Newbie EDTV Questions

[Indium]

I am looking into buying a EDTV since it seems quite a bit cheaper than a HDTV. I have standard digital cable and use a cable box. I watch DVD's and regular TV programs.

1. Some EDTV's do not have tuners. If my cable box has a tuner then would this be sufficient? How do I determine if my cable box has an in-built tuner?

2. Are all EDTV's upgradeable to the HDTV format? I was looking at the Panasonic TH-42PWD7UY (852 x 480 pixels) which seems to have card slots for optional boards.

Thanks.

[edDV]

1. Most have off-air tuners, EDTV is a DTV term. If yours doesn't, the cable box will work but you would need a HDTV cable box set to 480p to receive 480p EDTV. Normal cable boxes are only capable of 480i resolution with s-video connection..

2. No. EDTV is 720x480 progressive (DVD mode) or 704x480 progressive (DTV-EDTV mode). EDTV's are generally limited to these resolutions and are not upgradable. HDTV uses much higher screen resolutions.

See my full review of EDTV in this thread and then ask more.

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=244182

Additional:

Most people today buy EDTVs to view DVDs in full 720x480 progressive and to tune DTV (usually UHF) stations which can broadcast either in 704x480 interlace or progressive at 4x3 or 16x9 aspect ratios on a program by program basis. If a DTV station broadcasts in HDTV, EDTV receivers will get it in 704x480 16x9 progressive which will look very good, but is not higher resolution.

Cable HDTV tuners are beginning to include the local DTV versions of the local channels usually as a separate listing in the higher number channels. An EDTV will be able to receive these and the HDTV channels when the cable box is set for 480p component output and if the EDTV is connected with analog component, DVI or HDMI cables.

Satellite HDTV tuners do not currently include local DTV channels.

[edDV]

PS: I just looked at this TV (Panasonic TH-42PWD7UY)
http://www.electronics-depot.com/Brochures/7-SeriesPlasma9-04.pdf

It doesn't seem like Panasonic is marketing this as a EDTV, it is an early "HDTV ready (non tuner)" monitor with composite and S-video standard inputs but (read BUT) it only has VGA (Mini D-sub 15-pin x 1) input for HDTV.

Most HDTV cable boxes interface over wideband analog component inputs (Y,PB,PR) at 1080i or with DVI-I (with HDCP encrytion) or HDMI (with HDCP encryption)

I see no option for Y, PB, PR 1080i which is most common for HD cable boxes. It does have an optional HDMI (with HDCP) module but not all cable boxes have HDMI outputs. Check with your cable company first and see what they offer. If you buy this TV, I would insist this HDMI module be included free.

This is an odd beast, near HDTV (852x480 not quite HDTV but not EDTV either). It can function as a EDTV with the right cable box or on-air tuner. Buyer beware.

PPS: the HDMI module is available here
http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:Panasonic%2 ... 1991361207
but be sure you can get a HDMI HDTV cable tuner before you go this direction.

>> added: another source of modules http://www.audiosound.com/panasonic1.html

>> added: The lack of wideband Y,Pb,Pr inputs also means that you can't directly connect a progressive DVD player to the standard TV. It looks like this module can be used to add these inputs. http://www.audiosound.com/patybnccovit.html
This in combination with HDMI for the cable box or an additional analog component module, may give you a working system.

The rest of this set looks good, it even has a PC VGA interface module which is also rare.

Bottom line, this is an odd beast, not a normal HDTV ready monitor nor a EDTV but it can be made to work if the cable company offers a HDMI HDTV cable tuner. If not don't buy it. Also, because it is so odd, service may be an issue in the future.

>> added: you would need to add both the HDMI TY-42TM6D and component TY-42TM6A modules or two component modules to make this TV functional.

[edDV]

more info added above

[Indium]

Is there in degradation in picture quality when watching a 480p DVD or regular TV program on a HDTV at 1080i or 720p?

[edDV]

DVD looks excellent if you hook it up 480p from the DVD player. That is assuming the DVD player has decent progressive conversion circuits. You will usually have the option to view the DVD in 480p (720x480) or upscaled to the native resolution of the HDTV.

Interlaced normal TV is usually upscaled to the native resolution of the HDTV and often has the option for progressive conversion. This process works well for stationary parts of the picture but there may be artifacts in the motion areas depending on the quality of the TV's progressive conversion.

VHS and computer MPeg playback usually look pretty bad on a big TV.

[Indium]

Thanks for the advice. I am leaning toward the Panasonic TH-37PD25U/P. See http://www.dtvcity.com/panasonic-plasma/panasonic-th37pd25up.html

Its about $2400 with a 2yr warranty so it is more in my price range than a real HDTV. It has a integrated ATSC/QAM tuner for receiving a HDTV signal, integrated speakers and has a HDMI input and so I assume it can accept a 720 (or was that 780?) or 1080 HDTV signal. I know it only produces a max. 480 resolution picture, but I am comfortable with that so long as it can receive and downsize any future 1080 signal without any degradation. Something does bother me though. I see a contrast ratio spec of 3000:1 but some places it says 4000:1 - any ideas why?

[Ste]

That ATSC tuner ain't gonna do you any good if you don't have an off-air antenna. You'd preferably want an outdoor roof antenna though you might get luck with some indoor rabbit ears or the Zenith:
http://www.zenith.com/sub_prod/product_Display.asp?cat=49&id=131

Maybe even the Terk:
http://www.terk.com/pdfs/T0428-HDTVi-LK.pdf

Since you have cable though, you might want to take a look at that Cable CARD feature that the TV also has. Call up your cable company and see if they can supply you with a card.

[edDV]

Best to use http://www.antennaweb.org/ to find the direction and distances to your local DTV/HDTV stations.

They will advise the type of antenna needed.

A good 30-40 mi antenna is this Zenith.
http://store.electrogalaxy.com/zengemdtv1.html

[Indium]

I live in a condominium that has a roof antenna so I don' think that will be a problem (having an antenna I mean). So long as I can still get my regular digital cable channels without any additional hardware, that is all I care about. Since I cannot watch true HDTV and I have cable, would I be missing anything if I could not get HDTV over the airwaves - am I missing something here? The cable provider does sell a cablecard but a technician must install it, which I'm sure costs a fair bit so I think I'll stick with my cable box. One other thing - how likely is burn-in on the sides of the screen if I am watching alot of 4:3 cable programs?

[edDV]

As for cable, you won't get progressive 16x9 on that TV without the HDTV set top cable tuner or the "cablecard" or "smartcard" for your internal QAM tuner. Negotiate an acceptable price with the cable company, it will be worth it. Your new TV does do partial HDTV ~850x480 when hooked up 1080i, but it will probably look much better connected 480p (720x480 progressive).

As for over the air, most DTV stations are UHF. The apartment antenna may not support UHF. The FCC (in the USA) gives you the right to set up your own antenna on the roof if you desire. Check Antennaweb.org for a list of stations available at your address. If you are in a large city you will have many more stations than are available in DTV on the cable box. An indoor antenna may work fine.

If you opt only for the standard cable box connected RF or S-Video, you will miss the progressive quality your set can deliver. At least you could push your TV close to the limit with a 480p progressive DVD player if connected properly.

I'm amazed how many people buy these high priced EDTV and even HDTV ready sets and then connect them as conventional TVs.


Almost as declasse' as somone who gets a 20" LCD computer monitor and insists on running it in 640x480 resolution.