Get Ready For More TV Set Choices

It is hard to tell which new technologies will take off and which will be digital flashes in the pan.  The new TV set offerings make things even more confusing. Now that most of us have replaced our analog TV sets or at least relegated them to the guest bedroom or basement, there are some new offerings now available that might make that new 46” Sony Bravia flat screen seem like that old 27” Sylvania now gathering dust in the garage. 

No too long ago the buzz word was 3-D.  TV manufactures and program producers saw the renewed interest in 3-D content at the cinema and decided that the home viewer would also be interested in watching 3-D programs.  A few 3-D channels were provided by cable companies and most all set makers offered a variety of new 3-D TVs.  Some required expensive eye glasses and others used simpler displays.  The common denominator was that the public really wasn’t interested.  Recently the 3-D channels have been disappearing from the cable line up and it looks like for now 3-D in the home is on life support.

Not to worry if you are one of those consumers who must get the latest new technology before the guy next door.  There are several TV set manufacturers who are developing new sets capable of much high resolution than mere High Definition as we know it today.

Dubbed Ultra High Definition, they come in several “flavors.”   Ultra HD 2K, 4K and 8K and they all can provide breathtaking clarity and detail. For example, a 4K UHD set has trice the horizontal and vertical resolution than the 1080 set that is now in your living room and has four times the number of pixels

You may wish to wait to plunk down your cash for one of these new sets since there are several different competing production formats.  It is setting up a rematch the Beta vs. VHS fight.   Also you will not have anything to watch since no broadcaster, cable or satellite service is moving to provide an Ultra HD service.  No DVD currently has UDH material either. The UHD material is a ravenous consumer of bandwidth and will require major expensive changes in the production and distribution chain from the camera to the display and most everything in between. 

So if you absolutely need to be the first one on your block to have an Ultra HD go for it.  If the screen is very large, i.e. 60’ plus, you may see a modest improvement in clarity but most people will be hard pressed to see the difference.  Perhaps someone will just sell a label with a fake Ultra HD Logo that you can put on tour standard set.  Remember the fake cell phone antennas that were sold for placement on the rear window of your car  when mobile phones were a status symbol?

3D Still Slow To Take Off

About a year ago looking through the advertising circulars inserted in the Sunday newspaper you might have come to the conclusion that you were the only person in the entire universe that did not own a 3D Digital TV. Touted as the next “must have” for your home theater, all the major brands were promoting the movie-like experience possible with 3D TV. Jumping ahead about a year, the landscape has changed a lot.

A cursory look at the most recent Sunday paper indicates that last year’s hot item is, at best, lukewarm this year. There are several possible reasons for this cool consumer acceptance, not the least of which is price. The average price of a standard 2D HDTV set
continues to drop. Today the average is about $500 and dropping fast as several models are available below $150. The prices of 3D sets also are dropping but, because most have very large screens, they are still much more expensive than standard 2D HDTVs.

More than the high price, the need to wear specials 3D glasses to experience the 3D effect is a big negative for many. The glasses are expensive, so inviting several good friends over to watch the “Lion King” may require a king’s pocketbook.

When 3D TV first launched in the US, several program providers promised to provide content on cable and satellite in 3D. This promise has yet to be realized. The transmission of 3D requires a different and more complicated set of transmission technologies. Companies don’t want to invest these extra funds if there is not a large base of viewers and viewers don’t want to invest in pricey 3D HDTVs if there is not a rich program catalog. Most 3D viewers use Blue-ray DVDs as their main source of content.

Things might change in the future, but investing the extra bucks in a 3D set may not be a good idea for most of us. Of course you can always visit the guy down the street who has just about every device connected by a wire or powered by a battery. Drop in and don’t forget to bring the chips and beer and let him provide the glasses.

More Not Always Better ...Nor Less Cheaper

One of my favorite vintage TV programs is “Home Improvement.” Tim Allen’s escapades seemed to always center on making things, that were working just fine, even better. His mantra, “MORE POWER” got him into more trouble. Tim, like many of us, falls victim to the conviction that “more” is always “better.” I know I have made the mistake of putting “one more turn” on that faucet connection only to cause a leak or just a bit more fertilizer on the lawn to make it greener only to see it turn brown.

Just as in plumbing and gardening, there are examples in home electronics that more is not always better. A friend of mine related his frustration recently with his HDTV set. He lives out in the country away from all cable and chooses not to use a satellite service. So he gets his TV using an antenna. (Yes kids, TV does not need a wire.) Living on a high hill he was able to get almost all the local stations and even some from as far away as Lexington and Dayton. But he could not get Channel 9.

