hdtv, dvrs, dish tv and all that stuff.... - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

alexamenos · 10-02-2007, 03:19 PM

In anticipation of Superbowls and NBA Finals surely to come, I'm thinking of making the leap into the wonderful world of HDTV -- I wonder who else has made the leap recently and what advise you may have with respect to TV specs and Dish v. Cable....

thanks in advance

Flacolaco · 10-02-2007, 03:24 PM

I love my Westinghouse 42" HDTV.

I love my FIOS DVR.

I do however, have a big problem with Verizon FIOS. It is freaking awesome. But wtf is with the HD channels? Directv just added like 20 more, including a couple I'd love to have like TBS HD and the Versus HD channel for hockey games...and FIOS is completely mum on it. I can't get an answer from them. It's like they're not even planning on adding anymore.

Weigh the costs....but when the wife and I buy a house next year, if FIOS doesn't shape up with their HD programming, I will definitely be heading back to Directv.

dirt_dobber · 10-02-2007, 03:31 PM

Just last week I purchased a 45" Sharp Aquos LCD. I then upgraded from
standard cable to digital cable (Time Warner) and I am blown away and I
highly recommend the Sharp.

jthig32 · 10-02-2007, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

I love my Westinghouse 42" HDTV.

I love my FIOS DVR.

I do however, have a big problem with Verizon FIOS. It is freaking awesome. But wtf is with the HD channels? Directv just added like 20 more, including a couple I'd love to have like TBS HD and the Versus HD channel for hockey games...and FIOS is completely mum on it. I can't get an answer from them. It's like they're not even planning on adding anymore.

Weigh the costs....but when the wife and I buy a house next year, if FIOS doesn't shape up with their HD programming, I will definitely be heading back to Directv.

They'll be added eventually, don't worry. FIOS isn't quite the same deal it was in the beginning, because the competition has forced DirecTV to kick things in gear, but FIOS will still keep up to speed on everything.

I would imagine new HD channels like TBS will be added early next year.

ocelot_ark · 10-03-2007, 10:00 AM

I have Dish Network. The HD through them has expanded aggressively since I first signed up a couple of years ago. I don't know how many HD channels DirecTV is currently offering, but as of a few months ago I think Dish was blowing them out of the water on channel offerings in HD.

u2sarajevo · 10-03-2007, 10:32 AM

I love Verizon FIOS. I hate Verizon.

We moved to a new house a month ago. TWICE the cable has been cut (both times by Verizon themselves). The cable they installed 2 weeks ago to repair the 2nd cut is still running down my driveway, across my neighbors lawn and over their driveway.

Plus, when they installed the interior cables I told them I didn't want COAX, just Ethernet. The installer said okay. So, he pulls BOTH which was no big deal except on the Ethernet cable he only terminated the end that was inside the house. And had connected the COAX to the NT and that was what was activated.

I was pissed. But luckily I have a crimper so I put a jack on the other end (at the NT) and plugged it in, called Verizon and told them to enable the Ethernet port and disable the COAX. But man, their service just sucks. Plus, the 2 cables they pulled are suspended a foot off the ground making walking around the attic a hazard and putting force ontop of the vent work. And yes, for 3 weeks now we have had a request in to have those cables reran but it doesn't seem to be a priority.

Flacolaco · 10-03-2007, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by u2sarajevo

I love Verizon FIOS. I hate Verizon.

We moved to a new house a month ago. TWICE the cable has been cut (both times by Verizon themselves). The cable they installed 2 weeks ago to repair the 2nd cut is still running down my driveway, across my neighbors lawn and over their driveway.

Plus, when they installed the interior cables I told them I didn't want COAX, just Ethernet. The installer said okay. So, he pulls BOTH which was no big deal except on the Ethernet cable he only terminated the end that was inside the house. And had connected the COAX to the NT and that was what was activated.

I was pissed. But luckily I have a crimper so I put a jack on the other end (at the NT) and plugged it in, called Verizon and told them to enable the Ethernet port and disable the COAX. But man, their service just sucks. Plus, the 2 cables they pulled are suspended a foot off the ground making walking around the attic a hazard and putting force ontop of the vent work. And yes, for 3 weeks now we have had a request in to have those cables reran but it doesn't seem to be a priority.

My HDMI output on my set top box went out on Monday night (already?). I was on the phone with them (Verizon) all day on Tuesday, and they're coming out today at lunch time to replace it. It sucks bc running home at lunch is not easy to do, but they can really go fast when they want to. I found their customer service pretty good.

Of course, running cables is a different animal. Maybe they don't have very many people qualified to do that?

And I have a crimper too....so....high five?

jthig32 · 10-03-2007, 10:50 AM

I've had good experiences with Verizon support, except for having to help the FIOS tech setup my router when they installed FIOS.

In his defense, my house was one of the very first houses in our area to get FIOS, I think he said it was his second install.

