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Re: HDTV, Flat Panel, Wide Screen, Plasma, - need some help

Posted by Bruce from DC (B) on April 5, 2002 at 08:05:32

In Reply to: HDTV, Flat Panel, Wide Screen, Plasma, - need some help posted by chris on April 2, 2002 at 18:18:00:

Just to share my thoughts and reactions for what they are worth.

First, true HDTV on a plasma screen is killer. I'm not talking about line-doubled DVD playback; I'm talking about true HDTV, which is availble from over the air broadcasts (PBS) and from DirecTV (it's an extra service; regular DirecTV is digital, but not HDTV). So, take a look at that in the store to see what real HDTV is. I think you'll decide it's quite spectacular. I know that was my and my wife's reaction.

Second, understand that HDTV broadcasting is not mandated by the Federal Communications Commission. What is mandated is digital broadcasting. Every broadcaster has a 6 Mhz piece of spectrum (which is what's required to broadcast an analog TV signal). Broadcasting an HDTV signal requires the full 6 Mhz. However, broadcasting a "standard" definition signal requires much less. So, using digital, it is possible for a broadcaster to broadcast multiple programs on a single 6 Mhz channel. The cost to broadcasters of converting to digital is quite substantial; so my guess is that they're going to look for ways to increase revenue. Multiple programs is one way to do it.

Third, understand that, right now, there are huge incompatibility problems with digital broadcasting. The modulation format chosen for digital broadcasting does not work well with cable TV; digital cable uses a different modulation system. So your digital broadcast decoder will not receive digital cable signals. Also, cable TV is not now required to retransmit local digital broadcasts, if they are retransmitting the local analog broadcast. Finally, DirecTV offers HDTV (mostly HBO, I believe) but requires both a different set-top box than the regular DirecTV box and a different dish, because you must "look at" two satellites.

My own preference from both a decorating and a viewing perspective is that plasma screens are the only way to go and that HDTV really needs at least a 42" diagonal screen to be worthwhile. CRT televisions that are that size (Sony makes a 40" 4:3) are very deep and take up a lot of room space. RPTVs are not as large; but I don't care for their image quality. One of my business partners felt the same way; and he bought a plasma TV. Also, I think 16:9 aspect ratio is the way to go for any new purchase; since it is more nearly congruent with the movie screen format.

My wife and I couldn't justify to ourselves the expenditure required for a plasma screen, given that we have a working 27" and just don't watch that much TV. And we felt that the alternatives, while cheaper, were inferior long-term solutions. The way we look at it, we're making a 10-year purchase; so you have to try to anticipate the future as best you can.

When the 12-year old 27" TV finally fails, the price of the plasmas will probably be down; some of the compatibility issues among digital formats may be sorted out; and we'll undoubtedly buy a plasma TV.

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