http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/ Bestchoicehdtv RSS feed en http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/i/lastoblog.png http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/ http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/post_1245255006.html <!-- img src=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/i/p/1245255006.jpg border=0 align=left hspace=5 vspace=5 --> <!-- keywords_is:antenna,antenna picking,antenna receive,antenna position,antenna window,antenna care,antenna concerned,antenna rated,antenna empirically,antenna direction --> <p> If you have an HDTV or are thinking about getting one before the analog cutoff early next year, you may also want to consider picking up your digital TV via an antenna. Many of you are concerned that an antenna is an eye sore or that they are just too big to to deal with. Today we talk about an antenna that takes care of both these issues. According to Antennas Direct, the C2 uses a new breakthrough in size and unmatched ultra efficient design and gain. So in typical HT Guys fashion, we look at this antenna empirically.</p><br> <p>Tech Specs Range: Up to 50 Miles Gain of 10.2 dBi Consistent gain throughout the entire DTV channel spectrum Dimensions: 20" H x 10" W x 5" D The test site for this review is 45 miles from the LA transmitters and 80 miles from the San Diego Transmitters. The current setup for OTA is a Winegard HD 9095P. This is a Yagi-style antenna rated for deep fringe. The testing was very straight forward. Put the C2 up against the monster Yagi and see how well it did.</p><br> <p>It should be noted that Ara lives in a hilly area and that there is a house directly behind and above him. So this is not a best case scenario to say the least. There were three tests involved. The first was to stick the antenna in a window and scan for digital channels. We weren't expecting much success here but much to our surprise the C2 picked up 9 digital channels. Some of them were channels we actually watch. The interesting thing was that we picked up two channels from San Diego.</p><br> <p>Ara has mentioned it in the past but it warrants mentioning again that there are mountains off to the East and the antenna is probably picking up a reflection. The next test was to actually aim the antenna in the direction of the transmitters and hold it outside the window. With this test we were able to pull in 12 channels. We were hoping for more because at this point it has not been a fair test and the only way to do so was to get up on the roof and put the C2 right next to the Yagi.</p><br> <p>Anything close to the 45 he currently receives would have kept Ara off the roof. It looks a lot higher when you are up there looking down. For the third and final test we mounted the antenna in the same position as the Yagi and aimed it in the same direction. The scan was rerun and produced 25 digital channels. The channels that were missing were ones in the higher range. Channels 50 and higher.</p><br> <p>We could have done better if our topography was less hilly or we had no houses behind us. Even still, the C2 did a great job when you consider its size and our location.</p><br> <p>Conclusion If you live within 40 miles of the transmitters or you have a clean line of site and live within 50 miles of your transmitters, the C2 antenna is a great way to receive free over the air digital television. ADSG was the R&D unit of the sound department producing products for movie theaters and movie studios. Two of the products they worked on include the DCP-1000 and DADR-5000.</p><br> <p>The DCP is a digital cinema processor used in movie theaters around the world. The DADR-5000 is a disk-based audio dubber used on Hollywood sound stages. ADSG was awarded a Technical Academy Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2000 for the development of the DADR-5000. Ara holds three patents for his development work in Digital Cinema and Digital Audio Recording.</p><br> <br><p>Source: <noindex> <a target=_blank href='http://feeds.hdtvmagazine.com/~r/hdtv-reviews/~3/jUm_nUC1lZo/clearstream2_c2_uhf_antenna.php' rel='nofollow'>http://feeds.hdtvmagazine.com/~r/hdtv-reviews/~3/jum_nuc1lzo~.php</a></noindex></p><br><br><a href=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/comment_1245255006.html>Leave a comment</a> Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:10:06 GMT http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/post_1244869805.html <!-- img src=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/i/p/1244869805.jpg border=0 align=left hspace=5 vspace=5 --> <!-- keywords_is:antenna,expensive antenna,antenna supports,existing antenna,antenna work,vhf antenna,amplified antenna,antenna taped,antenna approx,antenna cable --> <p> TV broadcasters in the U.S. TV signals and started broadcasting only in digital, but she still found herself in a Best Buy store on the DTV deadline day, Friday, buying the last amplified digital antenna on the store shelf. And she even bought a new flat screen digital-ready TV for her living room to replace an old analog TV that was on its last legs. So she thought she was prepared.</p><br> <p>But when Coleman hooked up her digital converter box to her TV using her existing antenna on the eve of the digital transition, she discovered that she could get every regular broadcast TV station except channel 2.</p><br> <p>Meanwhile, using a new TV antenna with a built-in signal amplifier attached to her digital ready flat-screen TV, she was able to get all the regular channels, plus two extra channels. I was prepared back in February for the switch," she said.</p><br> <p>But then when I hooked up the box last night, I realized that I wasn't getting all the channels and that I probably needed a different antenna, so here I am again." Coleman was not alone. TV antennas were in short supply in New York City Friday when full power broadcast TV stations switched to digital-only TV broadcasts. EDT the Radio Shack on 23rd Street near Park Avenue had plenty of converter boxes in the store, but it was all out of antennas.</p><br> <p>The Best Buy just down the block on 23rd Street and 6th Avenue only had a few antennas left by mid-afternoon. And by 5 p.m. Best Buy customer service representative at the store on Broadway and 62nd Street said that antennas were sold out in Manhattan. The only stores that still had them in stock were in Queens. As for converter boxes, the representative said the store still had 242 left.</p><br> <p>Justin Barber, a spokesman for Best Buy, said that as of Friday evening, Best Buy stores across the country were meeting demand for converter boxes. He couldn't say whether other areas around the country were experiencing antenna shortages. But he said that the company had anticipated a spike in demand.</p><br> <p>We have been working with our antenna vendors to get additional inventory," he said. That was definitely something we were planning for in anticipation of the DTV switch." It's difficult to say how widespread the potential antenna shortage has been. Mark Wigfield, a spokesman for the Federal Communications Commission, said he hadn't heard that antennas were in short supply. But he said he wasn't surprised that antennas are in high demand.</p><br> <p>You really do need an antenna to receive digital signals," he said. Best Buy had plenty of digital TV converter boxes on hand for last minute shoppers. They may be able to use the existing antenna they had used to get analog TV signals. But he said that whether the antenna is new or old, consumers should make sure it supports both UHF and VHF radio frequencies. VHF antennas have traditionally been the rabbit-ear antennas that receive channels 2-13.</p><br> <p>And UHF antennas have been in the shape of a circle or bow-tie. These antennas are used to tune channels 14-51. Now that broadcasters are only transmitting in digital, it's important to have an antenna that supports both VHF and UHF, since many digital signals are now being broadcast in UHF frequencies. In addition to VHF UHF antennas there are also amplified antennas that can be used to improve reception.</p><br> <p>In the case of Louise Coleman, the amplified antenna, helped her get all the standard TV channels offered in her area, as well as two more channels she couldn't get with analog TV. But retailers caution consumers that no antenna is a one-size fits all solution, something Richard Savelli, of Manhattan learned the hard way.</p><br> <p>Savelli had bought a basic rabbit ear-style antenna from Radio Shack when he picked up his converter box earlier this year, but even with the new antenna he isn't able to tune in some digital TV channels. He was in Best Buy on Friday looking to buy a new antenna. But the pickings were rather slim. It is frustrating," he said. Nobody told me I needed a special antenna. But cable is too expensive and I don't want to give them my money."</p><br> <p>Figuring out exactly which antenna to use can be a big challenge. The FCC has some information on its Web site www.dtv.gov that provides some help. But most of the information on the Internet is about outside antennas. Still, Wigfield recommends that consumers check out the FCC Website and use a tool that allows people to put in their address and ZIP code to see where their local station transmitters are located and what kind of signal they can expect to get.</p><br> <p>There is also information available about the different types of antennas. He also says that newer converter boxes work much better than ones made just a few years. And he says he has spent hours testing and figuring out which solution works best for getting digital TV signals in his Astoria, Queens, apartment. What he has discovered is that an expensive amplified antenna did not perform as well in his apartment as a much cheaper HDTV UHF VHF antenna.