Just wondering if you had the cable box on the correct channel. Here in Houston TWC has separate channel assignments for local analog and HD feeds. For example abc analog feed is on channel 12 while the HD feed is 312. On the HD feed the analog material is surrounded by black bars and the image is clear as a bell.I have had to point this out to more than one friend when they upgraded.

 

Figured I'd throw in my 2 cents here....

First, get an OTA antenna. That's going to give you the best pic by far. Someone here said it was compressed, I don't beleive that's true. Or at least it's no where near the compression that takes place with HD and Sat. If you're close enough to the transmission towers, try a nice indoor antenna first. The Zenith Silver Sensor is what I use here in NYC and I get every channel with near 100 signal strength. This antenna seems to be the choice by all the video geeks out there on AVS forum.

Second, the DirecTV 1500 HD channels commercial was bogus. You have to read the fine print which states that it includes local channels... so that 1500 channels is more realistically 50.

Third, this is to Clayman. You don't want to open up the 1080i v. 720p can of worms. There are two camps that will argue that one is greater than the other. There is no "better" form. They say for more static pics 1080i is best, for fast moving pics (sports) 720p takes a small lead.

Lastly, HD is GREAT. I have a Hitachi 53" and being a new HD member I must say it completely blows away regular tv, DVD and "digital" TV. Your first NFL game or any sports HD game for that matter will take your breath away. You can see the sweat dripping down a players forehead, it's THAT clear.

 

[quote name='kadeshpa' date='Feb 17 2005, 10:41 PM']Third, this is to Clayman.

 

100% agreed

 

Only way you can take full advantage of HD programming is if it was shot with HD cameras. Some programs are shot on film and transferd to HD. Film has more definition than any monitor, there must be some compression when transfered to a HD digital signal. Also some programming is not in HD at all. I really like seeing Leno in HD and PBS HD since they are all shot using HD cameras. I hear you can even get a sharper HD signal if you have a HD reciever that gets the signal strait from the airwaves. As far as the interlaced, progressive argument goes, well I'm sure most people can't tell the difference between the two. Some of the programming I get is 1080i and 720p, and to tell you the truth I couldn't tell you which is which. BTW I think ESPN HD is crap since 70-80 percent of the programming is non-HD.

Sam

 

kadeshpa,

I am just outside of NYC, near Lincoln Tunnel, if I want to view HDTV over the air, all I need is to buy a HDTV set and put up an antenna? But I need a HDTV that has a built in tuner, right? Not just a "HD-ready" TV? Is it difficult to set up the HDTV to receive over the air broadcast? Is there a lot of settings that I need to adjust? I see you guys talk about signal strength. My house has a clear view of midtown manhattan do I just aim the antenna at midtown? But this will only get me HD programming for ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, etc. ? I still would need cable to watch ESPN. Is it difficult to switch from HDTV over the air and cable?

I didn't know HDTV over the air has a better picture than HDTV thru cable/satellite.

 

[quote name='mister_two' date='Feb 19 2005, 01:29 PM'] kadeshpa,

I am just outside of NYC, near Lincoln Tunnel, if I want to view HDTV over the air, all I need is to buy a HDTV set and put up an antenna? But I need a HDTV that has a built in tuner, right? Not just a "HD-ready" TV? Is it difficult to set up the HDTV to receive over the air broadcast? Is there a lot of settings that I need to adjust? I see you guys talk about signal strength. My house has a clear view of midtown manhattan do I just aim the antenna at midtown? But this will only get me HD programming for ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, etc. ?

 

actually, most LCD TVs only do either 1280*720 or 1280*768. Most HD plasmas are the same.

only the more expensive ones can do "full" 1080i. FULL 1080i is 1920*1080. many tv's can do 1080 vertical, but not 1920 horizontal. I think a handful (<5) can actually display a full discrete 2.0736 Megapizel HD picture.

 

[quote name='steven975' date='Feb 21 2005, 04:02 PM']actually, most LCD TVs only do either 1280*720 or 1280*768.