.

SO, Time Warner is here, and it's nice to see a sharp signal! Now I just need a good universal remote to control everything...

I have a Samsung OTA HD tuner sitting under my bed collecting dust.

 

[j00fek]

thats why im waiting till next yr to get a hdtv

maine gets everything last all the time

 

[Tom]

no reason to be sad about 720p, that's the best resolution that is broadcast, and even if 1080p was available, you couldn't tell the difference unless you had both types of sets in the same room.

 

[Aimster]

what is wrong with 720p?

 

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: AndrewR

Originally posted by: Shawn
why so long?

We couldn't get HD cable since we live on a military base (more or less), and they had an exclusive contract with a crappy provider that only gave cable to military customers (they couldn't compete otherwise!). Time Warner just became available, and people are dropping the old one in droves.

I ALMOST got satellite, but I had misgivings about each one available (Dish and DirecTV). I tried to find a relatively inexpensive HD OTA tuner (TV doesn't have one, obviously), but I couldn't -- found one at CompUSA on clearance that was completely inoperable. Flirted with putting an HD card in my pseudo-HTPC, but it's too small. I even tried an up converting DVD player, but the up conversion won't work through Component video, which is the only thing I can use without getting a HDMI-DVI cable (which I now need for the cable box). I've been stymied at every corner.

SO, Time Warner is here, and it's nice to see a sharp signal! Now I just need a good universal remote to control everything...

I have a Samsung OTA HD tuner sitting under my bed collecting dust.

How much do you want for it?

 

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: Aimster
what is wrong with 720p?

Nothing wrong with it, but I always want the best available. Also, this TV is a little small at 30" as I'd rather have a 37-40" for our living room. Lastly, this thing has a breakout box, which is nice, but it takes up a fair amount of space and leaves us with four components plus a SFF PC in the entertainment center. If I can get rid of one, I'd be happy plus I'd have an excuse to put this LCD in our bedroom.

I won't be upgrading for a year or two, however.

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: AndrewR

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: AndrewR

Originally posted by: Shawn
why so long?

We couldn't get HD cable since we live on a military base (more or less), and they had an exclusive contract with a crappy provider that only gave cable to military customers (they couldn't compete otherwise!). Time Warner just became available, and people are dropping the old one in droves.

I ALMOST got satellite, but I had misgivings about each one available (Dish and DirecTV). I tried to find a relatively inexpensive HD OTA tuner (TV doesn't have one, obviously), but I couldn't -- found one at CompUSA on clearance that was completely inoperable. Flirted with putting an HD card in my pseudo-HTPC, but it's too small. I even tried an up converting DVD player, but the up conversion won't work through Component video, which is the only thing I can use without getting a HDMI-DVI cable (which I now need for the cable box). I've been stymied at every corner.

SO, Time Warner is here, and it's nice to see a sharp signal! Now I just need a good universal remote to control everything...

I have a Samsung OTA HD tuner sitting under my bed collecting dust.

How much do you want for it?

Hmm, I don't know. When it's plugged in but off, it makes like a high-pitched tone. You can hardly hear it though. I can hear it, but my GF or anyone else can't.

Works great, and doesn't make the noise when it's on. I don't think I would be able to sell it for what it's really worth because of that.

 

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: AndrewR

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: AndrewR

Originally posted by: Shawn
why so long?

We couldn't get HD cable since we live on a military base (more or less), and they had an exclusive contract with a crappy provider that only gave cable to military customers (they couldn't compete otherwise!). Time Warner just became available, and people are dropping the old one in droves.

I ALMOST got satellite, but I had misgivings about each one available (Dish and DirecTV). I tried to find a relatively inexpensive HD OTA tuner (TV doesn't have one, obviously), but I couldn't -- found one at CompUSA on clearance that was completely inoperable. Flirted with putting an HD card in my pseudo-HTPC, but it's too small. I even tried an up converting DVD player, but the up conversion won't work through Component video, which is the only thing I can use without getting a HDMI-DVI cable (which I now need for the cable box). I've been stymied at every corner.

SO, Time Warner is here, and it's nice to see a sharp signal! Now I just need a good universal remote to control everything...

I have a Samsung OTA HD tuner sitting under my bed collecting dust.

How much do you want for it?

Hmm, I don't know. When it's plugged in but off, it makes like a high-pitched tone. You can hardly hear it though. I can hear it, but my GF or anyone else can't.

Works great, and doesn't make the noise when it's on. I don't think I would be able to sell it for what it's really worth because of that.

Ooh, I'm one of those that can hear that as well (the wife can't), and that would annoy me. We have a universal remote with a backlit LCD screen that we keep in the bedroom (clearance TV didn't come with remote) that my wife uses to check the time in the middle of the night. I can hear the high pitched whine of the backlight (ditto for my indiglo Timex watch, though it's very faint), but she cannot.

I don't really need it anyway, but thanks for the info.

 

[yllus]

Samsung 42" DLP HDTV, Samsung SIR-T451 OTA tuner and Channel Master CM-4221 HD antenna here.

You might consider going larger, but 720p/1080i is just what you want for television and video gaming (movies are the one exception that could necessitate a bump to 1080p). IIRC, we won't be seeing 1080p on the airwaves, it's just too bandwidth intensive. Even 720p is usually compressed to the point of some artifacting on some cable and satellite systems.