Digital TV's

[canman]

I need some help and have tried searching, but just can't find the info I need.
First off how many of you are using HD tv's at the moment? I am looking at a 42 inch Woo, with a built in hard disk. I read they had some troubles with earlier models but after a recall of some they have gotten better. The next question is about the antenna, which of course the new system uses UHF. I'm pretty sure I have a UHF antenna but its on top of the house and its a long way up. Is there anyway to check and see if it is suitable?
Next when I purchase the HDTV, I will have to change my skyperfectv contract to the new 110 system, but the pricks have nothing in English on their website. Is this new digital 110 HD or not. I got a letter from them saying they would begin to offer HD service, but you would need to rent a converter from them. It was not very clear. I was assuming that they meant for those who hadn't purchased an HDTV, but it wouldn't surprise me if they wanted you to get another piece of crap just to watch their HD programming.
Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated. Just a side note, yesterday's Japan Times media mix article said that Japan was still not ready for the switch over, and that less than 47% of people have made the switch even though there has been such a big campaign to get people to but the new TVs.

[canman]

Well after doing a little bit more research perhaps you can watch HD programs without a special tuner, but I'm still not sure. The other thing I wonder is for example I was watching a couple of football games yesterday broadcast on Gchannel, and of course it always says "broadcast in HD", but when it is being rebroadcast, is it still in HD or not.
On a side note it seems the same channel 309 Gchannel will be broadcasting the BCS National championship game on January 9th live. Good news.

[GuyJean]

[kurohinge1]

OK - here's what I've learned in the last 12 months or so in Oz (which is also reportedly planning to cut off analogue broadcasts within the next 12-24 months):

We have 2 set-top boxes (digital tuners) at home that allow our TV's to play digital TV and I recently received a USB digital tuner for the computer - which also allows it to play digital TV - and even record it straight to your hard drive (good for playing with video editing).

The broadcasters here at least are reportedly giving up more "bandwidth" (?) to digital broadcasts from analogue as the change-over date approaches, so analogue reception will get worse until it's finally cut off completely.

Although standard definition (SD) tuners cost only about $40 and can even be picked up at the supermarket here, you should get a HD tuner because even if you don't have a HD TV, it can still play the image AND (the important part) some of the HD channels are playing different content to the SD one from the same broadcaster. So channel 7 digital, say, will play a different movie/program to 7HD at different times of the day. So, to enjoy the full range of channels, you need a HD tuner.

If you do get a HD TV then you can also enjoy a better picture but the main thing is to get all the channels.

As for the PC USB digital TV tuner, they're great. Only about the size of a USB memory stick, they come with a little remote and allow you to use your PC/laptop as a TV. Great if space is at a premium or even just for being able to record broadcasts straight to the hard drive.

Aerials: Now this is a tricky area. Lots of salesmen are out there trying to flog you fancy and expensive aerials but my own experience is that the dodgy 20-year-old aerial somewhere in our complex's roof space and/or some "rabbit-ears" aerials sitting on top of the TV/tuner work fine. Even the PC USB stick's tiny aerial seems to work almost all the time for all channels. But it will depend on your location, etc.

Hope this helps.

[canman]

Well I bit the bullet and purchased a Hitachi Woo 42 inch plasma for downstairs and a Toshiba Regza DVR for the upstiars TV, which was already digital ready. Connected them all and now have found a new problem. It seems that the signal needed for two digital tv's needs to be much stronger than for analog. I can't seem to run the two sets off of one antenna. I know this after connecting both sets directly to the satellite. I went out and bought a booster, but I'm not sure where to boost the signal, since the booster should be located inside, but all the lines are out on the balcony. My wife is pissed that I didn't pay the extra money to have a pro come and do it all, but I really thought I could handle it myself. But I have now run into a big problem. But the 42 plasma looks great I must admit. Using is is very scary, and I don't care how much Japanese ability you have the two text books that come with it are scary as hell.

