hdtv; digital .vs. analog; dlp,lcd,crt,rptv,fptv ?

SCAR · Post by **SCAR** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 6:08 pm

Not sure if the subject title helps or not.....I am a beginner to this digital tv jargon and have been reading many subject within this forum inorder to more understand the facts rather than some of the sale hype you may get from sales people. For starters what I have learned from this readings in the forum are the following:

1. CRT type TV (any TV that has a picture tube is analog not digital).

2. Only a LCD, DLP, or PLASMA TV will display a "true" digital picture.

3. A component connections is analog.

4. A DVI or HDMI connection is "true" digital.

Here are a few questions I have.

1. RPTV AND FPTV : digital display or analog?

2. If #4 and #2 are correct does this mean that inorder to view "true" HD or DTV OTA you must have either a LCD,DLP, or PLASMA TV with either DVI or HDMI to enjoy the "maxium " quality that HD and DTV OTA has to offer.

If I am wrong, confused or other please feel free to correct. I would like to understand the basics inorder to hopefully purchase smartly when I am ready to dive into the HD jungle. If you have any suggestions of "pitfalls' I need to be aware of please feel free to suggest. Below, you will find a simple explaination of my home cabling configuration and hopefully a suggestions of incorportaing HD broadcasting into my existing system.

Existing home system:

I have installed in my home what is similar to a cable headend system. I presently have 4 Dish Network satellite receivers with an OTA antenna installed in a central location and modulated throughout my home cable system. If I use the Dish Network type HD receivers (they provide a component and DVI-D output from their HD products). If I replace two of my standard analog receivers with two HD receivers (which the HDTV would be approx. 50-75 ft. away). What would be my best cabling means to get the HD signal from the receivers to the HDTV's and the order of cost (most costly to least costly) of the type HDTV's to purchase with the pro's and con's of each.

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 9:55 pm

Glad to hear HD Library has been of service.

Just because it is digital does not mean it is better and just because it is analog does not mean it is less than.

Which display is right for you depends on far more than digital, analog or technology and begins with the viewing environment and your lifestyle for the display. Based on that you determine which technology best meets that application.

Check this link and tell us which kind of room you have?
viewtopic.php?t=4731

Next is your viewing distance to the display?

Finally the lifestyle application. Family room or dedicated home theater? How many viewers do you want to entertain?

Budget?

Are you a casual viewer of videophile?

Thanks

akirby · Post by **akirby** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 10:39 pm

RPTV and FPTV mean Rear Projection TV and Front Projection TV. They can be analog or digital (CRT, LCD, DLP, etc.) but not plasma. Front projection can give you huge screen sizes but generally requires a darker room. You also don't get built-in tuners or other feature that RPTVs typically have.

You'll have to run component video, DVI or HDMI from the receiver to the TV. It would be easier and cheaper to run RG-6 from either the satellite or cable feed to the HD receiver co-located with the HDTV and do your connections locally with DVI or HDMI. If you had to you could take the SD output from the HD receiver and send it back to the distribution center (and you'll need to send the IR control from the distribution center to the receiver).

A DLP RPTV is a safe bet if you watch TV or play video games. Lighter and thinner than CRT RPTVs with no burn-in. There are 2 generations of DLP chips (at least). The older ones are cheaper but the newer ones are better.

Buy the best display you can afford, but don't pay extra unless you can see the difference. Look at the different displays in the store - spend 10 or 15 minutes with each one if possible. Each type has features that you may or may not notice. e.g. on most LCD RPTVs I see a "screen door" effect that I can't stand. Others don't even notice it.

SCAR · Post by **SCAR** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 5:49 pm

OK RICHARD,

The room is 16x20 dicated room (future expansion to existing home this is the reason for the questions). Will be dark room with 3-0 doors for entry from hall and exit door to outside behind the viewers back both door will have drapes or curtains to block out light. Would like to seat 15-20 people max. with only display at front all other componets behind display in a separate room (access from another room to provide no door way along viewing wall).

Budget medium at first but want to allow for expansion.

Now would consider myself a casual viewer just need place for family members and friends to feel as though they are in a movie theater.

OK ALLEN,

Understand what you are saying about cost due to cabling cost, but from a picture quality does it matter say?

DVI or HDMI ; fiber or copper using repeaters if your HD receivers are remote located? if so , are there distance restrictions for the different types? quality considerations? or
does it really matter? since it makes no difference if it is digital or analog; and if so that being the case composite will be just as good as DVI or HDMI right? just trying to understand.

