Tampa, FL - HDTV - Page 9

I'm moving to Tampa (lithia)from New Jersey...can someone give me the basics of HD offerings in the area ? and which provider I should go with ? Brighthouse or Directv.

This board only seems to get a hit or two every week.

I don't know much about directtv, but I am in pinellas county and am pretty happy with Brighthouse networks. They recently added NBC-HD, so we now get NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, PBS, Discovery channel, TNT-HD, HBO, Showtime, INHD, INHD-2, HDnet, HDnet2, ESPN HD.

They are not all included......the basic HD includes nbc, cbs, abc, fox, pbs, discovery and tnt I think.

If you get either HBO or SHO packages, you get their HD channel.

If you get the optional HD pack, you get the INHD, HDNET and ESPN HD. (I think).
They offer basic HD boxes and DVR-HD. (I think the DVR is about $9.95 extra per month).

Anyone living in Fishhawk ranch and getting off-air HD ?

scientificatlanta.com/customers/Source/4004400.pdf got me one of these yesterday, well, what I can't figure out is why I can hook up my dvd player with component YPbPr cables, and my pS2 YPbPr cables , and my gamecube YPbPr cables to my tv, but not this 8000HD box

you can switch modes on the box, from 480i, 480p, 1080i, 1080p but i found two manual pdf's, last night, tried them both, they don't work, the 480i looks like it's black and white

heres my crapty tv p4c.philips.com/files/2/27pt6441_37/27pt6441_37_pss_aen.pdf



sorry for posting links outside the site, but they are just spec/info sheets, not to other forums or threads


thanks to everyone in advanced

That may change if people don't continually try to divert members to other sites for answers and just respond to questions within this thread.

Hi,

I have no experience with either device, but I did find a manual for the 8000HD to look over.

After a casual view of the manual in appears that the "Y" video connector for a component connection is only active for High Definition output. For standard definition it appears that the connector becomes a simple composite video output.

The brochure for your TV doesn't say anything about it being high definition. If it is not that might explain your problem getting component video output from the 8000HD.

It would seem you would be better off using the S-video connector. Have you tried it and does it work?

Larry

yes, i am currently watching it as i type with the SVHS connector, and I noticed that in the manual about the Y becoming standard composite out, hmmm, I guess I'll just have to deal' with it till i get a real hdtv.

I waited several days (at least SIX I think) without anyone answering that gentleman, before suggesting that he also check the other site.........

If there are not enough people checking out THIS thread to answer peoples' questions in a timely manner....it is only courteous to refer someone to a site that perhaps they can get help at.........

Someone was nice enough to do the same for me..........in an earlier thread. I still frequent BOTH. I have never seen a forum so intent on keeping people from looking at similar forums.

Perhaps it is the unfriendliness of the people here.....in addition to the lack of people answering......that keep people away from this thread.


AND, as I said in my answer.........if I knew the answer.....I would have answered it.........perhaps if he asked it on another board........in addition to this one.....between the two boards......he could have gotten the answer. I often post things on two similar boards........what is the harm in that?

There are plenty of helpful friendly people on AVS. That 6 day wait will eventually be 5, then 4, etc. - but only if there are enough people interacting on the thread - something that will never happen if people keep getting siphoned off and never come back.

It's not a competition thing - it's simply the desire to have a single place for Tampa area AVS members to come and be able to get quick & easy answers for their area. If another forum has 100 active Tampa threads and AVS has only one - we're fine with that.

I've already basically hijacked this thread that was exclusive to the Sarasota area (apoligies to Ken, Ron and Larry, among others) in the hopes that they would welcome the Tampa area members and help answer their questions - which they've done (thanks for that) - until such time that the area was active enough that it was self-sustaining.

As far as your question "what's the harm in that?" - 236 posts in almost two years in the 13th largest market in the country and 6 day waits for answers - should make it apparent.

