So its not worth getting HD yet... what about SD?

[Ext User(Dave Turner)]

(im in Perth) thanks to the good info posted to the "Price and benefit"
thread its pretty obvious that HD in Oz isnt really worth it yet, and that
in some cases SD had some advantages

so... do you think its worth getting an SD digital settop box? and is that
all you need - just the box?

[Ext User(ralph)]

On Tue, 13 Dec 2005 13:26:45 +0800, "Dave Turner" <not@dave> wrote:

>(im in Perth) thanks to the good info posted to the "Price and benefit"
>thread its pretty obvious that HD in Oz isnt really worth it yet, and that
>in some cases SD had some advantages
>
>so... do you think its worth getting an SD digital settop box? and is that
>all you need - just the box?
>

If you can, borrow a STB and decide for yourself - especially if you
have dodgy reception with some analog channels.

Also, it's fun to watch a bit of those old cricket and rugby tests on
ABC2 ;-)

[Ext User(Mike)]

Dave Turner wrote:
> (im in Perth) thanks to the good info posted to the "Price and benefit"
> thread its pretty obvious that HD in Oz isnt really worth it yet, and that
> in some cases SD had some advantages

agreed, sadly.

> so... do you think its worth getting an SD digital settop box? and is that
> all you need - just the box?

A widescreen TV is needed to get the full benefit.
If you already have a wide TV, but no STB, get the STB today!
If your reception is a bit off, ditto.

But if you just have a 4:3 TV, with stereo and pefect analogue
reception, and don't want ABC2 or digital radio, or program info, or ...
you might wait until you get a new TV.

Just getting stereo sound is a big benefit for many people.

[Ext User(Gerrit 't Hart)]

"Mike" <mike.n@nospam-westnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:439e68f0$1@quokka.wn.com.au...
> Dave Turner wrote:
> > (im in Perth) thanks to the good info posted to the "Price and benefit"
> > thread its pretty obvious that HD in Oz isnt really worth it yet, and
that
> > in some cases SD had some advantages
>
> agreed, sadly.
>
> > so... do you think its worth getting an SD digital settop box? and is
that
> > all you need - just the box?
>
> A widescreen TV is needed to get the full benefit.
> If you already have a wide TV, but no STB, get the STB today!
> If your reception is a bit off, ditto.
>
> But if you just have a 4:3 TV, with stereo and pefect analogue
> reception, and don't want ABC2 or digital radio, or program info, or ...
> you might wait until you get a new TV.
>
> Just getting stereo sound is a big benefit for many people.

So I live in Armadale. Channel 2 is dodgy. SBS is almost impossible to see
anything other than snow.
I have an aerial which the box said was good for digital.
Would an STB help eventhough I have a 4:3 set?

Thanks.

Gerrit

[Ext User(Kevin Hendrikssen)]

"Gerrit 't Hart" <gthart@sad.au> wrote in message
news:439e93d8$0$3688$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...

> So I live in Armadale. Channel 2 is dodgy. SBS is almost impossible to see
> anything other than snow.
> I have an aerial which the box said was good for digital.
> Would an STB help eventhough I have a 4:3 set?

check www.dba.org.au to see what channels are broadcasting in digital as
they may not all be yet.

Digital can be a huge improvement, however you might get glitching if the
signal is too weak. I rigged up a mutilated VHF/UHF combo aerial which gets
perfect digital reception, but when I try and get analogue using it the
reception on some (SBS in particular) is spectacularly bad. So it shows me
how much digital can improve upon a bad analogue signal.

Honestly, you won't know until you try it for yourself. If you get some
glitching, then decent quality coax can make a huge difference. it doesn't
have to be a huge expense either. I bought mine on ebay. The old coax here
was unshielded, and rain would also seep into it causing bad breakup, so
replacing it made a massive difference.

Then, when you get a widescreen TV to go with it, you'll wonder why you
waited so long.

[Ext User(Boris Easten)]

Not worth getting it if your justinto HD. As HD is not used much in
Australia. Channel 7 just use 576p and the other channels at most use
14400by1080 not the 1920by1080 for true HD.

