What do you need for HDTV?

R

RooK

[H]ard|Gawd
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Aug 19, 2001
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I've really not been paying any attention to the whole TV thing, but i'm thinking of getting a nice 32" or something, (when I can get one for about 500 or so).

The only thing is that I don't have cable or anything - i'll be getting it mainly for consoles and movies. So will I be able to pick up HDTV signals from the air? I've been under the impression that you needed a receiver or something, but hopefully someone can clarify this really quickly.
 
if you get a HDTV with an integrated HD tuner, you will only need to buy a HD antenna for OTA (over the air) HD programming, if it doesn't have a HD tuner integrated, you will need both the antenna and a reciever/tuner to get OTA HD feeds

what gaming system do you intend to hook to it?

unless it's a Xbox 360 or PS3, combined with the fact you have no interest in cable or satellite HD feeds or HD-DVD, i wouldn't waste my money on any fancy HDTV, because standard TV actually will look worse on a HDTV than it will a standard TV because of the finer precision, it will make all of the trash in the standard TV signal come out more
 
i watch a lot of movies, so thats my main interest. But its good to know that with the right TV i can get HDTV for free
 
nobody_here said:
i
unless it's a Xbox 360 or PS3, combined with the fact you have no interest in cable or satellite HD feeds or HD-DVD, i wouldn't waste my money on any fancy HDTV, because standard TV actually will look worse on a HDTV than it will a standard TV because of the finer precision, it will make all of the trash in the standard TV signal come out more
Click to expand...

I have a CRT HDTV and regular TV looks really great on it, and HDTV looks phenomenal.

and you don't really need an HDTV antenna, I am using an old pair of rabbit ears for OTA

Local HDTV.

and if you watch a lot of movies and like widescreen, then just go with an HDTV (not sure if you can still get a 16x9 non-HDTV set). You will have less black bars with a 16x9 TV, most movies will still have the black bars on top and bottom due to the wider aspect ratio of many movies, 2.35:1 and 1.85:1 vs 1.77:1 of a 16x9 TV.
 
WS6 said:
and you don't really need an HDTV antenna, I am using an old pair of rabbit ears for OTA

Local HDTV.

and if you watch a lot of movies and like widescreen, then just go with an HDTV (not sure if you can still get a 16x9 non-HDTV set). You will have less black bars with a 16x9 TV, most movies will still have the black bars on top and bottom due to the wider aspect ratio of many movies, 2.35:1 and 1.85:1 vs 1.77:1 of a 16x9 TV.
Click to expand...

cool... thats exactly the info I wanted... I know I could look this up, but it only takes a couple of keystrokes to ask if the Wii has any HD capability (Have I told you H'ers how much I love you?)
 
WS6 said:
I have a CRT HDTV and regular TV looks really great on it, and HDTV looks phenomenal.

and you don't really need an HDTV antenna, I am using an old pair of rabbit ears for OTA

Local HDTV.

and if you watch a lot of movies and like widescreen, then just go with an HDTV (not sure if you can still get a 16x9 non-HDTV set). You will have less black bars with a 16x9 TV, most movies will still have the black bars on top and bottom due to the wider aspect ratio of many movies, 2.35:1 and 1.85:1 vs 1.77:1 of a 16x9 TV.
Click to expand...

do what?

last time i checked it was impossible to tune OTA HD channels without an HD antenna
 
nobody_here said:
do what?

last time i checked it was impossible to tune OTA HD channels without an HD antenna
Click to expand...

My TV with rabbit ears
tv2.jpg


tv3.jpg
 
ok.....but that doesn't seem to show that it is actually HD.....i mean, i am not saying it isn't true, but it could be your TV picking up a digital tv channel and scaling it right?

can you provide some sort of proof that HD content can be received with standard rabbit ears because this would be news to me, and if so, is the IQ not compromised?
 
I think the pic of the tv showing that its getting a 1080i input is pretty solid proof. OTA (over the air) HD signals are definately real, many people use them. you can go to www.antennaweb.org to see what stations you can pick up in your area.
 
I use a pair of 5$ rabbit ears that my mom got for a 13" tv 10 years ago for my OTA HD needs.
 
um, the second pic is showing the res that I am picking up, 1080i.
If I am picking up a digital channel that is non-HD it shows at 480i, it doesn't upscale.
most channels in my area (Hampton Roads) are 1080i and the rest are 720p.
At last count I was picking up 20 HD channels and 2 normal Digital channels with my rabbit ears..
I do have to turn the rabbit ears slighty to pick up certain channels though.
 
nobody_here said:
ok.....but that doesn't seem to show that it is actually HD.....i mean, i am not saying it isn't true, but it could be your TV picking up a digital tv channel and scaling it right?
can you provide some sort of proof that HD content can be received with standard rabbit ears because this would be news to me, and if so, is the IQ not compromised?
Click to expand...
erm, what sort of difference would there be between an SD digital channel and an HD digital channel? You could probably tune hd with two bare wires if you got really lucky.

If you insist on getting an HD antenna, check antennaweb and then spend $30 for a 'silver sensor' or clone. If you live 60+ miles from the towers in a hilly area then sure you'll need to spend some dough on an big external one, but a SS clone worked fine for me 25 miles from the towers.

About the wii - it only comes with cables for 480i, but you can get component cables for it to show 480p which still isn't HD, but looks better.
 
range also plays a part.

im 15 miles north of any transmission so the only thing that (just barely) picks up a signal indoors is one of those directional arrow shaped thingies circuit city sells.
 
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