Anyone get their digital TV convertor yet?
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Posted on Jun 02, 2008 06:43 am
dbmasters
Administrator Since: Apr 03, 2002
I got it yesterday, we got our two $40 vouchers in the mail, I went to BestBuy and got their $60 models. Hooked one up when I got home, and WOW, I wish I'd have gotten it ages ago.
I have more channels, HD channels and standard channels, and they all look incredible.
We have two TVs not wired to satellite (due to additional expense vs how much (or little) we use it...these TV's mixed reception, decent on some, non-existent on others and now every channel we get is amazingly clear, better than Dish Network, actually (Note to self - I gotta call and ***** at Dish)...plus pro-logic surround on TV channels, not just DVD's in our bedroom any more, which is where I always get banished to when I wanna watch something that the rest of the family doesn't.
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zekthedeadcowEat Spam before it eats YOU!!!Member
Since: May 11, 2002
Jun 02, 2008 07:17 am yeah, I got a new TV but it took me a couple months to figure out how to set it up for digital broadcast...very clear picture... and if the signal is too weak for digital I still get the analog (for now)
The only problem is dealing with about 4 different aspect ratios that get broadcast locally... so I have to re setup the screen each time I change the channel as I can't seem to programs the screen shape in the TV... between 4x3, 16x9, anamorphic, 14x9... just setting the TV to 'stretch' usually gets it but it will clip off the edges of widescreen...
I don't mind as I don't watch much TV... and when I do I don't surf.
Jun 02, 2008 07:38 am Yeah, the aspect ratio changing from station to station is weird, my convertor handles changes automatically, so it's painless that way, but it's still annoying.
Channel 23 is too weak and it's pixelated, but honestly, I can't remember watching that channel for anything, ever.
Even on my little 19" analog TV, the digital picture is really quite stunning, can't wait to lay on the bed up there with the girls, a tub of popcorn and watch American Gladiators tonight.
Jun 02, 2008 08:38 am AH! stupid stanley cup! No Gladiators tonight!
TallChapAnswer:On a good day, lipstick.Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004
Jun 02, 2008 11:36 am Not enough violence in hockey, dB-Wan?
Jun 02, 2008 12:43 pm I bought the Samsung 22" 720P TV. I know that it is not 1080. But I don't think for a 22" TV that you need 1080.
For me the picture is outstanding. And the funny thing is. Someone in my building has DirectTV. If I go to channel 86, I can watch the movie that they are watching.
They don't know this yet, or else they wouldn't watch some of the movies they do late at night.
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Jun 02, 2008 12:48 pm Haha, awesome.
I agree on the 720p, it looks fantastic and I have a 50" samsung. I also have a PC hooked up that I think could benefit from 1080p but as far as TV shows and movies go, I am perfectly happy with 720p.
Jun 02, 2008 12:48 pm Oh, hey Zek. If you leave the TV on 4:3. When it's a digital signal, it will go full screen without any stretch.
It will go to the pill box look when it is a analog signal automatically. That way you don't get that skewed image.
Jun 02, 2008 12:50 pm WOW! The 50" Samsung. I love the way the Samsung's look. How is the 50"?
Jun 02, 2008 12:55 pm I have watched some TV on my neighbors 1080...around 50"...forget exactly, but man, what a picture! I'm spending some money on the entertainment system when I finish the basement, which is scheduled for sometime this century.
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Jun 02, 2008 02:33 pm It's great, it's a DLP projection (under 1K now from best buy for the 1080p) that is pretty shallow and I can pick it up by myself. I used to have a zenith but my house was robbed, we decided to upgrade with the insurance money. The difference is night and day.
If buying monitors\tv's i'll go samsung, lg or sharp. Samsung always seems to be priced competetively though.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jun 02, 2008 07:26 pm Ya, I'm happy with my Samsung wide screens in the studio. And just found out the new video card in the new studio box is capable of some extremely high rez so I'm gonna be experimenting as the Samsung monitor's are capable of going to a high rez as well.
I just need to get a new wide screen for the living room down here and I'm all good.
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Jun 03, 2008 01:25 am I ended up buying a Samsung 50" Plasma when my old TV took a dump about a year ago. Doing the research on it before buying, only one TV had better ratings for picture and that was a TOL Pioneer at 2X the price and too tell the truth I really didn't think it had any better picture when I checked it out, maybe a little blacker black but certainly not worth the extra cost. I went with the 720p since the only thing that actually uses 1080p is HD DVD's and there again the difference too me wasn't worth the extra $1k for it.
