Replies

I meant to write that I have a 27" TV. I'm sorry for the confusion. I would need at least a 34" HDTV to get the same size images.

True for 4:3 images, but NBC is broadcasting more of its SD content in a 16:9 letterbox, so you would actually get a bigger image on 26", 16:9 HDTV. The same is true for anamorphic widescreen DVDs.

I strongly suspect that the 2007 deadline will pass without happening.

As for the upcoming deadline, it only requires over the air analog broadcasts to end, and all television broacasters to broadcast their over the air signals in digitial. Digital broacasts can be SD or HD. If you are using cable or satellite, you are not using analog over the air broadcasts, so it does not matter. Nothing will change for you.

Current digital TV broadcasts are the best kept secret in television. First of all, it is free. Second, the support for multichannel broadcasts means a single station can broadcast two, three, or even four streams. Back during the NCAA playoffs, the Altanta CBS affiliate simultaneously broadcast two different basketball games, one in HD, and one digital SD.

Most digital TV receivers can downconvert the signal to display on an SDTV.

83 posted on 10/27/2006 7:43:14 AM PDT by magellan

Some of your post is hieroglyphics to me. I don't know what an SDTV is. The limited research I have done seems to indicate multiple types of HDTVs, receivers and decoders.

It also seems to indicate that I will need a new DVR and a new TV at the bare minimum and that an equivalent TV will cost between $1200 and $2500, probably a 37" set. After that, I will have to pay DirecTV a premium or replace it with our local digital cable, which is REALLY expensive.

When I'm all done, most of the signals will still be regular 4:3 TV being broadcast over an HDTV signal with regular 4:3 resolution, requiring me to tell the HDTV to work in 4:3 mode or making everybody short and fat.

Unfortunately, I don't live close enough to a major broadcast area to receive anything for free.

85 posted on 10/27/2006 8:12:51 AM PDT by Poser (Willing to fight for oil)

Plus the government is required to give a free converter to anyone who doesnt have an HDTV

92 posted on 10/27/2006 9:42:51 AM PDT by BurbankKarl

The whole subject seems anaphoric to me; who wants to look at black bars?

115 posted on 10/27/2006 12:59:31 PM PDT by Old Professer (The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, and writes again.)

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