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-   -   Do you have HDTV at home? (https://forum.dvdtalk.com/tv-talk/391281-do-you-have-hdtv-home.html)

rabbit77 10-18-04 12:11 PM

Do you have HDTV at home?
 
Just a quick poll to see how many TVTalkers are watching their shows on HDTV.

pilot 10-18-04 12:18 PM

have HDTV, yes.. watch shows in HDTV, no..

Red Dog 10-18-04 12:21 PM

Not yet. I'm planning on getting a 42-inch flatscreen at some point next year.

rabbit77 10-18-04 12:31 PM

I just set up my HT for HDTV in my first house last month. I have Dish network and bought the 5-channel thing (HDNET, Discovery, TNTHD, HDMovies and ESPNHD) but the only worthwhile channels are Discovery and ESPNHD, or at least the 5% of stuff ESPN does show in HD.

But after picking up an indoor antenna a few weeks ago I'm blown away by the OTA HD broadcasts for show like Lost, but I don't think I can go back after watching football and the baseball playoffs. I wish I had it in time for this year's Olympics.

OTA I get:
CBS (when I extend the VHF antenna)
NBC
ABC
FOX
UPN
WB/WGN
WTTW (PBS)

nevermind 10-18-04 12:40 PM

Yes, a 57" Hitachi RP since February. The only HD channels I get are the locals (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, WGN, PBS) through Comcast. I wasn't watching it too much because I am so used to TiVo that having to be in front of a TV at that minute, and then deal with the commercials was simply unacceptable, no matter how good the picture. It's so bad I didn't even bother watching Lost in HD the first 3 weeks! Last Monday I just got the cable box with the DVR in it, so at least I get 8 hours of HD recording on it. I have watched quite a bit more in HD since then.

I won't be upgrading my DirecTV setup to HD for quite a while - at least until the HD Tivos are wayyyy under $1000.

nazz 10-18-04 12:41 PM

I use DirectV for my HD and get:

CBS
NBC
ESPNHD
Discovery HD
Bravo HD
HDNET
HDNET Movies
Showtime
HBO

they are just about ready to add FOX.

Chew 10-18-04 12:42 PM

I have HDTV + HDTiVo. :drool:

griz 10-18-04 12:44 PM

Yes. I have a 65" Mitsubishi RPTV and DirecTV (DirecTIVO). I'm have NFL Sunday Ticket (awesome in HD). I also get OTA CBS in HD (other local channels are digital, but not HD yet).

I had VOOM for a while, but wasn't watching much of the exclusive channels, and there wasn't an easy way to get it to play with my ReplayTV. I also had SD Dishnetwork. I got rid of both of them and went with DirecTV. The clincher was all the HD Sunday Ticket games available.

I also tried the local cable co. HD when they first offered it (6 mo's ago), but they kept jerking me around, telling me different stories, raising rates, etc. It was costing me like $15/mo for 4 HD channels. The didn't have the local HD CBS on it either (they claimed no local channel was HD....ummmm...sure....that's why I could pick it up with my OTA tuner).

HD programming is incredible. It's hard to watch SD stuff. I've started watching a lot more CBS programming since I can get them in HD.

EDIT: realized it just said DirecTIVO, when I have the HD-TIVO! It's expensive....but worth it!

uteotw 10-18-04 12:54 PM

I've had the HD-ready TV for a few years but no HD programming as of yet. I have the DirecTivo, which as noted above is like gold, so I too plan to wait until the prices on HD-DVRs come way down and then go that route. If there was some way to just get the locals in HD I'd do it, but man I love Tivo...

BDB 10-18-04 01:02 PM

I am in directv limbo at the moment, and am about to order comcast to get me thru for a month or 2.

I don't know whether to subject myself to HD for that time, and then go back to SD, as my wife won't approve the purchase of the HDTivo yet, and I am wary of the locals I won't be able to get because of stupid waiver rules in SF.

marty888 10-18-04 01:22 PM

Lowly Digital cable is all I can muster for the moment.

Geofferson 10-18-04 01:24 PM

Yes, I currently have two HDTVs (55" Mitsubishi & 46" Toshiba). I subscribe to TWC HD w/ HD DVR.

tonyc3742 10-18-04 01:28 PM

Have a HDTV, had HD cable box since last November, just got the HDDVR from the cable co. I don't watch a whole lot of TV, but if it's in HD, I'll try to watch it, and I browse the guide's listings of the HD channels to see if anything looks good.
Geofferson--what model HDDVR do you have? TWC gave us the Scientific Atlanta 8000HD and for the first month or so, it was buggy as all get out, and it still reboots at random sometimes.

