End of TV :(
- Thread starter LunarMist
- Start date
ddrueding
Fixture
Digital OTA (over the air) is still alive and well. Depending on how close to a major metropolitan area you are. If getting stuff over the internet wasn't so much easier, that is what I would be doing.
I don't see a small LCD TV with antenna at Newegg. http://tinyurl.com/5ecmbm
Fushigi
Storage Is My Life
jtr1962
Storage? I am Storage!
I personally can't wait until it's all HD digital. I'm tired of a gazillion different formats being used, especially with commercials, whenever I watch a program in HD. First you'll have the program in regular HD filling the entire screen (or maybe not if the producers don't know what they're doing), and then one commercial will be SDTV stretched to fit the screen. The next might be letter box with both the sides and top/bottom having black spaces. After that maybe you'll have regular letterbox.
On another note, WTF is up with some movies being shown in 16:9 HD, yet still having the stupid black bars on top/bottom like the letterbox format on SDTV? Wasn't HDTV supposed to get rid of the need for letterbox once and for all?
On another note, WTF is up with some movies being shown in 16:9 HD, yet still having the stupid black bars on top/bottom like the letterbox format on SDTV? Wasn't HDTV supposed to get rid of the need for letterbox once and for all?
Bozo
Storage? I am Storage!
sdbardwick
Storage is cool
The digital broadcast requirement will not end any of those problems by itself. More HD programming will arrive, but only as the result of competitive forces; DTV still allows SD resolutions (and somewhat encourages them, as broadcasters can fit more SD programming channels in their allotted bandwidth).
The letterboxing of some movies will not go away either, as movies are not shot in 16:9 (1.77:1) but rather several different aspect ratios, with 1.85:1 and 2.4:1 the most common.
Stereodude
Not really a
Why do you want a small LCD TV? The beauty of HD is that you can have a big LCD TV and get a much more enjoyable viewing experience.
Stereodude
Not really a
That's another option.
Perhaps I was not clear enough that this is a free standing TV with only AC power available and nothing else. I'm not going to do any remodeling to drop a cable.
Of course in the living room a giant plasmator, LCD or something of the sort on the wall would be preferable. I am definitely not interested in an enjoyable "viewing experience." I simply want to watch TV in the usual way.
Stereodude
Not really a
FWIW, I've read that rabbit ears don't work very well for receiving ATSC digital signals... There are "smallish" LCDs out there. You will probably want a slightly larger widescreen set to keep your 4:3 viewing area the same.
And, what specifically was wrong with the sets that you linked to at Newegg? I would think that some of the 19" widescreen sets would work well for you.
And, what specifically was wrong with the sets that you linked to at Newegg? I would think that some of the 19" widescreen sets would work well for you.
sdbardwick
Storage is cool
Does your current set get good UHF (higher than channel 13) reception? If not, it might be difficult to get OTA TV; DTV broadcasts on (essentially) the UHF band.
Really, your only shot to use a new TV is to get an amplified HDTV antenna from Radio Shack or the like along with the new TV.
Really, your only shot to use a new TV is to get an amplified HDTV antenna from Radio Shack or the like along with the new TV.
Bozo
Storage? I am Storage!
None have an antenna.
I have never seen a TV with a built in antenna, except for some portable battery powered ones.
Usually the antenna is an add on.
Bozo :joker:
Stereodude
Not really a
How far are you from the towers? Most TVs use external antennas. I've only ever seen a few that had rabbit ears attached to them.None have an antenna.
I'd take a look at http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx if I were you.
So I need something like these? http://www.google.com/products?q=indoor+HDTV+antenna&btnG=Search+Products
Stereodude
Not really a
I'm not so sure what your options are at >30 miles. I'd tend to favor putting a large mast type antenna aimed at the towers in your attic.
ddrueding
Fixture
sechs
Storage? I am Storage!
Crap. How come my ten year-old Radioshack set has been working so well?
Maybe they use buckytubes or something in them....
Stereodude
Not really a
I'm just reporting what I've read and have experienced. I found they did not work very well, even very close to the towers (~5 miles). A small antenna like the Zenith Silver Sensor on the other hand worked very well.
jtr1962
Storage? I am Storage!
It's a shame the movie makers and TV makers can't get on the same page once and for all regarding aspect ratio. While 1.85:1 might be passable on a 1.77:1 screen in that you don't have huge black bars, 2.4:1 isn't. My guess it this is all part of a ploy to get people to upgrade again when they make the next generation of HDTV 2.4:1 instead of 1.77:1. Speaking of upgrades, anyone see 1440p TVs yet?
ddrueding
Fixture
I suspect it is a creative decision. IIRC, Lawrence of Arabia was shot wider than anything before (2.2:1); and that wasn't to sell HDTVs
ddrueding
Fixture
2,560 x 1,440? Sweet. That would be a great upgrade to my monitor. To keep near the same pixel pitch I'll need to go to about 56", though. That might not fit on my desk.
jtr1962
Storage? I am Storage!
Interesting article on resolutions. Based on my own viewing habits (I watch my mom's 40" 1080p HDTV from about 4 feet) I would benefit from 1440p. However, much closer to the screen and the sides fall out of my view. Therefore, resolutions higher than 1440p probably wouldn't be of much use as you would need to be too close to the screen to enjoy them. I have heard talk of 2160p, but IMO it's pointless.
ddrueding
Fixture
I sit about 24" away from my 42". I use it as a computer monitor, so the whole thing doesn't need to be in view at the same time. I treat it as multiple monitors, with different windows tiled across the space. If I could have a wall of desktop at 3840x2160 I would take it.
ddrueding
Fixture
When I first got my HDTV I was able to use an old pair of rabbit ears for picking up the digital channels just fine. of course I'm within 25 miles of several stations.
