To Wait or not to Wait

[dciandrew]

Looking for some opinions here. I’ve been looking to make the move to a new TV/Monitor. I’ve
been looking at the Toshiba’s and the Hitachi’s. To me their picture quality seemed better (I
guess my eyes are what counts since I’ll be watching it).

However here is my dilemma. Do I buy a Monitor now and a set top box or do I wait until they
are available with an integrated HD tuner. I’m not to keen on the idea having a separate
component. You know one more remote to deal with and extra connections to the monitor and
mixing an Samsung with the other brands. However on the plus side the price is now about
$1800.00 on the 50' Toshiba and I won’t have to wait until integrated models become available.
Any thoughts or comments on this would be appreciated.

[Ratman]

Even thought there are few, there are HD sets with integrated tuners. Either way, buy an HD set that suits your needs, taste, budget and room. If it has a built in, great! If not, buy a receiver and go for it!

If you keep looking and waiting, all you'll wind up doing is not purchasing because it doesn't have this or doesn't have that! And... there are newer products being announced every day with more 'bells and whistles'.

Why wait? Just do go for it and enjoy! If you're like the rest of us, you'll NEVER be 100% happy anyway! There's always room for improvement, never enough money to do it!:p

[AdminJoe]

My oppinion: buy a set without a built in tuner.

Why? You have more choices down the road, and it is a bit cheaper.

[Ratman]

Originally posted by AdminJoe
it is a bit cheaper.

How do you figure that?
HDTV's with built in tuners can be had for a few dollars more than a HD monitor. Also, the only OTA only receiver is the Samsung (~$399). So your only other option is a Hughes, RCA, Toshiba etc. that also has the satellite receiver~$399 and up). With that, most places require that you subscribe for at least one year to D* or pay an additional $199 (total ~$600).

OR.... you can opt to buy an Dish receiver, but you need to purchase an 8VSB module to get OTA!

If you buy an HDTV with the tuner integrated, you aren't forced into the satellite sub/penalty nor do you have to put out an additional $400 bucks an external STB for OTA.

Maybe I'm way off base with my prior statements, but for $1800, you can get the F38310 16:9 38" with a built in tuner (sat and OTA). I'm sure there are others available...

Just my opinion...
:)

[Tyler Durden]

Whether or not Admin Joe is right about the lower cost w/o a tuner (which I believe he is - look at the difference between last year's Sony XBRs and comparable models w/o tuners), it is absolutely fruitless to wait until more sets arrive w/ tuners. Of all the things HDTV neophytes have had to deal with, the obligatory tuner requirement put forth by the FCC simply is not a reason to defer purchasing.

You are also afforded some degree of flexibility by not getting a built-in tuner as you are not 'committing' to receive your signal a given way.

Jump in - the water is warm!!!

[Ratman]

Either you buy an HD set with or without a tuner.

But, if you want HD, the only way to obtain an HD broadcast is with an ATSC tuner. Right?

So... no matter how you cut it, dice it or slice it, you will pay for an ATSC tuner.

As stated before, on a set with the tuner built in. No obligations to anyone and get at least OTA from the 'get go'. And don't forget convenience (No external box, no extra cables/inputs) and if you choose an extended warranty, the tuner is covered! (There's another ~$150 savings)

Or... purchase either a Samsung OTA only receiver and pay basically the same price as a 'combo' (sat/OTA) . (unless you DON'T subscribe to a satellite provider. Then you pay the penalty.)

BTW... Sony is overpriced.

Waiting is futile! It will be at least 6 years before anything becomes 'standardized'. So... if you want HD now, get what you can afford and live with! Every manuafacturer is hopping on the HD bandwagon with some type of HD gimmick that makes one product desireable over another (firewire/dvi/simultaneous SD/HD ouput, etc) and people will pay whatever the cost. Why? Because we want HD! Or... there are those who wait... and wait.... and wait!

[57U]

Originally posted by Ratman
But, if you want HD, the only way to obtain an HD broadcast is with an ATSC tuner. Right?Not Right!!!

In most of Canada, the only way to get HD for the foreseeable future is with satellite or cable. Both of which have their own boxes and won't make use of the internal digital tuner.

Many parts of the US may become similar once you catch up to Toronto. Cable may become the best way to receive HD, in many major urban centers, instead of OTA.

(Toronto is probably a leader in "cable HD" with 7 HDTV channels so far and a couple more planned)

So, I guess the answer is... "It depends on your location and how you intend to receive HD signals" Check with your cable company, the satellite company and OTA possibilities, depending on your location

[Ratman]

Originally posted by 57U
Not Right!!!

In most of Canada, the only way to get HD for the foreseeable future is with satellite or cable. Both of which have their own boxes and won't make use of the internal digital tuner.

Sorry my Canadian Brother! But... the poster is from the US and the statement still holds water! "To receive 'broadcast HD' (and I'll quantify with OTA) you need an ATSC tuner" Also, most internal tuners decode satellite as well as OTA.

Many parts of the US may become similar once you catch up to Toronto. Cable may become the best way to receive HD, in many major urban centers, instead of OTA.
Catch up? Most of the major markets in the US broadcast digital signals which are FREE! Why would I want to pay $60.00 per month just to get my local stations via cable?