B.A. 10-18-04 01:29 PM

Nope - still watching all of my shows on the 27" Trinitron.

Dabaomb 10-18-04 02:01 PM

no :(

My TV is a 27" Panasonic Tau.

Meteu185 10-18-04 02:19 PM

I just got the $700 Sanyo with built-in tuners on Friday, and can get all of the networks OTA (incl. Fox) and on cable get:

NBC
CBS
ABC
HBO (2)
SHO (2)
INHD (2)
Discovery
ESPN-HD
TNT

DodgingCars 10-18-04 02:34 PM

Nope... It will be awhile before I do. I have far too much debt to invest in the equipment.

MJKTool 10-18-04 02:41 PM

I have a compatible set, but cancelled the cable service for HDTV after a few months. The novelty wore out pretty quick. And not many shows I watch were in HD.

Geofferson 10-18-04 02:45 PM


Originally posted by dtcarson
Geofferson--what model HDDVR do you have? TWC gave us the Scientific Atlanta 8000HD and for the first month or so, it was buggy as all get out, and it still reboots at random sometimes.
I too have the 8000HD model. However, I haven't had any problems with it. I've had it since June and haven't encountered any of the problems you noted. Weird.

Tommy Ceez 10-18-04 02:45 PM

55" Mitsu with only OTA in NYC...which means...FOX 100% on, ABC 25% in good weather, CBS 20% and NBC never...Damn Osamma Bin Laden!

Michael Corvin 10-18-04 02:48 PM

Should have been a broader poll. I suspect most people that have an HDTV don't get a signal yet. I had one for a year and a half before I got some channels.

Rabbit - you didn't miss much. Don't get me wrong, it all looked great. NBC delayed broadcast though. Want to watch the opening Ceremonies in HD? Yea, gotta wait an hour after the SD broadcast to see it. The only upside to this was different commentators, Mary Carillo was much classier than Bob and Katie's wise-crack-a-thon. Events? Over 8 hours delayed.

Anyway, I have Voom. It is great. I only watch a couple of the exclusive channels, RUSH & RAVE on a regular basis. But it is worth it to have locals included as well as ESPN HD, Discovery HD, Bravo HD and others at no extra charge. Works fine with my standard Tivo. But I can't wait until they announce a release date for their HD DVR. All the HD you want for a hair over $50 a month. :up: Getting all the same channels(local & bonus[espn etc]) through the cable company would be closer to $70. I haven't had the slightest hiccup either. I love it. I just want to be able to record at a resonable cost.

BlackCapTen 10-18-04 02:53 PM

I have a Panasonic LCD rear projection HDTV and use an OTA antenna with an LG receiver to get the locals.

I am also in the process of setting up a cheap home theater computer with an HDTV receiver card so I can record/timeshift HDTV programs. I'm not a complete expert with this stuff but its a hobby and I'll be happy if I get it working.

rabbit77 10-18-04 03:05 PM


Originally posted by Michael Corvin
Should have been a broader poll. I suspect most people that have an HDTV don't get a signal yet. I had one for a year and a half before I got some channels.

Yeah, the meaning of my poll was meant to literally be, do you have HDTV at home, not do you have an HDTV. Oh well.

I couldn't stand the stupid jokes that Costas was making at the opening ceremonies.

ChrisHicks 10-18-04 03:37 PM


Originally posted by Chew
I have HDTV + HDTiVo. :drool:
you suck. ;)

I have HD through Comcast. as soon as I muster up enough $ I'll be buying an HDTivo to replace one of my regular DTV ones.

Cusm 10-18-04 03:45 PM

I have a Panasonic 50" LCD with Cox HD, with a dual tuner HD DVR (software sucks but it is a free ($5/mo) 2 tuner HD DVR)
I get:
NBC
ABC
CBS
Discovery HD
ESPN
HBO
INHD 1 & 2

rabbit77 10-18-04 03:51 PM

you guys with the sweet tv sets and setups - did you post pics in the "post pics of your HT thread" thread? The :drool: factor of some of the users' setups here is off the charts.

tonyc3742 10-18-04 04:12 PM


Originally posted by Geofferson
I too have the 8000HD model. However, I haven't had any problems with it. I've had it since June and haven't encountered any of the problems you noted. Weird.
The TWC guy came out and admitted they 'rushed it out, just to have it out there' and it was buggy when it first came out. Then there was some required upgrade to fix a problem that caused it to reboot every 2 minutes [just *Slightly* annoying] that somehow my machine didn't get. Guy came out here last time, did a Factory Reset, and it's been working pretty well since then. Oh well, the price for being an early adopter ;)--previously I had both an HD and a DVR unit hooked to the same TV, and this is light years better.