What's the difference between a regular antenna and an HDTV antenna? I always just assumed it was standard marketing crap.
What's the difference between a regular antenna and an HDTV antenna? I always just assumed it was standard marketing crap.
Stereodude
Not really a
It is... You just need an antenna with good UHF. Rabbit ears are better at VHF than UHF.
udaman
Wannabe Storage Freak
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2006
- Messages
- 1,209
Will be quite a while before the technical hurdles are conquered on that res.
However, in the next 5-10yrs we should see proliferation of 4k res HD source and distribution (especially with higher capacity BR discs, backwards compatible Blu-Ray players). What with the run away success of the 'affordable 4k' Red One camcorder system...got to be a way to show that other than a Sony $50k projector (which in itself is much lower cost than orig. theatre 2k projectors of just 4yrs ago).
Red 4k Projector! [no projector or monitor announcements at NAB]
http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=11771
4k laptop screen, yeah baby, that's what I want. preferably SED:
http://www.fe-tech.co.jp/en/prototype/prototype.html
Sharp's 4k x 2k 64-inch ultra high res monitor
http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/15/sharps-4k-x-2k-64-inch-ultra-high-res-monitor/
udaman
Wannabe Storage Freak
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2006
- Messages
- 1,209
You also need a tuner that can lock on to weak signals. For the So. Cal. area, the transmitter towers are located ~5k ft on Mt Wilson, straight as the bird flies from Pasadena. In a straight line of site, not more than 50mi from anyone in the greater LA area, but that doesn't mean you can get a good, strong DTV signal, no sir!
Only a little problem DTV advocates of OTA never really talk about, multiplex interference from large objects, ie. mountains, buildings, other barriers conspire to fuk up the signal. Throw in a tuner that does a poor job of receiving weaker signals and you end up with dropped channels, picture just goes blank, or to lesser exent will breakup with lots of pixelation.
Even a deep fringe area UHF/VHF antenna will not overcome interference from the signal getting bounced all over the place, in a non-direct line of sight signal path. With analog, you can get a poor UHF signal with a deep fringe antenna out to 70-100mi +. DTV on UHF band, you'll be lucky to get anything more than 50mi, and many cases much less distance before some stations just crack up.
I remember about 8yrs ago, they had the OTA DTV's nearby where I live, and the guy at the big screen TV store was showing me a 40in Sony LCD (biggest at the time, IIRC) where the picture kept breaking up on one of the early HD programs, Smallville. Asked him what the problem was, he claimed the roof top antenna above the store wasn't very good. I did believe him, as there was a straight line of sight to Mt Wilson from that store, roof being perhaps 15ft above street level. Same thing for a Best Buy store that was in the Beverly Center shopping complex, 2nd floor, with antenna supposedly on top of the building structure which would put it about 50ft above street level, easy line of sight to the tranmitters @ 40-50mi away. I did the search using the OTA DTV program to see if you were supposed to be able to get a strong signal, and it showed it was so, but actual distance from transmitter only works for idea situations. Metro New York gets much better reception than LA area.
Newer DTV tuners are better now at pulling out the signal (or the signal power has been raised?) in recent years, but you still get dropped reception on some stations...something that *never* happened with analog TV. Instead of 'noise' and ghosting of analog days, you're getting an equally, if not worse condition of poor reception/weak signal in the form of severe pixelation, before the picture just disappears.
jtr1962
Storage? I am Storage!
Just for kicks I connected my mom's HDTV to the roof antenna a few months ago. Yes, I did pull in quite a few stations, even some from areas where I could never pick up an analog signal. It seems to me that DTV might well carry further than NTSC in the absence of things like mountains (obviously not a problem around NYC). That being said, it does indeed seem like DTV is an all or nothing proposition. With analog, you might still get something resembling a picture with a weak signal. With DTV, either the picture is crystal clear, or you get static.
ddrueding
Fixture
Unfortunately, my ratio is blown at the moment. Those recommendations in the other thread fried my credits. I will keep you in mind
Stereodude
Not really a
Why not just use the Pir8 Bay?The TV torrents needs an invitation code...know of anywhere to get one?
ddrueding
Fixture
TV Torrents has a better engine for dealing with TV shows. They give each show their own page, that is managed by someone, and has a single torrent for each episode and each complete season. It also has an enforced ratio, so your bandwidth is better. If you donate (become a member) they will even provide an RSS feed when new episodes of your favorite shows arrive.
This is the way TV should be. Once producers of content figure out how to leverage this delivery method, they will be ready for the internet.
Mercutio
Fatwah on Western Digital
I tend to think of TV Torrents basically as a secondary resource. It depends on what I want, but almost all the stuff I like is geek friendly enough to be readily available.
Plus Comcast keeps screwing around with traffic shaping so I really can't download anything these days anyway.
Torrent Episode Downloader is really handy for snagging shows as they air. You can just set up a subscription and specify where you want the files to be saved. It's a little hard to use but it's pretty much the way of the future.
Plus Comcast keeps screwing around with traffic shaping so I really can't download anything these days anyway.
Torrent Episode Downloader is really handy for snagging shows as they air. You can just set up a subscription and specify where you want the files to be saved. It's a little hard to use but it's pretty much the way of the future.
timwhit
Hairy Aussie
I thought you were all good with your Comcast business connection? I thought with the recent FCC decision Comcast would start acting less evil.