</p><br> <p>And he says that he not only gets more TV channels than he did with analog, but that the TV channels he is getting are much better quality in high definition and with surround sound. A silver sensor HDTV antenna from Philips that is similar to the one CNET editor Matthew Moskovciak uses. So what are consumers to do? Here are a few tips that can be used to help get you started setting up your antenna for digital reception.</p><br> <p>Make sure you are using an antenna that supports UHF and VHF. Move your antenna closer to a window. Often it's much easier to get reception from the window. Point the antenna in the direction where you know local TV stations are broadcasting. You may have to adjust the antenna for different channels.</p><br> <p>Rescan your digital converter box or tuner to find the channels in case the broadcaster has moved them. If you're still unable to get a signal, try a new antenna. Moskovciak recommends not buying the most expensive antenna first. Instead, he says to work your way up, trying different antennas to see which one works best.</p><br> <p>Often a less expensive antenna may work better than a more expensive one. Best Buy has a 30-day return policy, so try as many antennas as you want, and return the ones that you don't need. It's definitely not easy to set this up perfectly," Moskovciak said.</p><br> <p>I've spent a lot of time getting mine set up. I have my antenna taped to the wall and pointing toward the transmitters. E-mail Maggie. 5 channels of TBN!! Boy was I a sucker. Yep, I live in suburban area 28 miles from Seattle where the broadcasters are, so what should I expect. Maybe I'll have to move back to the city so I can pollute my brain. HAHAHAHAHAHA!</p><br> <p>I'll bet there are lots of folks all over the USA that are in the same boat, but also only have DIAL-UP internet and not able to watch anything on the internet either. Sad. June 12, 2009 7:27 PM PDT I have been watching DTV for 3-1 2 years. My location is 37 miles from the transmitters per antennaweb.org. The antenna is approx 12 feet off the ground in the attic.</p><br> <p>Oh well, too bad, tough luck. I am not going through any more hassle to see television. Some is fun to watch, occasionally it is good to see where a tornado is, but I can live without it. Radio, silence, reading, home movies.. By telvision.. USA it was fun. So if she had an antenna that worked, why was she out buying another one?</p><br> <p>Or was an "investigative journalist" involved here, creating a story with a loaner antenna? Click here to review our Terms of Use. Comment reply The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks is prohibited. Are they nuts? Subscribe via RSS Click this link to view as XML. Let us know how the transition is going in your area.</p><br> <p>The servers stayed up and nothing exploded when Facebook's vanity URL program went live tonight. The Space Shot Shuttle Endeavour set for grueling station mission The space shuttle is poised for launch Saturday on a grueling 16-day space station assembly mission featuring five spacewalks and extensive work with three robotic arms.</p><br> <br><p>Source: <noindex> <a target=_blank href='http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10264157-94.html' rel='nofollow'>http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10264157-94.html</a></noindex></p><br><br><a href=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/comment_1244869805.html>Leave a comment</a> Sat, 13 Jun 2009 09:10:05 GMT http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/post_1244783407.html <!-- img src=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/i/p/1244783407.jpg border=0 align=left hspace=5 vspace=5 --> <!-- keywords_is:sound,sound projector,surround sound,sound stages,sound buy,sound department,sound coming,sound expansive,sound harry,sound speakers --> <p> We first saw the Yamaha YSP-4000 Sound Projector in use at CES 2007. At that time we were quite impressed that a single unit could generate a 5.1 sound field.</p><br> <p>For those of you who are not familiar with what the Yamaha Sound Projector, it is single unit resembling an oversized center channel that decodes surround sound and generates multi-channel experience by bouncing sound waves off the walls in your room. The advantages are obvious, no running of speaker wire, easy placement of a single component, no clutter!</p><br> <p>This type of device is ideal for an apartment dweller or for use in a master bedroom, or for the person who wants surround sound but doesn't want to deal with the installation of a multi piece system. You connect your source components to the Sound Projector and then connect and HDMI output to the TV. The YSP-4000 on supports two HDMI inputs.</p><br> <p>The 4000 also supports two component, three composite, and two digital optical and coaxial audio inputs. Once all the connections were made you connect a microphone and start the automatic room calibration. This took a few times to get it to run successfully. There are some requirements about where you can place the microphone in relation to the Sound Projector. This may limit how well the surround performs.</p><br> <p>In general the microphone needs down the centerline of the Sound Projector and no more than 1 meter above or below. Due to the room's dimensions that it was installed in, we had to move the orientation of the 4000 to get a calibration that succeeded. The unit also supports an iPod dock and XM Radio module. We received both and installed them into the unit. Each has a port on the back of the unit and only took a few seconds to install.</p><br> <p>One word of caution on the XM Radio unit: If you don't have a South facing window near the unit you won't be able to receive XM radio. The unit also supports a subwoofer. Our tests did not include one but we strongly recommend that you use one for the full surround experience. A nice feature of the 4000 is that it can store three calibration setups in memory. This is very important because the room configuration is important to the experience.</p><br> <p>In our case we ran two calibrations, one with the windows and blinds open and one with them closed. The Sound Projector produced a better experience with the windows and blinds closed. However, if I did not run a calibration with the windows open the surround experience would have been completely lost.</p><br> <p>There is also a feature called "My Beam" that directs all the audio to your sitting position eliminating any surround effects. It has clear diagrams for optimal room placement. This will save you some grief if you have a room that the projector just won't work in. Performance After hearing how good the YSP-4000 sounded at CES and CEDIA we were hoping for the best. But if we were able to get any sort of multi channel sound we'd call it a success.</p><br> <p>The answer is that for Ara's wife the sound was fantastic and for Ara, just 20 inches to her right, the sound was good. Due to the positioning of the microphone per the instructions the optimal sound was on Ara's wife's side of the bed when she sits up. In that position it the surround sound was very strong.</p><br> <p>During Harry Potter I would look at the wall next to me in amazement. There is no speaker there but the sound was definitely coming from the wall just above my head. The experience was not as good on Ara's side of the bed. While the sound was far more expansive it was not as pinpoint. It was still an improvement over the TV speakers alone. This drove home the fact that the proper placement of the speaker makes a big difference.</p><br> <p>We ran a final setup with the unit in a position that was not acceptable to the wife but more conducive to the proper calibration. For this last test the microphone was place right down the middle of the bed. In this case both my wife and I were able to hear surround sound as if we had speakers above our heads. The sound projector really works well if placed properly. The other area that was tested was music playback. We were quite pleased with how well the 4000 produced music.</p><br> <p>There was a good sense of stereo and openness. HT Guys Advice The Sound Projector is an amazing device that makes setting up a home theater simple. While it's true that you can buy a traditional home theater surround sound system for less, you can't buy one that is easier to install. Just be sure to read the User's Manual first to make sure that the Yamaha YSP-4000 will work in your room layout.</p><br> <p>ADSG was the R&D unit of the sound department producing products for movie theaters and movie studios. Two of the products they worked on include the DCP-1000 and DADR-5000. The DCP is a digital cinema processor used in movie theaters around the world. The DADR-5000 is a disk-based audio dubber used on Hollywood sound stages.</p><br> <br><p>Source: <noindex> <a target=_blank href='http://feeds.hdtvmagazine.com/~r/hdtv-reviews/~3/3mpSqmxCb08/yamaha_ysp4000.php' rel='nofollow'>http://feeds.hdtvmagazine.com/~r/hdtv-reviews/~3/3mpsqmxcb08~.php</a></noindex></p><br><br><a href=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/comment_1244783407.html>Leave a comment</a> Fri, 12 Jun 2009 09:10:07 GMT http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/post_1244218205.html <!-- img src=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/i/p/1244218205.jpg border=0 align=left hspace=5 vspace=5 --> <!-- keywords_is:tv,tv programs,tv chip,tv tuners,pc tv,live tv,skynner tv --> <p> The new ATI Theater 750 PC TV chip is compatible with both PCI Express and USB buses, hence, will be available both as add-on card as well as USB stick. With appropriate software, consumers can also schedule recordings and watch, pause and rewind live TV programs. Skynner. What we need are TV Tuners that are cable-card compatible made available to the retail market.