[jdiehl]

First, here's the link to last month's thread (for any newbies that need to catchup):

November


Topics we have been discussing:


-KDNL HDTV/720p passthrough - when? any progress lately?

-KPLR-DT - any updates?

-Charter HD - when? how much? what areas?

-local HT/HDTV shopping

 

[BudShark]

HT/HDTV internet shopping -


My biggest problem is the lack of immediate return when you buy online. (yes I'm impatient when I spend $3K) - However, when buying components, cables, remotes, computer parts, etc. I usually buy online.


Chris

 

[Robert Simandl]

And don't forget how some of us are or aren't getting any sound on WHSL 47.1...... not that we really care yet, but that channel will be UPN in a few months!

 

[BudShark]

I can record the soundtracks for a small fee ;-)

 

[MSloss]

OK, I just finished watching the Rams lose again, and if that wasn't bad enough, I am tired of looking at grass on football fields that can best be described as "olive". I have compared pictures with my analog set, and know the grass should really look green, but I have not seen this lately with my Mits 65809/DTV 1080. I have a repair guy coming tomorrow to see if the green in the Mits is off and can be adjusted, but I am concerned that it could be a problem with the Zenith receiver. (I am waiting to hear from Zenith this week about replacing it due the firmware problem causing SAT-B tuning issues, i.e., HDNET takes up to minute to lock in).


Anyone run across this with their setups?


PS - The green on DVD component input looks OK, just the DTV component input that is "bad". I have swapped cables with no change as well.

 

[jdiehl]

Mike,


How does the grass look on CBS NFL games. Or, better yet, how does grass look in high def. on CBS NCAA games or HDNET football?


I'm sure it's just a FOX thing, plus they were playing on fake grass today...and under the lights.


Go Blues.

 

[MSloss]

Jon, I watched the LSU game Friday in HD, and the grass looked off there, too. Not just Fox. Also on ABC.


I have the tint calibrated, and only grass (real or artificial) looks abnormal. Strange, huh?


Mike

 

[Sommers]

Mike

The "grass" in Philly may just have looked that bad---because, for some reason they never get grass "right" in Philly.

Further on a Mits set, I think that a real thorough calibration is a must on this make RPTV. Believe it or not, I spent $750 to a traveling road show "guru" for a calibrate. Unbelievable I know, however, the end result was unbelievable---the before and after difference was so dramatic that anyone buying this make of RPTV should factor in that amount to the purchase price and do it (after a 6 month break in period as a minimum.)

The factory set up on these things plus the transit jostling apparently really throughs the lenses off--alignment--convergence what have you.

The Mits sets are a much more demanding calibration than other makes and you need a "Mits" sepecialist to do one.

I M O, of course.

 

[jdiehl]

I was going to get the "CraigM" ISF calibration last spring, but wanted to wait for my set to be out of warranty before he did it. Guess I'll have to wait until his next trip to St. Louis to get my Mits. calibrated.

 

[Sommers]

Jon

I know the Craig M $750 calibrate is kind of scary expensive, however, the result was truly fantastic. I took the day off and just sat around and observed. He spent 13 hours on my set. Having done my research on my Mits--it became apparent that the "basic" $350 or whatever job was likely to be insufficient---so, I went for it with Craig.

I can really recommend his service Be glad to fill you in with greater detail if needed.

 

[jdiehl]

Yeah, I've talked to a few people in the area that had Craig calibrate their set, and none had buyer's remorse.


I'll be happy to spend that money now that my set is closing in on 2yrs old and out of warranty.

 

[Sommers]

Let me know when he is coming back through----I think he said that for existing customers he has a relatively low cost check up/tweak service.

Thanks

 

[rschneider]

Jon,

I enjoyed the review of your in-laws' Mits purchase experience.


It seems UE is going to make things tough for the home theater boutiques.


One question, why did they opt for the the integrated tuner vs. an outboard tuner? Was it solely to have a single remote? Do they plan on getting satellite? or are they just interested in OTA only?