Also, my kids spilled water on my router several months ago, and they drop shipped a new router to me and I had it the next day. Now that was nice.

Big Boy Laroux · 10-03-2007, 02:15 PM

I would be willing to bet that TBS HD is added soon for you guys. The entire first round of the MLB playoffs is on TBS this year. If you haven't heard anything, I would call and ask/complain. I'm sure lots of people have already.

Comcast literally just added it a few days ago for my area (in Nashville, TN).

oh, also... I love TiVo HD. but that's another thread.

I have a big mitsubishi rear-projection HDTV that i Love (and also got for free from my father-in-law when they moved houses). I have a westinghouse 32 inch LCD HDTV that I also really like. great price for a really good tv - not as flashy as other brands, but works VERY well. weak speakers, but i just have it in my bedroom. if you had one in a main room, you'd be better off hooking it up to a receiver.

alexamenos · 10-03-2007, 02:15 PM

with the new tvs, is the tv's sound system quite adequate for really good movie sound, or would you recommend a home theatre system with the mix?

edit

Quote:

weak speakers, but i just have it in my bedroom. if you had one in a main room, you'd be better off hooking it up to a receiver.

ok...a tv by tv thing....

Big Boy Laroux · 10-03-2007, 02:20 PM

yeah, definitely depends on the TV. I think anything would sound better through a true surround sound system than the regular TV. But my Mitsubishi puts out good sound, just not true surround sound. Most HD broadcasting is done in 5.1 surround sound now, so to get the true benefit, you'd need a receiver that could play that.

Murphy3 · 10-05-2007, 11:29 AM

Verizon's DVR can't compare with DirecTV+Tivo as far as functionality..... I thought about switching to Verizon Fios..but, why switch to an inferior product that's more expensive?

jthig32 · 10-05-2007, 12:10 PM

HD + DVR is NOT more expensive than DirecTV, unless I am sorely mistaken.

You get their full channel package for 45 bucks, plus 12 bucks for DVR and HD? You're saying DirecTV has that beat on price? I seriously doubt that.

Not to mention the equipment costs. It costs what, $300 for the standard HD DVR from DirectTV?

Verizon has no equipment costs.

I'm not saying Verizon is a better quality. DirecTV gives you more options including Sunday Ticket, and better HD channels right now. But you pay for that step up.

Bookit · 10-05-2007, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murphy3

Verizon's DVR can't compare with DirecTV+Tivo as far as functionality..... I thought about switching to Verizon Fios..but, why switch to an inferior product that's more expensive?

Directv's Tivo is completely obsolete now that Directv has switched to mpeg 4. You now have to go with Directv's dvr to get all the high def channels(except just a few like espn, hdnet, etc)

alexamenos · 10-05-2007, 03:31 PM

so bookit....

I should order directv and their hd dvr so that I can watch cool shit over and over again in hd?

correct????

Flacolaco · 10-05-2007, 03:42 PM

I have never seen a Tivo, and I guess I should keep it that way. I have only ever seen my FIOS DVR. All I know, is that I can record things, and watch them. And I can pause tv, and rewind and other general fun and merriment.

alexamenos · 10-05-2007, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

I have never seen a Tivo, and I guess I should keep it that way. I have only ever seen my FIOS DVR. All I know, is that I can record things, and watch them. And I can pause tv, and rewind and other general fun and merriment.

ummm.....

womens beach volleyball in hdtv?

jthig32 · 10-05-2007, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

I have never seen a Tivo, and I guess I should keep it that way. I have only ever seen my FIOS DVR. All I know, is that I can record things, and watch them. And I can pause tv, and rewind and other general fun and merriment.

I've used a Tivo, and it didn't ruin the FIOS DVR for me. It is much, much prettier, that's for sure. And it does have a few features that FIOS doesn't have. But really, for the bulk of the bread and butter features, they're the same.

And I said before, my wife flies through my FIOS DVR, so the Ipod comparison doesn't work for me.

alexamenos · 10-05-2007, 03:55 PM

hmmmm.....whether Verizon FiOS looks to be an easy call -- it's not available out in the sticks.

Big Boy Laroux · 10-05-2007, 04:45 PM

i have been a big TiVo backer on this website, but i will admit that I have never used the FIOS DVR. I have used the Comcast DVR, and HATED, HATED, HATED it.

ty · 10-05-2007, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Boy Laroux

i have been a big TiVo backer on this website, but i will admit that I have never used the FIOS DVR. I have used the Comcast DVR, and HATED, HATED, HATED it.

IMO, Comcast in general is horrible.

FreshJive · 10-07-2007, 12:07 AM

Trying to get my cablecards activated for my Tivo HD DVR is proving to be an adventure, but from what I've seen running it on the OTA HD channels and the standard cable channels it will be well worth the effort. I've had alot of experience with the Time Warner/Comcast Hd DVR and it really sucks. I've also heard bad things about the Direct TV DVRs, but I haven't lived with one.

