Making the HDTV Plunge - need tech advice

[dandrews64]

I've anticipated, I've drooled in showrooms, I've nursed my 400lb 36" TV for a few extra years, I've surfed the web and watched prices drop, I held my nut at the beginning of NFL last year, super bowl, stanley cup, Daytona 500, etc. But now it is time. With the NFL 2008 season kickoff just weeks away, I am making the plunge into HDTV.

I have DirecTV with an elliptical dish. Do I need a different dish to pick up the HDTV feed?

I have a non-HD Tivo. Does that need to be replaced? Or will it just not record in HD but I can still watch live in HD?

The TV. Looking at Samsung or Sharp Aquos LCD in the 42-46" range. 1080p, 120Hz, 20,000:1+ contrast ratio. Prices differ between what appear to be like models within a manufacturer's family with these three as minimum qualifications. For example, to have 4 instead of 3 HDMI ports it's an extra $200. How many HDMI ports does a guy need?

Thanks !!

[Seahawk]

You will need a new dish...at least I did. Since I didn't have TIVO, I purchased the HDTV version. How did I ever live without TIVO

I have a 46' Samsung and it has been great. Best of luck...the number of HDTV channels on Direcway is great.

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

I have a 46' Samsung and it has been great.

Dayum! You must have high ceilings...or live in the SuperDome.

[Rick V]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

I have a 46' Samsung and it has been great.

Same here. They all look good in the store, when you narrow your choices down to just a few, make the sales guy sit all your choices next to each other, playing the same thing and compair them side by side. Best part about the new generation of TV's is you can carry one out the door with just one hand.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Danny_Ocean

Dayum! You must have high ceilings...or live in the SuperDome.

High ceilings...you could call a fair catch in here.

[Neilk]

Doug,

How long have you been with Directv? If more than a year or two, they will definitely upgrade the dish to an HD one free of charge, but what you should really do is tell them that you are upgrading to HDTV and going to dish. They will give you the same freebies that they give new customers. Current customers don't get s**t unless you threaten to cancel your membership.

Don't forget that HDMI cables are cheap. Don't fall for the monstercable marketing and get your cables at monoprice.com. Lastly, after a Hi-Def DVD and a gaming console, how many more HDMI ports do you really need? I think 3 would be fine and component is almost as good.

Enjoy the shopping.

[rick-l]

Originally Posted by Neilk

Don't forget that HDMI cables are cheap. Don't fall for the monstercable marketing and get your cables at monoprice.com.

I agree what is with that? How expensive can 4 twisted pairs be? They are supposed to be certified but I don't see that listed on the package.

Best Buy Monster 6' cable is about $90

Cheapest at Wall Mart $36

On line stores $10


For a 6 foot cable the $10 one works just fine.

edit: Those are cheap!! $3.94 and they say they are certified.
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10240&cs_id=1024008&p_id=3992&seq=1&format=2

[Neilk]

Originally Posted by rick-l

I agree what is with that? How expensive can 4 twisted pairs be? They are supposed to be certified but I don't see that listed on the package.

Best Buy Monster 6' cable is about $90

Cheapest at Wall Mart $36

On line stores $10


For a 6 foot cable the $10 one works just fine.

edit: Those are cheap!! $3.94 and they say they are certified.
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10240&cs_id=1024008&p_id=3992&seq=1&format=2

Yup, a zero is a zero and a one is a one. Unless cables become dyslexic, there is no need for an expensive cable for short runs. If you need 50ft of cable, then perhaps the story might be a little different.

[rammstein]

TigerDirect.com has nice thick HDMI cables with the silly gold plating and all for like $25.

Expensive HDMI cables are the ripoff of the decade.

[targa911S]

I have the 46" Toshiba Regza ...love it! It's smarter than I am.

[ZOA NOM]

Doug, go with as big a DLP as you can afford. I feel like I'm watching P-in-P on anything under 50".

70" JVC DLP , currently tuned to the ALMS at Road America -

[Mule]

Originally Posted by rammstein

TigerDirect.com has nice thick HDMI cables with the silly gold plating and all for like $25.

Expensive HDMI cables are the ripoff of the decade.

True that! Tiger Direct rocks. Monster HDMI cables should come with vaseline.

[Mule]

Dish network HD is now 1080p. The ONLY reason for Direct tv is NFL Sunday ticket.

[ZOA NOM]

Originally Posted by Mule

Dish network HD is now 1080p. The ONLY reason for Direct tv is NFL Sunday ticket.

That's a good enough reason all by itself. Not much 1080p content out there yet besides HD DVD. DTV will be right on Dish's tail with 1080p.

[gr8fl4porsche]

I believe on the On-Demand feature of Dish Net HD is 1080P - as stated, other than movies, nothing is broadcast in 1080 P - yet.

[Steve Carlton]

Can anybody see the difference between 1080p and 1080i?

DirecTV should give you a HD DVR, too. As good as TiVo, better in some ways, worse in others. I think it constantly updates itself, whereas the TiVo may not.

Get a BluRay. You'll likee.

[dhoward]

Samsung 52" 120 hz, Outstanding picture. The 120hz rate makes some things look almost 3d.

[campbellcj]

This is another one of those "slippery slope" situations, kinda like Porsches.

DirecTV should swap-out your dish as well as your TiVo box(es) for free, at least they did for me. They no longer support actual TiVo units; they have their own private label DVR boxes now, which in some ways are superior and in some ways are not quite as good. If you get a used HD TiVo, it will still work fine but will only get around 6-8 HD channels due to some satellite changes DirecTV made at the end of 2007. Their own DVR gets closer to 100 HD channels, depending on your package.

Last summer I got a 52" Sony XBR3 LCD (awesome - they are now up to the XBR4 I think), new Sanus cabinetry and the DirecTV gear. It is a sweet setup and fits our fairly small room just great. For a slightly bigger room I'd prefer 60-70+" budget permitting.

The slippery slope part is the sound...the sky's the limit for a quality Dolby Digital & DTS setup but it makes a massive difference in the overall experience.

[gr8fl4porsche]

Check out the new Samsung LN46A860
Ultra-thin 46" 1080p LCD HDTV with 120Hz refresh rate. $2,800.00

About as thick as a golf ball.

HD OTA antenna is a must.
HD Dish would be nice.
ATT Uverse would be my choice with HD.