</p><br> <p>Currently you can only purchase either a machine with one installed or used OEM parts on Ebay. Posted by: mamisano Date: 06 05 09 05:21:29 AM You must log in to reply 1-1 You must log in to add comments. Forgot password? Globalfoundries Tests 32nm, 28nm Process Technologies 3:20 pm Maingear Unveils the "World"s Greenest" Gaming PC. Maingear Releases "Pulse" - Eco-Friendly PC Aimed at Gamers 12:56 pm JEDEC and SFF to Jointly Develop Standards for Solid-State Drives.</p><br> <br><p>Source: <noindex> <a target=_blank href='http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/multimedia/display/20090604230307_AMD_Launches_New_ATI_Theater_HDTV_Tuner.html' rel='nofollow'>http://xbitlabs.com/news/multimedia/display/20090604230307_a~.html</a></noindex></p><br><br><a href=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/comment_1244218205.html>Leave a comment</a> Fri, 05 Jun 2009 20:10:05 GMT http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/post_1244074206.html <!-- img src=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/i/p/1244074206.jpg border=0 align=left hspace=5 vspace=5 --> <!-- keywords_is:hitachi,hitachi apparently,hitachi performs,hitachi packed,hitachi slimmest,hitachi solid,hitachi hand,hitachi design,hitachi panel,inches hitachi --> <p> Most of their flat-panel LCDs are about 1.5 inches thick, making it one of the thinnest sets out in the market. Sony's OLED-based XEL-1, of course, is still the thinnest measuring only 0.11 inches thick. The Hitachi UT37X902 on the other hand is thin, but at a more manageable price. The good point of the Hitachi UT37X902 is its solid picture quality, 1080p, 120Hz with dejudder technology. Not to shabby for a set at this price range.</p><br> <p>Of course, there are negatives including only two inputs - one HDMI and one PC. Let"s go straight to the Hitachi UT37X902"s design. This set is probably one of the sleekest LCD out today. The frame on all four sides curves back to the edge, there's a chrome-colored accent strip below a speaker slit below the screen, and in a subtle touch that's only evident from up close, the frame is actually composed of smoky translucent material that will let the wall behind the monitor show through along the edges.</p><br> <p>As mentioned, the Hitachi UT37X902 is one of the slimmest sets out today. Without its stand, the UT37X902 dimensions are 36.9 by 23.9 by, yes, 1.6 inches. One of the drawbacks for the UT37X902 is its connection options. Hitachi apparently couldn"t squeeze in all the technology on this set - like say an HDTV tuner and a full complement of inputs.</p><br> <p>Connectivity on the Hitachi panel itself consists of just one HDMI input along with an analog, VGA-style PC input. You can get a special adapter to turn that VGA input into a composite input, if you want, but no matter how you slice it, most people will want to spring for an HDMI switcher to add a few more HDMI inputs.</p><br> <p>Compared with its connectivity options, the UT37X902"s features are the exact opposite. Hitachi packed in features such as a native resolution of 1,920&#215;1,080, or 1080p, and a 120Hz refresh rate complete with dejudder processing. The UT37X902 perhaps can be considered in itself as just a monitor - it lacks either an old NTSC tuner or a new digital ATSC tuner for over-the-air broadcasts. Quite a few picture controls are available on the UT37X902, beginning with three picture modes that can each be adjusted.</p><br> <p>Unfortunately, since the monitor itself has only one HDMI input, it cannot associate different picture settings with different inputs. Overall, the Hitachi UT37X902 performs relatively well. Its black levels are deep enough compared with other 1080p 37-inch LCDs. On the downside it became quite blue in dark areas, and there are some issues with its dejudder and 120Hz processing.</p><br> <p>The Hitachi's numerous picture controls allows for users to improve the already fairly accurate Cinema preset to a fine degree.</p><br> <br><p>Source: <noindex> <a target=_blank href='http://www.hdtv-news.co.uk/2009/06/03/hitachi-ut37x902-lcd-tv/' rel='nofollow'>http://hdtv-news.co.uk/2009/06/03/hitachi-ut37x902-lcd-tv/</a></noindex></p><br><br><a href=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/comment_1244074206.html>Leave a comment</a> Thu, 04 Jun 2009 04:10:06 GMT http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/post_1244009405.html <!-- img src=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/i/p/1244009405.jpg border=0 align=left hspace=5 vspace=5 --> <!-- keywords_is:digital,digital tv,digital converter,digital tuner,digital television,digital channel,digital digital,digital switch,digital signal,countdown digital --> <p> 3 years Visclosky temporarily gives up key duty Muncie woman indicted in daughter's death Indiana Legislature's special session to start next week Lynsay Clutter Eyewitness News Indianapolis - The countdown is on until the digital switch.</p><br> <p>On June 12th, television stations around the country and here in Indianapolis will drop their analog signals and transmit only in digital. To keep your TV from going black, you will need a converter box, a DTV set with a built-in digital tuner, cable or satellite. Learn more about how to get DTV.</p><br> <p>Many of those companies are offering deals, but you should act now. The good news: Most people in the metro area are ready. In the Indianapolis metro Area, the oldest age group, those over 55, are almost entirely ready to go. The youngest group, under 35, are the most unready.</p><br> <p>They know about it, but they're busy, and since many of them have cable and satellite, they just haven't set up that one TV in the kitchen or in some other room for the switch. Now that most people are prepared, there's a whole other set of concerns viewers are calling and writing in about.</p><br> <p>The most frequent question: How do I get better reception now that the digital converter box is hooked up? If your digital signal is breaking up, the problem is likely not with the digital converter box. It's with your rabbit ear antenna. People who maybe had a little ghosting on an analog UHF channel now have some digital break-up on their digital signals and they need to get a little bit better antenna, a higher grade antenna.</p><br> <p>Moving your antenna higher up on a shelf or in a window are good spots to get better reception. Buying a television with a built-in digital tuner doesn't really solve the problem and you will likely have better reception for Channel 13 after the switch when it changes to a better frequency.</p><br> <p>If you pick up additional channels like universal sports networks, auxiliary news and weather channels and all the numbers have a dot or dash, you are digitally good to go, but on June 13th, the day after the switch, you need to re-scan all the channels again. For example, Channel 13 is changing back to a better frequency, and if you don't rescan, you won't receive it at all.</p><br> <p>It's important at that point to just go in the converter box or TV set's menu, do a new digital channel scan to look for more channels, and then the set will know where we've relocated our signal," Grossniklaus said. When you do the scan, make sure the TV is set to "Antenna" and not "Cable."</p><br> <p>For more information on the switch, click here. Mobile Assistance Centers Driving Into Indianapolis to Prepare Residents for June 12 End of Digital Television Transition DTV Mobile Assistance Centers will be rolling into Indianapolis on June 5 and 6, 2009, providing consumers one-on-one assistance in preparing for the June 12 digital TV transition. Friday, June 5, 2009, 12:00 pm-6:00 pm Indianapolis Air Show Mount Comfort Airport 3867 N.</p><br> <p>Aviation Way Greenfield, Indiana 46140 Saturday, June 6, 2009, 11:00 am-2:00 pm Lafayette Mall 3919 Lafayette Rd. Indianapolis, Indiana 46254 Saturday, June 6, 2009, 5:00 pm-8:00 pm College Park 14 Cinemas 3535 W. 86th St. Indianapolis, Indiana You must be logged in to rate this story. Login or register Comments Terms of Use: We welcome your participation in our community.</p><br> <p>Please keep your comments civil and on point. You must be at least 13 years of age to post comments. By submitting a comment, you agree to these Terms of Service You must be logged in to leave a comment. All Rights Reserved. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.</p><br> <br><p>Source: <noindex> <a target=_blank href='http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=10461349&nav=9Tai' rel='nofollow'>http://wthr.com/global/story.asp</a></noindex></p><br><br><a href=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/comment_1244009405.html>Leave a comment</a> Wed, 03 Jun 2009 10:10:05 GMT http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/post_1243962605.html <!-- img src=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/i/p/1243962605.jpg border=0 align=left hspace=5 vspace=5 --> <!-- keywords_is:antennas,antennas announcement,antennas digital,antennas educating,antennas offering,antennas optimized,antennas required,antennas antennas,televisions antennas,end antennas --> <p> Follow us on Twitter! We know a lot of people weren't ready for the switch. However, it seems like a lot of those people spent the early part of 2009 clamoring for equipment, not just the digital converter boxes and digital televisions themselves, but the antennas required to make them work, particularly in outlying areas where reception can present a challenge.</p><br> <p>Manufacturer Antennas Direct just made an announcement that their first-quarter sales were up a whopping 224 percent over last year. It sounds like someone was doing a lot of post-holiday shopping. Either way, it's a pretty sweet feat, considering the state of the economy. Or maybe, because of the economy? As consumers tighten their belts, they're taking a long hard look at expenses.