HDTV continues

Posted by Greybeard on Feb 9th, 2007 in Technology and Music | 0 comments

Yesterday we picked up a cheap HDTV over the air antennae.  It allows us to pick up two over the air true HDTV channels and about 3 or 4 public channels in DTV.  The picture quality is better than anything I’ve seen yet on this unit,  but still not anything I’d rave to my friends about.  (Which is exactly what quite a few friends did for me)

Using the right cables,  the picture from the (standard) DVD player is pretty good, and would probably improve if I purchase a newer DVD player. 

The Satelitte picture is still pretty bad,  and yesterday I found out from the Sat. company,  that they don’t yet offer HDTV service in our area.  I guessing that if I connect the Sat. box directly to the TV using an S-video cable,  the picture would be as good at the DVD s-video connected picture, (since all Sat. programming is DTV) but that will take some major (outdoor) rewiring, and will have to wait for warmer weather .

Current future HDTV plans:  I’m going to purchase a good “fringe area” over the air antennae,  and at some point buy a newer better connected DVD player.  There’s currently no Satelitte HDTV,  so thats out,  and even if it is available,  I’m being told that the local cable companie’s HDTV is actually just DTV.   When the fog settles (and the price comes down),  I may look at a Blue-ray or HD-DVD unit.

Bottom Line:  It pretty much ticks me off when Best Buy, and company,  push these units to the limit,  telling us, we just can’t live without one.    When, in acutality,  they are apparently “NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME!” (at least not outside of the big cities). 

Future experiment:  The TV does have a PC input,  so one of these nights, I intend to hook up the laptop and see what kind of video I can pull down over the internet,  and how that looks.  (It might be a good argument for a faster internet connection!)  I can’t imaging my parents trying to get this thing to work!  (or actually even caring if it did)

Stay tuned for the further adventures of  “Video Cadet“.

~~GB

HDTV initial dissapointment

Posted by Greybeard on Feb 7th, 2007 in News and weather, Technology and Music | 2 comments

Well,  the new TV came in today.  We unhooked the 27 in flatscreen and hooked up the 50 inch DLP job in it’s place.

The initial reaction was definately not WOW! 

Given, we don’t have an HDTV feed,  but the regular satelitte feed is digital and is crystal clear on the 27 inch non-HDTV set.  On the new HD job,  it’s fuzzy,  no definition.   Looking at a brick building, behind an actor,  you can’t really tell it’s a brick building.  Car antenae look like faint fuzzy sticks. 

Ok, so maybe it’s something weird with the satellite signal,  so I hooked up the DVD player.  Again,  it’s not one of the new progressive scan jobs,  but it is crystal clear on the 27 inch analog set.  The HD picture sucks,  it’s not clear,  and has ghosts on fast moving objects.

I’m not sure what my next move will be?  I suppose I should try to find some way to get an HD signal to it,  (won’t be easy),  but it’s hard to believe anything that shows my current signals this badly,  would be that great  with a different signal.  And,  if it’s the DVD signal that’s not good enough for the durned thing, does that mean I need to ditch all my DVD’s and start over?

BTW,  the built in set up screens on the thing are awesome.

 ~~GB

Warning to Michigan Drivers?

Posted by Greybeard on Feb 5th, 2007 in News and weather | 1 comment

The below is the lastest unsolicited email to arrive in my inbox.  I can’t confirm it, so I’ll withold further comment. BUT, I can’t help but think,,, POLICE STATE!

—- 

State Police to Write Tickets for ANY amount over the speed limit.
Date: Thu, 1 Feb 2007 11:36:28 -0500
In February, Michigan will launch a 30-day speeding ticket frenzy. The state estimates that 9 million dollars will be generated in speeding tickets. 1 million will go to pay state troopers overtime.

There will be 50 state troopers on duty 24/7 patrolling the following highways.

* I-75 North and South

* I-94 From Ann Arbor to Port Huron

* Entire length of I-96 & I-696

* I-275 North and South

* M-10 Lodge Fwy

Now, 5 mph above the limit can justify a ticket, and every state trooper is supposed to pull a car over and write a ticket every 10 minutes. They have issued 30 brand new unmarked Crown Victoria cruisers and they are bringing all their part timers on full time.

* Wear your seat belt,
* nothing hanging from the rear view mirror,
* do the speed limit – use cruise control if you have it,
* no cracks in your windshield,
* and use your turn signals!

—–

HDTV coming soon.

Posted by Greybeard on Feb 2nd, 2007 in Technology and Music | 0 comments

Ok,  I finally gotten over the fence.  I have officially ordered the 50 inch Samsung DLP HDTV set. 

I’ve been informed that analog TV is now set to be turned off, (by the FCC), in Feb. of 2009.  I have also been informed that this applies to broadcast TV only.  The Satelite and Cable providers will not be bound by this ruling.  HMMM,  I wonder if this ruling has anything to do with making more airwaves available for Cell phone and wireless providers.

Since we don’t get any broadcast TV up here in the great mid-north and I don’t have a cell phone,  I don’t suppose the FCC’s slightly tainted ruling will have a lot of effect on me.  (Other than somehow managing to make my bill for Satellite TV go UP!)

Bottom line,  hopefully the standard Satellite feed will look good on the big 16×9 screen and (I’ve been told) the standard DVD movies we watch,  will look better also. 

Mini – Point Lookout weather report:  At five pm today the temperature started dropping,  it dropped a couple of degrees an hour from 24 degree’s to the current 11pm, 8.5 degrees.  To top it off,  there’s a stiff breeze blowing.  The best weather in these parts tonight,  is INDOORS!

~~GB

Und speakin uf dat Vista thingie…

Posted by Greybeard on Feb 2nd, 2007 in Technology and Music | 0 comments

Check out “The 16th minute”.