One day, after spending hours trying in vane to point the antenna just right, he happened to see his neighbor in the yard. He asked the neighbor if he was getting Channel 9. His neighbor said that he had a great picture from that channel and proceeded to show my friend the antenna he was using. Instead of a large amplified outdoor antenna, the neighbor had an inexpensive antenna set up on the floor behind the couch. The TV that it was connected to had a perfect picture from Channel 9 and the other local DTV stations.

Returning home, my friend was understandably confused and frustrated. His antenna was more powerful but did not work. Going back home he disconnected the antenna amplifier and, mirabile visu, a perfect picture from Channel 9 appeared.

For readers of this column, you may remember that I have discussed that over-amplification of digital signals can be as bad as a weak signal. (My friend needs to get a subscription to the Harrison Press.) But to my friend and many others this fix seems counterintuitive. More should always be better.

There are lots of examples where the obvious solution is not always the right solution.

For example, many of us want to reduce our electricity bills and have installed compact fluorescent replacement bulbs throughout our homes. While these energy saving lamps are great, there are applications that they will actually cost you more money. Since the upfront cost of these bulbs is much higher than regular incandescent lamps, some of the savings come from the longer life of the bulbs. The life of the bulbs is significantly decreased by repeated on and off cycles. It is not a good idea to use these in bathrooms, storage closets or other areas that have many on and off cycles per day. The bulbs will fail sooner and need to be replaced and the old ones safely discarded.

So more is not always better and less is not always cheaper and new technology hardly ever simple.

You Don't Need To Spend A Fortune For A Digital TV

Three of the most prevalent misconceptions about digital TV is that all digital TVs are high definition, large and expensive. None of these statements are correct. Sure, the newspaper flyers and TV commercials are want to show large flat screen TVs the size of city buses with more features then a Swiss Army knife. After all, the mark up on a $2000 TV is much greater than the profit on a $120 TV.

Currently in most homes you will find several TVs of all “flavors.” Some are large screen models in a family room or a home theatre environment. Others are tucked under cabinets in the kitchen or on a table in the bedroom or workshop. There is no reason to believe that this will change once we convert to all digital broadcasting. For sure you may want a large screen TV on which you can watch sporting events or movies with surround sound audio and high definition clarity. For that set up you will pay thousands of dollars. At the same time, if you are in the kitchen watching the evening news or playing along the current “Jeopardy” champ, a smaller TV will do just fine.

I have found new digital TVs in stores for a little as $114. WalMart has a digital set retailing for $129. As the we get closer to the analog shut off date in February, you are certain to see even more small TVs with digital tuners. These may be LCD or small picture tube models. Some will have wide screens some will have a 4 x 3 screen ratio. The important thing is they all will have digital tuners. In fact, for more than one year, it has been against the law to sell a new TV that did not have a digital tuner unless you had a very prominent label indicating that the TV will be obsolete in February 2009.

You may wish to keep this in mind as you decide whether to buy a set top digital converter. If you are planning to connect it to a 10 year old 13” TV that you use in the kitchen, it might be better to just buy a new inexpensive TV.

I have received several letters about battery powered digital TVs. There are some on the market but they are very expensive. I suggest that you wait. They will eventually be in stores after the analog cut off.

Ten Things you need to know about Digital TV

There is a lot of misinformation about Digital TV and what the new system means to the average viewer. While I have covered these things in past post here is a summary. Print it and take it with you when you shop.

1. On February 17, 2009, all analog TV broadcast channels (e.g. locally in Cincinnati, CET, WCPO, WLWT, WKRC, WXIX, etc.) in the United States will cease operation. The stations and programs will still exist, but on new digital channels.

2. The US, like the rest of the world, is converting to an all digital system that enhances the quality of the picture and sound and makes a much more efficient use of the scarce electromagnetic spectrum (i. e. available TV channels.)

3. Eventually you will have to buy a new digital TV since analog sets are no longer manufactured, but will be able watch most of your favorite programs on your old analog set.

4. There are ways to use your old set after February 2009. 1. You can get an inexpensive digital converter that will capture the digital signals off-the-air and convert them to signals your old (analog) TV can display. 2. You can pay for a cable or satellite service. The cable and satellite set top boxes already convert digital signals to analog signals.

5. If you keep your old TV and use a converter, cable or satellite you will not enjoy the vastly superior picture and sound of High Definition TV nor will you have a wide movie-like screen.

6. Your VCR and DVD player will still work with your old analog TV as will the tapes and DVDs that you now have. You will be able to connect your current VCR and DVD player to most new digital TV sets, but they will not give you a HD experience.

7. TV stations will continue BROADCASTING through the air, and using an antenna you will still be able to get local stations on a digital TV without cable or satellite.