I've been with Dish Network for years so don't have a need for a converter and I've always had great picture quality with them. I just wish they'd get my local Fox & ABC in HD now, Nascar sucks in SD. LOL At least the next 13 races will be on TNT which I do get in HD. ;)
Dan
Jun 03, 2008 05:58 am i am getting into hockey. i wish the games could all be as good as playoff games.
sharp pictures on tv=good. i don't know what i have or anything. i am semiconscious right now
this is the dumbest post ever. three edits and i;m still not saying anything
Jun 30, 2008 09:05 am My digital convertor inspired some work from me this weekend, I finally wired our bedroom for full surround sound, moved the TV to the middle of the wall at the foot of our bed with the speakers wrapping all around, it sounds great...the TV viewing is easier than it was...it's still the same, lame little 19" TV...for now, but the picture is nice with the convertor. Shortly I'll be getting a 26" or 32" flatscreen to hang on the wall...not right now, but soon.
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Jun 30, 2008 09:22 am I made the switch about 9 months ago. I was feeling guilty per my toy purchases so I got a flat box for Sandy. I don't really watch it much but she likes it. Of course that immediately led to getting the surround sound and a higher cable bill per digital. The HD channels are really clear and of course the new aspect ratio fills the box nicely. I like the bass response except for when I am recording and the box is busy blowing **** up in the living room. (Sandy likes the CSI, get the bad guy stuff) I do like the additional room in the center of living room per the flat box basicly pasted to the wall.
Jun 30, 2008 11:10 am The sound means more to me than the picture, I love a good surround sound track, it adds so much to anything, even normal TV with proLogic is better than mono or two tiny speakers on a TV and calling it "stereo"...but the digital picture is impressive.
The one bummer is that analog "static" in channels is FAR less annoying than digital static, which causes screen freeze, skipping, pixelating and weird things...way more annoying then a little static.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jun 30, 2008 07:31 pm When I hooked up my mother in laws over here to test it out on our digital cable box I was impressed. I haven't seen any digital static on hers at all, but she is on cable rather then a dish, so maybe that has something to do with it.
I am waiting for the wife to break down and want one upstairs. Then I'll replace mine down here soon after. And get rid of my old Yamaha stereo rig for a nice surround set up. I'll take up much less space the the monster center that everything is in now. Its about half the size of my car.
zekthedeadcowEat Spam before it eats YOU!!!Member
Since: May 11, 2002
Jun 30, 2008 11:45 pm yeah, I don't get digital static... it's all or nothing... with only a couple stations that are nothing...
Quote:
and of course the new aspect ratio fills the box nicely.
I'm working on self producing a 35mm feature (still hope to start by august)... I really don't want to think 'aspect ratio' anymore... ugh... I'm shooting 1.85:1 protected to 1.66:1 centered... I'm just waiting to drop $20K on this project to, when done, have a distributer say "oh...it's not 1.85:1 anamorphic and you didn't protect to 2.40:1 aligned at the top..."
Jul 01, 2008 12:01 am Does anyone else have this problem with the digital audio?
It seems as if form time to time the audio losses sink. And starts to flutter. By changing the channel, and going back, it seems to fix it. But that is rather annoying.
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Jul 01, 2008 12:06 am Yeah occasionally the audio will go out of sync when I'm watching TV, though on mine it doesn't flutter it just doesn't match up to what's on screen, but it usually corrects itself pretty quickly.
Dan
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Jul 01, 2008 08:55 am Yes OD, there are those times when things set out of sync. I have no idea what the origin is. Sandy hasn't complained so I don't bring it up. I really don't want to have to fix it, or should I say go through the motions to find out it is the cable company. Agreed with what is being termed digital static here too. When digital goes snafu it does a far better job of snafu than analog. Freeze frame! Roving blocks... All kinds of new snafu!
Jul 01, 2008 09:55 am I haven't seen the audio being out of sync (trying to avoid making some lame Joey Fatone joke), just the occasional picture pixelation and freeze...it's very uncommon on the larger stations but some of the smaller one have it more, presumable it's a signal strength issue just like analog has, only it's more annoying.
Overall I am pretty happy with the digital TV signals, but like anything, new technology brings new bugs.