[GuyJean]

Well I bit the bullet and purchased a Hitachi Woo 42 inch plasma for downstairs and a Toshiba Regza DVR for the upstiars TV, which was already digital ready. Connected them all and now have found a new problem. It seems that the signal needed for two digital tv's needs to be much stronger than for analog. I can't seem to run the two sets off of one antenna. I know this after connecting both sets directly to the satellite. I went out and bought a booster, but I'm not sure where to boost the signal, since the booster should be located inside, but all the lines are out on the balcony. My wife is pissed that I didn't pay the extra money to have a pro come and do it all, but I really thought I could handle it myself. But I have now run into a big problem. But the 42 plasma looks great I must admit. Using is is very scary, and I don't care how much Japanese ability you have the two text books that come with it are scary as hell.

Thanks for the lesson learned..

I was looking at the LCD Regza a few weeks ago]Kakaku[/URL]..

According to this site, the booster should be close to your satellite:

.. For most benefit in improving Freeview reception, we recommend fitting a digital TV signal booster as close as possible to your TV aerial, rather than behind your TV, where it will offer few benefits..

.. But that site is UK specific.

The last time I integrated my entertainment system, I went to the Bic sales guys with a scribbled diagram of what I had, and what I wanted. It seemed to help the communication, and he could recommend some other things I hadn't thought of like splitters and boosters..

GJ

[GuyJean]

I don't know if this is helpful or confusing, but here's a 'basic' HDTV setup:


From this site:
HDTV BASIC SETUP
http://columbiaisa.googlepages.com/hdtv_basic_setup.htm

Basic HDTV Setup Includes:

• Unpacking of TV from box.
• Assembly of attachable base and TV stand assembly if purchased.
• Placement of TV on stand or entertainment unit.
(Wall mounting of flat-panel HDTV is not part of a basic install)

• Programming of universal remote if purchased.
• Integration of new TV into pre-existing audio/video home theater system, surface routed.
• Connection of system to AC outlet, surface routing.
• Clean up of debris after setup.

• Review the basic functions of the TV from owner's manual.

Here is a list of other diagrams..

GJ

[GuyJean]

(Seems Columbia ISA is having bandwidth issues..)

Here's another diagram to help confuse you.


click to enlarge

GJ

[canman]

GuyJean, I was able to get the booster installed and voila, I have digital TV everywhere. Now I have to change my contract with skyperfectv, to the new E2 system, which much to my surprise has far less channels than the old SP but is almost the same price. Not sure what that is all about but what are you going to do. Man this 42 inch set is nice. The picture is so clear and bright. I can't wait to watch tomorrow's football games on it. Go Vikings. On side note I was disappointed the Colts lost today. God I hate Philip Rivers and the Chargers. And don't get me started about LT. But they will lose next week in Tennessee.

[GuyJean]

GuyJean, I was able to get the booster installed and voila, I have digital TV everywhere. Now I have to change my contract with skyperfectv, to the new E2 system, which much to my surprise has far less channels than the old SP but is almost the same price. Not sure what that is all about but what are you going to do. Man this 42 inch set is nice. The picture is so clear and bright. I can't wait to watch tomorrow's football games on it. Go Vikings. On side note I was disappointed the Colts lost today. God I hate Philip Rivers and the Chargers. And don't get me started about LT. But they will lose next week in Tennessee.

Good news!..

What kind of booster did you get, and where did you place it?

GJ

[Mulboyne]

Yomiuri: Analog broadcasts to stay for cable TV

The government will take measures to allow cable television customers to continue to watch TV programs via analog TV sets for some time, even after the July 2011 completion of the transition to digital terrestrial broadcasting, it was learned Wednesday. The decision was made due to the delay in the consumer penetration of such devices to view digital terrestrial programs because of the worsening economic situation, government officials said. However, the measure will only be temporary, lasting three to five years after the transition to the digital terrestrial broadcast system is complete, they said. The number of households now subscribing to CATV companies is about 22 million. The government sees about 40 million households as targets of the measure when those able to subscribe to CATV are included.