 

[jdiehl]

Quote:

Originally posted by rschneider Jon, I enjoyed the review of your in-laws' Mits purchase experience. It seems UE is going to make things tough for the home theater boutiques. One question, why did they opt for the the integrated tuner vs. an outboard tuner? Was it solely to have a single remote? Do they plan on getting satellite? or are they just interested in OTA only?

Why the integrated tuner?


1) They are the type that have to call me when they want to record something on the VCR or play a DVD. ie. not very technical like most people 50+yrs old.


2) They have no plans to get DirecTV or Dish Network. They'll hold off on HBO-HD until Charter makes that available.


3) They liked the one remote feature, and not having another component to find room for in the cabinets. Plus, because it's integrated into the TV, changing to that input and selecting channels is a breeze.


4) The Gold+ doesn't have as nice of a protective screen as the Platinum (which they are forced to use because of grandkids, 2 large dogs, etc). The ~$600 price difference between the two is roughly the same cost of a decent external tuner + component cables.....and the Plat. has a bunch of other features that the Gold+ doesn't have. I told them that the cheaper one had Quad Field focus which would likely give a better picture, but they had their mind set on an integrated HDTV after I demo'd it for them.

 

[turls]

I'd like to see how this would work out with a Samsung DLP HLM507, which was at quantity -1xx when I was there a month or so ago.


Too late for me, as my credit card has already been charged on the PB, but of the hundreds/thousands of posts on the 507 in the RP forum, nobody mentioned any killer deals at UE.


But good advice for future purchases.

Quote:

Originally posted by jdiehl So, for anyone's future reference....you can pretty much bend over UE and their advertised sales prices as they will match anybody. With the best overall selection and showroom, I'd say I'm pretty much sold on shopping their for my HT gear in the near future. My only advice is to go there knowing exactly what you want, and know what the best available price is that you can find anywhere.

 

[Andrew Sabin]

Cotinuing the pattern of delays, the word is Charter won't launch HD until the end of Feb.--quite typical.

 

[Neuner]

I'm posting my question in this thread since everyone from STL seems to read it. If you want it removed & placed elsewhere, please say so.


I do not have HDTV...yet. I was getting ready to buy a MyHD card for my HTPC when I got a new job & decided to move. Now I'm not sure if it is going to be worth it.


My new house will be located in O'fallon, MO and the direction to the stations is blocked by woods in my back yard. B/c of the distance and the woods is it even worth it to mess around with trying to receive UHF signals? I don't want a real high mounted antenna and don't want to proceed if I'm going to get 'sketchy' signal. I inserted my new address into antennaweb.org and they stated I was in the red. Big'O antenna.


Picture of backyard

 

[kimball422]

Does anyone know if all the local station are tramsitting the digital signal if full power? When will he Fcc require them if they are not?

 

[BudShark]

No/No


I know that some of the stations (KDNL, KTVI?) are not at full power. And no, the FCC does not dictate full power (and in fact recently allowed partial power for compliance.)


Chris

 

[jdiehl]

Quote:

Originally posted by Neuner I'm posting my question in this thread since everyone from STL seems to read it. If you want it removed & placed elsewhere, please say so. I do not have HDTV...yet. I was getting ready to buy a MyHD card for my HTPC when I got a new job & decided to move. Now I'm not sure if it is going to be worth it. My new house will be located in O'fallon, MO and the direction to the stations is blocked by woods in my back yard. B/c of the distance and the woods is it even worth it to mess around with trying to receive UHF signals? I don't want a real high mounted antenna and don't want to proceed if I'm going to get 'sketchy' signal. I inserted my new address into antennaweb.org and they stated I was in the red. Big'O antenna. Picture of backyard

I wouldn't worry so much about the trees, I have tons of trees and lots of homes in my neighborhood that are in the path of my signal. It's more the lay of the land than anything. As long as you aren't in a valley, you should be okay...but maybe someone from St. Charles Co. could give you more info.