View Full Version : HD Cable vs. DTV?
Printman
11-13-2003, 08:43 PM
I am a Newbie and find all of this very confusing. Have just purchased a HIT 50V500 set from Circuit City so I have a couple of weeks to decide if I want to keep it.
Initially I am disapointed in the picture quality from DTV. I get a pix that I prefer from the standard network feed? Maybe it is not connected to the right terminal?
Don't know about most of you but I find the Mfg manuals hard to understand. Like they are written by people who completely understand it all and assume that everyone else will also!
Getting into a receiver seems to be quite expensive, at least from DTV. It looks like subscribine to Comcast would be cheaper as they say that all you need is their STB @ $10.00 p/month?
If a person just opted for a receiver and an antenna what would the $$ be?
Don't quite understand the term "Off-Air HDTV" does this simply mean signals in the iar that are received by an antenna?
Mike71
11-13-2003, 08:57 PM
what type of cables are you using from the DTV receiver to the TV ?? Any new TV needs to be calibrated for the best picture quality with an Avia test disc or Video Essentials.
Direct TV HD receiver and dish is $399 from Direct TV, installation included. This is a special and lasts till the end of the year. The receiver they gave me cost $600 if I were to buy it in the store.
Printman
11-13-2003, 09:10 PM
I do not know what type of cable it is. It just looks like the standard that comes in from the antenna.
I might add that my DTV unit is in one room and the TV in another. The seperation is about 40' or so. I have a Bose system and the wife did not want all of the various units sitting on top of the TV. The previous TV is a floor model Toshiba (Great Picture).
The DTV wires go uder the floor the Bose stuff thru the attic.
Your price of $399 is great but I am an existing DTV customer. Existing customers take it in the rear.
Mike71
11-13-2003, 09:26 PM
THe $399 deal is for existing customers. http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/imagine/HDTV.dsp
If this is the cable you are using from the receiver to the tv: http://www.grand-tek.com/pics2/rf-5-b.jpg
that cable is the worst connection to use.
Printman
11-13-2003, 09:36 PM
That picture kind of looks like it.
Some of the marksings on the cable are as follows. BLDEN-T 9116 75 OHM Series 6E10898 CATV.
Does this help?
What is the reccommend cabling? Would it be benificial to move the DTV receiver to the TV? The stand has some shelves underneath the screen and that would not be objectionable.
Thanks
Printman
11-13-2003, 09:38 PM
That picture kind of looks like it.
Some of the marksings on the cable are as follows. BLDEN-T 9116 75 OHM Series 6E10898 CATV.
Does this help?
What is the reccommend cabling? Would it be benificial to move the DTV receiver to the TV? The stand has some shelves under the screen and that would not be objectionable.
Thanks
Mike71
11-14-2003, 07:28 AM
YEah, you are using a coaxial cable (RF) and that could explain your pic quality, or be part of the problem.
Can you tell me what model # your DTV receiver is ? and/or the type of conncections that are on the back?
Printman
11-14-2003, 07:48 AM
It is a Sony Sat-A3. It is about 6-7 yrs old.
Not sure what you mean by the type of connectors, they are just the standard push in type. You know red, yellow, white, the norm.
Prior to the recent purchase of a HIT50v500 I had a Toshiba 32" tube set with a great Pix. It was a floor model stand alone unit.
Would the Hitachi perform better with all of these units located closer to the TV with shorter cabling? If not then should the existing cable be replaced and if so with what?
Mike71
11-14-2003, 08:35 AM
If you want to watch HIgh Definiton now or plan too soon you have 2 choices, buy a DTV HD receiver and dish for $399, or get Comcast cable and they rent you the box.
I am not sure about how your long length of cables affect the picture, maybe someone else can chime in on that.
Printman
11-14-2003, 09:19 AM
I saw another post by you in another area about Dish Network leasing boxes the way the cable companies do.
What is the latest on that? I do not know anyone who uses Dish? they appear to be cheaper that DTV. Is that so?
Mike71
11-14-2003, 12:21 PM
THat was a rumor about Dish Network, haven't heard anything yet.
EvanRude
11-14-2003, 02:23 PM
Dish is better!
just thought I let that out.
Dish is going to release new boxes soon. I heard ( heresay ) that one will be a HDTV recorder with OTA included.
