56" panasonic rear projector


and they put me on the damn waiting list for a box


how long is the wait now?

any suggestions to make sure this thing is hooked up right?

1/31/2007 2:57:20 PM

You can hook the coax cable right into the TV and pull CH 2-76 and about 10 HD channels (all local network channels) until the box comes in. That is if your tv has a built in atsc tuner.

They will bring component cables (r/b/g/y/w) for the install, but I had an HDMI waiting when mine got put in. Got a 3 ft. HDMI cable at BJ's for $24.99

1/31/2007 7:39:32 PM

^^ You COULD always go for HD satellite service. Although you'll have outages during really bad storms (and only REALLY bad ones IF the dish is set up correctly), you'll get much better reception overall. I've used both directv HD and timewarner HD and the picture quality (more the stability of it than anything else) and the sound is much much better over satellite. smoothcrim can testify to the issues with the digital 5.1 sound on timewarner cable.

1/31/2007 7:49:02 PM

get an OTA UHF antenna if you dont live in bumfuck egypt and can actually get reception

1/31/2007 8:10:02 PM

cool thanks guys

I might go ahead and get an antenna since I live near avent ferry rd

and it may take no telling how long to get a damn box

1/31/2007 8:42:56 PM

OTA feeds look better than QAM / Time warner box

Try both when you get the box.

1/31/2007 8:52:36 PM

monoprice.com for your cable needs

I got a 6ft HDMI cable for like 5 bucks.

2/1/2007 7:52:16 AM

I had to wait ~ 3 weeks for an HD box.

2/1/2007 8:14:15 AM

i had to wait about 24 hours for a hd dvr box

this was last tues., i believe

[Edited on February 1, 2007 at 8:36 AM. Reason : ]

2/1/2007 8:36:37 AM

why do you even want a box?

Unless you are getting the hd dvr for the dvr, you dont need a box at all. You get all the digital and hd channels except ESPN, HDNet and iNHD with basic cable

2/1/2007 9:11:45 AM

ESPN HD is reason enough to blow cash on an HD DVR

sad but true

congrats on the TV though! But yeah, if you're near Avent Ferry Rd., a $25 indoor antenna should pick up all the locals in HD, and it'll look even better than through the HD DVR.

[Edited on February 1, 2007 at 9:13 AM. Reason : h]

2/1/2007 9:13:46 AM

ok cool, I'll snag an antenna this weekend

thanks for the help guys

Tyler, I've already got TWC RR and DVR with a bunch of packages so to me it makes sense just to keep TWC and maybe get an antenna

I might see if I can get one of you experts to come over and make sure my shit is hooked right

2/1/2007 10:17:33 AM

^Make sure it actually has an OTA tuner.

2/1/2007 1:18:39 PM

i got an hd box from time warner in just a few days i believe and i have mad channels and about 20 HD channels with the HD package

2/1/2007 2:31:35 PM

dish network hands down (unless you're a freak for the NFL)

best HD selection by far (there's like 30+, you're gonna get like 15 with TWC) and cheaper

and believe me, you're not gonna watch much Standard def TV after having HD availiable


i'd definately pick up an antenna (if your tv has a cable input)

the OTA (over the air) HD broadcasts are the best quality out there



[Edited on February 1, 2007 at 2:36 PM. Reason : SDASF]

2/1/2007 2:34:40 PM

Quote :

"why do you even want a box? Unless you are getting the hd dvr for the dvr, you dont need a box at all. You get all the digital and hd channels except ESPN, HDNet and iNHD with basic cable"

come again?

2/1/2007 3:15:38 PM

DirecTV is rolling about more than 100 mainstream HD channels (not the crap Dish Network has) in 3Q of this year (supposedly).

Right now, as far as main programming, TW has better local channels, DirecTV has marginally better picture quality, and Dish has more HD channels but their HD channels are not mainstream channels for the most part.

2/1/2007 3:37:14 PM

haha right

i'll believe it when i see it


You make it sound like these mainstream channels are going to be exclusive to DirecTV.


and who cares about locals when its a fact that OTA is the best quality anyways.



I'll admit that I dont watch all the HD channels (some suck, like the fashon channel) but Rave (live music 24/7) and Rush HD (extreme sports) alone make the VOOM networks worth it.

directv doesent even have food network or national geographic in hd... hows that for mainstream?

2/1/2007 4:12:35 PM

Quote :

"You make it sound like these mainstream channels are going to be exclusive to DirecTV."

It's more that cable can't really add many more HD channels right now.

Quote :

"marginally better picture quality"

Eh, depends on how shitty your lines are. TW kept insisting ours were fine and refused to fix them even though the signal cut out every few minutes for pretty good chunks of time. The big difference in quality IS in the sound and not the picture.

Quote :

"directv doesent even have food network or national geographic in hd... hows that for mainstream?"

What part of "rolling out" did you not get?

[Edited on February 1, 2007 at 4:17 PM. Reason : ]

2/1/2007 4:16:40 PM

Quote :

"smoothcrim can testify to the issues with the digital 5.1 sound on timewarner cable."

damn straight, twc's shit sucks. my sound drops ALL the time and my picture often garbles at the most innopportune times particularly on ABC during desperate housewives. posting this has just convinced me to dust off my qam tuner and test it out to see if it's the shit encoding or the twc box sucking balls at decoding mpeg2

2/1/2007 4:23:15 PM

wouldnt it be funny if all you directv fans had to buy a new mpeg4 box for these channels?

[Edited on February 1, 2007 at 4:38 PM. Reason : i hope you enjoy "rolling out"]

2/1/2007 4:25:22 PM

the correct answer is Dish Network's HD Package with HD DVR (1/2 the price of Dish's HD DVR), add in an OTA antenna and you can record everything on the Dish HD DVR, plus they have the most HD content at the best price.

2/1/2007 6:12:58 PM

Quote :

" You make it sound like these mainstream channels are going to be exclusive to DirecTV."

According to DTV's press release, they are going to be exclusive for a little while.

Quote :

"and who cares about locals when its a fact that OTA is the best quality anyways. "

Because OTA reception sucks unless you go out and buy a nicer antenna. I'm in Clayton, and can get all the local channel OTA, but I have to mess with the ant. which is a pain in the neck.

2/1/2007 6:53:55 PM

Quote :

"buy a new mpeg4 box"

I've never had to BUY a new anything. If you're smart, you can usually get new Direct TV equipment free or nearly free. Sure you have to sign a contract, but if you plan on keeping the service that's really not that huge of an issue.

[Edited on February 1, 2007 at 7:57 PM. Reason : ]

2/1/2007 7:57:04 PM

haha

A&E HD was added yesterday.. didnt even know till right now

there's another mainstream HD channel for ya!

[Edited on February 1, 2007 at 8:13 PM. Reason : dfg]

2/1/2007 8:13:35 PM

Quote :

"and believe me, you're not gonna watch much Standard def TV after having HD availiable"

there is still plenty of good stuff on tv that isnt available in hd yet

2/2/2007 12:39:01 AM

gg

2/2/2007 4:39:12 AM