</p><br> <p>Sure, no problem when money was flush, but is so-called "Pay TV" really worth the cost when times are tough? Maybe not when less expensive alternatives exist. If you already own a digital SDTV or HDTV, then you probably already have the right tuner. And then all you need is a suitable antenna. And that's where Antennas Direct comes in. Antennas Direct offers a wide array of indoor and outdoor antennas optimized for DTV reception.</p><br> <p>And with all of that free press pumping up the DTV switch, it looks like they've been in the right place at the right time. Now this former one-man operation has transformed itself into a multimillion-dollar business. The Clearstream2 antenna's modern design makes it more discrete than traditional VHF UHF roof antennas while offering excellent performance for DTV and HDTV reception. That one man, Richard Schneider, president of Antennas Direct, says that educating the public has always been one of the company's biggest challenges.</p><br> <p>But people are beginning to understand -- not in technical terms, but results -- that there is a difference among antennas when it comes to digital reception," he says. The company has also added revenue by branching out in its distribution.</p><br> <p>At the end of 2008, Antennas Direct made an announcement that the ClearStream line would be available at Best Buy stores nationwide, in addition to online channels such as Amazon.com. Will the money train keep a'rolling even after the DTV transition rush subsides? Only time will tell..</p><br> <br><p>Source: <noindex> <a target=_blank href='http://www.bigpicturebigsound.com/HDTV_Antenna_Business_is_Booming_with_DTV_Transition_Says_Antennas_Direct.shtml' rel='nofollow'>http://bigpicturebigsound.com/hdtv_antenna_business_is_boomi~.shtml</a></noindex></p><br><br><a href=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/comment_1243962605.html>Leave a comment</a> Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:10:05 GMT http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/post_1243401006.html <!-- img src=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/i/p/1243401006.jpg border=0 align=left hspace=5 vspace=5 --> <!-- keywords_is:leblanc,leblanc channels,leblanc twitter,leblanc leblanc,leblanc itâ,leblanc pioneering,leblanc reception,leblanc consumers,jon leblanc,service leblanc --> <p>The perfect companion to a high-definition television set is a good, old-fashioned antenna.</p><br> <p>With networks across North America going digital, viewers can get top-quality HDTV through an antenna absolutely free, said Jon LeBlanc, who has been pioneering this option for five years on an online forum at www.digitalhome.com. Antennas can pick up digital signals and channel them right to the TV. The signals are free from the interference that characterized the analog days.</p><br> <p>Plus, the picture beats compressed cable and satellite signals, said LeBlanc. Itâ s beautiful programming,â said LeBlanc.</p><br> <p>The reception is perfect because with digital itâ s either perfect or itâ s nothing.â All couch-surfers need to take advantage of the free HDTV is an antenna and a television equipped with a digital over-the-air tuner -- a feature built in to most television sets. Americans have been avid antenna-users since the 1990s, but Canadian networks are just starting to make the switch to digital. Viewers in Vancouver can get Global at channel 22.1, CTV at 33.1, CBC at 58.1, and, if they are lucky, a handful of American networks coming in from Seattle.</p><br> <p>The consumer has basically been misled for a couple of decades now into believing that the only way to get quality television is by paying for it,â said LeBlanc. LeBlanc said many of the people he advises online are laid-off labourers in southern Ontario, where viewers can get up to 30 channels.</p><br> <p>Consumer interest is slow, but growing in the Lower Mainland, where channels are more scarce. Greg Gilmour, owner of Aldergroveâ s Satellite Central Communications, started selling antennas in the 1950s. Sales hit zero when cable and satellite companies promised hundreds of clear, on-demand channels. Recently though, Gilmour has been selling 16-20 antennas throughout the Lower Mainland.</p><br> <p>And itâ s not grandpa and grandma who are opting for this old-fashioned technology. Gilmourâ s customers are mostly young and tech-savvy. The most-requested channel is PBS. The service is not for everyone, said LeBlanc. The amount of channels are limited, especially in rural areas, so viewers stuck on CNN or Treehouse might pass.</p><br> <p>Still, the choice is good, said LeBlanc. Consumers donâ t like to be told what they have to buy. Thereâ s real undercurrent of freedom here, not freedom in dollars, but freedom of choice,â said LeBlanc. Twitter is coming to a television near you. Â B.C. All rights reserved.</p><br> <br><p>Source: <noindex> <a target=_blank href='http://www.vancouversun.com/Free+HDTV+need+antenna/1632961/story.html' rel='nofollow'>http://vancouversun.com/free+hdtv+need+antenna/1632961/story.html</a></noindex></p><br><br><a href=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/comment_1243401006.html>Leave a comment</a> Wed, 27 May 2009 09:10:06 GMT http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/post_1243210205.html <!-- img src=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/i/p/1243210205.jpg border=0 align=left hspace=5 vspace=5 --> <!-- keywords_is:antenna,antenna people,antenna signals,antenna locations,antenna situated,antenna robust,antenna feet,antenna calculating,antenna antenna,antenna thinking --> <p> Contact us at info reclaimthemedia.org. Local rganizational partners include Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, the Youth Media Institute, the Leadership Acdemy, the City of Seattle, and the Seattle Housing Authority. Department of Commerce. Upcoming Events No events found.</p><br> <p>Over the past 10 years, he has shared his wisdom with broadcast engineers through more than 85 all-day seminars on 8-VSB. In this interview with TVNewsday, Sgrignoli talks about what broadcasters -- and viewers -- need to do to make sure viewers can find the DTV signals and keep the pictures sharp and steady. An edited transcript: I have been hearing lately that the DTV signal is not everything that it should be, that the reception is poor even in areas where the field strength meters are saying it should be strong. What's going on?</p><br> <p>I have not heard a great deal of clamoring regarding this since a third of the TV stations turned off analog by Feb 17. Now we've quietly heard that there are certain areas where they're questioning whether high-VHF signals are being received properly.</p><br> <p>My concern is that there may not be enough radiated transmitter power in some cases, and that people are using rabbit ears that are not very good in other cases. Also, getting the signal indoors sometimes is a problem with high-VHF, if the only decent path to the inside is through the windows, which typically are not large enough for these high-VHF signals to pass through easily.</p><br> <p>Of course, it's worse for low-VHF signals, but there are only roughly 40 stations in the whole country that are going to end up in that band. There are plenty of areas where people are pleased with the coverage. Unfortunately, you don't hear much from them because when people are happy, they don't bother to call in and write in and so forth. So, obviously, I believe it's slighted towards the negative side.</p><br> <p>That said, there are three areas where problems can creep in -- the transmit side, the propagation side, and then the receive side. The broadcasters are working hard on the transmit system. They're learning, they're gaining more test equipment, and they're learning how to use it and so forth, and so we've seen some really good things there.</p><br> <p>The propagation side: Hey, you can't change the terrain or the buildings that are there. Hopefully, the broadcasters have optimized where they've placed their transmit antennas and the height of the antennas and their patterns and all that. That leaves the receive side, which I believe is the biggest concern. That's where the industry is trying to catch up now.</p><br> <p>They have to educate the viewers on what kind of antennas they need and how to use them. One of the problems is with "managed expectations." Viewers were told to just get a DTV set or a converter box, hook up some kind of antenna either indoors or outdoors, and assured that it would work. While that can work in some cases, it does not work all of the time.</p><br> <p>That is a problem that can only be solved with more viewer education. Let's talk about the broadcast side first. What's going on or not going on at the transmitter site that may be causing problems? And how do you rectify it? The broadcasters are pretty much sending out a decent VSB signal in terms of signal quality. They've learned to do linear and nonlinear pre-correction, which means to make the signal as pristine as possible before it's sent up the transmission line to the antenna.</p><br> <p>They've worked out some of the issues with average power measurement, FCC emission mask compliance, phase noise and things like that, but there may still be some issues with clock jitter. Clock jitter? In the early days, we saw that sometimes the transport clock going into the exciter was jittering enough that it caused the symbol clock of the 8-VSB to also jitter to the extent that it affected the receivers out in the field.