My point being...............as well....that after 6 days with no answer.......if I was the person who posted the question........would be MORE likely to come back to this board.......if someone was nice enough to share info about similar boards to get my answer.................than if another several days went by.........still with not even a single post.......let alone an answer to my question.

I am not trying to be difficult or start an argument.......I was just trying to be a "nice neighbor". I too am waiting for this thread to get interesting.........or at least busy enough to be really helpful. I am of the belief though, that sharing ways to get answers to questions, may actually encourage people to come back.......rather than the opposite effect (not to mention, it might help them get their answer.)

I understand what your saying, the point is there are a number of people that don't necessarily want to visit multiple forums in order to get an answer. Although that may be the most efficient means in the short term, it has proved to be perpetuating the problem long-term. It may mean we take one step back now in order to take two steps forward.

While I would hope that what you say is true, that people would be encouraged to come back - that has proved not to be the case. In the future, if nobody seems to be answering a question posed - PM me and I'll try to help track the answer down.

OK, deal.

Looking for a little help.

I have an HD Tivo (Direct TV) and also a DLP both with integrated HD tuners. I have a Winegard GS 2200 mounted to the roof of my house, Di-Plexing on both ends. (house is located off of Constitution Drive) I currently pick up 22 analog channels, 75% are very good. I am not picking up one digital channel. I am hoping I've got a connection problem that is creating this. My next option is to mount on my neigbors mast (30ft). This will make my antenna cable run be about 125 ft.

Curious if anyone has any ideas or insight.

Thanks,

Kevin

Kevin:

How high off the ground is your antenna? Any obstructions to the NW? I'm at only about 17ft with no problems whatsoever receiving Riverview. Make sure your amp for the GS2200 (I assume you have an amp) is plugged in and the power supply red light is on.

Hi Kevin,

Which digital station are you having difficulty with?

I'm not familiar where Constitution Drive is, but if you're trying for the Holiday transmitter, it's about 80 miles away, and I think the Winegard GS 2200 is only good for about 55 miles.

Did you hire a local company to install your antenna? If so, who were they, and would you recommend them to others?

Thanks.

Ron: I know that you have experience with the Winegard antenna, but are you also using that fancy Blonger-Tongue antenna?

Larry

Hi Larry:

The Blonder-Tongue is down, and I'm now just using the Winegard. I gave up on getting Holiday. It was way too sporadic for any decent viewing.

Constitution Drive is North of Stickney Pt. Road, between Swift and 41. I live just a little south of that, on Palmer Ranch.

Kevin,

I sent you a private message.

Larry

Hi Ron,

Thanks.

Do you know whether Holiday transmits CBS? Isn't Ft. Myers due to start broadcasting digital CBS soon? If so, that might be easier to get reception for us.

I'm relatively new to the Sarasota area. I know that Constitution Blvd is in the area you describe. My wife thinks Constitution Dr. may be a new street since a friend and she were looking for it when trying to track down an advertised estate sale, but they never found it. In addition. Constitution Dr. might be in North Port. If so, it might be a useful experiment if Kevin tried pointing his antenna South to pick up the Ft. Meyer's stations.

Larry

Hi Larry:

I didn't pick up on the Drive vs. St. I have no idea where Constitution Drive is located.

Yes, Holiday is CBS - WTSP. I know Ft. Myers finally got their FCC permit approved, but I haven't a clue as to what the timing is or even if it's going to be this year. I had several emails with the WINK chief engineer trying to get a waiver from them so that I could get CBS NY/LA HD from DirecTV, inasmuch as WTSP granted me a waiver, but he wouldn't give me one, claiming that my location in Sarasota is part of their viewing area, despite the fact the WINK has not HD.

When the poster responds to you, I'd be curious to know where he actually lives, and why he can't get a thing as far as digital stations.

Hi Ron,

Duh! In my initial reading of Kevin's comment, "I am not picking up one digital channel.", I took him literally thinking that there was one particular channel that he couldn't receive. From your response I now see that I misinterpreted his remark.

