I know the definition of Over the Air and a cable feed, as well as what a ATSC, NTSC and QAM tuner do…there is no need to quote definitions.
When he stated that he received HD signals “over the air” without the use of an antenna, I took it to mean he was plugging his cable straight into the back of the television.
If you live well within the 485 loop, you probably wont need an antenna.
If we are going to be technical, to receive any OVER THE AIR signal at all, you will need an antenna, so this statement would be false as well. I’m sorry if I sound a little defensive, but this is a personal hobby that I have pursued strongly for over 15 years, and am well aware of what the technology does.
When we get our tax return, my wife and I are planning to buy a 50" DLP. Circuit City had the Samsung on sale for $1500, and Wal-Mart has a Phillips regularly priced at $1500. After reading all of you guys’ comments about the bulbs going bad and reading this [URL=http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/apr2006/tc20060420_557818.htm][U][COLOR=Blue]Business Week[/COLOR][/U][/URL] article I’m hedging on what to do. I’ve been scanning websites for LCD’s since reading your comments, and the 46" LCD is $1200 (on average) more than either of the DLP’s I was looking at. One of the comments in the Business Week article mentioned that “lasers” were coming as somebody here also mentioned. The article also says TI is trying to make the replacement “lamps” more affordable so that DLP technology will remain the most affordable of the HDTV technology. What to do?
[QUOTE=X-49er;209124]Couple of questions for Max, NA, or LugNut:
When we get our tax return, my wife and I are planning to buy a 50" DLP. Circuit City had the Samsung on sale for $1500, and Wal-Mart has a Phillips regularly priced at $1500. After reading all of you guys’ comments about the bulbs going bad and reading this [URL=http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/apr2006/tc20060420_557818.htm][U][COLOR=Blue]Business Week[/COLOR][/U][/URL] article I’m hedging on what to do. I’ve been scanning websites for LCD’s since reading your comments, and the 46" LCD is $1200 (on average) more than either of the DLP’s I was looking at. One of the comments in the Business Week article mentioned that “lasers” were coming as somebody here also mentioned. The article also says TI is trying to make the replacement “lamps” more affordable so that DLP technology will remain the most affordable of the HDTV technology. What to do?
buy DLP and take my chances with the bulbs/lamps
buy LCD and spend the additional $1200
wait till next year and see what develops
Thanks for your input.[/QUOTE]
Option 4 - buy 1080p LCD from online retailer for about $100-$300 more (but no taxes and oftentimes free shipping).
It is an option, but not one that some people are comfortable with. I’ve done it 3 times now. No complaints.
BTW, there are several new techs always “a few months away”. There’s ALWAYS gonna be somethin better coming down the pike. Dont buy based just on the tech, buy it for budget and longevity too, IMO.
NA definitely hit the nail on the head. I also purchased my latest TV over the web, and while I was a little nervous, things worked out flawlessly. I would look for a good plasma or LCD set, unless the bulb thing does not bother you. My main theater room runs off a projector, and I dread the day that bulb needs to be replaced. As many have pointed out, those things aren’t cheap.
Although, if you are the type to upgrade frequently and tend to buy a new TV every 5 years, you may never even run into the bulb issue. It all depends on your viewing and buying habits.
I found a 42" 720p LCD online that had received rave reviews, found a store to “demo” the unit (although not really ideal conditions, it gave me an idea), and then ordered for $1100 shipped…or about $400 less than what the store was selling it for.
Any technology driven field, be it computers or televisions, will always have something right around the corner. In most cases, I have not seen the need to wait for the next biggest thing. Two weeks after new technology hits, there will be something else right around the corner. While there are exceptions to this, you could end up postponing for a lifetime.
Is there any quality difference between flat-panel LCD and rear-projection LCD? My ignorance about this stuff may show here, but the sets look different and I didn’t know if the quality was the same or if the technology is different.
Rear-Projection LCDs use a powerful bulb to shoot light through a smaller LCD panel, where it is then magnified onto the television screen. While these are cheaper than flat panels, they have a much deeper cabinet and are not a direct-view solution. Depending on the set, they could look the same or worse than the flat-panel counterpart.
Flat panels work by showing a backlight through the panel, which is directly seen by the viewer. There is no magnification done, as the viewer is seeing the actual panel. This typically provides a better picture, but just like anything…it depends on the quality of the set.
The bulbs in the rear-projection sets (be it DLP, LCD or LCoS) do not last as long as the backlighting in the flat panel LCD units.
When he stated that he received HD signals "over the air" without the use of an antenna, I took it to mean he was plugging his cable straight into the back of the television.
I didn’t plug anything in…maybe it has an internal antenna, then. That was before I got my hd box. I got a standard, digital (?) and high def signal for each channel, if I remember correctly.