</p><br> <p>This jitter can come in anywhere -- from the studio to the transmitter. So that's just one thing to be careful about. The other thing is the actual symbol clock frequency. In the early days, the symbol clock frequency was sometimes not within the recommended 2.8 parts per million tolerance. Test equipment now is in place to at least inform them about the frequency tolerance of the symbol clock. Lip syncing has apparently been a chronic problem. What's being done to correct that ?</p><br> <p>It's something that they're working on within the broadcast industry. It has nothing to do with transmission, of course. It's a product of the video and audio processing. Because the video requires far more processing than the audio, it delays it longer than the audio.</p><br> <p>What they do is try to delay the sound to match it, but every time it goes through a different set of processers, they've got to be careful to do that again, and that's what they're working on now. I believe that they will solve this problem in due time. Is the transmitter less forgiving in the digital world than it is in the analog world? In other words, do you have to take better care in calibrating and maintaining the transmitter than you did in analog?</p><br> <p>I guess that's fair to say. But in some ways things are a little bit easier now because digital and modern technology have caught up with or advanced to the point where it's not so hard to maintain this. On the other hand, the transmission system for 8-VSB is far more efficient than the old analog system.</p><br> <p>You're sending five times the amount of video information in digital and using less radiated power to do so. Since you're using the channel much more efficiently, you have to be more careful about the creation of the 8-VSB signal and its transmission. But the broadcasters, I think, have that down fairly well. The equipment is there to do what is necessary to create this pristine signal. That assumes the broadcasters are paying attention and doing their job. Right.</p><br> <p>That's not so much a problem. As a general rule, they've come a long way. Some of them have been doing this for ten years. The reason it's being focused on now is because we've had a third of the stations turn off their analog signal and station management realizes that digital is all they've got now. There's nothing else to fall back on.</p><br> <p>So, obviously, they want viewers to have a good experience with their free, over-the-air signal. Has the test and measurement equipment caught up with the technology yet? Yeah, essentially it's out there. However, I can't say with certainty that every station has all the equipment that they really should have because it's a money thing.</p><br> <p>A lot of times test equipment is on the lower end of the list of things to buy, especially in a bad economy like we have right now. What kind of investment do you need to make sure you have the proper test and measurement gear? That's a hard one since it can vary greatly. It depends on the accuracy of the equipment. Of course, commercial grade test equipment is also available for less money, but with less accuracy.</p><br> <p>Then you need a power meter, but you probably have that from the analog days. It is also a good idea to buy an MPEG transport stream analyzer so that you can analyze the actual data packets. So it depends on how far back in the chain you want to go. Let's talk environment issues -- buildings, terrain and other forms of interference.</p><br> <p>What are you learning about how they affect the signal? What we're finding out is that interference from multiple different signals is still an unknown at this point. There had been the assumption in the laboratory and in the FCC planning that there would be one primary interferer.</p><br> <p>We think we need to go further and start looking at multiple interferers. Obviously, the focus is going to be on digital-into-digital interference as analog turns off. We've also recently had some problems with FM radio stations.</p><br> <p>The second harmonic of those stations fall into the high-VHF television band and are causing problems and interference with broadband amplifiers. The broadband amplifiers could be inside the antenna or they could be external to the antenna on the mast or they could be distribution amplifiers in the home.</p><br> <br><p>Source: <noindex> <a target=_blank href='http://reclaimthemedia.org/dtv/how_keep_dtv_going_astray0218' rel='nofollow'>http://reclaimthemedia.org/dtv/how_keep_dtv_going_astray0218</a></noindex></p><br><br><a href=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/comment_1243210205.html>Leave a comment</a> Mon, 25 May 2009 04:10:05 GMT http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/post_1243145405.html <!-- img src=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/i/p/1243145405.jpg border=0 align=left hspace=5 vspace=5 --> <!-- keywords_is:screen,screen showing,screen basic,screen feels,screen speaker,screen protect,screen hinge,covers screen,pointer screen,surface screen --> <p> Check out our first look of the new IdeaCentre A600 and see what Lenovo has up its sleeve with this new All-In-One desktop. The front bezel is comprised of glass which also covers the screen to protect it from fingerprints and scratches. Underneath the screen is a speaker bar that tucks back towards the hinge, which besides looking great also is a functional space to push your keyboard up into for storage.</p><br> <p>The top and side edges are mostly closed off, textured with a rough matte finish at the top, and changing to a smooth glossy finish at the bottom near the ports and slot-loading optical drive. Along the bottom edge and a small band on the rear cover are the only vents for the case, with straight slots or right angle corners making up the holes. I am almost ashamed to admit it, but it took me a while to spot the slot-loading optical drive.</p><br> <p>It blends in very well near one of the panel transition lines, and fits with the design of the computer. Overall I think the A600 is probably one of the best looking All-In-One desktops I have seen. Build quality of the case and included accessories is well above average. The front glass panel covering the screen feels very durable and will likely hold up well over time.</p><br> <p>There are some minor optical distortions on the glass surface that you can see when the screen is off or showing black backgrounds that looks odd, but it is not visible in any other situation. The case is made from thick rugged plastic, with no flex or creaking even when you are lugging the entire computer from room to room.</p><br> <p>The screen hinge lets you pivot the display forward about 15 degrees or back 5 degrees and stays put to the adjusted position. The keyboard is one of the nicer wireless units we have seen in the office, sporting a very thin profile, and featuring mouse controls with an onboard touchpad.</p><br> <p>The coolest feature of the A600 IdeaCentre by far is the media remote gyroscopic mouse VOIP handset game controller. It can work as a presentation controller, moving the pointer around the screen with basic gyroscopic control, with left and right mouse buttons located near the center of the remote. It also has full controls for Windows Media Center and can function as a wireless handset to make calls through VOIP software, with a microphone and speaker built into it.</p><br> <p>Finally it acts as a Wiimote style controller for various included games, using the gyroscopic control to interact with games. I personally think Lenovo should advertise this as the all-in-one remote with included desktop computer, since it is clearly the main attraction.</p><br> <p>Performance System performance with the Intel Core 2 Duo P7450 processor and ATI Mobility Radeon HD3650 is very good for both regular users and power-users that might enjoy using the computer for typing documents in the early evening, and switching to some light gaming or HD movie watching late at night.</p><br> <p>The system can handle most previous generation games without a problem as long as the resolution is scaled back from 1920x1080 down to 1280x720 and minor tweaks are made to the detail settings. For its intended market the system is more than capable for what it will be put through on a day-to-day basis. Lenovo has really been making strides to come out with new and exciting hardware, to help change the public perception that they are business-only with the ThinkPad and ThinkCentre name handing over their heads.</p><br> <p>Find coupons for award-winning security solutions from the Webroot Security Store Ready to buy a notebook? Visit the Insight Resource Center to find what you're looking for. Which Lenovo notebook is right for you? Visit the Lenovo Resource Center for more info.</p><br> <br><p>Source: <noindex> <a target=_blank href='http://www.desktopreview.com/default.asp?newsID=693&review=Lenovo+A600+First+Look' rel='nofollow'>http://desktopreview.com/default.asp</a></noindex></p><br><br><a href=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/comment_1243145405.html>Leave a comment</a> Sun, 24 May 2009 10:10:05 GMT http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/post_1242501007.html <!-- img src=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/i/p/1242501007.jpg border=0 align=left hspace=5 vspace=5 --> <!-- keywords_is:series,division series,series offers,series monitor,series standard,series minimize,process series,play series --> <p> The 70 Series offers our customers a sophisticated-looking LCD monitor with the performance capability of our televisions," said J.H. Kim, President of Samsung Electronics America"s Information Technology Division. The 70 Series is the new standard as more people upgrade their monitors for additional uses, like watching television programs and playing video games."