| 
hdtv - questions answered
by Greg Gibson
January 31, 2004
 NextGenElectronics'
resident HDTV expert Greg Gibson answers your questions
about HDTV and what you should do about this exciting emerging technology.
If you have a question or comment you'd like Mr. Gibson to comment on,
please feel free to email him personally by clicking
here. All inquiries are subject to publication, however, no personal
information will be given away or published.
Jim K. : I live in an area that has poor
reception of the local ( network ) programming, regardless whether regular
or HD. I might be able to receive a good signal with an outside roof antennae,
but i wonder if a television set w/ a built in HD tuner would do the job?
Greg Gibson : Your note scares me a little
- If you have poor reception from your antenna (UHF or VHF) then the receiver
is irrelevant! The receiver will not "pull in" a better signal...
the antenna does that! If you only have a set-top "rabbit ears"
antenna, then an outside antenna would likely help... but depending on
terrain, even the outside antenna might not give you much of an improved
situation. You really need to call you local broadcaster(s) and ask to
speak to their engineering department - talk with the broadcast engineering
supervisor, and explain where you live and how you want to get his channels
(HD and analog) and could they tell you whether, based on their terrain
studies, whether you should be able to get over-the-air reception with
an outside antenna!
All the tuner does is take the antenna's signal and route
it through to the display circuitry... it will not "improve"
the signal... that is the antenna's job.
------------------------------
John H. : I just purchased a new 42"
Samsung Plasma extended defintion tuner. After asking all of the questions
I could I still am unclear how this will work once broadcasts are sent
in HDTV. The sales guy at the electronics store where I purchased this
said that it is one step below HDTV but what does that mean. Once broadcasts
are in HDTV will my tv still work? I am just wondering if I should stick
with my old tv until the price of Plasma HDTV is affordable for me especially
since I will be paying for this for the next couple of years. Can you
advise the difference between HDTV and EDTV? Is the quality of the picture
that much better with HDTV?
Greg Gibson : You have fallen into the
trap that several manufacturers have laid for unwary consumers - extended
definition is NOT HDTV. ETV is at a higher resolution than normal analog
broadcast tv, but it is NOT at 1080i resolution. ETV is at 480p. The reduced
resolution (reduced manufacturing costs) means a lower retail price.
You can tell the difference side by side between 480p
and 1080i. Fortunately, DVDs are in 480p, so you will get those at the
right resolution. But when the Network high def broadcasts occur you will
not be able to get as good a picture... kind of silly after you have spent
all that money. Wish I had better news for you!
------------------------------
Rich E. : I'm looking at a Mitsubishi wide
screen HDTV which has feature listed below. I'm looking for the ability
to watch standard broadcast in a non-streched mode. Does the statement
below mean that I can watch standard broadcast with vertical black bars?
This set does not have DVI connections so that might change my mind. The
cable tv box that I will get has component connections but I've read that
DVI is the only way to go and I want to future proof my TV choice?
Greg Gibson : The 16x9 display can only
display the "old" 4x3 picture format by (1) "stretching"
the picture horizontally - making people look fat; (2) "expanding"
the entire picture until the sides are filled and then cropping off the
top - cutting the heads off sometimes; (3) "modified stretch"
where the middle 1/3 of the picture is normal but the right and left 1/3s
are really stretched - makes a pronounced effect to peoples shoulders
and people on the side of the picture; and (4) the beloved "sidebars".
This is what the "11 choices" Mitsubishi is offering you...
So Yes - you can watch 4x3 with the vertical sidebars. Please
read previous posts on why using sidebars is a really bad idea.
DVI is not necessarily "the way to go"... most
HDTV is component video, although many sets now offer both DVI and Component
Video... DVI is often an output now on the latest computer video graphics
cards - so you can run the computer (at high resolution) into your tv
if it has DVI... however, I have not seen any satellite HDTV receivers
or cable box HD tuners with dvi output... at least not yet!
------------------------------
Derek G. : Just a quick question regarding
the differences in HDTV and HDTV2. What are the "improvements"
with HD2 ? My reason for asking is that I just purchased an RCA HDLP61W151
Television (DLP) with HD2. Any insight as to the ever changing technologies
would be greatly appreciated.
Greg Gibson : Frankly, I was taken aback
by your question... then I went to the RCA website and saw their "HD2"
info and realized that they are basically trying to "remarket"
one of their products.
HDTV is a set of standards involving 1080i picture resolution
in an 16x9 format. The transmission and reception is all the same. There
are currently 3 types of HDTV sets: projection (3 tubes); plasma/LCD (flat
panel); and DLP (uses small LCDs in a projection schema). RCA is marketing
HD2 as their "new DLP set"...
DLP sets are interesting, since they conform to the same
projection properties as the tube sets, but because of the LCDs versus
tubes, they can achieve a much smaller DEPTH for the set... typically
a 55inch projection set is over 26 inches deep, whereas the comparable
DLP will be about 16 inches deep. So don't get confused, there is no "HD2"
other than as a marketing idea to help the manufacturer in their product
differentiation... but it doesn't give you a 2160i picture or anything.