8. The new digital TVs come in many sizes. The sharpness of the picture is a product of screen size and resolution. TV’s are available in CRT (picture tube), LCD, and plasma and DLP. Shop with your eyes.

9. Digital over-the-air channels may provide more than one program at the same time. For example, CET’s digital channel has both High Definition Programs and a separate CET World Channel.

10. The prices of new digital sets are becoming comparable to the old analog sets. Be sure your new set has an ATSC (digital) tuner!

DTV over-the-air, an inexpensive option

With more and more people buying Digital TV sets, some are confused about needing a cable or satellite service to receive the local stations’ digital channels In fact over a one week period I had two callers ask me about receiving digital TV channels over-the-air and what antenna they should get. Both wanted to get the new HD digital programs from the local stations in Cincinnati. Both wanted to know if an antenna, either indoor or outdoor, would be required.

Well, there is no easy answer. One caller noted that he lived about 40 miles north of Cincinnati. That distance places him within the potential coverage area but there are many other factors that can impact on his ability to receive DTV from the Cincinnati stations. In fact, the only way to know for sure is to actually install an antenna and see if it works. Another is to hire a technician with a signal strength meter. He or she can measure the quality of the signal and recommend an antenna. There are several models available that can work. There is absolutely no way to know “for sure” without actually installing the antenna.

Let me explain. An often overlooked by-product of the new Digital TV transmission format is the “cliff effect.” Simply put, the digital picture on your new DTV is either perfect or non-existent. With older analog broadcasting, the farther you lived from the TV transmitter the more the picture degraded, i.e. got snowy. Eventually it would be too bad to watch. With digital signals the new DTV tuner locks on to the TV signal and keeps the picture perfect until it no longer has enough “bits and bytes” of information to make a perfect picture. When that happens the picture vanishes. “It falls of the cliff.” From perfect to non-existent in an instant.

Since I don’t know if there are hills or buildings that might block or reflect the signal for the Dayton caller, there is no way of telling what, if any antenna, will work. We have two CET staff members who live in the Fairfield area of Butler County. While they live only a few blocks apart, one gets perfect reception from all Cincinnati DTV stations and the other gets none, no matter what antenna he tries.

As discussed in past posts, most people in the Cincinnati area do not receive local channels off the air. They subscribe to cable or satellite services and as such reception of local channels is part of the package. These individuals can also receive hundreds of other channels. As we get closer to the analog cut off date in 2009, more and more channels will be delivered in HD. Time will tell how many will choose to continue over-the-air only reception with the plethora of other options.

The Sky Is Falling…DTV is coming, DTV is Coming…

Last February I wrote about the upcoming end to analog TV broadcasting in the United States. At 12:01 AM, Tuesday, February 17, 2009, analog TV broadcasting will be no more as the United States joins many other countries of the world in adopting an all digital broadcasting system.
As discussed in the previous column, many of us will not be affected even if we still are then using our existing analog TVs. The reason is that according to Nielsen Research, only about 20% of the households in the Cincinnati market require broadcast over-the air signals to watch TV; the other 80% use either cable, satellite or a combination of both. Since the cable and satellite set top boxes already convert digital signals so they can be viewed on analog TV sets, the fact that stations like CET will no longer be broadcasting in analog is irrelevant.
For those who want to stick to receiving signals over the air, Congress has developed a voucher program that will award two $40 vouchers to each household requesting them. The vouchers can be used to offset the cost of purchasing small digital converters that will receive digital over-the-air signals and convert them to analog signals that even your trusty old RCA with aluminum foil on the rabbit ears can handle. They are still working out the details for distributing these vouchers. I’ll be sure to let you know when an announcement is made.
Congress also has mandated that retailers make sure that anyone buying a new TV, no matter the size, has information about what kind of tuner is installed. If it has only an analog tuner, the set must have a label stating that it will no longer be able to receive over-the-air signals after February 17, 2009.
Recently I took a field trip to see how various retailers were handling this disclosure requirement. I browsed through some major “big box” stores. I was surprised by what I found, or I should say, what I didn’t find. Today, analog TV sets are as scarce as VHS machines. For example, a stroll through “Best Buy” found no analog TVs at all. Even the small inexpensive counter top sets had ATSC tuners built in. That means that they have digital tuners capable of receiving the digital broadcasts. They are not High Definition sets nor do they have wide screens, but they can receive all the broadcasted digital signals. The good news is that the price seems about the same as the analog-only sets of last year.
Seems like the “sky is falling” predictions that warned of millions of TV viewers would be looking at blank screens when they wake up on February 17, 2009 may be a bit over blown. I’ll keep you updated.