Analog TV Broadcasts Shutoff Postponed

Over-the-air DTV is another victim of the weak economy. The US senate has passed the bill delaying the switchover to June 12, 2009. It is not really a switchover anymore, it is a gradual transition process. Some networks will shut-off their analog signals on Feb 17, others will do that in the forthcoming months. The final deadline is June 12.

There is a good reason for the delay. With the economy in a downturn, it doesn’t seem right to force millions of households to upgrade their TV sets, converters, etc.

Anyway, the date of our HDTV antenna giveaway has not changed. If you are ready to go digital without delay, we are ready to help you. Two days left to subscribe.

Posted in HDTVs | No Comments »

Is HDTV still such a leader of innovative technology?

Recently a panel of experts agreed that HDTV was a leading factor of change in consumer technology. However, one can question that since the amount of households that own HD sets has been on a steady incline since more than five years. So is this true that even after it’s emergence on the mass market this technology is so dominating? We don’t think so.

There have been many improvements in the domain of HD since it first appeared and this will be certified when HD broadcast shortly becomes the norm as per FCC regulations. But there are numerous other technological breakthroughs that occurred since the turn of the millennia that also merit attention. After all, it’s not all about pixels.

As a valid example, we would have to state the recent victory of BluRay over HD DVD. Why? Simply due to the fact that without an adequate quality source all that spiffy screen real estate is useless. As much as we would wish for it to be different in order to fully benefit for your TV’s features and quality you need to input an equally high quality source. We can also attribute the outpour of highly detailed video games on high definition consoles such as the XBOX 360 or PlayStation 3. These games were designed in a way that no computer can compete with stand alone consoles that also serve as high definition DVD players.

Posted in HDTVs | 1 Comment »

Finding The Best HD Set

HD Set

What does it really take to enjoy HD programming? Is a lonely HDTV set sufficient? Of course not. There are plenty of factors that impact on the quality of the content that we watch.

First, we must understand that in today’s digital cable and satellite driven entertainment world, our TV’s are only tools used to display images that are fed to them. Long gone are the days where rabbit ear antennas or roof top units were ample to get good quality signal.

We must first feed out TV set the High Definition Signal it deserves. This means that in order to benefit from HD you must subscribe to programming that is broadcast in that format. Either cable or satellite providers will set you up. You will need to buy or rent a High Definition receiver for the duration of your subscription. You will also need to properly hook up your receiver to the television set using adequate wiring as well as to properly configure the settings for both the receiver and television set. Both the cables and HD provider hardware are widely available at electronics stores such as Best Buy. You may also consider acquiring a home theater sound system to increase the audio experience offered by digital audio signals as well as a professional in home setup to insure optimal configuration.

Posted in HDTVs | 4 Comments »

HD Programming

Ever wonder why programming on 2 HD channels seems to be of noticeably different quality? Here is an overlook at how content is fed to you from the producer and the provider. There are two major factors. First, the initial production quality, which is mainly decided by the broadcasting network. Second, the quality of the signal fed to you by your cable or satellite provider.

First, the source it self, is the broadcasting network. Depending on the technology they employ they will shoot and broadcast content at a given resolution and will use certain encoding formats and procedures that will directly impact on the quality of programming they sell to the service providers (Your cable company). Most major networks will use HD cameras and high definition encoding that insures full HD, but some reduce quality by compressing content to save on bandwidth. This is often the case in popular shows that are broadcast to multiple sources simultaneously to prevent lag and freezes caused by bandwidth limitations imposed by the carrier’s capacities to receive and broadcast content.

As far as the service providers are concerned, the true limitations lie in infrastructure limitations. Bandwidth is the key factor and can be compared to a freeway on which users are cars. If at a certain time everyone or a vast majority is viewing a selected program, this will result on bandwidth strains similar to what a busy parkway may look like at rush hour traffic. In order to guarantee that all users will be able to enjoy the programming flawlessly without lag or freezing, providers often compress it.

Posted in HDTVs | No Comments »

HD Feed Quality

If you are not entirely satisfied with how your HDTV displays images and you have done proper setup on both your set and your cable or satellite box, you must not forget to verify the source of the content being aired or played back. It is entirely normal that standard definition content will not fully take advantage of your high definition television’s capacities. Verify the points listed below to make certain that you have the best possible viewing experience.

Make sure that your satellite or cable receiver is capable of receiving and broadcasting HD signal at up to 1080p. This will insure that you will not be limited by the hardware. Also make sure you are using good quality cables for the hook ups.

Next make sure that the settings on both the TV set and cable box are matched and that HD is enabled on both. Also make sure that your service provider has subscribed you to a package that offers HD programming. Should it be required, do not hesitate to upgrade your receiver or wiring as it will yield improved results. It does cost a bit of money up front but is well worth it down the line.

As far as accessories such as DVD players, gaming consoles or computers go, make sure you set them up accordingly to use the most out of your TV. If you still don’t want to jump into the BluRay frenzy, consider getting an inexpensive up converting DVD player. While it won’t playback high definition content, it will digitally optimize traditional DVD’s to best look on that new TV.

Posted in HDTVs | 2 Comments »

The Truth about Up-Scaling DVD players.

In one short sentence, it’s not a magical player that will make that old Top Gun DVD look sharp on that new big screen HDTV.