Maybe I am missing the point , can't see the forrest for the trees, trying to make something complicated simple.....,but let us go back to my questions:

one of my questions were answered:

digital .vs. analog- question ; makes no difference-answer , did I understand the answer correctly and if so..................................
that being the case we can deduce that it makes no difference if crt, plasma, lcd, dlp, lmnop ha ha , (sometimes need a little humor in this day and time trying to be serious now) so if this is true, what is all the "whoop-la" wrt the different monitors/tvs available. Understand digital information being transmitted OTA versus analog information transmitted OTA, digital info. is better, but once we receive this digital info. since digital and analog displays are the same why buy a digital display versus an analog.
I realize I have repeated my self several time with the same question, but I just want to be clear with my questions since they were not completely answered originally.[/table]

SCAR · Post by **SCAR** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 5:59 pm

RICHARD,

I forgot to mention the distance from diplay to viewer......max viewing distance 12 ft.

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 10:26 pm

Budget medium at first but want to allow for expansion.

Could you phrase that in a $$ amount?

As for digital versus analog it is all marketing hoopla to sell digital products although digital has one unique advantage over analog CRT, no burn in issues. As for DTV, that is about changing technology to overcome the problems of analog video transmission.

why buy a digital display versus an analog

It's all in the application. Maybe you have real burn in concerns. Maybe you are going to have a bright room. Maybe you are looking for a smaller foot print. That last one has far more to do with the popularity of digital than anything else, form factor. Flat panels like pictures and huge screens in narrow depth cabinets have made for a consumer home styling bonanza. Women love 'em! Another aspect is the artificial sharpness that comes with seeing pixel structure in the image although the new 1080P displays over come this problem by their nature, more and smaller pixels.

and if so that being the case composite will be just as good as DVI or HDMI right?

I think you meant component which is correct. That said we have already begun shifting to DVI and now HDMI and HD-DVD will require it. What ever you do it must include the infrastructure for DVI/HDMI for future use if not now.

Back to some more viewing environment questions...

If 12 feet is the maximum viewing distance then what is the minimum? the 15-20 viewers would be rather stuffed in that size room not to mention body heat issues. Even 10 is pushing it. Realistically you would have tiered seating so your guests have a clear view to the screen.

How much use do you expect on this system. Is this an everyday family room or home theater only with mostly movies or 16:9 HD?

SCAR · Post by **SCAR** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 7:31 am

Richard

I appreciate all the info. will be very helpful while designing "my" room.

Now to continue:

1. No not right now still have to build the room first with that said any resource on media room design?

digital vs analog displays?

2. I think I understand other than crt burn in....it's more about taste, space, bracing for future component connectivity, being able to justify the purchase of a new large tv (been married for 19 yrs.)

No ; I did mean composite (RCA) and maybe even S-video vs component, DVI, HDMI.

Let me see if I can cut to the chase. A little deduction. If digital displays at present vs analog displays is just marketing whoopla wrt. quality of picture, and, other than what I stated in #2, and, if component quality is just as good as DVI & HDMI, the only reason to use component rather than composite (RCA) or S-video is to view digital programming. Correct?

Minimum viewing distance not sure guess will need to wait until room is built and design system with what I have to work with.

May not be able to seat the number of people I like to will have to work that out after room is built. Room will primarily used as dedicated movie room not everyday family room. Will watch more SD and HD programming from satellite receivers and OTA then secondary DVD's.

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 8:37 am

any resource on media room design?

viewtopic.php?t=3960

viewtopic.php?t=3235

I did mean composite (RCA) and maybe even S-video vs component, DVI, HDMI.

You can

SCAR · Post by **SCAR** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 8:52 am

Richard,

Thanks for the links!

Here's one for you e-val....may already have read, but one thing that caught my eye was the quote " crt are color tv's that have been updated for digital" does this mean that the tv can process digital signals, but the display is still analog.....is this some of that "marketing whoopla or as I like to call it; mis-leading info. not disclosing the absolute truth".

http://www.dtv.gov/shopgde.html

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 2:49 pm

Yup.

CRT has been doing HD graphics for over a decade so no big deal there. The fact that you can buy a consumer display that performs well and can actually reproduce images accurately is a very big deal... Welcome to HDTV!

CRT has it's problems but this can change all of that...
viewtopic.php?t=4934

As a videophile I find this VERY exciting!