If you are intersted in DLPs (Mitsubishi also makes DLPs
and their quality is excellent as well)... PLEASE REMEMBER OUR STRONG
ADVICE! BUY AN EXTENDED WARANTEE! We add this admonishment to everyone,
because DLPs are new technology and we don't have 5 to 10 years of experience
with them (or Plasmas for that matter) - how will they hold up in 7 years,
what failure modes will they experience? You are spending a lot of money,
so please consider an extended (max) warantee.... I have an additional
5 years on my Mitsubishi projection.
------------------------------
Dave L. : Greg, I am considering a big
screen tv set and have been looking over several reviews. They seem to
like the Hitachi57S500. What do you think? I am 63 years old and want
a very good TV set that will probably be my last. I will hook up a dvd
player and surround sound, but I'm not sure what to buy. I will probably
buy a HDTV turner also. Which format big screen tv set do you think has
the best pictue ... Rear projection, plasma, CRT or DLP this whole thing
gets very confusing?
Greg Gibson : As I have provided in several
articles - if you can hold off for another year - you will be in a much
better situation next year as the number of HDTV broadcasts is still small.
It is imperative that before you buy a new set that you
check with your local cable company, your local broadcasters (if you want
to get signals over the air (OTA)), and check into satellite. Be sure
you FULLY UNDERSTAND what you can actually receive! Check earlier posts
to better appreciate this - just buying a new HDTV doesn't mean you will
be able to receive HD broadcasts! Then check the schedule to ensure you
undersatnd what shows you will be watching in HD...
Finally, when you know how you will be getting the HD broadcasts...
then you can look for the particular set. The plasmas/LCDs are much thinner
but more expensive than projection sets (which have been out for the past
15 years or so). LDPs are a new technology that is similar in concept
to projection but uses small LCD panels versus projection tubes - but
the result is a thinner (depth) set than standard projection. Both plasmas
and DLPs are "new technology" and therefore imperative you consider
an extended warantee... we just don't know if plasma TVs will degrade
over time (5 years+) for example. So determine the size TV you want &
will fit nicely in your home, and then look for good deals with reputable
manufacturers... look at the pictures in the showrooms - and pick your
new set.
------------------------------
Craig A. : Will a HDTV make the viewing
of most DVD's better? Since HDTV (as I understand it) does not improve
a regular TV broadcast, I am wondering if the DVD has enough information,
(lines of resolution, pixels, etc.), to take advanage of the HDTV technology.
Is the same true for Plasma?
Greg Gibson : Short anyswer - yes.
The DVD players (progressive scan) are in 480p resolution,
considerably better than the standard analog tv picture which is typically
around 360 lines of resolution. Since HDTV is 1080i, it can provide the
full 480p with no loss in quality. This is true of any television capable
of displaying 480p lines of resolution (plasma, projector, lcd, etc.).
------------------------------
Andrew S. : Is it possible to get a review
for the Mitsubishi WS-65413? I am thinking about purchasing an HDTV and
am having a hard time finding a review on this set. Its important because
my buddy recommended it and much as I trust him, I want a qualified opinion.
Thanks for any help.
Greg Gibson : The 65-413 is the "gold
line" from Mitsubishi which is their line without a builtin HD tuner.
The set is a good one, your buddy recommended a fine set. I personally
have a gold line Mitsubishi 65 (65703) which was the model last year.
While we don't "pick" a particular product (want to have an
open mind), I thought you'd feel better to know that I have a Mitsubishi.
We are going to do a series of article in about 2 weeks,
when we go to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas - I will be talking
with SONY and Pioneer, Hitachi and Toshiba... so should have some insight
on what is coming out in the next few months... Truthfully, several of
these are also excellent sets - so you need to find one that matches your
budget and room size.
------------------------------
Kaffas N. : I got Toshiba 57h93 , in the
owner manual they do not recommend to connect the tv to the computer.
My question is why and if I do that just to watch movies downloaded from
the internet would it damage the TV?
Greg Gibson : The reason TV manufacturers
don't want computers on, is for the issue of "burn-in"... Burn-in
occurs when an image is kept on the screen for a prolonged period. This
can also involve the Sidebars or Top/Bottom Bars you see when playing
a widescreen DVD.
You indicate that your set recomends against burn-in, yet
you say you only want to watch DVDs which will usually involve sidebars
or top/bottom bars... hence the potential for eventual burn-in.
I have to ask however, why you are using your TV in this
configuration. The Toshiba 57H93 is a widescreen with builit in HDTV tuner!
You should be able to get HDTV OTA, or hook in your cable/satellite system.
You certainly have DVI input from a high end PC video card, and dual component
inputs (one could be from your DVD... you do have a DVD Don't you?)...
anyway, please advise if you have any additional questions.
Commentary By: Greg Gibson - email
|
