[tomtom]

Word up..
Got a £100 freeview HD box from Tesco's over the weekend (managed to pursaude MrsTT it was required for watching Glee Footy) - and Its f*cking fantastic.... its plugged into a 32" Sony 720p - and its really really good quality - very very impressed... Getting fine coverage in Manchester...
TT

[Tris]

I got Freesat HD when it came out - binned the Sky+ contract as I had no use for it...

Been waiting to see if the other HD channels come to Freesat (currently only got BBC HD and ITV HD) - what HD channels are on Freeview? Do you get 4 or  5 (is 5 on HD yet?)

Anyway - it's a good job you didn't have the HD box for the England opening game - you would have been fucked off to the max!!! ITV losers 

[tomtom]

Hey up Tris - you get three channels, BBC HD, ITV HD and 4HD... 4HD is good as they seem to have a few films on... I was having a - my god thats amazing - moment watching the first star trek film on sunday. You could see Kirks roots 
I think theres only band width for 4 or 5 HD channels... so the freesat's got to be a better long term solution I would have thought...
I read something on AVforum that the picture is better on Freeview compared to Freesat  I dunno, my folks have freesat and looks comparable to me...

I'm amazed at the difference even on a 720p.. Even with my nose pressed up to the screen I'm not sure how it could be better! (MrsT things I'm mental now BTW...).

Shame I have to wait until 2011 until it comes to Hull... still at least the boxes'll be £50-60 then...

[slackline]

[tomtom]

  But it IS impressive!

(actually, alot of the basic stuff is better - esp with footy - as you dont get blocky areas on screen as the old codec struggles to cope with rapidly changing images)

[slackline]

Oh yes, not denying that, its one of the reasons I got a PS3 (to watch The Blue Planet & Life series on Blu-ray, they are truly amazing).

[Tris]

Hey up Tris - you get three channels, BBC HD, ITV HD and 4HD... 4HD is good as they seem to have a few films on...

The thing is I don't really want to get another box just for Channel 4 HD  . I download all my films (shhhhh  )
If they got E4 HD too, then I could persuade the missus to buy one... 

Shame I have to wait until 2011 until it comes to Hull..

  how will you cope without your fave shows in HD?

[tomtom]

Thankfully I have flash blocker in firefox, so it blocked out that video and only showed the caption underneath. I am still quivvering from all the excitement.

Back then those shows were not made in HD silly - so I have to act them out in my head.... 

Now, where is my medication....?

[tomtom]

Just to follow up - the Tescos HD box I had something something IS2010 has had to go back twice (after crashing loads). but the older model (no IS in the number) has been working fine and is ace...

[cofe]

do you just need the box then, no other bollocks? do you have to live in a certain area (like 'ull)?

[tomtom]

Nope - in Manchester - it works from the ?????? transmitter that serves manc and the northwest... If you've had the digital switchover (ie no analogue channels any more) then you should be able to get it. Just works down the regular aerial like freeview (except HD!) with a set top box (that gets the regular freeview channels too).
Its great for the footy and Wimbledonionanandon... You get BBC HD, ITV HD and C4 HD.. ( which does show the odd film in HD as well as tripe like big brother)...

[cofe]

turns out we don't switch til next year. Boo hoo etc.

[Johnny Brown]

Thank god you mean. I'm still on 4 channels straight from the aerial. Tried one o'them boxes - didn't like it.

[cofe]

you do realise it's 2010 yeah word?

[tomtom]

Thank god you mean. I'm still on 4 channels straight from the aerial. Tried one o'them boxes - didn't like it.

You'll need one by 2011/2012 or you'll be tuning into this: 

[Tris]

You'll need one by 2011/2012 or you'll be tuning into this: 

Oooh - is that one of those new 3d tv's? No-one told me that this 3d tv was going to be using the magic eye shizzle... 

I think I can see a shark and a pirate boat in it - am I right?

[SA Chris]

30 days of static?

[Johnny Brown]

The digibox wouldn't get channel 4, for starters, and BBC reception got worse. I'm not buying a new aerial just to get More4, if I wanted to watch Friends 24/7 I'd buy a fucking box-set.  I'm planning to start being bothered when the signal gets turned off.

[tomtom]

Fair enough. Getting a new aerial is a pain and expense.. In 'ull you need a decent aerial, those jobs on top of a portable telly are useless..

[Davey_C]

I got a HD TV a few months back with built in Freesat HD and Freeview HD and the difference is noticeable between SD and HD channels, but not massively so.
I'm finding the slow-mo close ups on the sporting events to be a bit tiresome now as well - you can tell they are just trying to show off the HD capabilities. Who the fuck wants to watch a close-up of someone sliding into a regular tackle in slow motion - just so you can see a few blades of grass go flying through the air (for the 100th time).

What is fantastic about HD TVs though is watching Blu-Ray discs on them. I've watched the likes of Avatar, (new) Star Trek, 300 and Blue Planet recently on Blu-Ray and they are absolutely amazing.

