Who do you get your T.V. service from

joepole · 01-12-2007, 02:03 PM

The old HR10-250 Tivo units from DirecTV won't be able to receive local HD content or most of the new HD content (the new satellites are MPEG4 and the HR10-250 only decodes MPEG2). As of today no cable companies provide Tivo-branded units, but this week Comcast and Tivo announced one. Also, the retail Series 3 Tivo supports CableCard, so you can go that route for the low, low price of $800.

rhertz · 01-12-2007, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joepole

The old HR10-250 Tivo units from DirecTV won't be able to receive local HD content or most of the new HD content (the new satellites are MPEG4 and the HR10-250 only decodes MPEG2). As of today no cable companies provide Tivo-branded units, but this week Comcast and Tivo announced one. Also, the retail Series 3 Tivo supports CableCard, so you can go that route for the low, low price of $800.

Joepole, I’m not very “up to speed” on the latest tv services (other than b!tching about Dish Networks appointment calendar, LOL) I heard that Dish Network bought Voom and has more HD channels than Directv. So did I screw myself by switching to directv? (I don’t have a HD tv yet, but I plan on getting one) I also heard a couple of years ago that cable offers a lower grade of HD (480i or 720i) compared to satellite (720p and 1080i). Do you know if this is true? I’m just thinking that once I do spring for a HD tv, then I want 720p (or above) in as many channels as I can get. Thanks for any tips you can provide on this subject……

I will offer this one tip. I heard that the owner of www.ehdmi.com is a local guy who is a national reseller of inexpensive HDMI cables and other accessories. I haven’t ordered from him, but I plan to when I need some HDMI cables. Also FWIW, the guy at www.gerber-tools.com is also local in Haughton (two point) Really nice guy. I believe in supporting local people when possible.

joepole · 01-13-2007, 01:27 AM

480i is regular, standard definition TV. There is no 720i.

720p is the minimum to be called "HDTV" and most broadcasts are in 720p or 1080i. I personally prefer 720p but there's not really much difference.

Satellite generally has the worst (i.e. most compressed) HD signals. Cable is generally a little better and over-the-air broadcasts are the best.

Bob · 01-13-2007, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joepole

480i is regular, standard definition TV. There is no 720i.

720p is the minimum to be called "HDTV" and most broadcasts are in 720p or 1080i. I personally prefer 720p but there's not really much difference.

Satellite generally has the worst (i.e. most compressed) HD signals. Cable is generally a little better and over-the-air broadcasts are the best.

I'm not real hip on all the different broadcast. Personally I don't see much difference between 720p and 1080i myself.. but I'll tell you what.. I don't see how it can get much better than some of the football games I've seen on DirecTV in Hi-Def, or any of the HD broadcasts I've seen. Just freakin' looks awesome.. just wish I had more HD channels.

rhertz · 01-13-2007, 12:40 PM

Thanks for the info guys. So I assume that the new 1080p TV's don't buy you much for "broadcast" HD and are really meant for blueray or HDDVD? That is, nobody broadcasts anything in 1080p, is this right?

Last question. I have a Sony WEGA tube TV about 7 years old. When I do go HD, what should I do with my old TV? It's big and heavy and I guess it isn't worth anything. Maybe I should donate it to a church or something.

joepole · 01-13-2007, 03:06 PM

Nobody broadcasts in 1080p yet because it takes up too much bandwidth and the benefits aren't noticeable to hardly anybody.

I prefer a progressive signal of lower resolution to an interlaced signal of (sort of) higher resolution because I notice interlaced motion blur more than I notice any added clarity from the resolution, especially for something like a film transfer that comes across at 24 frames per second and has to go on a 30 or 60 fps display. 1080i and 720p are almost exactly the same amount of screen information, I just prefer it to be non-interlaced.

rhertz · 01-13-2007, 07:04 PM

Thanks for the info Joe. By the way, have you seen the commercial with the large chested blonde in a cowboy hat that says "It's broadcast in 1080i! I so don't know what that means, but I won't it!" Pretty funny.... Can't even remember what the commercial was for. LOL

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01-12-2007, 02:03 PM	#1
joepole SBLive! Veteran Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,606 Rep Power: 281	The old HR10-250 Tivo units from DirecTV won't be able to receive local HD content or most of the new HD content (the new satellites are MPEG4 and the HR10-250 only decodes MPEG2). As of today no cable companies provide Tivo-branded units, but this week Comcast and Tivo announced one. Also, the retail Series 3 Tivo supports CableCard, so you can go that route for the low, low price of $800.

01-13-2007, 01:27 AM	#3
joepole SBLive! Veteran Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,606 Rep Power: 281	480i is regular, standard definition TV. There is no 720i. 720p is the minimum to be called "HDTV" and most broadcasts are in 720p or 1080i. I personally prefer 720p but there's not really much difference. Satellite generally has the worst (i.e. most compressed) HD signals. Cable is generally a little better and over-the-air broadcasts are the best.

01-13-2007, 12:40 PM	#5
rhertz SBLive! Veteran Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,834 Rep Power: 316	Thanks for the info guys. So I assume that the new 1080p TV's don't buy you much for "broadcast" HD and are really meant for blueray or HDDVD? That is, nobody broadcasts anything in 1080p, is this right? Last question. I have a Sony WEGA tube TV about 7 years old. When I do go HD, what should I do with my old TV? It's big and heavy and I guess it isn't worth anything. Maybe I should donate it to a church or something.

01-13-2007, 03:06 PM	#6
joepole SBLive! Veteran Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,606 Rep Power: 281	Nobody broadcasts in 1080p yet because it takes up too much bandwidth and the benefits aren't noticeable to hardly anybody. I prefer a progressive signal of lower resolution to an interlaced signal of (sort of) higher resolution because I notice interlaced motion blur more than I notice any added clarity from the resolution, especially for something like a film transfer that comes across at 24 frames per second and has to go on a 30 or 60 fps display. 1080i and 720p are almost exactly the same amount of screen information, I just prefer it to be non-interlaced.

01-13-2007, 07:04 PM	#7
rhertz SBLive! Veteran Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,834 Rep Power: 316	Thanks for the info Joe. By the way, have you seen the commercial with the large chested blonde in a cowboy hat that says "It's broadcast in 1080i! I so don't know what that means, but I won't it!" Pretty funny.... Can't even remember what the commercial was for. LOL

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