terrestrial set top box vs. high def programming providers

bardot861 · 07-29-2004, 12:32 PM

Hi:
Just purchased a Toshiba32" HL83 LCD widescreen, high def ready.
Is there any way short of buying a set top decoder box and just seeing which high def programming one can access - that a person can make an educated guess on whether it is necessary to subscribe to high def programming service in order to get high definition reception?

I had in mind - in my situation in Southern Rhode Island - with current use of an older Channel Master - amplified roof antenna - we are able to access about 16 different channels in standard definition. Antenna web shows there are about 5 different channels providing some over the air high def programming in our area. Is it posssible to extrapolate from our analog reception - to what we can expect when using a terrestrial set top box? Have heard digital signals do not allow snow or interference. The signal is either present in adequate strengh or you just will get a blank screen. We do get some audio drop out on a few of the more distant stations - but actually, even those stations when we switch to reception through our VCR - results in all audio being present. Though picture is not great on some of those stations (ie PBS channel 2 wgbh Boston, PBS channel 44 wgbx Boston, ).
With use of terrestrial set top box - can one realistically expect better reception of even the sd broadcast? What about High Def Programming services? Can one hook up VCR to Zoom for example? The DVI connection obviously is not present on the VCR - so how would connection be done?
Appreciate any thoughts on these issues.
Barry

**rbinck** · 07-29-2004, 01:50 PM

OTA High def programming is going to be limited to NBC, ABC, CBS, PBS and maybe the WB ocasionally. FOX is in EDTV right now, but is supposed to be moving to HDTV later this year. That is 5 or 6 HD sources OTA in most areas. Throw in an independant that may brodcast HD ocasionaly (actually they all are just ocasionally) and you would be lucky to get 7 sources OTA and those mainly in prime time only. Go to cable or the major satellite providers and you add 6 or so at a pretty tall price, but they are full time. Voom (I think you meant Voom instead of Zoom) will give you the most full time HD channels.

As far as the connection of a Voom receiver it has connections to connect to a VCR. Some VCRs that have sentisive copy guard circuits have been reported to not record on some Voom receivers, but I suspect these are older VCRs. Mine records with no problem, other than it is only poor SD.

07-29-2004, 12:32 PM	#1
bardot861 What is HD? Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 4	terrestrial set top box vs. high def programming providers Hi: Just purchased a Toshiba32" HL83 LCD widescreen, high def ready. Is there any way short of buying a set top decoder box and just seeing which high def programming one can access - that a person can make an educated guess on whether it is necessary to subscribe to high def programming service in order to get high definition reception? I had in mind - in my situation in Southern Rhode Island - with current use of an older Channel Master - amplified roof antenna - we are able to access about 16 different channels in standard definition. Antenna web shows there are about 5 different channels providing some over the air high def programming in our area. Is it posssible to extrapolate from our analog reception - to what we can expect when using a terrestrial set top box? Have heard digital signals do not allow snow or interference. The signal is either present in adequate strengh or you just will get a blank screen. We do get some audio drop out on a few of the more distant stations - but actually, even those stations when we switch to reception through our VCR - results in all audio being present. Though picture is not great on some of those stations (ie PBS channel 2 wgbh Boston, PBS channel 44 wgbx Boston, ). With use of terrestrial set top box - can one realistically expect better reception of even the sd broadcast? What about High Def Programming services? Can one hook up VCR to Zoom for example? The DVI connection obviously is not present on the VCR - so how would connection be done? Appreciate any thoughts on these issues. Barry

07-29-2004, 01:50 PM	#2
rbinck Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Katy, Texas Posts: 12,301	OTA High def programming is going to be limited to NBC, ABC, CBS, PBS and maybe the WB ocasionally. FOX is in EDTV right now, but is supposed to be moving to HDTV later this year. That is 5 or 6 HD sources OTA in most areas. Throw in an independant that may brodcast HD ocasionaly (actually they all are just ocasionally) and you would be lucky to get 7 sources OTA and those mainly in prime time only. Go to cable or the major satellite providers and you add 6 or so at a pretty tall price, but they are full time. Voom (I think you meant Voom instead of Zoom) will give you the most full time HD channels. As far as the connection of a Voom receiver it has connections to connect to a VCR. Some VCRs that have sentisive copy guard circuits have been reported to not record on some Voom receivers, but I suspect these are older VCRs. Mine records with no problem, other than it is only poor SD.