Personally I would say save your money for now if you are buying additional boxes just to watch the 2 (Freesat) or 3 (Freeview) HD channels and buy a decent Blu-Ray player instead.

If you do want free HD then I would go for freesat as I think the picture quality of the HD channels is (slightly) better over freeview, plus recently they've added iPlayer on the bbc channel through the Red button. I think there'll also be BBC1 HD in a few months, along with ITV player at some point in the future.

[Tris]

I think there'll also be BBC1 HD in a few months

I have Freesat HD and it has BBC1 HD already as does Freeview HD

Problem is there's no more bandwidth on Astra 2D for more Freesat HD channels...

[Davey_C]

I have Freesat HD and it has BBC1 HD already as does Freeview HD

Problem is there's no more bandwidth on Astra 2D for more Freesat HD channels...

Yeah it has BBC HD, but it doesn't show everything that's on BBC1.

I had been reading there may be a BBC1 HD coming as well.

[tomtom]

I got a HD TV a few months back with built in Freesat HD and Freeview HD and the difference is noticeable between SD and HD channels, but not massively so.
I'm finding the slow-mo close ups on the sporting events to be a bit tiresome now as well - you can tell they are just trying to show off the HD capabilities. Who the fuck wants to watch a close-up of someone sliding into a regular tackle in slow motion - just so you can see a few blades of grass go flying through the air (for the 100th time).

I'd consider getting your eyes tested Davey  or someone may have sold you a duff telly  - as the difference from where I'm watching is huge - especially on a large telly.. I like the slo mo's nearly a much as being able to watch the beads of sweat on Alex Pderiatoropopolos' forehead on Dragons Den...    The HD and inparticular the super slo-mo coverage for wimbledon were pretty 

Tescos have a freeview HD PVR for £200 at the moment that also has an inbuild iplayer thingy... might be worth a scope if anyones in the market for one... I read some half decent reviews of it..

Interestingly, when in Oz a couple of weeks ago, down there the've now got dig everywhere, with approx 5-6 hd channels (out of 12). Whats apparent though is that many not filmed in HD programs are shown on the HD channels so you often dont really see the benefits. I suspect that is what would happen in BBC1 HD were launched etc.. only 1/2 the progs would actually be HD. The codec for freeview HD is much better than the previous - so you'll also find for sports (esp football) that you get much less blocky pixelation as the camera pans suddenly - or suddenly flicks to the crowd... Yup - more bandwidth on satellite so better quality - but not everyone wants (or can have) a sky dish bolted on the side of their house. (mind you if my house came with one I'd be uising it..)

[Tris]

I have Freesat HD and it has BBC1 HD already as does Freeview HD

Problem is there's no more bandwidth on Astra 2D for more Freesat HD channels...

Yeah it has BBC HD, but it doesn't show everything that's on BBC1.

Oops - I completely didn't see the '1' there. 

Do they not show the vast majority of the shows on BBC HD anyway - is this just a way of getting Eastenders in HD? That seems to be the only program missing from BBC HD. 

Disclaimer - I do not watch Eastenders and have no interest in seeing it in HD but there could be some benefits...

[Norton Sharley]

Interesting (?) reading http://www.aerialsandtv.com/digitaltv.html

[Tris]

Interesting (?) reading http://www.aerialsandtv.com/digitaltv.html

Can you give me a management summary?

The digital cliff edge looks quite intriguing - I'd probably top rope it first though 

[Obi-Wan is lost...]

Interesting (?) reading http://www.aerialsandtv.com/digitaltv.html

I've come across that site before and been to their shop in Hillsborough. There's no disputing the guy knows his stuff about aerials and TV signals and you have to admire the ludicrous level of geekyness he takes it to. Take for example this page purely on our local transmitter http://www.aerialsandtv.com/sheffieldtx.html I'd definitely use them if I required a new aerial in Sheffield.

[Tris]

you have to admire the ludicrous level of geekyness he takes it to

The man has got graphs licked 

I would believe anything he said based purely on these 

[Norton Sharley]

I'd definitely use them if I required a new aerial in Sheffield.

Exactly what I thought, although I don't.  I just need less trees in my line of sight to Crosspool and/or a line of sight to Emley Moor.

Can you give me a management summary?

A management summary would be to twiddle your old aerial round to get the best picture and if that don't work then call that bloke up!
Oh, and JB's old telly will do him fine for years to come.

[Johnny Brown]

the vast majority of locations will get all the Digital channels without an “upgrade” if they just wait till DSO.

HA! Result! Good link Norton.

I just need less trees in my line of sight to Crosspool and/or a line of sight to Emley Moor

Neither of us have a hope in hell of LoS to Emley Moor, big as it may be. I've got a perfect view of Crosspool though, which you might not have - you might even be too tight in under the hill so as to not see it at all.

