Milwaukee HDTV User Group

If you're planning on sticking with your receiver, you might want to consider this:

Audio Authority 4 x 1

I've been using their component/audio autoswitcher for 4 years - works perfect every time, never have to touch it. copperbox is another authorized reseller, and you could always check fleabay.

Dave

Just another note regarding Pioneers. gparris mentioned the 5060HD, which is very similar to the Elite 1130pro. There is about a $2000 difference in MSRP between the two. The Elite gets you a longer warranty, a few more user settings and a slightly different cabinet. Not sure if this would be worth an extra 2K (or, in your case, 1K ), but American should have both to look at. You can't go wrong with either, Pioneer really stepped up to the plate with their quality on this year's models.

Dave

Tom, all the major manufacturers have .pdf installation or user's manuals available - they will tell you about the necessary mounting information. Here are a few links I had bookmarked during my decision-making process:

NEC

Panasonic  (see page 7)

Pioneer  (see page 7)

Happy plasma shopping!

Dave

Quote from: Tom SnyderI'll be using my DVR for the picture source, so it sure would be nice to just be able to just buy the monitor-only version... PDP-505CMX   Guess I should call the guy that I'm supposed to ask for there and see if they carry that one.

FYI, Pioneer has not yet released their new commercial plasmas. The 505cmx has the previous generation glass and electronics. If you're really interested in a PIO, I'd suggest giving a good look at the 50" Elite. Detachable speakers, 6th gen. panel, separate media box (only 2 cables to the display), near-Panasonic black levels, amazing "pop" in the colors and a very cool piano black finish. American and Flanners are both authorized retailers.

My best suggestion, however, has nothing to do with which plasma you choose. Whatever you settle on, be sure to include the manufacturer's required air gap spacing in the dimensions you give to your builder. Plasmas give off a fair amount of heat that needs to be dissapated - especially important if you're going to recess in an alcove.

BTW, I own the newest NEC 50". There's a huge thread over at AVS if you're interested in checking it out. It may just fit your needs. But, I'll be the first to admit that I'm a little biased      

Dave

After having played the obligatory round of CSR roulette with TWC, it's time to ask the real experts:

1) Can anyone tell me if the HD locals on TWC are in the clear or scrambled? QAM tuner being considered here.

2) What's the current minimum programming required to get a TWC HD box? Only interested in HD locals, not the HD package or DVR.

TIA,

Dave

The a/v sync problem is a known bug in the 522. I believe it'll take a software fix/download to correct this, nothing much a user can do. My older 721 used to do this, but seems to have been corrected. You can get up to speed on the 522 here:

522 Bug & Wishlists

Dave

QuoteOriginally posted by Tom Snyder
2000 was the first summer I had HDTV... HBO HD, the DirecTV Demo reel and PBS were pretty much all there was. PBS did gavel to gavel of both conventions, and we watched it all.  And because it came from NHK - Japan (yeah, the Japanese apparently have a greater appreciation for our politcal process than our own networks did), it was presented without commentary, spin and overkill.  So was the inauguration.

Awesome and powerful.

As the media continues to dumb down the public, it's more important for us to be able to see historic events like this. That's why it's puzzling that PBS believes it's more important to entertain us with reruns of Killer Whales and washed up Doobies. And that's sad.  

I'm sure that an intensely cynical view toward our political system is cathartic, but I'll take that over any other system of government anywhere in the history of our planet.

Seems that Charlie Ergen may share your view - E* is offering the gavel-to-gavel NKH HD feed from both conventions free to all it's subs (even those that don't have the HD pack). 1-10PM daily on channel 9467. And, yes, I'll be watching. For all the same reasons.

Dave

53129 - 60th and Edgerton

Chimney - mounted Radioshack 6' VHF/UHF (basic, old-fashioned antenna), no amp.

All other locals 85-100% on a Dish 6000, Fox is at 70-75%. Watchable with very few breakups.

Dave

Jeff, we ran into a similar situation about a year ago when my SO complained about having to watch a backfed mirror of someone else's viewing choice on our bedroom TV. After looking at some rather expensive channel modulators and notch filters, I decided to try something cheap and simple first.
I picked up a manual A-B-C switch from Radio Shack, mounted it to the back of the source A/V cabinet, and wired it like this:

A= Dish TV out (4900 with OTA pass-through, like the 501)
B= RF modulator from DVD
C= VCR coax out
Output=single existing coax to bedroom

No stereo, not videophile quality, but it was simple and it works. All 4 sources look good on a 27" analog set. The only downside is having to deal with the manual switching.