([/B]

So... the answer is, depending whether your local affiliates broadcast digitally and you can get/want OTA, whether you want satellite or both, YOU NEED a receiver!

Now... if your local cable company can provide ALL of the HD programming you want and additionally all of your local stations (uncompressed!) digitally, you still need a tuner/receiver (converter). Your options are purchase an HDTV with a built-in digital cable coverter (I think Hitachi and Panasonic have them) or you rent one from the cable provider.

Again... you still need a tuner/receiver/converter for HD!

[BobV]

One of the posts that I found very useful is the one that shows the local OTA stations for your zip code. Go to www.antennaweb.org and enter your zip code. I entered 93760, which is one of many Fresno zip codes.
The yellow codes at the top are supposed to be in the range of a small antenna. There are two currently live in the small antenna range of zip 93760, Fresno (ABC) and Clovis (IND). Bakersfield (ABC) is scheduled to go live in September and Fresno (UPN) later this month. Six other stations are scheduled to go live by the end of the year. (TEL, CBS, UNI, FOX, WB, PAX)
I'd say you are in a pretty good locale to put up an antenna and get plenty of OTA HD offerings and make good use of a receiver.

[dciandrew]

Thanks for all the input. I was always looking at OTA broadcast because our 1st HD station
carriers MNF and Pro and college football is one of my weaknesses(Go FSU Bulldogs) . I also
looked at the antenna site and saw that most of the other OTA stations will be up later this year. I
should also be able to receive them just fine because when I moved into my home 10+ years ago it
already had an antenna up it’s the old square style that looks like wire mesh. It works quite well
for the current stations I use it every year when football season is over. I just have a problem with
paying $40.00 every month for cable when all I really want is the sports channels during football
season. So I always cancel my cable in the spring and hook back up in the fall. I always tell my
wife that they should pay me to watch cable have you ever watched a movie on TNT or USA
eight minuets of movie 4-5 minuets of commercials. Any ways not to digress, so back to the point
of to wait or not to wait.

After reading all the replies, you have swayed me into purchasing soon and then to add a
Samsung HD tuner (lots of great info on this forum, this has to be the most informative site on
HD and related, thank you to whoever maintains this site otherwise I wouldn’t have even known
about the 150 or 151 models most of the local stores only have the tuners with direct TV in
them). So all I have to do since I want a Toshiba is wait until one of the superstores puts on one
of their sales with either gift certs or 10% off type things, thus it will be like getting an extended
warranty for about $100.00

[mbinpa]

O.K. now I am really confused. You say that if you have an HDTV ready tv you need a converter box. We have the availability to get HDTV through cable or satelite. Our cable provider gave us a regular box and an HDTV box which they said we had to use whether our tv had a built in converter or not. Our current cable bill is around 120 a month including 50 for broad band internet access. The satelite may be different but they only offer 2 channels to cable's 5 in our area?? So why would I want to buy a tv that was integrated in this young market??

[kevinw]

Let me in on this.. If OTA is the only way available to get your local HD chanels then Integrated or a STB that is not married to Direct/Dish. (Even though it seems that most integrated tuners are Direct ready, just add a dish) can be your choice.

If Hd cable is available, then skip the tuner integrated or otherwise. Less chance of atmospheric problems or the bother of an antenna.

If you are in an area where no locals are available, then a Direct/Dish is the option. No integrated tuner needed.

Now my opinion is no integration. If your tuner goes then you do not have to give up your TV while it is being fixed or replaced. If you upgrade your TV then you can move the STB to the new one.

[Ratman]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by mbinpa
Our cable provider gave us a regular box and an HDTV box which they said we had to use whether our tv had a built in converter or not.
That's correct! If you choose to use digital cable, you MUST rent their 'converter' to get HD. BUT, there are two HDTV's available that have cable converters 'built in'.

So why would I want to buy a tv that was integrated in this young market??

It's an option!
IF you want OTA and satellite, then a built-in could be a convenience and a cost savings.

IF you want OTA only.... built in is still an option. Or purchase a Samsung STB.

If you want cable only... rent their converter.

Every individual has their own tastes, requirements, budget and opinion. I am only trying to present those options based on MY experiences since I became interested in HD. In my situation, the 'built in" tuner saved me ~$400.

Of course, you have final word as to which option to take.

[calabria]

There's the nail on the head. Options; choices; personal taste. Something no one can argue with! Of course you've got the best of both worlds, RM, with the built-in tuner and D* tuner. My set has a built-in tuner, and I'm very happy with it. If I decide later that I want D*, I'll go out and buy another box (we've been there before, right?). So flexibility is always there, regardless of tuner in or tuner out. I've got a lonely HD input that's just waiting for another box to be connected. :p

The final word: "Hey, it's only money!"

Ralph

[Ratman]

Originally posted by calabria
Ralph

Tee-hee!! You sly dog!

I knew it was a matter of time before you found this forum!.
Thanks for the reinforcement!:D

[calabria]

Hey no problemo. Always willing to throw a lifeline in time of need. :p

Actually, I've been on this forum as long as you, but never had the inclination to post before today. Maybe that will change now!:D

[kevinw]

Good to see a another wiseman...:D