LCD TV Advice

Marty_J

superscaper wrote: »

And the absolute maximum that's proposed to fit on freeview is only 4 HD channels. You can't squeeze any more on.

Isn't that the maximum it can carry in addition to all the SD broadcasts?

Once SD goes the way of black and white broadcasting, I imagine there will be a lot more.

There's so much rubbish on Freeview as it is anyway; I'd rather swap BidTV or QVC for a few more HD channels any day of the week (as long as it's not QVC HD!).

superscaper

Marty_J wrote: »

Isn't that the maximum it can carry in addition to all the SD broadcasts?

Once SD goes the way of black and white broadcasting, I imagine there will be a lot more.

I think you're talking a long way off. There's not even any proposals, never mind plans or roadmaps for switching off ordinary DBT.

They haven't even powered it up yet, never mind switched it off.

superscaper

Marty_J wrote: »

There's so much rubbish on Freeview as it is anyway; I'd rather swap BidTV or QVC for a few more HD channels any day of the week (as long as it's not QVC HD!).

Even if they switched off SD, you're still not talking of all that many HD channels.

stphnstevey

Wow! Learnt alot in such a short time!

1080p not really worth it unless have a Blue Ray (or HDMI?) player as no broadcasts in it

Only a few channels palnning to broadcast in HD and not for a several years yet (except FreeSat) - so HD not really needed yet, although most TV's are HD ready. But this precludes HD as a reason to upgrade.

Also, need a new HD set top box to recieve the new channels or FreeSat. Does this mean it doesn't matter if you have a analogue tuner or digital tuner built in?

However I only currently have a 21" TV, so upgrading size might be worthwhile.

Marty_J

superscaper wrote: »

I think you're talking a long way off. There's not even any proposals, never mind plans or roadmaps for switching off ordinary DBT.

They haven't even powered it up yet, never mind switched it off.

Well I imagine you're probably right, but I can't imagine that HD won't become the standard at some point in the future.

I wonder if we'll have two classes of TV licence, one for SD and one for HD?

As for the number of channels, compression technology is improving all the time, meaning broadcasters will be able to squeeze more and more into a smaller space. Manufacturers need to be providing devices with upgradable firmware allowing the use of different video codecs as the technology improves.

superscaper

Marty_J wrote: »

Well I imagine you're probably right, but I can't imagine that HD won't become the standard at some point in the future.

I wonder if we'll have two classes of TV licence, one for SD and one for HD?

As for the number of channels, compression technology is improving all the time, meaning broadcasters will be able to squeeze more and more into a smaller space. Manufacturers need to be providing devices with upgradable firmware allowing the use of different video codecs as the technology improves.

Of course, but nothing is ever future proof. Holding off for all freeview HD is no different than holding off on HD altogether until they come out with a new standard (Ultra High Def anyone?). Many computer games can run at much much higher resolutions than HD.

Marty_J

superscaper wrote: »

Of course, but nothing is ever future proof. Holding off for all freeview HD is no different than holding off on HD altogether until they come out with a new standard (Ultra High Def anyone?). Many computer games can run at much much higher resolutions than HD.

I totally agree with you there, and I wasn't suggest anyone wait until freeview in is HD until they buy a TV. You'll never buy anything if you're waiting for the next advance in technology.

superscaper

Marty_J wrote: »

I totally agree with you there, and I wasn't suggest anyone wait until freeview in is HD until they buy a TV. You'll never buy anything if you're waiting for the next advance in technology.

Exactly although you do get the odd advocate posting here and there that you "must wait for the next big thing". At least us nutters who love bleeding edge technology actually have something tangible in the end. For instance, you can't watch a "potential future technology" TV in your living room.

jamesd

Marty J, currently six multiplexes, each of which holds many channels. One of the standard definition multiplexes will be switched to HD as each area changes over and that one will handle four HD channels. So all six if using the planned HD technology could support only 24 HD channels.

If using the BBC's multi-band technology that could be doubled but would need new aerials for everyone. Another tweak to how the channels are packed into the multiplex could add one more HD channel per multiplex, for a total of 60 maximum from six multiplexes. There's some possibility that by yet another round of making things obsolete one of the other multiplexes might be used to test this and add 10 HD channels, at the cost of losing many SD channels. If that goes well then the rest might switch later on. Yet more years with set-top boxes if it happens.

The current analogue broadcast space could support many more but the plan is to sell them to the highest bidder for any use after the digital switchover, not just for TV. Which means mobile phones and/or internet are the likely eventual uses.

It's not a case of waiting indefinitely. Three to six months will get a set that should receive all likely terrestrial broadcasts for 3-5 years and would presumably also have Freesat tuning built in as well.

There are currently three Sony sets, the 4500 range, that are claimed to have support for HD Freeview. Also the Philips 32PF9631D. Add Freesat to that and there's no reason to wait any longer unless you want to wait for new screen technology. That would be first generation, so not really the best time to buy it.

superscraper, I live and work with bleeding edge technology bugs every day at work... sometimes things just working is good.

Marty_J

Some great info there James, thanks! :T