Since your Tivo and 501 are both putting out a modulated signal, I'm sure you could get this to work with just an A-B switch.

Dave

Paul, is this a refurb/gradeB ?

If so, your price is actually a little high. There's a factory authorized reseller on fleabay shipping these for less than $215.

If this is a new unit, check this out - taken directly from Denon's website:

WARNING TO VALUED CONSUMERS:
The warranty on DENON Electronics products is NOT VALID if the products have been purchased from an unauthorized dealer/on-line E-tailer or if the original factory serial number has been removed, defaced or replaced in any way.  Recently DENON Electronics has become aware of numerous instances in which such serial number tampering has occurred.  Unauthorized dealers/on-line E-tailers and/or their suppliers frequently alter the serial numbers in an effort to prevent manufacturers from tracing the supplier source.  DENON Electronics sell products through authorized retail and on-line channels to insure that consumers obtain quality pre-sale and after-sale support and service.  PROTECT YOUR WARRANTY.   Buy from an authorized DENON Electronics dealer/E-tailer.

They're really sticklers on this. I had a component switching problem with a first generation 3803 bought from a non-authorized dealer. They refused to upgrade it for free, as others were having done.

gparris, can be pre-ordered at Amazon for $260 shipped. Best price I found, ordered one 2 weeks ago. Still no idea as to when it'll ship. For the price, features and reviews, thought it was worth the wait.

Dave

QuoteOriginally posted by Laprok
I am contemplating switching from TWC to DISHTV. I have two questions. One, If you have DISHTV how do you like it?
And two, I have always been able to stretch my analoq signals from TWC but not my digital. Since DISHTV is all digital has anyone had any problems with stretching the 4:3 signal to 16:9?

In addition what are you using for the off air antenna to pick up the local stations in HD? And how good is the reception?

I've been with Dishnetwork for 3 years, overall very satisfied. I do miss the Weather Channel local forcasts, it was a real pain getting feeds for 6 TVs and 3 PCs out of 2 boxes (no free analog with Sat, you know), and it's taken the better part of the last 3 year's lower monthly bills to cover the up-front cost of the equipment. PQ is good to great, pricing is good, little to no rain fade, and customer service has not been an issue.

As far as stretching digital, I assume you are referring to the HD channels? Yes, both of the Dish HD boxes allow you to stretch and change to grey bars. They also downconvert and pass the HD to standard outputs, and upconvert everything to their HD outputs. The model 6000 is an older unit, the 811 is their newest. Neither are without their "issues".

If, by "all digital", you're referring to the 60, 120 or 180 channel packages, these cannot be stretched by standard definition Dish boxes. The Dish HD boxes will stretch these. However, as with TWC, your TV should also take care of this for you.

I'm just up the road a ways (Greendale), and I get all the locals, both analog and digital, with a cheap amplified chimney-mounted omnidirectional antenna. Faux6 digital gets the usual exception here. OTA locals are integrated in my HD box and passed through my SD box. Pretty simple and painless, except for all the extra cabling required.

Despite my obvious satisfaction with Dish, I no longer advocate switching to their services without doing a lot of research. TWC has come a long way with both their content and equipment the last 2 years. Directv has some very attractive stuff out there. And everyone has their own individual needs. Spend some quality time exploring your options before making the investment required to switch. Here's one of many great places to get Sat. user's comments:

SatelliteGuys

Dave

Dan, how's your intestinal fortitude these days? These 2 appear to fit your requirements (Faroujda, no chroma bug, upconvert on component, good PQ, budget):

Momitsu V880

LG DV7832NX

Note that I have no experience with these players. I've been fence-sitting on these since the holidays.

Since the US version of the LG (Zenith DVB318) is supposed to be available now, I'm now waiting for a local B&M to make one available for "critical review"

Dave

QuoteOriginally posted by Kevin Arnold
I'll even put those digital channels in that have no HD programming.

And one that has no signal, at least for us mere mortal OTA viewers.

Snard, I take that as permission to "skew". Right, Kevin?

Dave

Great find, Scott! Saw your post over at satelliteguys (also a member there) and jumped right over here to see if you were sharing with the "locals"

And, welcome aboard!!!

Dave

An excerpt from a response to an e-mail I sent to the CEO at Dishnetwork regarding future HD programming last month:

"We are in negotiations with many HD channels including Starz and Bravo and other HD channels in an effort to provide these to our customers.  We are hopeful that several additional HD channels will be launched in the first few months of 2004 and are also working on technology that will allow us to launch even more HD."

Note that this same response was received by quite a few E* customers. Probably canned, but it does give some hope.

Dave