Not one to be patient
I have to say that I thought I would post a blog and someone read it and respond. Not so, i have once again fallen victim to my narcissistic ways. Anyway if anyone does stumble in here I hope you will comment on whether or not you care if the TV signal goes digital or not. I had delayed signing up with the satellite company when we moved in 2 years ago thinking that we would be moving again shortly. I had opted for an aerial antenna that got better than average reception. I found a company call Terrestrial that makes a modified "Bow Tie" type of UHF antenna that really does a good job. I am geographically challenged to the point of receiving some of the better signal. I have to look around the corner to see the broadcast tower but with an amplifier I was able to make all but the CW channel to come in clear enough for digital.
The downside I see for the conversion is that analog TV picked up even the weakest signals and you had to adjust your antenna to filter out the cross over signals. Digital won't come in if you have conflicting signals or if the signal is not strong enough. This can be good and bad. When you have a signal you will have the best picture possible, always. But when the signal goes away or a storm moves in for instance you will have heavy pixelization and drop out or lost signal. Now I only have a cheap Samsung 30 in HDTV but I thoroughly enjoy watching the nature programs and Sunday night football on KSL/TV.
I recently bought a DVD player recorder thinking I was upgrading to new technology, at least that is what I told the wife. I really wanted something that I could up convert to 1080P and have a few more bells and whistles. Although I have been playing with the record function of the player and found that I need to buy a component cable if I want to use the TV's tuner to record the picture. Hind sight is I should have bought a unit that had a built in digital tuner as well, one that picks up HD. Anyway the up convert pictures are great. I will let you know how the recording does since it is also supposed to be able to record in HD as well. FYI this is not a Blue Ray, I haven't got that kind of scratch.
I am still looking for the satellite companies to offer a better package before I sign up again. I don't think I will be throwing out the antenna though since I get some channels not offered from any of the cable or satellite companies.. Imagine that! I just believe that if I am paying for the signal to be sent from whatever source then 100% of the programming should be in HDTV at the very least up converted. I know that is more bandwidth but I think I deserve more for my money than they are offering.
The downside I see for the conversion is that analog TV picked up even the weakest signals and you had to adjust your antenna to filter out the cross over signals. Digital won't come in if you have conflicting signals or if the signal is not strong enough. This can be good and bad. When you have a signal you will have the best picture possible, always. But when the signal goes away or a storm moves in for instance you will have heavy pixelization and drop out or lost signal. Now I only have a cheap Samsung 30 in HDTV but I thoroughly enjoy watching the nature programs and Sunday night football on KSL/TV.
I recently bought a DVD player recorder thinking I was upgrading to new technology, at least that is what I told the wife. I really wanted something that I could up convert to 1080P and have a few more bells and whistles. Although I have been playing with the record function of the player and found that I need to buy a component cable if I want to use the TV's tuner to record the picture. Hind sight is I should have bought a unit that had a built in digital tuner as well, one that picks up HD. Anyway the up convert pictures are great. I will let you know how the recording does since it is also supposed to be able to record in HD as well. FYI this is not a Blue Ray, I haven't got that kind of scratch.
I am still looking for the satellite companies to offer a better package before I sign up again. I don't think I will be throwing out the antenna though since I get some channels not offered from any of the cable or satellite companies.. Imagine that! I just believe that if I am paying for the signal to be sent from whatever source then 100% of the programming should be in HDTV at the very least up converted. I know that is more bandwidth but I think I deserve more for my money than they are offering.
Labels: Digital Antenna TV, Digital TV, f02/17/09, Up convert
posted by Jim at
3:03 PM
2 Comments:
I would seriously be happier if Cable offered the BBC or if the local channels would pick it up. I'm always disappointed paying for something I may not want and having to have it anyhow, but when I want something it's just ignored.
Then they go digital and screw up everything...and charge ME money to get things I didn't have to have before.
Ugh...
Please give the digital converter a try. there is allot of quality programming that is on the extra PBS channels. Locally, the Annenberg channel has international programming that is sometimes entertaining and would be good exercise for someone learning foreign languages.
Unfortunately, the funding for the $40 coupons has expired and you need to sign up on a waiting list as funds become available from expired coupons you may get a coupon. I wouldn't be surprised if the current administration frees up some more funding before June to get more households upgraded.
I just spent a weekend at a hotel and further resolved that I really don't care much for most of the programming on cable, satellite etc. So needless to say I will not be doing anything more than buying more converters for the remaining TVs in the house. That is unless I convince my wife that we need a better TV for the bedroom the I will get the large flat panel for the Home theater and the 30 inch HDTV will go in the bedroom.
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