High Definition Olympics...

[Cricket2]

Raise your hand if you will be watching the NBC coverage in high definition (a day late)



I can't wait!

 

[shortbun]

Is high definition digital? I'm going to be watching where ever
I can get the most sports and the least commentary. In other words, the definition I'm concerned about is a lack of it from
humans not involved in the sport.

 

[kasar]

Well, I picked up the new box the other day, DH has it all installed and ready to go. Is that all I need to do? Honestly, I can't really see much difference. I'm hoping the Olympics will show me that the extra $7.00 a month is worth it for HD.

I thought I heard that NBC had a special channel for HD? Is that right or is it just on the regular network and the NBC channels? Sorry if I seem confused - I'm just not wowed by HD so far.

 

[Cricket2]

Since the HD coverage will be shot with Japanese camera crews, I'm hoping some (most) of the personal interest stories are removed from the HD feed and we get an impartial showing of the events. I'm sure the commentary will be there as always on how imperfect the athletes are.

JC

 

[Cricket2]

Originally posted by kasar
Well, I picked up the new box the other day, DH has it all installed and ready to go. Is that all I need to do? Honestly, I can't really see much difference. I'm hoping the Olympics will show me that the extra $7.00 a month is worth it for HD.

I thought I heard that NBC had a special channel for HD? Is that right or is it just on the regular network and the NBC channels? Sorry if I seem confused - I'm just not wowed by HD so far.

Satellite, cable or OAR?

HD is dramatically different!

If it's HD, you will know it. It will take your breath away.

Yes, I was that dork pushing the TV with the diesel powered VCR on the cart in high school.

JC

 

[Miss Jasmine]

You can definitely tell the difference between HD and even digital. Do you have it set up correctly and have you tuned into to TRUE HD programming????

 

[Cricket2]

Yes, as Miss Jasmine is saying, there is a vast difference between upconverted HD and true HD programming. I can watch a re-run of Everybody Loves Raymond and I'm shocked at how good it looks...and sounds for that matter in 5.1 Dolby Digital.

JC

 

[kasar]

Thank goodness for all you technology-capable people - you absolutely are NOT dorks in my book!

We have an HD-ready tv with cable. We had digital cable which I thought had a really good picture (flat screen, good tv) and then we installed the HD box. The picture is still very good but honestly, not that different from the digital cable. Don't get me wrong, the picture is amazing but it was with the digital cable too. Does that make any sense?

 

[kasar]

Do you have it set up correctly and have you tuned into to TRUE HD programming????

Followed directions on cable box and TV but not sure about TRUE HD programming. If you could explain how to even find out I'd really appreciate the help (please speak slowly and don't use too many big words!) LOL!

 

[DIZNYFAN]

HD feeds are truly night and day different from a regular cable or digital sat feed. We use a Samsung 50" DLP tv with a Digital HD sat system and man it the image ever great.

 

[Cricket2]

Originally posted by kasar
Followed directions on cable box and TV but not sure about TRUE HD programming. If you could explain how to even find out I'd really appreciate the help (please speak slowly and don't use too many big words!) LOL!

I would need to know exactly what model equipment you have and how it's wired. You will need to describe the wiring in detail. I have had at least one occurrence of someone with an HD box, HD TV and s-video hooked up. As soon as I connected the component cables, their jaws dropped open when I turned on HDnet for the first time in true HD.

JC

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by WebmasterCricket
Raise your hand if you will be watching the NBC coverage in high definition (a day late)



I can't wait!

DH will be I can't wait an extra day to see it. They are broadcasting the best of the best a day later then when the actual event happens. I have to watch it when it is happening! DH is a HDTV nut so he will wait for it. We just got a 65 inch HDTV and the difference is amazing though. You can actually see individual blades of grass on the HD where it is blurred out on regular digital. I still can't wait an additional day though!

 

[jennyl772003]

Now I may be way off here, but it seems to me like Kasar is watching the shows on the normal channel. To see it in HD, you need to find out what the channel is for the HD programming. It will be different. Probably a really high number. If you look on your guide, it will say NBCHD, or whatever.

If you do it right, you will be wowed!

 

[Cricket2]

I'll give you an example of the different station thing. NBC is channel 2, HD NBC is channel 735. Channel 2 broadcasts 24 hours in standard definition (SD), 735 only simulcasts channel 2 during the day up-converted (slightly better than SD sometimes, not always). Usually at 8:00 PM (weekdays) it switches over to HD programming while channel 2 remains the same. Special programming on weekends will also show in HD. Some networks are HD 24-7 like HD net and INHD1+2 (if you get those channels).

JC

 

[olena]

We will. The Winter Olympics were fantastic in HD. It's great to be getting more sports programming in HD. I've been enjoying Braves home games in HD this year.....

 

[puffkin]

Now I may be way off here, but it seems to me like Kasar is watching the shows on the normal channel. To see it in HD, you need to find out what the channel is for the HD programming. It will be different. Probably a really high number. If you look on your guide, it will say NBCHD, or whatever.

I agree! We have an High Def TV. We had digital cable but when we got the TV, we had to get a High Def cable box. The only thing shown in High Def are the high def channels. For instance, if ABC is broadcasting Monday Night Football in high def we can't get the high def version on our regular ABC channel (6). We have to watch the HDABC channel (181). We have Comcast cable, so check with your cable company. It really makes a huge difference!

 

[Cricket2]

Tons of HD screen shots

 

[kasar]

Okay, I finally had some time to sit and figure this out. Seems I wasn't watching on the HD stations (for the record we're way up in the 800's).

The picture is very clear and crisp. One more question, are HD broadcasts always done with the border around the picture or is there a way to have it go all the way to the edge. I know we need to program our DVD player so that the border disappears but not sure about the HD. It's not a big deal, but isn't that why we bought the big screen TV? Again, thanks for humoring me.

 

[Cricket2]

Originally posted by kasar
Okay, I finally had some time to sit and figure this out. Seems I wasn't watching on the HD stations (for the record we're way up in the 800's).

The picture is very clear and crisp. One more question, are HD broadcasts always done with the border around the picture or is there a way to have it go all the way to the edge. I know we need to program our DVD player so that the border disappears but not sure about the HD. It's not a big deal, but isn't that why we bought the big screen TV? Again, thanks for humoring me.

Well, it depends on quite a few things. The aspect ratio of your TV and the particular signal coming from the box and the program itself all contribute to whether or not there will be black/grey/white borders at the top and bottom or on each side of the picture. It gets even more involved with DVD's and the original aspect ratio of the film you are watching.

Right now, if you are watching an upconverted show on a widescreen 16:9 TV, you will have empty space on both sides of the picture. You can stretch the picture, but it will look horrible.

JC