[QUOTE=Noreaster;209147]I didn’t plug anything in…maybe it has an internal antenna, then. That was before I got my hd box. I got a standard, digital (?) and high def signal for each channel, if I remember correctly.[/QUOTE]
Sounds as if it had some sort of built-in antenna like you suggested. I’m curious now…what kind of television was this? Every TV I have ever seen scans an external antenna source for OTA channels, so this would be a pretty cool feature for people that live well in range of the towers and didn’t want to buy an (often ugly) antenna.
[QUOTE=LugNutX;209151]Sounds as if it had some sort of built-in antenna like you suggested. I’m curious now…what kind of television was this? Every TV I have ever seen scans an external antenna source for OTA channels, so this would be a pretty cool feature for people that live well in range of the towers and didn’t want to buy an (often ugly) antenna.[/QUOTE]
All the Sony TVs do it LugNut. I didnt believe it either until I saw a Sony 50" LCD Projection pickup 5 or 6 channels right out of the box. After your comment, Im even more confused how it happened.
[QUOTE=X-49er;209130]Thanks guys. One more question:
Is there any quality difference between flat-panel LCD and rear-projection LCD? My ignorance about this stuff may show here, but the sets look different and I didn’t know if the quality was the same or if the technology is different.[/QUOTE]
BTW, I prefer LCD Projection (LCoS, D-ILA, etc) over DLP. I think the viewing angles are generally better, although Samsung makes a wickedly good DLP set.
LCD Flat Panel over all of those though, by a pretty wide margin. IMO.
Sounds as if it had some sort of built-in antenna like you suggested. I'm curious now...what kind of television was this? Every TV I have ever seen scans an external antenna source for OTA channels, so this would be a pretty cool feature for people that live well in range of the towers and didn't want to buy an (often ugly) antenna.
I have a 42" Panasonic Plasma HD… I am also most likely well within range of the towers. I live just past Wendover off Monroe Rd.
[QUOTE=NinerAdvocate;209154]All the Sony TVs do it LugNut. I didnt believe it either until I saw a Sony 50" LCD Projection pickup 5 or 6 channels right out of the box. After your comment, Im even more confused how it happened.[/QUOTE]
Guess you learn something every day, very neat. I wish more televisions offered a decent internal antenna, I don’t particularly care for the look of an antenna near my television. You can always mount them in the attic or out of the way, but then you run into a hassle too.
[QUOTE=Noreaster;209156]I have a 42" Panasonic Plasma HD… I am also most likely well within range of the towers. I live just past Wendover off Monroe Rd.[/QUOTE]
Sounds like the TVs with internal antennas work better than I would have imagined. I actually live in Statesville, so that would help explain why I’ve never seen a TV pickup channels out of the box. I’m not sure if its the signal strength or possibly the obstructions, but I actually have an easier time picking up signals from Winston-Salem than Charlotte.
You guys have got me real confused. I know my wife bought me a cantilevered, wall mounted Olevia 37" HD TV with 1080i or whatever and we got the basic HD package from Direct TV for $64 a month for Xmas. We used to have Adelphia and life is much better now. I never used to think HD was that big of a deal until watching the bowl games and things like the Discovery Channel HD…Wow, what a difference! Only thing I hate is when the HD channels kind of box in when something is not High Def. The other thing I don’t like is that some of the non-HD channels can get “fuzzy” at times. Any cures for that and should I be looking out for any potential problems down the road?
You guys have got me real confused. I know my wife bought me a cantilevered, wall mounted Olevia 37" HD TV with 1080i or whatever and we got the basic HD package from Direct TV for $64 a month for Xmas. We used to have Adelphia and life is much better now. I never used to think HD was that big of a deal until watching the bowl games and things like the Discovery Channel HD...Wow, what a difference! Only thing I hate is when the HD channels kind of box in when something is not High Def. The other thing I don't like is that some of the non-HD channels can get "fuzzy" at times. Any cures for that and should I be looking out for any potential problems down the road?
your tv is fine. anything less than HD looks like crap after watching HD especially on plasmas which will get fuzzy on non-HD signals. soon all programming will be in HD so it won't matter, but for now, that is just how it is.
not to actually buy as you can buy parts and build it off internet much cheaper, but to just see and get a feel for various Home theater options. I suggest going, write down equipment you like best and model number then go home and search internet for best price. anyway, they have some sweet setups and you can sit down and play with it a bit. If you have room to do it, a real home theater(front projector) is greater than all options mentioned especially when factoring in bang for the buck.
anyone know what type of Technology they are using in the new big Jumbo Screens in stadiums now? I read the Cowboys are going to have one that is 60 yards long in their new billion dollar stadium. I bet they get that thing set up and then have to turn it off because it will be too much of a distraction, especially when cheerleaders are shown on it.