I've got an inside antenna, and although my digital reception is mediocre, I can get a few channels. So with an outside antenna he definitely should be getting something.

Larry

Larry:

Agreed!!

We'll await his reply.

Sorry, I live off of Constitution Blvd. in the Philipi Gardens area A couple of blocks off of Swift & ClarkRd.

I was pointing the dish at 25 degrees. Is that in the wrong direction?

I'm at probably 15 feet. I am thinking of going to my neighbors mast at about 30 feet.

Sorry for the confusion.

Thanks,

Kevin

Kevin:

That's where I thought you were located.

You say "pointing the dish at 25 degrees". You can't get the local digital stations with a dish. You need an antenna. The direction toward Riverview is a shade east of due north.

I apologize for speaking in riddles!

I was actually referring to the antenna not the dish.

I am going to get one of our installers to stop by the house and take a look at what I may be doing wrong. I'm sure it's a clear case of "operator error"

Best regards,

Kevin

Hey Everyone,
I'm revising my post to see if I can get some new replies....

My wife and I are moving to Clearwater, FL in about 2 weeks from Seattle, WA. We would like to know about all of the HDTV and High Speed Internet offerings and opinions.

We will be living off of Sunset Point Drive in Clearwater, just south of Dunedin.

We are open to getting DirecTV or Dish.....or whatever the cable company is.

We got permission from our new landlord to put a dish on the roof if we need to. (we are going to rent a townhome).

Thanks for your input and time.

Chase

Well I'm not sure what the problem with my TV's tuner, but the HD Tivo is finally picking up the digital channels.

Following is a list of channels I receive:
3-1, 3-2, 3-5, 10-1, 13-1, 16-1, 16-2, 16-3, 16-4, 20-1, 20-2, 22-1, 28-1, 32-1, 44-1, 50-1, 66-1, 66-2, 66-3, 66-4.

I would have thought I'd pick up WFLA. CBS comes in great. After reding through all of the posts I was under the impression that I wouldn't receive it very well.

My next move will be to move the antenna to my neighbors mast which is up almost 30ft. The trade off for this is that the cable run will probaly triple in disance. Will I need to amplify it? It is already an amplified antenna so I'm a little unclear what the additional requirements might be.

Thanks,

Kevin

Glad you sorted things out. Surprised you're getting CBS. Atmospheric conditions may have been good the day you did the channel scan. You may find it to be spotty. And yes, you should get WFLA, and well as WWSB, although they are running at low power. Also look for 38.

If your antenna is already amplified, I wouldn't recommend another amp in the line. Don't know what might happen. Just try it on your neighbor's mast, and compare readings of signal strength on the HD Tivo, to see if it's worth the long cable run.

The option is of course yours. I live just north of Sunset Point and have Dishnet. I receive all 4 major network plus several local digital stations with a rooftop antenna. There are two cable companies in Clearwater (Brighthouse and Knology). Both offer high speed internet. I believe Brighthouse is now at 5MB and I don't know what speed Knology offers. AFAIK, both cable providers are now offering NBC HD. HTH.

Hi Kevin,

It's good to hear that things are working for you.

Were the results you received based on a straight coax run to the HDTV, or did you have diplexers installed?

Will you use diplexers when you connect to your neighbor's mast, or do you plan to run an extra length of coax for the outside antenna?

By the way, I envy your CBS reception. I'm frankly surprised.

Regards,

Larry

Larry,

I managed to get the signals through the HR10-250. That problem was all OE (operator error). I was never able to get the tuner on the LG to work.

I am diplexing the signal currently. I probably could run the antenna direct from the mast to the tuner bypassing the sat feed. Do you think this makes that much of a difference?

I'm happy about CBS, I'm hoping that this is a good sign and getting it up on the mast will make it that much better.

We shall see!

I'll call you as soon as I hear from the Lexicon rep.

Best regards,

Kevin