The TX puts out more signal in an Easterly direction than towards the West. C5 and Digital are attenuated in an arc from S to SSW so as not to interfere with the local Totley repeater.

Bastard. That explains the lack of C5 and digi presumably. And from here, Totley is obscured by a big hill.

[Davey_C]

I got a HD TV a few months back with built in Freesat HD and Freeview HD and the difference is noticeable between SD and HD channels, but not massively so.
I'm finding the slow-mo close ups on the sporting events to be a bit tiresome now as well - you can tell they are just trying to show off the HD capabilities. Who the fuck wants to watch a close-up of someone sliding into a regular tackle in slow motion - just so you can see a few blades of grass go flying through the air (for the 100th time).

I'd consider getting your eyes tested Davey  or someone may have sold you a duff telly  - as the difference from where I'm watching is huge - especially on a large telly..

Ok maybe I was being a bit harsh.

You can notice the difference, especially with football, the close ups are impressive the first few times, but they become a bit tiresome when you watch them dozens of times over the course of a match.....but I still think it's been hyped up so much.

I definitely wouldn't pay Sky £60 a month for the privilege of watching prem football in HD and for the cost of an HD box I don't think it's worth it for 2 or 3 extra channels. However, if you are planning on getting a new TV then I would recommend paying a little extra and getting the built in freesat and freeview hd decoders though - as you'll be future proofing your tv - and there's sure to be a load of new HD channels in the coming years.

Do they not show the vast majority of the shows on BBC HD anyway - is this just a way of getting Eastenders in HD? That seems to be the only program missing from BBC HD. 

No they don't, they have the likes of live football, and the big Saturday night shows like doctor who and robin hood, documentaries like Coast and magazine shows like the one show....but it's not a live broadcast of BBC1. The only stuff I've really watched on BBC HD was the world cup football and Doctor Who (maybe I shouldn't admit that one).

[Jim]

Interesting (?) reading http://www.aerialsandtv.com/digitaltv.html

I went to these for advice and bought my aerial off them and as has said, probably the most know ledgable people out there.
highly recomended.
Although one thing I don't agree with is them recomending people to buy TV with no tuners as this just means you have to have an extra box/remote control/power cable/wires etc...
admittedly they are correct about the tuners not being very reliable but if they do go then if its not economical to repair, then buy an external box.
To be honest I don't know anyone who's got an inbuilt digital tuners that has broke but I do know plenty of the first generation external digital boxes that have

[Tris]

To be honest I don't know anyone who's got an inbuilt digital tuners that has broke but I do know plenty of the first generation external digital boxes that have

I've got a 28" Sony CRT upstairs with inbuilt Freeview tuner - cost me about 600 squid brand new. I didn't put in on for about 6 months last year and missed the OTA upgrade that Sony apparently put out. Now the Freeview don't work with these new fandangly transmitters an' all. Fuckers... 

Sony say to fix it, I've got to take it in to them and they will charge me the princely sum of £65 + VAT to upgrade the software.

Anyway instead I bought a Freeview box for £30 and connected it up to a flatscreen monitor I had 

TV now defunct, will stick it on the freecycle thread 

[Jim]

probably similar to my dads sony crt with freeview. cue me going round "I'll just retune that for you dad - oh fuck it doesn't work any more"
this is because the tuner only accepts 99 channels as it was a very early model, there is now a lot more which causes it to fuck up. there is a way around it, do some research on t'interweb, there are loads of people that have had exactly the same problem and solved it. my dads telly is fully operational and working again now with no trouble, just won't be retuning it again anytime soon

[Tris]

Yeah I had a look on the web when it happened - there was a huge thread of about 10,000 pages on AV Forums. People were like gonna take Sony to court, burn down their offices etc blah blah blah.

Anyway, the bottom line was you're fucked as no-one had managed to hack the firmware or something so you had to pay Sony in the end.

This was over a year ago so it may have been hacked by now? TV was/is too big anyway - got a nice new LCD Panasonic instead now

TV is on freecycle thread if anyone wants to come get it....

[tomtom]

To be honest I don't know anyone who's got an inbuilt digital tuners that has broke but I do know plenty of the first generation external digital boxes that have

I've got a 28" Sony CRT upstairs with inbuilt Freeview tuner - cost me about 600 squid brand new. I didn't put in on for about 6 months last year and missed the OTA upgrade that Sony apparently put out. Now the Freeview don't work with these new fandangly transmitters an' all. Fuckers... 

Sony say to fix it, I've got to take it in to them and they will charge me the princely sum of £65 + VAT to upgrade the software.

Anyway instead I bought a Freeview box for £30 and connected it up to a flatscreen monitor I had 

TV now defunct, will stick it on the freecycle thread 

Lagers was after a flatscreen telly - nowt flashy - he may well be very interested??

[Jim]

he wanted a flat screen on the wall to save space, not a massive CRT.
You don't need the OTA upgrade to get it working again, there is a lot of info out there but most of its shit.
You just have to sift through it all