[spc]

Does anyone have a similar setup? Panasonic PT-42PD3-P with RCA DTC100 & Mediacenter or HTPC. I have been studying for weeks, my brain hurts. I am open to any suggestions for a display with this setup. Please help.

 

[Slarsky]

spc - What's the question? How is it hooked up?

 

[spc]

Yes how it is hooked up? PQ? I am new to HDTV so please bare with me. Thanks.

 

[Slarsky]

Welcome aboard spc...I have a HTPC hooked up to my Panny via the VGA port. I have a MyHD card installed in the HTPC and the PQ is absolutely stunning. Do you have any other specific questions?

 

[Ijon_Tichy]

Slarsky, what Panny and video card are you using?

 

[Slarsky]

The 42 EDTV Panny (5uz - consumer) with a ATI 8500 128MB video card/MyHD combo hooked up via vga....

 

[spc]

I have a RCA DTC100 HD DTV box which uses a 15 pin VGA plug & also a mediacenter pc. I don't know weather to use the panney vga plug for the dtc100 or the pc. I can buy BNC type connectors for the dtc100 which I think the PT-42PD3-P accepts & hope would work. Just don't know what the PQ would be.

 

[Slarsky]

I think most have said that vga is a slight improvement from component - the only "issue" may be the lack of aspect control via the componenet connector. I honestly don't think that there would be too much of a drop off in quality if you hooked up the STB via BNC and had the HTPC hooked up via VGA...

 

[spc]

Thank you Slarsky. Anybody know where I can get a panny 42ED or HD manual online? I can't find one.

 

[LeroyC]

spc,

Here's a PT-42PD3-P online manual:
42ED Online Manual

 

[spc]

Thanks, this is a great forum. Now ED or HD???

 

[Moebius]

Ahh, the great debate. That really depends on your preferences and your main uses. If you're going to be doing alot of computer usage, I'd go for HD as the 1024x768 matches the pc res nicely. If the main stay is movies and SD signals, you might want to look at the ED. It tends to do the same or better job on those signals as they're closer to its 850x480 res and there's less scaling to do.


General rule of thumb, you'll be happy either way you. go.

 

[spc]

Any difference in the TH-42PWD4UY & the TH-42PWD5UY besides the manufacturing date? 2001 (4) 2002 (5)

 

[Spoffo]

Another possible issue. Some people have reported a problem with visible "seams" or "lines" in the picture with they try to feed HDTV into the Panny ED via the VGA port. I saw these using a DTC-100 when I first got the plasma, but was able to make them essentially dissappear by diddling the vertical size control. Some haven't been as lucky, and some have never seen them in the first place. so it's a variable problem. (I don't believe I've ever heard anyone report the "seams" problem with the HD set.)


The problem is that Panny says the VGA input on the ED plasma is intended for and optimized for computer input. Running HDTV into it is not something they officially support. So, if you run into this problem with your set, they won't help. You could do a search of this forum on those topics and read all about it.


Panny engineered these sets to run PC in via the VGA port and HD via those BNCs, either as component or RGB. To do that with the DTC 100, you have to get either a VGA-to-RGB breakout cable or a VGA-to-Component transcoder. Everyone who's reported on doing it this way says the PQ on both sources is great.

 

[spc]

I was going to use a vga to bcn's cable for the dtc100 & vga for the PC. I read that will work with some displays. I would rather stay away from a transcoder. Anyone tried this on a panny? Any good sources for the cable?