New to HD

Okay, I think I've done the hard part, but the remaining stuff is getting to be pretty confusing.

First off, I convinced my wife that the purchase of the new Sony Grand Wega 60" XBR1 was the way to go as far as tv sets go. We also picked up a new DVD player from LG that up-converts to 1080i, which we have connected via one of the two available HDMI inputs. So far, so good!

Currently we have standard Dish Network service, and as can be guessed, the standard video image is poor. I understand why that is so and will learn to live with it

Now, the hard part. I called DN to inquire about HD service and they told me to call back after February 1st. Lurking through this message board confirms something is changing on the 1st, but there's speculation as to what that change will entail.

Here is my question: I was told by the sales associate at Best Buy that there will be a new HD DVR offered by DN that will allow HDMI connection to my tv. I believe he said it was the 942. Based on my searching here, it seems as though the 942 is already out and will need to be replaced after the 1st. Confusing. This is what I want: a HD receiver that will get all the HD channels offered by DN, along with a DVR that will record at least 25 to 30 hours of HD programming, and connect via HDMI. I do notice that many are using DVI/HDMI connections. Is HDMI to HDMI better, or is going from DVI to HDMI better? Seems like the former, not the latter would be best, but I'm new to this stuff.

Second question, although not DN related. We're new to the widescreen tv coming from a rear projection Sony 61" XBR. I don't have problems with the letterbox situation when the broadcast doesn't fit the 16:9 format, but my wife has big issues with it. Trust me, I've tried to explain why it's okay, but she's not giving in. Our new tv offers Wide Zoom, Normal, Full and Zoom as options for viewing. It seems like Full is the best option for her other than things getting stretched out horizontally. I guess she prefers that to the black areas on the edges. When is it good to use Wide Zoom or Zoom? Seems like you're losing areas of the screen that you'd want to see. Anyone have some thoughts?

Thanks for taking the time to read this lengthy post, and for helping out a newbie.

Mike

It sounds like you did the hard part, selling the wife on the new TV.

I got the same answer when I called DN this week (similar problem...upgraded to a 42" Hitachi HD plasma, but looks terrible with DN standard service).

There is another post in this forum on a new DN HD website. They are showing a ViP622 HD-DVR,but it does not list the recording capability.

It looks like DN is getting ready for a Feb release of new HD equipment (they don't lease an HD-DRV today as I understand it, just an HD receiver).

Greg

Ok, just in case some of your questions remained unanswered...

You probably want the 622, which will have a dvr/ 25 or 30 hrs hd rec time and HDMI connection - there is an upgrade offer beginning April 1st for that one - DO NOT BUY A 921 or 942! (just in case you were thinking of going to a local retailer - they are junk, and will not receive the new MPeg 4 channels)

The HDMI connection allows audio and video to transmit through one cable, as opposed to a hdmi/dvi cable - however, since I have my sat rec connected to an audio system, having the audio transmitted to my tv is no big deal -

Also, when I switched from components connections to an HDMI/DVI cable (I have a 921 (DVI) - and my tv accepts HDMI) - there was absolutely NO difference in pq, and more importantly to you perhaps, I no longer had the option to use Zoom, Panarama, Full or any other pic mode, because my tv automatically detected the digital signal from the HDMI cable! - Something to consider if this is an important feature for the wife -

When you use these modes, you are losing part of the pic, and zooming in esstentially, so the pq is even less with these pic modes.....but I still miss them!

Hope that helps,

CM

[It seems like Full is the best option for her other than things getting stretched out horizontally.]

I have a smaller Sony and I find full is the only way to go. Everything else looks too stretched out.

Have you hooked up your TV with an OTA so you can get your locals? Not sure where you live but most HD is on your local stations.

Okay, I think I have a small handle on this now.

I'll wait until Feb. 1 to order the 622. Not sure I like paying a few hundred dollars up-front on top of a monthly lease fee, but I suppose it's better than paying $600+ to buy and then have to replace it down the road if bigger and better comes along. I'll go with the HDMI connections.

I hooked up a cheap RCA antenna and can get quite a few digital channels, but I'm still trying to figure out if this will work for me long term or if I should just dish out the $5 monthly fee for HD local channels. I don't see a FOX channel with 1080i, which would be needed for HD, right? That's probably one of the few local channels I would actually want in HD.

We've settled on Full for viewing. I'd rather see black pillars than stretched out pictures, but the wife's complaining is worse. :(

Mike