Under the envisioned temporary measure, airwaves of the digital terrestrial TV broadcasts are changed to analog waves at CATV companies, which then transmit both digital and analog signals to subscribing households. Those at the subscribing households can watch TV programs regardless of whether they possess TV sets for digital terrestrial broadcasts. The government will ask by March the Japan Cable and Telecommunications Association, to which about 330 CATV companies belong, and other organizations to carry out the measure beginning in July 2011 and compile details of the plan by this summer, the officials said.

The government will also work on measures to financially assist CATV companies, as they will have to shoulder the burden of more than 3 billion yen to pay for such expenses as additional investment in facilities. According to an estimate by a CATV industry organization, a typical CATV firm would have to bear about 10 million yen to carry out the temporary measure. The government has set a goal of 100 million units for the number of digital terrestrial broadcast reception devices such as TV sets, tuners and DVD recorders with tuners, by the July 2011 digital terrestrial broadcasting transition date.

It had been thought that sales of such devices would have been boosted in 2008 due to factors that included the holding of the Beijing Summer Olympic Games. Yet sales fell short of expectations. As of the end of September, the accumulated number of digital terrestrial broadcast reception devices shipped to market was 41.13 million units, with the household penetration rate at about 47 percent. As individual consumption has sharply declined since then due to the global economic slowdown, the government target looks to be quite difficult to achieve. Out of the 22 million CATV household subscribers as of late March 2008, 7 million to 8 million households were believed to have not purchased TV sets and other devices to watch digital terrestrial broadcast programs.

[omae mona]

Yomiuri: Analog broadcasts to stay for cable TV

I am confused. This is exactly how I watch digital terrestrial broadcast now. My TV can display high definition images perfectly well (1050 lines of resolution), but it does not have a tuner for digital broadcast. The cable box serves as the tuner.

So what is this government measure actually achieving, as this service already exists? And is the idea that cable companies no longer be allowed to retransmit digital terrestrial broadcast after the 3-5 year window elapses?

Clearly I'm missing something. Can somebody straighten me out?

[GomiGirl]

I have no idea either.

I am just sticking with my ancient CRT TV with my hikari TV cable until it stops working and then I will shoot off to get a new one.

[canman]

GG I must tell you I was going to hold out like you, but my goodness the picture on this plasma is amazing. Especially when shows are broadcast in HD, it is really wonderful. Especially Discovery Channel and National Geographic, it will blow your mind.

[omae mona]

GG I must tell you I was going to hold out like you, but my goodness the picture on this plasma is amazing. Especially when shows are broadcast in HD, it is really wonderful. Especially Discovery Channel and National Geographic, it will blow your mind.

I agree canman. I actually avoid channels that are not broadcasting in HD now. If the program content is crap, at least it should look nice to make up for it. It's really impossible to go back after you get used to watching HD content.

I think it's worth emphasizing that HD television and digital television are two different things (but they often go together now). There are HD televisions that have been available for well over a decade, ever since NHK started broadcasting in Hi-Vision. Plenty of these TVs (like mine) are still around and were manufactured before terrestrial digital broadcast started in 2004.

These TVs can display exactly the same beautiful image from the same channels as a brand new TV with a terrestrial digital tuner. All you need is an external tuner that connects to the TV via one of the video connections. Particularly if the video connection is S-video or, even better, component video, the image is pretty much indistinguishable from a full digital setup. If you happen to have a TV and tuner with digital HDMI connectors, then the image should be completely indistinguishable from a brand new TV with a built-in digital tuner.

So for those that at least have an older TV that is HV capable (1080 lines of resolution), I don't think there's any reason to trash it and upgrade. Just make sure you have some sort of external device with a digital terrestrial tuner built in. A cable box or a modern HDD recorder are good examples.

[Kuang_Grade]

When I read that Yomiuri piece, I was bit confused along the lines of omae mona, because they likely already doing this very second so it is hard to see why this would cost all this extra money to keep doing. And its not like this isn't a selling point for the cable companies as well. In the US, the digital TV conversion is happening in a few weeks and there are tons of cable commercials with messages along the lines of 'don't throw out your old TV, just call us instead and everything will keep working perfectly'.

