JZ1276

Im looking to buy a plasma TV and cant decide on EDTV or HDTV. Im under the impression that unless I have HDTV service (which I do not) that a HDTV is pointless to have. Am I correct?
Also, can I use the prog scan on my DVD player with an EDTV???

Mr. Salty

All of your local stations are probably already broadcasting in HDTV, and if not they will be soon, so in my opinion if you're going to spend the money for a plasma it might as well be HD.

JZ1276

ok but if i dont get one with a built in hv tuner then i will not rceive the hd signal right?

hoyalawya

If you do not wish to watch anything in HD resolution then ED-plasma might be the best choice. However, I do not think that it is a wise decision considering the fact that HD-DVD and Blu-Ray are coming. It may take a year or two or three for but you will need to purchase another display to take full advantage of the HD resolution. Furthermore, for the price of a good 42" EDTV plasma, you could get a really nice 50" DLP, LCD, or LCOS RPTV in HD (720p) resolution. I always tell my friends that unless they want to hang the new TV on the wall, digital RPTVs offer more bang for the bucks.

hoyalawya

To answer your question, you will not be able to display HD signal if the set does not have a built in HDTV tuner and you do not have a separate HD-tuner box. Please check this web site - http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx - to determine whether you can currenty receive any over-the-air HD signal at your present address.

Mr. Salty

Right, but Wal-mart is already selling an HDTV tuner for less than $200. It seems like a logical upgrade if you're going to spend the dough on a plasma. And as hoyalawya wrote, HD-DVD and Blu-ray is right around the corner. Do you want to spend the kind of money you're going to spend and have the TV already be obsolete?

JZ1276

ok thanks for everones help im going with a built in hv plasma

Mr. Salty

You keep writing hv, but you might want to ask for HD when you go to the store.

JZ1276

One more question...when watching a TV program and the message appears ("presented in HD where available", such as the Sopranos or Everybody Loves Raymond), would it be shown in widescreen or fullscreen)?

Mr. Salty

All of thwe shows I have seen have been in widescreen if you're watching the HD simulcast.

The way it works is, your local network affiliate is actually broadcasting two different signals (simulcasting), on different channels/frequencies. Most shows on the major networks are cropped to 4:3 on the non-HD feeds ("E.R." is an exception and there are others), but are shown in widescreen 16:9 on the HD feed.

The same is true for HBO, but HBO usually makes its shows available in widescreen regardless of whether its the standard to HD feed. "The Sopranos," for example, is in widescreen on HBO, but is repeated in 4:3 on HBO2.

JZ1276

k, thanks for the info