I don't know about everyone else but I find it kind of ironic that you have to use an antenna to receive HDTV signals (forgetting about satellite at this point).......

JLB,

Actually, HDTV has a two edged blade. Unlike analog data decoders (NTSC) that can still deliver some sort of input (even if it is all screwed up) when signal levels waver or drop, HDTV being a digital data transmission (ATSC), must maintain a certain minimum signal level as it uses "packets" of data to work. You either get a rock solid image, or you get nothing. The audio portion, VSB (Vestual Side-band), is even more sensitive to interference.

Once you see a genuine (not converted to, but shot with a 1080i camera) 1080i transmission OTA (over-the-air), all other negative stipulations seem to melt away.


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horatiodude,

One of the many reasons I own and recommend Mitsubishi's.


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And since we are on a DVD board, check out my 750 DVD's on-line at:

http://www.dvdprofiler.com/mycollect...alias=rich2741

I have another question for you guys, that seems to belong in this thread.

I have a TN61X81, which I believe is the same Television being discussed in this thread, just the 61" version instead of the 55". It is 4:3, HD Ready and has "Colorstream" inputs. I always assumed that since it was HD ready and had component (Colorstream) inputs that it was capable of progressive scan. Like the television previously discussed, the manual or the inputs make no mention of progressive scan, but just use the term "colorstream". Previously I was using a Toshiba SD-5109 DVD player (which I thought was also progressive scan) and had it hooked up through the colorstream outputs on the player to the colorstream inputs on the television and never had any problems.

Now here's the problem - I recently purchased a Philips DVDR985 dvd player/recorder that is progressive scan. It has output jacks for both progressive scan and interlaced. When I connect the player to the television through the progressive scan outputs to the colorstream inputs (and select the "progressive scan" in the player menu), the picture is bright and washed out, with muted colors and is way off-center vertically.

When I connect the player to the colorstream inputs on the tv using the "interlaced" outputs on the player, the picture is fine. Also, it works both when I select "progressive" or "interlaced" in the player menu, although I can't really tell a difference between the two.

I'm not sure what this means - is my tv not capable of displaying a progressive scan picture? Or am I still receiving a progressive picture even though I am connected through the interlaced outputs on the player (since I can still select "progressive" in the player menu and the picture is fine)? Is "interlaced" still considered progressive, and this is all my tv is capable of displaying, or should my tv be able to accept input from the "progressive" jacks on the player (which means there is a problem somewhere).

Anyone have any thoughts?

Thanks,

Roy

Roy28,

An ATSC televison (which is capable of progressive scan in ATSC mode via the decoder) does not automatically make it usable for progressive signal other than through the decoder, though the vast majority of recent sets are. I personally own one ATSC set (Inteq 64" WS) that is incapable of using a progressive input other than what goes through the internal decoder (OTA). My other 2 HD (65", 55") WS monitors do (Mitsubishi's).

When a ATSC set can not display a progressive signal other than through the built-in decoder, the result will be a split screen where the two halfs of the horizontal image are transposed with a small vertical space between them.

The "ColorStream" label is just a fancy (and trademarked) way of saying Component input (which does not mandate that it is progressive). Sometimes a set will have several Component inputs in the rear of which only one may accept a progressive input ("ColorStream HD"). Check your manual for this- Toshiba writes for the model in question: "While standard ColorStream inputs only accept 480i signals, ColorStream HD inputs accept 480i, 480p, 720p (integrated models), and 1080i signals."

A second possiblity is that you may have to set that particular input (in the TV) to accept progressive signal input. Check that, it is often the case with manufacterers

Another possiblity is that you might have two of the three Component connections reversed. Check your connections at both ends, although I don't think this is the case.

The difference between watching a progressive image and a interlaced image is subtle and often dependent on the sensitivity to "flicker" of the person watching. Progressive imaging is very apparent when you "pause" the image. Progressive is "smoother" (not sharper), and more"film-like".

Interlaced is not the same as progressive. Interlaced delivers the image as 2 "fields" that make up a "frame". Progressive is delivered in complete "frames", which is visually more natural to the mind.

If you have any more questions, or can't solve the problem, just ask again.

rich2741,

Thanks so much for taking the time to write such a detailed reply.

Unfortunately, I think it is a problem with the player. I've corresponded through email with a gentleman who also has the dvdr985 and he is having almost the exact same problem with the progressive outputs. But I've also read some reviews of the unit on Amazon and Audioreview.com from people who seem to have no problems with progressive output, so maybe it is just a problem with some units or (hopefully) just some hard to find setting that I've somehow overlooked. I'm planning to contact Philips tech support after the holiday and try to find out what the deal is. Hopefully it's something that can be easily fixed, because I'm very pleased with this model otherwise.

Thanks again for the info!

Roy

Rich,

I still havent received VE in the mail, should be any day now. But, I am still having a problem. The convergence changes very quickly. I adjust it and then 3 minutes later its back off, what is wrong? Im getting upset at the thought of spending hundreds of dollars to have this fixed...

Thanks once again for your help...

Bump? Anyone? Whats wrong with my convergence? :(

Where is my boy Rich????? Help me!

Where is Rich? I hope he is okay. He ususally replies immediately...