Also was he receiving a analog or digital signal? Analog can look real bad on a HDTV. From what I've heard mine isn't as bad as most. You can tell the difference, but it's not terrible. He might have to make a switch for it to show digital air stations as well. As a default mine only showed analog. I thought I'd check out one of those tests that broadcast digital only for a min. I was surprised when my screen went to snow. I check my manual and found out I had to make it look for digital channels. Once I did that I got the digital channels too.
In Vegas the OTA broadcasts are all available in digital and all the big networks are in HD. Some of the channels have already stopped broadcasting analog. My directv is great, but there is the slightest difference in quality compared to OTA of the same broadcast. I have an old amplified antenna for backup in case the dish quits working for some reason. I can only get about 87-90 percent on the signal meter with my antenna but as long as the signal doesn't break up it looks perfect. CBS looks the best to me for sports, I think it is broadcast in 1080i and Fox is 720p. I think. If I remember correctly, all cable and satellite providers have to compress the signal to some extent to get as many channels as they do. Still looks pretty damn good. I saw a preview for a movie that we had also seen in the theater and the tv looks better by a mile. I just need to upgrade my receiver , I have an older Harmon Kardon avr 240 that doesn't always decode the available sound formats. It doesn't have any HDMI inputs, so I use digital optical for now. Oh well.
Yeah OTA should be better. Either you get the signal perfect or you get snow. HDTVs, especially larger ones, show the flaws in SD tv more. You are basically blowing up a picture and the quality does get worse. Some TVs correct for that better than others... but the bigger screen... the more you are going to notice it.
Same here...I have a 5yr old Yamaha that has optical ports out the wazzoo, but no HDMI. I make it work somehow--there're just more cords.
I got good ol trusty TUBE 27" it's great, simple cheap and big so ya don't have ta worry bout nobody jackin it.
This site has some good reviews. http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/category/type/247/1/lcd/ I am enjoying my first LCD made by LG. It even got good reviews for a 32". Before that my wife and I had been using a 27" CRT. Heres the 32" LG review. http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/reviews/462643150
quick question. HDMI cables. Do they make a significant difference? I have a 42' Samsung Plasma and I'm using a variety of cables to connect my TV, DVD Player, HD Digital TV box and old stereo system. I don't have HDMI for the DVD player or the stereo, but would adding an HDMI cable be good from my HD Cable box to the TV? I know it won't affect the sound, but would it improve the picture alot? I've read that an HDMI cable is the same regardless of price and the pricier ones is pure advertising bunk. cheers for any and all help
The short answer: No. I hooked up my new Samsung with the regular red-white-and-yellow cables and the picture was great. I finally replaced that cable with the HDMI cable, but I couldn't tell any difference in the picture. Both of the technicians from Comcast who came to my house told me that the HDMI cable doesn't improve the picture quality. It's really just a convenience factor: one thing to plug in on each end instead of three.