DeadLamb 10-18-04 04:21 PM

rolling a cheapy HDtv set up.. I have a HDtv card in the cpu (fusion II) so I can record HDtv to the cpu when I'm not home and so on.. Sep I don't have the whoop ass plasma tv I want just yet so if I want to watch HDtv it's on the 19inch LCD monitor I have for the cpu

the funny thing is that even just playing HDtv in say a mini window as I work on the cpu doing other stuff, it STILL kicks lots of butt.. Just a killer new tech really..

I live with in 25 miles of the tv towers that feed all of sacramento so being we are like the 19th largest tv market in the USA all the stations are pushing digital and HDtv feeds OTA.. (over the air).. So get all the networks including WB, UPN and FOX with just a little home attenna.

Pretty cool... also sort of strange to sit there thinking "WOW this is free?!?!" being after so many years of being fisted by the cable companies I started to think that one "has to" pay $$ to watch anything, forgetting that as a little kid I worked the rabbit ear to watch cartoons etc..... Guess it's gone full circle again on some level..

Jeremy517 10-18-04 04:50 PM

We're HDTV compatible, but we're waiting for HDTivos to be priced reasonably. The launch of the three new DTV satellites might be another requirement before we get it.

movieking 10-18-04 05:39 PM

I have a HDTV PVR, but I don't have a HDTV....yet

BassDude 10-18-04 06:16 PM

HDTV thru Cox Cable. $10/month more.

NBC
CBS
FOX
WB
ABC
ESPN
PBS
Discovery
INHD - surpisingly good channel. Most watched.
HBO

Watch it all the time. Have never owned a Tivo. Waiting for an HD cable DVR.

tommyp007 10-18-04 06:43 PM

Yep....through Charter Cable. Poor channel selection so far, only getting

Hd NEt
HDNet Movies
ESPNHD
HBO
Showtime
NBC

and a channel that showed Atlanta Braves games in HD, simulcast from TBS

skatefan20 10-18-04 06:51 PM

Don't have an HDTV, but I am using a Sylvania ATSC OTA STB (bought right before Olympics started). Tried a Radio Shack bow-tie antenna before I switched to an RCA Amplified Indoor Antenna and now I can get all local digital channels (85-95% strength) except local WB -- although only my local NBC, ABC, and CBS affiliates are broadcasting the high definition signal.

Even without an HDTV, picture quality is significantly better than the analog signal. Love watching the new shows (LOST, Desperate Housewives) in widescreen! I often archive/record these shows to DVD (anamorphic widescreen) using my Hauppauge PVR-250 with the S-video input -- great quality with the 480i, but I am thinking of getting a progressive scan dvd recorder with component input...any suggestions?

Creek Rat 10-18-04 07:29 PM

I just bought an HDTV over the weekend after my POS RCA finally died a well deserved death but no, no HD programming in my home. However, "Dude Where's my Car" on DVD has never looked so good!

fumanstan 10-18-04 07:35 PM

Nope, can't afford it :(

Slowpc 10-18-04 08:09 PM

Still running just my philips 27in in the rooms , and the older polaroid projector in the basement for movies/gaming..... no hd yet....

Michael Corvin 10-18-04 09:51 PM


Originally posted by rabbit77
you guys with the sweet tv sets and setups - did you post pics in the "post pics of your HT thread" thread? The :drool: factor of some of the users' setups here is off the charts.
I keep meaning to. I'm sure my setup isn't as sweet as others, but I love it. I wish I had a couple other items, but I am fortunate to have what I do.

Just finished building some shelves for my collection as well a month ago. Those will go up at the same time, whenever that may be.

BigDave 10-19-04 08:09 AM

Samsung 46" DLP w/ D* (no HDTivo yet)

I get all the networks OTA. The antenna farm in Houston is about 80 miles away so they don't always come in. I also have the standard HD package from D*. I'll be very happy when D* adds HD locals next year.

icondude 10-19-04 08:57 AM

I'm waiting for HDTV to become a commodity type item before I buy in. Plus I'd need a small enough HDTV available (I have my doubts if they even make a 20" HDTV, but I haven't looked either).

I'm more likely to get it as part of a TV/video capture card in a future computer upgrade.

bralph 10-19-04 09:16 AM

48" Mits with DirecTV HD package and antenna locals. Had it for nearly two years now, and absolutely love it. Also have a regular DirecTivo, but some shows require live HD viewing (Lost is fabulous in HD).

At first I'd watch anything that was in HD. Now with the big bump in available programming, I only watch the shows I like instead of watching something in HD simply because it's HD.


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