Re-HDTV

googler

FWIW, I have an HD Panasonic with HD Freeview Tuner built in - a 42" model.

I've switched straight between the standard and HD versions of BBC1, 2, ITV and C4, and frankly ...... HD isn't worth the fuss. Slightly more definition, but it's nowhere near a 'night and day' difference..... and there's only four HD channels on Freeview.

Don't get me started on DVD vs. Blu-Ray ...

[Deleted User]

joe134 wrote: »

I need a booster, which i,ve used for 18 years..

Are you certain you still need such aerial enhancements with the move to Digital? Do you live in a particularly weak signal area?

googler

joe134 wrote: »

I really don,t want a recorder

You actually WANT to watch the commercial channels WITH the adverts? Really?

You actually WANT to sit down at (say) 8.30 every Thursday for a particular programme, rather than recording it then and watching it when it's convenient for you?

FWIW, I don't watch anything from commercial TV without recording it first, then snipping out the adverts so that I can watch it uninterrupted.

Possibly also, for a series, doing the above, and topping and tailing the intro and outro so that I can watch 3, maybe 4 episodes in one session uninterrupted.

I've had enough of being at the mercy of the TV company schedules; I watch when I want to watch, not when they broadcast. Same with radio - use the iPlayer to listen to radio programmes when I want to, not when they're broadcast.

[Deleted User]

googler wrote: »

I've switched straight between the standard and HD versions of BBC1, 2, ITV and C4, and frankly ...... HD isn't worth the fuss. Slightly more definition, but it's nowhere near a 'night and day' difference..... and there's only four HD channels on Freeview.

I can see (and won't tolerate) the difference in picture quality immediately. It's the reason I subscribe to Sky HD and no longer watch any channel available only in standard definition, unless absolutely necessary.

The difference between DVD and Blu-Ray is even more stark. While I agree it's not as obvious as the difference between DVD and VHS, I don't think the matter is even debatable.

If you prefer the standard definition services then good on you, it'll certainly continue to cost you far less than those who pay for the extra quality high defintion broadcasts.

googler wrote: »

I've had enough of being at the mercy of the TV company schedules; I watch when I want to watch, not when they broadcast.

Yes, I do similarly. I only start watching live commercial broadcast about ten minutes after it begins. Then, when the adverts begin, I fast forward through them. By the time a one hour show ends I've caught up with the broadcast but avoided sitting through about 12 minutes of ads!

googler

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

If you prefer the standard definition services then good on you

I'm sorry, where did I say I 'preferred' SD? I said the difference between is just noticeable, but not pronounced, and certainly not worth the effort for just the four main channels.

This is based on using a recent-model Panasonic Plasma 42" with the HD tuner built into it.

DVD vs BluRay - again, not pronounced, using the same TV. I haven't compared with identical disc titles, but when watching BluRay, the overall feeling is ... "So? Is that it?" ... and the thought that other titles when viewed from DVD look just as good.

[Deleted User]

googler wrote: »

I'm sorry, where did I say I 'preferred' SD? I said the difference between is just noticeable,

I beg to differ.

Cornucopia

It's a shame that there isn't a better naming convention that would address this issue.

As I see it, there are (now) only small number of TV formats, so it wouldn't be hard to label them correctly.

BTW a PS/3 can also be used as a Blu-ray player.

Coveredinbees!!!!

I got a bluray player and have a couple of films on dvd and bluray, the best feature is not having a layer change. Unless you sit on top of the TV picture quality isn't much different. The big 4 channels on SD are ok it's the compressed to death ones lower down the order that look awful.

HD is old hat now anyway 4K is the next thing you don't need but will be convinced you do.

[Deleted User]

Coveredinbees!!!! wrote: »

The big 4 channels on SD are ok it's the compressed to death ones lower down the order that look awful.

Yes, I find I can't watch the likes of CBS Drama etc

Coveredinbees!!!! wrote: »

HD is old hat now anyway 4K is the next thing you don't need but will be convinced you do.

My Sony Blu-Ray actually supports 4K, pity there is currently no content available to watch.

Although 4K does indeed look very impressive in demonstrations I've seen, I doubt the huge screen sizes will become a feature of many living rooms even when the prices start to drop. I expect this format might be successful in pubs etc.

joe134

googler wrote: »

You actually WANT to watch the commercial channels WITH the adverts? Really?

You actually WANT to sit down at (say) 8.30 every Thursday for a particular programme, rather than recording it then and watching it when it's convenient for you?

FWIW, I don't watch anything from commercial TV without recording it first, then snipping out the adverts so that I can watch it uninterrupted.

Possibly also, for a series, doing the above, and topping and tailing the intro and outro so that I can watch 3, maybe 4 episodes in one session uninterrupted.

I've had enough of being at the mercy of the TV company schedules; I watch when I want to watch, not when they broadcast. Same with radio - use the iPlayer to listen to radio programmes when I want to, not when they're broadcast.

Hi Googler, As I stated , I never watch TV, aint seen a program for years,my heads always in a book, or on PC and listen to radio at night;. but wife does, that,s why I bought them for her xmas box, on the advice of my kids and grandkids. I bought these 2 models because they were set up in Asda, and was buying my son No 1, one, because his was stolen when burgled 2 months ago.
It was on the salespersons advice, that I bought what he said were plug and play , as in the shop, which pleased the OH, and me, because it was playing a blueray DVD,Loop demo at the time, hence the HD.I was misled, but for the price, I should have known ;;The box had everthing BUT, FREEVIEW HD on it, so assumed I had HD tuner inbuilt, as told by salesperson.
It wasn,t until My son,No 2 who,s just bought Samsung smart tv 56 ", came yesterday, and said mine isn,t HD.Even he was convinced the box signified it was HD until he watched it, and viewed all chanels.
I was told it was, but obviously it,s not.
Wifes happy as it is, but I was told HD is so much better than ordinary freeview, that I wanted to know how to achieve it.
Wife would never record anything, so HD freeview box was logical option, but, now I,m not sure that, it,s worth spending the extra, by what,s been posted on here.
It,s very confusing;;TV and Phones are a NONO to me, PC I,m fine with. Cannot understand why all tvs that are HD 1080, don,t have the freeview tuner inbuilt as standard, for what the extra is, I wanted rid of digi boxes, must have had 20 over the years.
In a dilemma now whether to bother, just stick with what it is, good large screen, high resolution tv.