ArthurS
Watch Those Blinking Lights
Premium
join:2000-10-28
Hamilton, ON
|  Poll finds little understanding of HD...
From Broadcast Engineering ezine I got today:
Poll conducted for Best Buy finds little understanding of HD among shoppers and owners:
"Forty-one percent of HDTV owners say they understand little to nothing about HDTV, according to a new consumer poll."
More here.
With the digital transition happening sooner than later, it looks like we got our work cut out for us even here! 
Perhaps we can compile an FAQ on HD for this forum? How would/should we go about this? Seems like the same issues/questions keep coming up with increasing frequency. |
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Zero Gravity
Next to Arch Stanton
Premium
join:2002-04-30
Top Floor | I know that I get tired of trying to explain aspect ratios and the difference between anamorphic and non-anamorphic. There is a ton of info to go over in introducing people to HD. |
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DownTheShore
Maddie Knows Poopie
Premium
join:2003-12-02
Beautiful NJ
clubs:
| reply to ArthurS
Speaking as one of those people who doesn't know that much about HD, my initial thought is that the picture is rectangular and supposedly sharper. I've got a relative that has an HD LCD TV, and the darn thing has two tuners - one digital and one analog - which is annoying when you want to go from an HD channel to a non-HD one, and vice versa because you have to switch tuners before you switch the channel. (I know it's just one more button to press on the remote, but it's the principle of the thing.  )
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Life is simply one damned thing after another. |
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FastEddie
iMod
join:2000-12-29
Channel Z
Host:
All Things Unix
Mozilla Software
Cyberonic
Rogers
Gadgets
|  reply to ArthurS
said by ArthurS  :Perhaps we can compile an FAQ on HD for this forum? How would/should we go about this? Seems like the same issues/questions keep coming up with increasing frequency.
Sounds like an excellent idea
You would have to start with the very basics and in layman terms. Like explaining the 480/720/1080, what the 16:9 aspect ratio means and work your way up. You would also have to explain the different inputs HDMI,DVI etc.
But I agree, the FAQ's should be made and added.
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Here's To You |
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ArthurS
Watch Those Blinking Lights
Premium
join:2000-10-28
Hamilton, ON
| reply to ArthurS
Cool!
In addition to what has been mentioned so far in this thread, how about others post to this thread questions, topics, ideas on what this faq should comprise, whether you know the answers or not. Also post some links to useful threads here on HD.
Then we can work on organizing the topics and start building an faq for A/V Chat on HD. I'll be happy to contribute as schedule permits to build this faq, but there are others here from whom I would value their input as well. |
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Greg_Z
Premium
join:2001-08-08
Springfield, IL
 ·Comcast
| reply to ArthurS
said by ArthurS :From Broadcast Engineering ezine I got today: Poll conducted for Best Buy finds little understanding of HD among shoppers and owners: "Forty-one percent of HDTV owners say they understand little to nothing about HDTV, according to a new consumer poll." Well, there's your problem. They polled BB consumers. Where else can you go and see a high end set hooked up to Coxial cable showing a Low-Def programming picture. |
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ArthurS
Watch Those Blinking Lights
Premium
join:2000-10-28
Hamilton, ON
| said by Greg_Z :Well, there's your problem. They polled BB consumers. Where else can you go and see a high end set hooked up to Coxial cable showing a Low-Def programming picture. Maybe they can learn a thing or two about HD? |
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Greg_Z
Premium
join:2001-08-08
Springfield, IL | reply to ArthurS
What I do not understand, is why the local studio broadcasters do not upconvert their signal for the HD channels, instead of Simul-casting.
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I threw out the map a long time ago. Now I follow my own direction! |
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Greg_Z
Premium
join:2001-08-08
Springfield, IL
·Comcast
| reply to ArthurS
BB, yes they can. They do a 360 on consumers by 1) Finding how much the consumer makes. 2) How much are they willing to spend. 3) Push into oversells which include overpriced cables, and accessories. 4) Push the Extended Warranty plans.
Where as CC & Sears shows the HD sets in HD programming with Component cabling on all sets, and those with direct connections to the source, HDMI.
Funny thing is, the trade mag's have been pushing the HD idea for over 10 years, with 5 years being heavier. What you are finding now days, is that there are not that many people that are into electronics, and the new trends, as there used to be 40-50 years ago. |
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ArthurS
Watch Those Blinking Lights
Premium
join:2000-10-28
Hamilton, ON
| reply to Greg_Z
said by Greg_Z :What I do not understand, is why the local studio broadcasters do not upconvert their signal for the HD channels, instead of Simul-casting. It really depends on what the current engineering procedures are for each station. They have some flexibility with what they do with their allotted bandwidth for a channel, be it full HD resolution, or several channels of lower resolution combined with maybe some auxiliary data services. Stations will squeeze every dollar they can from their signal. Given that the majority of the public is still viewing the station in standard def, HD is not the cash cow for them yet. Add to that what cable/satellite distribution does to compress the signal as well.
While up-converting can convert a signal to one that can be displayed at higher resolutions (and do so with varying degrees of quality depending on the algorithms used) you still end up with a picture that effectively has the same amount of information you started with. I would guess that the station does not see the benefit of up-scaling all their programming...yet. |
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DownTheShore
Maddie Knows Poopie
Premium
join:2003-12-02
Beautiful NJ
clubs: | reply to FastEddie
And QAM. Tell us what the heck QAM is, and why we should care about it. 
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Life is simply one damned thing after another. |
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tbone2006
join:2006-07-22
Abilene, TX | reply to ArthurS
I get laughed at when I tell people I watch HD with rabbit ears. |
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Dude111
An Awesome Dude
Premium
join:2003-08-04
USA |  reply to ArthurS
I see no need for all this HD crap.....
Standard signals are fine....
Its just a way to charge more $$$ and get away with doing it..... |
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Zero Gravity
Next to Arch Stanton
Premium
join:2002-04-30
Top Floor
 ·Bell Sympatico
| said by Dude111 :I see no need for all this HD crap..... Standard signals are fine.... Its just a way to charge more $$$ and get away with doing it..... WTF? Let me guess? White cane? |
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