And then most dont bother even that and just upconvertthe siginal. Its
a complete rip off at the moment. Mostly its just movies that are HD
and they are few and far between and even then they 4:3 them or
upconvert them. So your double screwed.

I held off on a BIG HD tv like a plasma or LCD and just bought a HD
CRT 86cm Widescreen. It was 2800 bucks and the money i saved will go
to a SED TV and by then everything will be in HD :)

And REAL HD.


On Tue, 13 Dec 2005 21:47:09 +1100, "Kevin Hendrikssen"
<spam@spam.com> wrote:

>"Gerrit 't Hart" <gthart@sad.au> wrote in message
>news:439e93d8$0$3688$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
>
>> So I live in Armadale. Channel 2 is dodgy. SBS is almost impossible to see
>> anything other than snow.
>> I have an aerial which the box said was good for digital.
>> Would an STB help eventhough I have a 4:3 set?
>
>check www.dba.org.au to see what channels are broadcasting in digital as
>they may not all be yet.
>
>Digital can be a huge improvement, however you might get glitching if the
>signal is too weak. I rigged up a mutilated VHF/UHF combo aerial which gets
>perfect digital reception, but when I try and get analogue using it the
>reception on some (SBS in particular) is spectacularly bad. So it shows me
>how much digital can improve upon a bad analogue signal.
>
>Honestly, you won't know until you try it for yourself. If you get some
>glitching, then decent quality coax can make a huge difference. it doesn't
>have to be a huge expense either. I bought mine on ebay. The old coax here
>was unshielded, and rain would also seep into it causing bad breakup, so
>replacing it made a massive difference.
>
>Then, when you get a widescreen TV to go with it, you'll wonder why you
>waited so long.
>

[Ext User(Andy Weir)]

Dave,

We start out testing the waters with a STB but next you will be itching for
a PVR(STB W/HDD). It's probably worth checking the forums on www.dba.org
(the digital broadcast association website) for what's what on user feedback
on the various brands.

If you get ok metro reception on all channels(fair on ABC) you should have
no trouble with digital with a reasonable STB and get crystal clear
reception. I had no trouble with the DSE $149 job which is now working
perfectly up at Lower Chittering since I changed to a PVR.

If your ant is passed it's use by date consider a Fracarro LP345HV 32
element ($67 from Northside Ant) with RG6Quad sheilded cabling (DSE has 6
and 10m F connector fitted lengths for ~$19). The Fracarro is quite small
but has inner fringe area gain (10db) and easy to mount, and even operate
indoors due to it's compact log periodic design(only 1.1m x 86cm)

Andy

[Ext User(Justin)]

"Andy Weir" <andy.weir@bigpond.com> wrote in message
news:169of.3445$V7.1098@news-server.bigpond.net.au...

> If you get ok metro reception on all channels(fair on ABC)

The ABC in cap cities isn't a great guide to digital as it's VHF band I
(0-2) & digital operates in band III (6-12) & UHF.

> If your ant is passed it's use by date consider a Fracarro LP345HV 32
> element ($67 from Northside Ant) with RG6Quad sheilded cabling (DSE has 6
> and 10m F connector fitted lengths for ~$19). The Fracarro is quite small
> but has inner fringe area gain (10db) and easy to mount, and even operate
> indoors due to it's compact log periodic design(only 1.1m x 86cm)

Been wondering for a while, how does analogue look on the log periodic? I
know it's got no ch 2 elements (unless you get one with them specifically
fitted), but I was wondering what 7,9,10 SBS & Ch31 analogue are like.

Thanks.

[Ext User(Andy Weir)]

"Justin" <justinnospam@nospamlogicalfusion.com.au> wrote in message
news:43a1276a$0$9290$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au ...
>
> Been wondering for a while, how does analogue look on the log periodic? I
> know it's got no ch 2 elements (unless you get one with them specifically
> fitted), but I was wondering what 7,9,10 SBS & Ch31 analogue are like.

I had no problem with 7 thru 31 in the metro area. At Lower Chittering(51km
from TX) 7, 9 and 10 are no problem. No good at that range on 28 or 31 but
at least with those three they have an alternative if using the STB/VCR for
recording digital.

Andy