HDTV info from you guys, help!

OK hubby and I are thinking of upgrading, me mostly, I want a big screen tv and I hear the that you can actually pick up some HDTV channels free, how do you do that and what kind of channels?

Is it like local channels or good ones? When I grew up we had a funny looking tv antenna and wire on top of a mountain to get one channel, everytime the wind blew there was trouble. LOL

I also heard that you can go with the lowest end satellite tv package and get a lot of HDTV channels, as a result of the receiver being activated, is this true? This would help me since right now I am paying for one of the higher end packages.

Anyone in Southwest Virginia have this and what kind of channels do you get? TIA everyone!

At Christmas this past year, my girlfriend and I splurged on a 42' flat screen plasma HDTV and a HD DVR box to record live television. The increase in quality was far greater than I had anticipated. The 32' that I had in my living room has been bumped to the bedroom, and I have a tough time watching it. It is a big television in tip top shape, but I find it hard to watch at times due to the inferior quality compared to the HD Plasma.

I'd recommend the upgrade to anyone who watches any degree of television.

It is so well worth it.

I'm a huge movie buff, and I watch a lot of television. When I can't make the time, my DVR has covered me and I simply record it. Then when I have time, I can watch the episodes then.

So I certainly make use of our investment.

Hi-Def is where it is at. I definitely recommend it.

Picking up free channels? More than I know or would be even willing to say. As a friendly reminder, I direct your attention to our terms & conditions.

2e.) Illegal Activity: Discussion of any illegal activities such as drug use, drug paraphernalia, hacking, sexual relations with minors, etc. are strictly forbidden.

Terms And Conditions Of Use

As for what you need to do to be watching television in a hi-def feed.. it is rather simple. Purchase a television with HD capabilities. Purchase a digital box or a satellite dish that offers HD services. Then subscribe to their package that offers you the HD channels.

Television

Digital Box/Satellite Dish

HD Channels

You won't regret it.

Most local stations have HD digital broadcasts now, at least in the major markets, that you can pick up for free if you have an HD tuner. I'm not sure exactly when, but soon all television stations in the U.S. will be required to broadcast in digital HD and shutdown the old VHF/UHF broadcasting, freeing up that bandwidth for other new uses.

Personally I have cable and get HD versions of all the local network channels, the premium movie channels like HBO and Showtime, and some of the cable channels like Discovery HD and National Geographic HD through that. The rest of the cable channels are in the old regular tv resolution.

You will need an antenna to pick up local broadcasts for free.
It is VERY directional. I tried an antenna on my Sony, and was able to receive a total of ONE channel..LOL.
You might do better than me, because I live around a few mountains.

So you should consider an HD cable, or Satellite receiver. They have some pretty good packages available, some include free installations, free boxes, the works. As long as you subscribe for a certain length of time (usually a year).

MY TV is a an LCD, as opposed to Chissler's Plasma. (but mines a lot bigger..LOL)
They both have advantages that you might want to compare, before you spend the money

i am thinking about picking up an hdtv or a plasma tv, too...

are there differences between the two???

also, if i get one, will "regular" channels look any better (or just the special hd channels)???

will my dvd's look any better (or will i have to buy those new hd dvd's and an hd dvd player)???

thanks...

(sorry, in advanced, for getting a bit off topic)...

i]Originally posted by chissler


Picking up free channels? More than I know or would be even willing to say. As a friendly reminder, I direct your attention to our terms & conditions.

2e.) Illegal Activity: Discussion of any illegal activities such as drug use, drug paraphernalia, hacking, sexual relations with minors, etc. are strictly forbidden.

Terms And Conditions Of Use

Thanks but, actually I was talking about picking up free channels and not doing anything illegal, if you look at my post I mention that my current satellite package was expensive and I was going to downgrade to a lower priced package to pick up the free channels through satellite tv, that did not mean I intended to use a blackbox to get these channels. I have read that if you have HDTV some channels will come through due to their free anyway, so no I am not attempting to do anything illegal.

Thanks everyone, I also live in the mountains, southwest Virginia, the Appalachian mountians so I doubt I will pick up anything for free, although I have read that if you live near a large city you can pick up several.



[edit on 16-6-2007 by goose]

Originally posted by they see ALL
i am thinking about picking up an hdtv or a plasma tv, too...

are there differences between the two???

Well, you can get a Plasma Television, or you can get a Plasma Television with HD capabilities. You could also get an LCD television, with or without HD capabilities. Personally, I prefer the plasma. Might be just a personal preference, but I think the image is much sharper than the LCD's.

Originally posted by they see ALL
also, if i get one, will "regular" channels look any better (or just the special hd channels)???

With the Plasma televisions, the image will be much sharper, even in the standard resolution. With the HD, it is simply amazing.

Originally posted by they see ALL
will my dvd's look any better (or will i have to buy those new hd dvd's and an hd dvd player)???

Some do, some don't. For the most part, mine all look great. And they are not even coming through an HD feed. But I have a few live concerts that don't look the best. It's not that they look bad, but it is noticeably less than what you'll come to expect.

I authored this thread a few months ago before I bought mine. I found it quite useful.

Flatscreen Televisions

I can only say about SF and NY where I have seen their HD offer (one from Comcast the other Optoline) The main network channels have HD broadcast that you can get with an antenna if your tv has an hd tuner. Also basic cable offers some channels such as espn hd, discovery hd, etc (you may have to order the digital package instead of the regular one to get this though but thats in SF comcast service)

Also look for a TV that can display 1080 P that is the way of the future and you dont want a TV that be obsolete in a very short time...

difference between lcd and plasma

plasma consists of mini bulbs filed with usually xeon gas, when they are electrically charged they hit red blue or green phosphors that create the image. Plasma is brighter than LCD's and can display better blacks, but has a lower life and can suffer from burnout like regular CRT's (actually is more sensible in my experience). Plasma is usually only offered in big TV's (40' and up) because is difficult making them smaller and remain price competitive.

LCD's are liquid crystal Displays in which crystal are sandwich in a membrane. When they are stimulated they can create red blue and green dots. LCD's have less colour contrast, a narrower view angle and a slower refresh rate. They are immune to burnout and have a much longer life than plasma. Their drawbacks are actually being resolved for the most part making a good display being able to reproduce brilliant colours. Also LCD's tend to be a bit bulkier than plasmas. LCD's have been increasing in size reaching up to 60' and they are quickly becoming the most popular technology.

So which one os better, it depends you have to see them side by side and compare if the lCD gives you a equal or better picture than plasma you might want to choose t but you have to see the image as well as the manufacturer expected screen longevity.