</p><br> <p>The crystal-like bezel frame with ToC reduces the reflection of light and glare. The glossy stand offers a polished design, while the clear, crystal-like acrylic neck gives the illusion the monitor is floating. Gently touching any of the buttons illuminates the controls which automatically disappear after a set period of time, minimizing distractions.</p><br> <p>In addition, the P2370HD also has HDMI and component inputs for additional connections such as Blu-Ray, set-top boxes and game consoles providing users with a display that is ready for work and play. The 70 Series is a great monitor for someone looking a full range of color, sharpness and response. It also has an added benefit for those concerned about the environment.</p><br> <p>We were sensitive to the impact computers monitors have on the environment and have developed a manufacturing process for the 70 Series that would minimize this," said Tony Yu, Display Product Manager of Samsung Electronics America"s Information Technology Division.</p><br> <p>The 70 Series offers a suite of eco-conscious features including reduced energy consumption, requiring about a third less power to operate compared to typical monitors of similar size. The ToC manufacturing process eliminates harmful paints and sprays, increasing the monitors" recyclability. The slim footprint also dramatically reduces transportation costs and requirements for a smaller carbon footprint.</p><br> <br><p>Source: <noindex> <a target=_blank href='http://finchannel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36973&Itemid=15' rel='nofollow'>http://finchannel.com/index.php</a></noindex></p><br><br><a href=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/comment_1242501007.html>Leave a comment</a> Sat, 16 May 2009 23:10:07 GMT http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/post_1242465007.html <!-- img src=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/i/p/1242465007.jpg border=0 align=left hspace=5 vspace=5 --> <!-- keywords_is:samsung,samsung electronics,president samsung,samsung power,samsung itd,samsung resellers,projectors samsung,designs samsung,monitors samsung,channels samsung --> <p> The 70 Series offers our customers a sophisticated-looking LCD monitor with the performance capability of our televisions," said J.H. Kim, President of Samsung Electronics America"s Information Technology Division. The 70 Series is the new standard as more people upgrade their monitors for additional uses, like watching television programs and playing video games." Offering solutions and designs, Samsung ITD presents a complete line of color and mono-laser printing solutions, desktop monitors, notebook computers, digital signage solutions and projectors.</p><br> <p>Samsung Electronics Company Ltd. SEC). Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. The company consists of two main business units: digital media and communications, and device solutions. Samsung Electronics is also a producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. The crystal-like bezel frame with ToC reduces the reflection of light and glare.</p><br> <p>The glossy stand offers a polished design, while the clear, crystal-like acrylic neck gives the illusion the monitor is floating. Touching any of the buttons illuminates the controls which automatically disappear after a set period of time, minimizing distractions.</p><br> <p>For full HDTV capability, the P2370HD builds on the 1080p capabilities of the P2370 with the addition of a HDTV tuner, integrated speakers with SRS TruSurround HD and remote control. The 70 Series is a great monitor for someone looking a full range of color, sharpness and response. It also has an added benefit for those concerned about the environment.</p><br> <p>We were sensitive to the impact computers monitors have on the environment and have developed a manufacturing process for the 70 Series that would minimize this," said Tony Yu, Display Product Manager of Samsung Electronics America"s Information Technology Division.</p><br> <p>The 70 Series also offers a suite of eco-conscious features including reduced energy consumption, requiring about a third less power to operate compared to typical monitors of similar size. The ToC manufacturing process eliminates harmful paints and sprays, increasing the monitors" recyclability. The slim footprint also reduces transportation costs and requirements for a smaller carbon footprint. All monitors are available through Samsung resellers and distribution channels.</p><br> <p>Samsung Power Partners receive special promotions, lead referrals, training and technical support, as well as collateral and marketing materials. All Rights Reserved. Designed by JoomlArt.com.</p><br> <br><p>Source: <noindex> <a target=_blank href='http://www.wwpi.com/monitors/7086-samsung-introduces-slim-touch-of-color-lcd-monitors' rel='nofollow'>http://wwpi.com/monitors/7086-samsung-introduces-slim-touch-~</a></noindex></p><br><br><a href=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/comment_1242465007.html>Leave a comment</a> Sat, 16 May 2009 13:10:07 GMT http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/post_1242119405.html <!-- img src=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/i/p/1242119405.jpg border=0 align=left hspace=5 vspace=5 --> <!-- keywords_is:series,series standard,series offers,series monitor,sweet series,division series,announced series --> <p> P2070 will be able to please you with a 1600 x 900 screen resolution while the P2370 will boost out a 1920 x 1080 resolution. And the fun doesn"t stop here, the P2370HD will feature a HDTV tuner, integrated speakers with RSR TruSurround, and both HDMI and component input.Pretty sweet indeed is what I say. The 70 Series offers our customers a sophisticated-looking LCD monitor with the performance capability of our televisions," said J.H.</p><br> <p>Kim, President of Samsung Electronics America's Information Technology Division. The 70 Series is the new standard as more people upgrade their monitors for additional uses, like watching television programs and playing video games." Also, the monitor"s TOC manufacturing process eliminated harmful sprays and paints which means that they will be "more" recyclable.</p><br> <p>It"s a shame that no price or release date has been announced.. The 70 Series is a great monitor for someone looking a full range of color, sharpness and response. It also has an added benefit for those concerned about the environment. The monitors will also feature a crystal-like bezel frame that will help reduce the reflection of light and glare and a polished design stand that includes a crystal-like transparent acrylic neck.</p><br> <br><p>Source: <noindex> <a target=_blank href='http://www.softsailor.com/news/2487-new-lcd-monitors-from-samsung.html' rel='nofollow'>http://softsailor.com/news/2487-new-lcd-monitors-from-samsun~.html</a></noindex></p><br><br><a href=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/comment_1242119405.html>Leave a comment</a> Tue, 12 May 2009 13:10:05 GMT http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/post_1241989808.html <!-- img src=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/i/p/1241989808.jpg border=0 align=left hspace=5 vspace=5 --> <!-- keywords_is:hd,hd hdmi,hd work,trusurround hd,news hd --> <p> The P2370HD comes with many more options you'll want to consider such as an HDTV tuner, integrated speakers with SRS TruSurround HD and HDMI and component inputs. The P2370HD has a bit slower response time, although perfect for gaming, at 5ms.) A bevel frame design in the Touch of Color series is said to reduce reflection and glare. The monitors also feature Samsung"s Startlight Touch Controls.</p><br> <br><p>Source: <noindex> <a target=_blank href='http://www.hd-report.com/2009/05/08/samsung-releases-new-slim-lcds-with-toc/' rel='nofollow'>http://hd-report.com/2009/05/08/samsung-releases-new-slim-lc~</a></noindex></p><br><br><a href=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/comment_1241989808.html>Leave a comment</a> Mon, 11 May 2009 01:10:08 GMT http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/post_1241867405.html <!-- img src=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/i/p/1241867405.jpg border=0 align=left hspace=5 vspace=5 --> <!-- keywords_is:lcds,lcds includes,lcds dynamic,line lcds,deep lcds --> <p> The new line of LCDs includes the P2070, P2370, and P2370HD. The trio of LCDs are all thin with 1.18-inch depths for the P2070 and P2370 with the P2370HD ringing in at 2.58-inches deep. All three LCDs have 50000:1 dynamic contrast ratios, 2ms GTG response times, and glossy stands and polished designs.</p><br> <p>To complete the looks of the monitors they feature Samsung Starlight touch controls for OSD and menu functions. The P2370 is a full 1080p resolution monitor and the P2730HD adds an integrated HDTV tuner to the mix and offers HDMI along with component inputs. The P2070 has a resolution of 1600 x 900. Pricing and availability are unknown at this time. 2009-05-08 16:35:00 BioShock 2: Multiplayer Details.</p><br> <br><p>Source: <noindex> <a target=_blank href='http://www.i4u.com/article24652.html' rel='nofollow'>http://i4u.com/article24652.html</a></noindex></p><br><br><a href=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/comment_1241867405.html>Leave a comment</a> Sat, 09 May 2009 15:10:05 GMT http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/post_1241593808.html <!-- img src=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/i/p/1241593808.jpg border=0 align=left hspace=5 vspace=5 --> <!-- keywords_is:plasma,hd plasma,plasma models,plasma premium,plasma tvs,plasma features,plasma model,inch plasma,samsung plasma,super plasma --> <p> It is just 29mm thick and houses a HDTV tuner. The TV has 1080p resolution and has DLNA support. Along with the necessary software and USB 2.0 ports, this allows users to watch DivX videos, view photos or play MP3 audio files from external drives, flash memory sticks or over a home network.