HDTV: Does anyone here have it?

[Arkitech]

I finally got a chance to see a HDTV demonstration recently and I have to admit that I'm hooked. The clarity and the colors of the images are breathtaking. Does anyone on this forum have one or know someone who has a HDTV?

What signals are available right now that take advantage of HDTV?
Do DVD players send out HDTV signals?
Is digital cable something that HDTV can take advantage of?
What's the most affordable HDTV available right now?

I'm really tempted to buy one but I'm trying to get some more information first.

 

[d0ofy]

HDTV is too much $$ for me.

Some broadcast networks are sending out HDTV signals. I know that CBS and Fox Sports is in HDTV. So is HBO and a few PPVs on Dish.
DVD does not send out HDTV.
Depending on your cable company, digital cable should be able to send out HDTV signals, but they don't have the capacity so send all channels with it.
I saw a Sony widescreen 35"ish HDTV at the Sony outlet for $2500. Great picture.

 

[Sohcan]

Yep, HDTV technology definitely does rule...I just wish they would roll it out faster (and not have the MPAA screw it up with CSS encryption).

- Go here to find a list of stations that are broadcasting HDTV in your area.
- DVDs are standard definition (480 vertical lines), but they will look much better on an HDTV, for two reasons. One, since an SDTV has to display the black bars on the top and bottom, only about 75% of the vertical resolution (360 lines) is being used to display the DVD. If the DVD is anamorphic widescreen, all 480 vertical lines will be displayed on an HDTV, since it is widescreen. Also, most HDTVs have line doublers, which duplicates each line (displaying 960) and gives the illusion of being at a higher resolution.
- AFAIK, there are no high-definition digital cable services as of yet, but there are some hi-def channels being broadcasted on the DirectTV satellite service.

 

[Linflas]

The funny thing is that according to the FCC we are all supposed to be HDTV by 2006. At that time they are supposedly supposed to get the analog broadcast frequencies back from the local broadcasters since we will all be watching HDTV either with HDTV TVs or set top tuners. My guess is that goal will slip.

 

[chaim]

i have a hdtv at home and i have a digital satilite conected to it and it takes advantage of the tv,ps the picture for movies and tv is awsome i recommened the rca 36inch high definition tv.

 

[Superdoopercooper]

I have a Sony Front Projector projecting a 106" widescreen image. It is fully HDTV ready (just add HD reciever).

My dilemma is this: Austin, TX has one HI-DEF channel: NBC. It only broadcasts Leno in HD. Not worth the price of getting a reciever at this point.

DirectTV and DISH both have a few HD channels, but none of them interest me enuff to purchase them, either. I would like to see saturday afternoon sports such as NFL or PGA or somehting being broadcast in HD on the local stations. SO, until that time, I'm "boycotting" buying an HD reciever.

BUT, I've seen Hi-DEF broadcasts/pictures (at 1080i, I think), and I'm totally hooked and drooling. I can't wait until I have that. DVD looks good, but 720p and 1080i HiDef is just a work of art. You can see individual hairs on people's heads, etc. Once you see it, you won't wanna go back. I'm also waiting for 720p encoded DVD's (Hi-Def or Super DVD)... which may or may not ever materialize.

Home theater is sweet. Check out some pictures of my HT (they aren't great pics, but you'll get the idea).

 

[Raspewtin]

I have an HDTV receiver and a 60" Mits HDTV. We only get a few OTA stations in HDTV. Picture is excellent but not enough content. My cable doesn't support HDTV yet, and I don't want Dishes (since dish would cost more than cable for me)

 

[Arkitech]

how many lines of resolution does hdtv have?

 

[Raspewtin]

"how many lines of resolution does hdtv have? "


there are like a total of 18 different supported resolutions I think. there is one network doing 720 progressive scan (I forget which) the rest are broadcasting in 1080 interlaced. Most HDTVs out there support 1080i and not 720p so the HDTV receiver converts all signals to 1080i (some support 720p output as well). there is an HDTV forum at www.avsforum.com that has a ton of info on HDTV.

 

[yakko]

HDTV sucks. Damn government screwing up my tv viewing.

 

[Arkitech]

couple of more questions

since hdtv obviously has more lines of resolution than the average tv, are pc monitors examples of how hdtv looks?

i've heard that there are convertors that are available that allow sdtv to display hdtv signals, is this true? and if so what do they cost?


thanks


sorry for all the questions

 

[nightowl]

HDTV would look similar to a PC monitor but HDTV would not be quite as sharp a PC monitor. The reason is that monitors have a finer dot pitch than HDTVs. Also most people run their monitors at a higher resolution that HDTVs run at. Keep in mind that 1080i spec is interlaced and half the picture is displayed and then the other half (actually every other line). The 720p spec is progressive and the entire picture is displayed at one time. AS far as the converters, they are available and they usually run $600+ and the picture quality will be along the line of a DVD, which is still a lot better than current broadcasts.

 

[Eug]

<< DVDs are standard definition (480 vertical lines), but they will look much better on an HDTV, for two reasons. One, since an SDTV has to display the black bars on the top and bottom, only about 75% of the vertical resolution (360 lines) is being used to display the DVD. If the DVD is anamorphic widescreen, all 480 vertical lines will be displayed on an HDTV, since it is widescreen. Also, most HDTVs have line doublers, which duplicates each line (displaying 960) and gives the illusion of being at a higher resolution. >>


Also, HDTVs can display 480 line progressive scan, if you have the right DVD player. Cable TV and most DVD players show only an interlaced image.

I have an HDTV (a 34&quot; CRT, not one of those projection TVs), but don't have HDTV service because the programming sucks so far.

There are also EDTV (&quot;enhanced...&quot that will support a 720p or 1080i HDTV input, but only display it at 480i/p. Personally, I think they're a great idea. The image is MUCH better than standard TVs, but they're cheaper than true HDTVs. More importantly, they work great with progressive scan DVD players. The only reason I bought an HDTV was because the picture quality was slightly better even at 480i than the EDTVs I looked at.