When you watch a DVD, you must consider the disc itself. A standard DVD is, well, a standard DVD. And no matter how much you spend for an up converting unit, this will not change. In order to watch movies at your set’s true potential I suggest either a BluRay DVD player with the appropriate BluRay disc, or a movie broadcast in HD on your cable or satellite feed.

The true and unique purpose of up converting DVD players is to scale your old DVD’s in a manner that will make them worthy of your new TV by respecting resolution and aspect ratios. This is caused by the fact that older DVD’s were shot in standard definition. This will adjust the original DVD content to your TV by respecting the original image specifications, therefore making sure that the image is not distorted or out of proportion. Also don’t forget that in order to most benefit from this type of equipment, you must use appropriate hook up cables (HDMI works best but component cables work as well) and to properly configure both the DVD player and the TV set. Some models include neat features such as a USB port or a media card reader. This is neat for connecting a hard drive or watching photos without the hassle of connecting your camera to the TV.

Posted in HDTVs | No Comments »

HDTV Configuration

As with many things, the safest and easiest way to have the best possible experience in the family room is by properly setting up all those toys. Be it your TV, BluRay player, Satellite Receiver or game console, having a proper setup will guarantee most enjoyment for everyone.

First, take a look at cables. There are several types of video cables that offer different quality levels. The best and newest solution is HDMI, which transmits both high definition video as well as digital audio. Then there are component cables, which resemble standard analog cables but are shielded and are marked with blue, red and green colors. They only transfer video and are limited at 720 lines. They are mostly used for DVD players and some gaming consoles. DVI-I and DVI-d are digital video cables often used for projectors or digital computer hookups. They are limited by the resolutions of the monitor and graphic adapter. Older hook up types include S Video and composite, which are used with older analog equipment such as camcorders or VCR’s. Pair up devices with the best possible cables in order to optimize your devices.

Then set up your TV and its peripherals to appropriate resolutions, aspect ratios, brightness and contrast. Do so for each device independently by browsing through the settings menus. In order to obtain optimal results proceed with setup in conditions as identical as possible to those in which you will be using your equipment. Verify lighting, sitting distance viewing angle and even shadows.

Posted in HDTVs | No Comments »

Choosing Audio

If an image is worth a thousand words, what is the value of good sound to a sharp and fluid image?

So you just got a new HDTV but you didn’t expect it to sound just like your old set from yesteryear? Just like image quality, sound evolved in the past decade. Given the technology available to the mass market, it is easily feasible to bring that Theater experience home and apply it not only to movies but also to broadcast programming.

But how to choose the appropriate equipment? There are two categories Home Theater in a Box or separate components.

HTIB, as it is often referred to, is a usually less expensive and simpler approach. All the components are paired together by the manufacturer and come in a single package, hence the name. This is advantageous as they usually cost roughly 400 dollars for a decent unit that covers all the bases: five surround speakers, a sub-woofer, a receiver and all the necessary wiring. Some even incorporate a DVD player. On the downside, they often don’t have enough inputs to connect peripherals such as HD boxes, gaming consoles and others.

A more complex but rewarding alternative is to buy all the components separately. This will allow you to customize your home theater to your needs by considering your room size, accessories to hook up and also cost. A decent set will cost roughly 800 dollars or upwards, with no real limit. In this instance, you will need to buy a good receiver, a sub-woofer, a set of surround speakers and all the wiring. Don’t forget also a DVD player.

Posted in HDTVs | No Comments »

HDTV Calibration

The recent technological advances in consumer electronics have brought us several improvements when it comes to televisions and displays in general. The current dominance of LCD and Plasma displays and the quality that one can expect is better than ever with the massive popularity increase of HD sources such as cable, satellite and even BluRay and High Definition Gaming Consoles such as Sony’s PS3. But is it all that simple? Can you just buy a spiffy TV, bring it home and plug it in? Or has the increase in technology also complicated things? We will look into set up and calibration.

Generally, when you bring home a TV, it is pre-set to automated factory settings. However, most retailers today offer professional calibration and setup services that can cost several hundreds of dollars. Is it worth it to pay the extra money? It all depends.

First, you must consider what use will the unit have. If it is your primary or only TV and you wish to benefit from optimal image and sound. If that is the case you may either hire a professional and benefit from the tools and expertise they have, or as a less expensive alternative, you may purchase a calibration DVD that will guide you through a step by step calibration process. In order to best benefit from this media use a DVD player that is up converting or even better a BluRay player. This media can be bought at retailers for roughly 50 dollars or less.

Posted in HDTVs | No Comments »

HDTV Antenna Giveaway on the Digital TV Switchover Day

The digital TV transition is almost here. On Feb 17, US TV broadcasts go digital.

I am glad to announce that HDTV Labs will be giving away 10 HDTV antennas on the switchover day, Feb 17. The antennas will be awarded to ten lucky winners whose names will come up in the random drawing contest. Moreover, we will let the winners choose any antenna they want from the list that will be announced shortly after the drawing. The selection is likely to include the best and the most popular antennas on the market. If requested, we will handpick the right antenna for the winners considering their location and watching preferences.

Sign up for the HDTV Antenna giveaway campaign and get off to a good start with over-the-air High Definition TV!

Posted in Over-the-Air HDTV | 3 Comments »