Anyone subscribe to a cable company and also use a HDTV? :confused:

I do.
Comcast.

So you do not use their HD cable box, just the CableCard? Any problems with it? How much was it? Did you have a cable idiot come over to install it or did you pick it up yourself?

Are you using a 16:9 TV?

At this stage, since there are only a few HD broadcasts (automatic 16:9), I would assume it is better to get a 4:3 TV that is HD capable. That way all the standard broadcasts will not look distorted when stretched to fill the screen, or have the two black columns if not in stretch mode.

my HD is cable card compatable, and i did some research into the cable cards and determined that they were way more trouble then they are worth. You DONT get the guide, you dont get On demand, Some channels arent available, and i am told they lock up all the time. The local cable installer i talked to STONGLY discouraged it. Here the cable card is the Same price per month as the 2 tuner DVR box.. Seemed like the box was a much better deal.

Also, i used to think like you, and wanted a 4:3tv, but i bought a 16:9 and glad i did, ALL primetime stuff i watch is 16:9, and when you use the scaling modes, the 4:3 looks fine when streched to 16:9 The distortion is barely noticable in most programming.
Dr.

I have on older set that's only HD capable, not built in, so no cable card for me. I have the Motorola settop box

one thing I dont' like about the cards is no on screen menu. IMO, that's the best thing about digital cable. I have Cox with HD and DVR. I get maybe 3 local channels and a few others. I rarely watch them and prob wouldn't get them if I move.

Yeah, it seems the card technology is not quite ready yet. Maybe next generation versions will work properly and incorporate the features the cablebox provides.

Dr_EluSivE, I know you have a Sony HD tube TV. How does an HD CRT handle non-HD channels? In other words, are Standard Definition signals just as sharp as available on non-HD Sony Trinitrons or does having a HD capable TV reduce the clarity of SD signals?

For widescreen CRT, anyone have thoughts on this Panasonic...

http://www.circuitcity.com/rpsm/oid/120400/rpem/ccd/productDetailReview.do#tabs

or this Sony...

http://www.circuitcity.com/rpsm/oid/93014/rpem/ccd/productDetailReview.do#tabs

I have the Sony Wega HD tube, it handles SD channels better then LCD et al IMO

Thanks kraw. I thought you had a rear projection model for some reason. What model do you have? Based on what I read the Sony XBR is best, the Sony XS is second and the Panasonic CT is third. The XBR and XS seem only available from Crutchfield now (the XS is $1,100 - it has the better features than the Panasonic but not sure if additional $500 is justified. Apparently Best Buy had a big sale on them a month or so ago for around $800, missed it damnit). Those very heavy items are the only things they sell that do not have return shipping free, so that is a little scary should a defective one show up. I guess most companies are phasing out CRT production and even Japanese companies are outsourcing the remaining production.

not sure what model it is. It's the one right before they started putting mem stick readers in them. It was 1900 originally, I got it on clearance for about 1300
http://www.krawdaddy.net/stuff/images/es1.jpg


I will be getting a 50-55" RP LCD Sony next :)

The Sony RP's I have seen at the local superstores are nice. :nice:

Just to clarify, does that Sony HD have SD detail equal to that of a Sony or similar quality non-HD TV? I currently have a Sony FS series SD and it is very sharp, I would hate to have a decrease in clarity just to get a few HD stations.

you will lose some sharpness, You have 1080 lines to fill and only 480 lines of SD content to fill it with, but it still looks good, and HD looks Awesome. I have a 30XS955. Unlike the Current Gen of TV's Mine has the Superfine pitch Screen. (same As XBR) And a Built In HD tuner. If you can still find em i would get the same one i have or the 34" version, (34XS955) If you are in the market for a CRT HDTV though... Sony Makes the best. followed by Panasonic. Avoid Toshibas..
Heres mine..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v476/dr_elusive/tv.jpg

Dr.

The 30XS955 is a nice one. I checked a local Best Buy in case a new shipment snuck in, but they were still all out.

Is the broadcast industry really going to make the 2006 deadline for all digital? I was actually considering getting another analog Sony FS model (about $340 for the 27") until there is evidence that they are really pushing ahead with the project.

http://www.dtv.gov/consumercorner.html#whatisdtv

they are pushing very hard to make it happen, All Tv 25" or higher starting in march will be required to have a DTV tuner, and ALL tv stations are Already required to broadcast in DTV. Dont get HDTV confused with DTV though, you will probably be able to get SD DTV for years to come. I am not sure they will make the 06 deadline, but it will be soon after.. I dont think i would invest alot of money in SD Analog televisions right now. Most all primetime is in HD, and with HD DVD's coming out next year.. its a good time to upgrade. So far though i can reccomend any of the flat panel tech.. get a DLP or a CRT tv..

Dr.

not to send you to another site, but www.avsforum.com is a great A/V site :nice:

Thanks for the info Dr_EluSivE.

Thanks for the link Kraw. I have been at that site reading discussions for the past few days actually.

I found they make processors the Humax HFA100 for example that can convert digital and HDTV to any format so in theory even the old clunker TV's won't become totally unusuable when the changeover occurs. Obviously, the non-HD TV's would be able to take advantage of the improved definition but they will not be automatically sent to the recycling center once 2007 rolls around, assuming the country did in fact recycle things like they should which they don't.

You guys have LCD computer monitors rights?

My Samsung has been having the occasion horizontal tiger stripe thing and most recently a loud, high pitched ringing/whistling type sound. :(

Any Newegg.com recommendations? Not sure if I can even wait that long though.

I notice that others have problems with Samsung's high-pitched noise. It sounds like a thousands crickets behind the screen all chirping in unison. :mad:

I have to try to find the receipt to see if it under any warranty.

The damn thing allegedly is still under a three year warranty. Out of curiosity I checked out some LCD's at the local Best Buy rip off outlet and the $129 Gateway CRT looked sharper than most of them costing a hundred or two or three more.

Again, what are your favorite LCD monitors?

I got rid of the high pitched noise by changing the screen resolution from 1024 to 832, which sucks but is a temporary fix.

Again, what are your favorite LCD monitors?

I got rid of the high pitched noise by changing the screen resolution from 1024 to 832, which sucks but is a temporary fix.
I dont really like LCD's But i always thought the NEC's looked decent for an LCD... Im a CRT user myself.. Much better for gaming. Usually a high pitched squeal is a Capacitor going bad, If its under warrenty they will probably just fix your old one... Cap's are pretty common to replace.

Dr.

I purchased a 16:9 720i HD plasma last summer. I tried a cable card but switched to a set top box because the cable card caused fan noise in the plasma display. The noise was gone when the cable card was removed.

The cable card functioned fine, but it would not provide the online guide and video on demand. The set top box has DVR, video on demand and online guide and given the additional fan noise that it caused I am much happier with the set top box.

Thanks Dr_EluSivE, it is actually quiet now for some reason after I did the switch to 832 then back again to 1024.

u8nxprt, it seems like the cards are a nice idea, but the cablebox ends up being more practical. I am going to wait and see if in 2006 my cable company starts broadcasting more channels in digital and HD before taking any further action.