Now the cable companies may have been planning to phase out analog/SD boxes at some stage in the next few years (which would likely have to be carefully handled in order to not to alienate a ton of ojiisan with older SD TVs) to improve services/reduce operating costs and this new regulation will mean they have to at least keep the analog side up for those who want it for a set period of time. But on the face of it, it just sounds like a government handout to a sector that would be highly likely to benefiting from the D TV transition already.

[kurohinge1]

. . . So for those that at least have an older TV that is HV capable (1080 lines of resolution), I don't think there's any reason to trash it and upgrade. Just make sure you have some sort of external device with a digital terrestrial tuner built in. . .

And not just old TVs. We specifically got a new TV without an inbuilt tuner (which are a bit cheaper BTW) and instead use a set-top box (external tuner). Sounds mad, but the reason is that, back when large TVs cost at least $5K, we bought a projector instead (for about 20% that cost) - which projects an image at least 4 times bigger. Even after our little 10-year-old CRT eventually died and we bought a large LCD (which had come down to about $1K), we still use the projector to watch the odd movie on the wall (or play video games!) and by buying an external tuner, we can feed it into either/both the TV and the projector (good for the odd sports game, TV movie, etc).

Another thing we installed, which I'm also a mad fan of, was a TV wall bracket on the corner of our L-shaped living room, which allows us to swing the LCD TV (which is much bigger than our old CRT) out of the way of the projector image on the wall - and to swing it around 90 degrees (or even 180 degrees) to watch TV from the other side of the room. It also means the litte-uns can't pull it over on top of them, and it frees-up the top where it used to be (which is now covered in junk!).

That's probably a lot more than you wanted to hear but it may benefit someone like me who was wondering how to use their layout better.

[kurohinge1]

And, from today's SMH, they're now talking about 3D TV!

[SIZE="4"]3D TV closer than ever[/SIZE]

Consumer electronics makers have picked 3D as the next front in the TV wars, unveiling several 3D TVs to support the upcoming onslaught of 3D films.

At the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Sony, Panasonic, LG, Mitsubishi and Samsung all showed off prototypes of or announced plans to develop television sets that can show content in 3D.

. . . Around 40 3D movies will be released over the next two years, including Avatar from James Cameron, Toy Story 3 and Monsters vs Aliens.

. . . Sony global CEO Howard Stringer devoted a significant portion of his keynote speech to 3D, saying the technology was now coming of age. The company had a 50-inch prototype model on display at its booth.

He invited John Lasseter, chief creative officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, and Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO of DreamWorks Animation, on stage, and they were quick to extol the virtues of 3D.

Lasseter announced that the next Pixar film, Up, would be made in 3D, saying "you can't go back when you have this".

Katzenberg said 3D was the third big revolution in television, following the transition from silent movies to synchronised sound in the 1920s and the arrival of colour in the 1930s.

"This is not my father's 3D - now we have glasses which have state of the art polarised lenses, dual projectors delivering pristine, bright, digital images that are in perfect sync and flicker free. No headaches and no nausea," he said.

"Beginning this year every one of our films from the very first storyboard will be authored in 3D."

. . . Panasonic said it expected to have 3D televisions ready for market as early as next year. It said it would attempt to get movie studios, TV makers, Blu-ray disc makers and broadcasters to agree on a common standard for bringing 3D content into homes.

. . . LG announced it was developing a 3D chip that it plans to incorporate into future TV models.

. . . Mitsubishi showed off a 73-inch 3D TV prototype but only a selection of around 350 games can be played on it today.

Mitsubishi spokesman David Naranyo said 3D movies had yet to be sold on discs but this would soon change. He said the industry was taking the time to develop a formal 3D standard to avoid a repeat of the Blu-ray vs. HD DVD format wars. . .more

[GuyJean]

And, from today's SMH, they're now talking about 3D TV!..

I saw the Philips at a trade show in Hong Kong a couple months ago. It wasn't bad! But I think I'd get a headache after awhile.. And it's something you can't really sell unless you see it..

GJ