</p><br> <p>Last week, Panasinic introduced their first 1-inch ultra-thin and 2-inch super thin Plasma TVs, as well as Panasonic's first Wireless 1080p HD Plasma in its premium Full HD range. Panasonic's V10 and Z1 Series premium Full HD Plasma models are also the first to meet the strict standards for THX certification.</p><br> <p>The new Samsung plasma features are expected to carry over to a 58-inch plasma model they are also readying, though no specifics have been revealed other than the fact that it is 50 percent slimmer than the previous-generation TV and weighs about 80lbs.</p><br> <p>Film Review: X-Men Origins Wolverine Embarassing is about the only word that can be used to describe X-Men Origins Wolverine.. Death Cab For Cutie - The Open Door EP Death Cab for Cutie are no strangers to the allure of releasing EPs instead of.. SMARTHOUSE NEWSLETTER Get the latest news Subscribe today for your daily news of consumer electronic news..</p><br> <br><p>Source: <noindex> <a target=_blank href='http://www.smarthouse.com.au/TVs_And_Large_Display/L3R2P6W4' rel='nofollow'>http://smarthouse.com.au/tvs_and_large_display/l3r2p6w4</a></noindex></p><br><br><a href=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/comment_1241593808.html>Leave a comment</a> Wed, 06 May 2009 11:10:08 GMT http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/post_1240963804.html <img src=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/i/p/opensat-xt9500hd.jpg border=0 align=left hspace=5 vspace=5 > <!-- keywords_is:hd,connection hd,hd picture,hd material,hd broadcast,hd astra,hd quality,hd channels,hd reception,hd signals --> <p>This classy black receiver from distributors " ABC BIZNIZ " of Slovakia boasts " HD reception " and good connection options at an attractive price, could we have both style and substance in a single package?</p><br> <p>A crisp text display shows the name and number of the channel being received, or the clock in standby.In standby mode, the button lights are still on, joined by the matching red glow of the on standby button. Under the flap on the front panel we find two CI slots for "pay TV" modules and even a Smart card reader. Also under the flap is a USB socket,used to upgrade the "receivers firmware" from a USB stick. Initial setup There"s plenty of options to choose from when it comes to hook-up time.</p><br> <p>Two Scart sockets are available for TV and VCR. Helpfully for recording purposes, the VCR Scart always outputs in standard definition,so even " HD channels " can be easily recorded to DVD or " video tape " if required.</p><br> <p>The TV Scart can be set to use component video, so if your TV can handle such signals and only has a Scart connection available, you can still get "HD resolution". HDMI, the standard connection for " HD " is also present along with component video RCA jacks. A composite video output is also available, but there"s no place in the modern world for our old friend the UHF antenna loop.</p><br> <p>I am somewhat unusual in having an old-tech CRT TV which can handle HD signals via a component input. After just a few minutes of head-scratching,I was viewing "BBC HD" from ASTRA 2. Whilst the type of connection in use can be switched between RGB, Composite, or Component in the menus, a dedicated button on the remote sets the screen resolution.</p><br> <p>Available resolutions range from 480p up to 1080i. This gives an extra use for the permanently standard definition VCR Scart,and this cured my initial confusion. You can use this as a backup when finding the correct resolution for your TV. If you end up with a scrambled picture in a resolution your TV does not support as I did, you can switch over to the VCR Scart and still see the menu. Once I"d got it up to 1080i, I had a perfect HD picture and could say goodbye to the temporary VCR Scart route.</p><br> <p>The picture quality of HD is, as you"d expect, superb. So much for RGB then! Sadly,we"re still in the early days of HD so there are few "FTA channels" to choose from.</p><br> <p>We can still get the benefits though,as standard definition broadcasts are up scaled when viewing through component video or HDMI.This results in a notice able increase in picture quality and sharpness over the standard Scart, but of course it"s not close to the clarity of a true HD broadcast. Choice of language is very good, with 18 languages available.</p><br> <p>Most major European languages are covered plus Arabic and Persian, and those in Eastern Europe will be pleased to see Czech, Slovak, Slovenian and Hungarian included along side the more usual choices. The installation menu is the first port of call when setting up for the first time.A comprehensive list of 51 satellites is pre-programmed into the receiver,and these can be edited,deleted or added to as required.</p><br> <p>The corresponding transponder lists appear to be equally comprehensive and up-to-date. DiSEqC 1.2 and USALS are included to give easy control of a DiSEqC motor for multi-satellite users. DiSEqC switches are also supported and all necessary LNB parameters are editable,so most setups will be easily catered for. Channel scanning is well-thought out. All transponders can be scanned,or just a single one.Network scanning is also available which is very useful on large satellites like ASTRA and HOTBIRD.</p><br> <p>Searching an entire satellite is quite fast an entire network scan of ASTRA 2 takes 16 minutes to scan 83 transponders. With the channels safely in memory, we get to the further editing of the list to suit our individual preferences. All the editing, sorting and filtering functions we need are available, and are easy and intuitive to use. Eight favourites lists can be set up, and adding to these is easy too.</p><br> <p>A second window appears next to the channel list ready for channels to be copied into it. This can then be switched to, allowing arranging and editing in the same way as the main list. Everyday use Once we have our lists set up, finally we can sit back and watch some TV, and everyday viewing is helped by some good design here too.</p><br> <p>The main channel list can be sorted or filtered alphabetically,or by FTA encryption status and even filtered by just one encryption system if more than one is in use perhaps useful if using more than one CAM. The best feature relating to channel lists though is perhaps the most obvious, yet so often forgotten when receivers are designed. This alone makes the receiver so much nicer to use on a regular basis than so many others I"ve used in the past.</p><br> <p>One possible criticism however is that the channels keep their original numbers even when a favourites list or filter is being used. There are advantages in this, as long as you can remember the numbers. I personally might have found it easier to have the channels numbered 1,2,3 based on whatever list I"d chosen, rather than their original numbers - especially after I"d manually moved them around.</p><br> <p>But it"s still easier to navigate than many other receivers. I was initially a little disappointed there was no "view the last channel" button,which is always good for those of us who try to keep up with two channels at once. But " OPENSAT " have included a little surprise along these lines, one that"s not even mentioned in the manual. The "back" button is usually used to exit a menu to the previous level.</p><br> <p>But pressing it when no menu is displayed produces a list of the last eight channels viewed to select from. Not quite the one-touch zapping solution we"ve seen before, but it is still a nice feature to include. It"s good to also see teletext fully supported. Here in the UK, it"s rapidly losing out as its inferior digital counterpart takes over. When our analogue transmissions end, so will traditional analogue text. Summary Whilst there are no gimmicks or extras added such as games that get forgotten quickly, this receiver does what it needs to easily and well.</p><br> <p>The menus are logical, the on-screen displays are clear and helpful. The remote is well laid-out and matches the receiver"s beautiful black and silver looks. There are few downsides to the receiver. Perhaps a dimmer function, or one to turn off the front panel lights altogether could be good for viewers who like to view in the dark without distractions.</p><br> <p>One thing I did quickly notice is how hot the case becomes, even in standby mode. I suppose that"s the price we have to pay for the extra horsepower needed to get pictures in " HD quality " onto our screen. A new software should help to solve this problem. It"s just a pity that there is not so much " FTA HD " material out there to watch at the moment.</p><br> <p>That will no doubt change in the near future, and when it does I"d certainly be very happy to have the XT-9500 as a permanent fixture in my living room. Share it!</p><br> <br><p>Source: <noindex> <a target=_blank href='http://www.ozelwebtasarim.com/index.php/web-haberleri/5936-hdtv-receiver-opensat-xt-9500-hd' rel='nofollow'>http://ozelwebtasarim.com/index.php/web-haberleri/5936-hdtv-~</a></noindex></p><br><br><a href=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/comment_1240963804.html>Leave a comment</a> Wed, 29 Apr 2009 04:10:04 GMT http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/post_1240711806.html <!-- img src=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/i/p/1240711806.jpg border=0 align=left hspace=5 vspace=5 --> <!-- keywords_is:tv,digital tv,tv people,tv viewers,tv converter,tv aware,tv digital,library tv,antenna tv,analog tv --> <p> Television turns digital in a month and a half on June 12. Several people wanted to make sure they are DTV ready, so they spent their Saturday studying at the library. TV viewers still not clear on the digital transition had a chance to get all their questions answered. Sheryl O'Bannon was one of many who came to a help session at the main library. One of her questions was a common one: scanning to find channels on her converter box.