I was tempted to switch to Direct TV because they are first to add the new HD channels, but the others will eventually catch up. Comcast in Houston just added TBSHD and they will be adding these by the end of the month:
234 Fox Business Channel
283 National Geographic HD
284 USA HD
285 A&E HD
286 History HD
287 HGTV HD
288 Food HD
299 CNN HD

So basically Tivo is the best DVR, and Direct TV is the best service (for now). Too bad you can't use them together.

Big Boy Laroux · 10-07-2007, 10:34 AM

FreshJive - Check out this post at TiVo Community. LONG thread, but basically, the motto is - keep trying. Comcast is frustrating to deal with. eventually you'll get in touch with someone that knows something. It even provies the comcast corporate number (luckily i didn't have to go that far).

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb...d.php?t=316310

I also relayed my story with Comcast in the TiVo HD thread here on dallas-mavs.com:

http://www.dallas-mavs.com/vb/showthread.php?t=30916

(post #23)

FreshJive · 10-07-2007, 10:38 PM

Yeah I found the Tivo Community thread. What I have been able to read has been a big help. Mainly it gave me the knowledge to talk to the CSR, and sound like I know what I'm talking about. It's like pulling teeth to get them to admit they don't have a clue about the cable cards. My issue is being escalated to "engineering" whatever that means. Hopefully I'll be basking in all of my Tivo's HD brilliance in a couple more days.

Do you by chance get League Pass? I'm thinking about getting a Series 2 to pair with a cable box so I can get League Pass since you can't get it with cablecards (at least as far as I understand it). Can you get League Pass with a Series 2 and a non DVR box?

Rhylan · 10-08-2007, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Boy Laroux

i have been a big TiVo backer on this website, but i will admit that I have never used the FIOS DVR. I have used the Comcast DVR, and HATED, HATED, HATED it.

Eh. One of my friends has it... better than some DVRs, but it ain't Tivo. I will continue to evangelize for Tivo proper.

Murphy3 · 10-08-2007, 12:25 PM

FIOS DVR userability is far inferior to TIVO..... DirecTV + Tivo is simply a better and cheaper product.

Flacolaco · 10-08-2007, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murphy3

FIOS DVR userability is far inferior to TIVO..... DirecTV + Tivo is simply a better and cheaper product.

I have no doubt that it is far easier to use, but it is in no way cheaper.

jthig32 · 10-08-2007, 03:08 PM

Yeah, you keep saying it's cheaper, and then not responding to my questions.

How do you figure it's cheaper?

Even if their monthly costs were the same (which they're not), FIOS charges you nothing to obtain the DVR, while for DirecTV you're looking at paying $300 per tv for your HDDVR.

jthig32 · 11-16-2007, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

I love my Westinghouse 42" HDTV.

I love my FIOS DVR.

I do however, have a big problem with Verizon FIOS. It is freaking awesome. But wtf is with the HD channels? Directv just added like 20 more, including a couple I'd love to have like TBS HD and the Versus HD channel for hockey games...and FIOS is completely mum on it. I can't get an answer from them. It's like they're not even planning on adding anymore.

Weigh the costs....but when the wife and I buy a house next year, if FIOS doesn't shape up with their HD programming, I will definitely be heading back to Directv.

http://www.broadcastnewsroom.com/art....jsp?id=221034

Flacolaco · 11-16-2007, 10:53 AM

Well it's about freaking time!

Awesome. Thanks Thig.

MavsX · 11-16-2007, 12:23 PM

Fivefold Increase ??

holy smokes!

Flacolaco · 07-18-2009, 12:31 AM

I think I am having a problem with pixel persistence on my LCD tv. The tv produces a small white box with a message "selected input not found" whenever changing inputs, and of course, if there actually isn't any input found.

Yesterday I noticed that I could all of a sudden see it while watching tv, however faintly. To my knowledge the tv wasn't left on like that for any length of time so I don't understand why I just now noticed it. It's hardly there, but sometimes noticeable. This is what I get for buying a cheap tv (Westinghouse) two years ago.

Has anyone had a problem with pixel persistence? (or "burn in" you might call it, though I don't think that's technically what it is on a LCD)

I have read to try everything from displaying a white image on the tv for an extended length of time, or try turning the tv off and unplugging it for a long time, or that it will just go away after a while, to "physically massaging" the pixels on the screen....it all sounds like a bunch of hooey to me.

Anyone had a problem with this before with a LCD?

FreshJive · 07-18-2009, 01:23 PM

I saw this post at AVS. If he is correct the fixes you list wouldn't work since it's not the pixels that are the problem.
"Its true that LCDs are not supposed to burn in. Still some of them do. I have seen it before. It's not the actual LCD that is burned! It is the Anti-glare coating layer or the polarizer film that is becoming discolored. This is a result of cheap-o manufacturing process. The panel manufacturer is using substandard film layers for AG and polarizer."