</p><br> <p>DTV Community Outreach Volunteer Tarrin McGhee tried to help people like O'Bannon get ready for the big switch. That's why McGhee and other volunteers demonstrated the process. One of the biggest misconceptions, and it's probably the most common one, is that you need an HDTV antenna or you need some high-dollar fancy antenna, and you really don't."</p><br> <p>If you watch television using an antenna, you need a digital TV set or just a converter box. Some people have analog TV and some people have digital TV. So, the people who have digital TV, they aren't aware that they don't really have to do anything." Stay tuned to FOX13 for more updates on future clinic dates and other ways you can get assistance. To learn more, visit the MyFoxMemphis.com DTV page or call 888-CALL-FCC.</p><br> <p>You can also reach FOX13'S DTV info line by calling 320-1313 during regular business hours. Don't forget: antenna TV goes all digital on June 12! What Are We Missing? Fox Television Stations, Inc. All rights reserved.</p><br> <br><p>Source: <noindex> <a target=_blank href='http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/042509_DTV_Switch_Deadline_Nearing' rel='nofollow'>http://myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/042509_dtv_switch_deadline_~</a></noindex></p><br><br><a href=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/comment_1240711806.html>Leave a comment</a> Sun, 26 Apr 2009 06:10:06 GMT http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/post_1240431008.html <!-- img src=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/i/p/1240431008.jpg border=0 align=left hspace=5 vspace=5 --> <!-- keywords_is:video,video clips,video output,email video,video business,video cable,video events,video store,video myspace,video stored --> <p> The first thing you notice when you open the Mino HD is how small it is. Using the Mino is a snap. It recharges via USB, so you plug it into your computer for three hours and it's all set to go. When you're ready to capture some video you simply turn it on and hit the big red record button. While recording you can zoom in and zoom out.</p><br> <p>After recording a clip, you can watch it back with full volume control and even delete it immediately if it didn't turn out like you'd hoped. When you're done shooting all the video you need, all you have to do is plug it back into the computer and start working with the clips. The Mino HD includes a simple video application right on the camera, so you can watch, save, edit, email, post to the web - just about anything - without installing a single program.</p><br> <p>The application, called FlipShare, is very basic, but it does enough to allow a novice user to do the essentials. It runs on both Windows and Mac OS, so everyone should be happy.</p><br> <p>FlipShare features: Video and save clips recorded on the Mino HD Cut pieces of clips out with a very simple interface Tie videos together to make movies, including optional background music Email video clips to friends and family Email video greeting cards Post videos directly to the Internet, with support for AOL Video, MySpace and YouTube Prepare videos to be burned to DVD The Mino HD has 4 GB of built in memory that can record up to 60 minutes of footage.</p><br> <p>The memory isn't expandable, so you need to get everything recorded in an hour. It records in 720p, 1280 x 720, 16:9 widescreen at 30 fps. The video actually looks really good. It is stored as an MPEG4 file using H.264 and AAC audio. The camera doesn't have image stabilization, so you have to stay pretty still if you want the image to look as good as possible.</p><br> <p>The audio sounds good when you're close to the sound source or if the source is really loud. The further away the source is, the worse it becomes. When we briefly mentioned the Mino HD on Episode 335 and reported that it didn't have direct video output capabilities. We were wrong. It does have direct video output, but only in standard definition. You can plug the composite video cable directly into the Mino HD and play your videos back on any TV.</p><br> <p>The quality will be better if you burn them to DVD, though. Our Mino HD happens to be black, and we think it's pretty cool looking. As a consumer, though, if you get yours through the Flip Video Store, you can completely customize the look of the camcorder. You can choose from pre-designed patterns and images from the design gallery, upload your own image and even use a pattern generator to create your own, custom, one of a kind Mino HD that shows your unique personality.</p><br> <p>The custom designs don't cost any more than the standard black one that we have. Overall the Mino HD is awesome. While it won't replace a true camcorder, and it isn't going to get you into the wedding video business, it is extremely portable and very easy to use.</p><br> <p>Imagine how many more video clips you would have and how many more memories would be preserved in high definition if your camcorder fit in your pocket easier than your cell phone. It's so easy to take with you, the possibilities just completely unfold. In the short time we had it, we took video of events we never would have recorded before because of the hassle associated with it. The Mino really is hassle-free HD.</p><br> <p>The Flip gets all the press, but the Vado has 8GB of memory AND HDMI output at 720p. We've had a lot of fun with it. ADSG was the R&D unit of the sound department producing products for movie theaters and movie studios. Two of the products they worked on include the DCP-1000 and DADR-5000.</p><br> <p>The DCP is a digital cinema processor used in movie theaters around the world. The DADR-5000 is a disk-based audio dubber used on Hollywood sound stages. ADSG was awarded a Technical Academy Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2000 for the development of the DADR-5000. Ara holds three patents for his development work in Digital Cinema and Digital Audio Recording. Every week they put together a podcast about High Definition TV and Home Theater.</p><br> <br><p>Source: <noindex> <a target=_blank href='http://feeds.hdtvmagazine.com/click.phdo?i=569c7af3b91cd57f67b181f83dc6b906' rel='nofollow'>http://feeds.hdtvmagazine.com/click.phdo</a></noindex></p><br><br><a href=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/comment_1240431008.html>Leave a comment</a> Thu, 23 Apr 2009 00:10:08 GMT http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/post_1240272605.html <!-- img src=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/i/p/1240272605.jpg border=0 align=left hspace=5 vspace=5 --> <!-- keywords_is:tv,analog tv,tv auction,traditional tv,tv owners,tv width,tv signal,tv inch,tv box,tv matter --> <p> Get it here. Digital signals are transmitted using computer code, which means they are less susceptible to interference and provide a higher quality picture and sound than analog. DTV is not always HDTV. HDTV's sound and picture quality are many times better than today&#237;s analog TV. No matter how you receive your TV signal, you will need DTV equipment to watch DTV programming. DTV equipment may be purchased as an all-in-one or component solution.</p><br> <p>Integrated" DTV sets with built-in tuners are and all-in-one solution for DTV. They include a digital tuner to receive over-the-air DTV broadcasts and a monitor to display the programming. A "component" solution includes a DTV monitor without a DTV tuner. These monitors are sometimes labeled "HD ready." Monitors must be paired with a cable or satellite set-top box, or a stand-alone DTV tuner.</p><br> <p>Digital cable ready" or "plug and play" televisions can receive digital cable TV without a set-top box. Analog TVs will eventually need extra equipment to receive over-the-air signals. The new target date for ending analog broadcasting is June 12, 2009. When analog broadcasting ends, consumers with analog sets will need to obtain a separate converter box to watch over-the-air TV. DEFINITIONS Analog TV: Today's TV system using radio frequency waves to transmit and display pictures and sound.</p><br> <p>DTV comes in three levels of picture quality, as described below. 480p is the quality used by most DVD players. May be stand-alone or integrated in the set. Integrated HDTV: An HDTV that has the digital tuner built into the set. It does not need a separate set-top box to receive over-the-air DTV signals.</p><br> <p>Plug-ann-Play or Digital Cable Ready: A DTV or other device for digital cable customers that plugs directly into the cable jack and does not require a separate set-top box. Plug-and-Play TV owners must obtain a CableCARD from their cable company in order to view scrambled programming services. Aspect Ratio: 4 x 3: "Traditional TV" screen's width as compared to its height.</p><br> <p>For example, a "32-inch TV screen" would be 25%-inches wide and 19-inches tall. 16 x 9: "Widescreen TV" is more like a movie screen than a traditional TV. For example, a 32-inch TV screen would be 28-inches wide and 16-inches tall. Source: Consumer Electronics Association Share this article ADD COMMENT Comments feed We welcome your comments. Please remember this is a public forum and behave appropriately. Your comments must conform to our visitor's agreement.</p><br> <br><p>Source: <noindex> <a target=_blank href='http://www.middletownjournal.com/lifestyle/guide-to-dtv-88215.html' rel='nofollow'>http://middletownjournal.com/lifestyle/guide-to-dtv-88215.html</a></noindex></p><br><br><a href=http://www.bestchoicehdtv.com/comment_1240272605.html>Leave a comment</a> Tue, 21 Apr 2009 04:10:05 GMT