What equipment do I need?

• Off-Air / Satellite Set Top Boxes
• Bright House Networks Cable Customers
• HD Display Equipment links
• Display Technology Choices
• Display Technology Shopping Checklist
• Front Projectors
• Front Projection Screens
• Blu-ray & HD DVD
• Equipment Reviews
• TV Antennas

Off-Air / Satellite Set Top Boxes

DirecTV now controls all distribution and sales of future stb's similar to the Dish network business model. The next generation of HD boxes from DirecTV are MPEG4 as all HD service is converted. As of 3/1/06 DIRECTV® now requires a 24 month commitment and all equipment must be returned to DIRECTV® if customer cancels service with DIRECTV® All Digital TV's sold in the U.S. since March 2007 are required to have an ATSC digital off air tuner installed. Larger displays were required to have an ATSC tuner prior to 2007 so there is a good chance your digital TV can receive HDTV signals with a standard TV antenna.

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Bright House Networks Cable Customers

You need to call 1-877-892-EASY and request a High Definition Digital set top box.

The HD-DVR currently in deployment is the Scientific Atlanta SA8300HDC.

If you have digital cable service it does not cost any additional money to upgrade to HD service. A second HD tier is offered for $6 adding even more HD channels.

Tivo customers require cable cards and a tuning usb module to receive future switched digital channels

Bright House Networks HDTV page.

Brand	Model	Comment
Scientific Atlanta	8300 HD	HD DVR with hdmi output and Navigator Software Interface
Scientific Atlanta	3250 HD	Standard version with DVI output active
Scientific Atlanta	3250 HD *	Special version with firewire output active. You must ask for a supervisor.
Scientific Atlanta	4250 HDC	HD non DVR with hdmi output and Navigator Software Interface
Scientific Atlanta	8300 HDC	HD DVR with hdmi output and Navigator Software Interface
Samsung	SMT-H3050	HD non DVR with hdmi output and Navigator Software Interface

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HD Display Equipment links

Where to buy electronics locally?

The store with the lowest price, right?

Not so fast. Think about the complexity of what you are buying. Multiple components that need to work together plus be friendly to setup and operate. You need to ask yourself if you have the knowledge to make decisions on what technology and brands to buy. If your not sure there is a good chance you will buy the wrong equipment or end up struggling with multiple remote controls. The typical home theater has a TV display or projector, cable box, DVD player, 5 speakers, a subwoofer and a AV receiver. That is 4 remote controls on the coffee table plus the connections between the equipment.

You have options in addition to the big box stores. You can bring in the local CEDIA professional to advise, sell, setup and teach you on a system taylored just for you. CEDIA is the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association that serves to provide training and certification to AV professionals. CEDIA pros provide customers with a single remote so simple to operate it is literally one or two buttons to watch TV or a movie. Learn more about the CEDIA professionals in your area with this locator.

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Display Technology Choices

It use to be you could go to the store and buy the new TV brand you liked because all the manufacturers used the same analog CRT technology. Times have changed and the technology choices are now more diverse. This means you need to do your homework before going to the store.

The following table lists all of your TV technology choices.

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Display Technology Shopping Checklist

Type of Display Technology - compare from the list above

Size of the Screen - screen width x 1.5 = seating distance

Image Brightness - measured in ANSI lumens. Most products market inflated numbers that when calibrated are often not as bright.

Viewing Angle - When you are at the showroom be sure to notice how far off axis from dead center you can still view a bright image. LCD has trouble with off axis viewing.

Image Resolution - measured in pixels - higher the better. 1280 x 720 and above equals HDTV. Below that resolution is only EDTV. You need to watch out for this when buying LCD.

Contrast Ratio - higher the better - 50,000:1 is great / 500:1 is poor. Check to see if black is really black or only dark gray.

Color Accuracy -measured in degrees kelvin closest to 6500K. This refers to the color of white when measured by calibration tools. Many products add extra blue to artificially increase perceived image brightness.

Inputs - Quality and Quantity of video and audio connections like HDMI and ethernet.

Do not assume the sales person is current on the latest technology. Demo model displays on the showroom floor are in some of the worst possible lighting conditions to judge picture quality.

The smart way to purchase a HDTV is to do all your research before you go to the store so when you arrive you are strictly focused on the price.

Do not pay $100 for a 2 meter HDMI cable from Monster Cable. 2 meter HDMI cables are available on the web for $20.

More general information is available in the FAQ.

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Front Projectors

Where the picture is measured in feet, not inches. The main issue to consider here is if you have adequate light control.

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Front Projection Screens

Factors to consider when choosing a front projection screen include Size, Gain, Viewing Angle, Cost, Gray or White base color, and mount type

Additional options include perforated screens to allow sound to pass through the screen material, electric lifts and electric aspect ratio masking systems.

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Blu-ray & HD DVD

The replacement for DVD has arrived. These two new competing formats offer 5 times more resolution for both video and audio beyond standard DVD. The mastering format for film based media is 1920 x 1080@24p with new audio codecs from Dolby and DTS offering never before available uncompressed digital audio.

Blu-ray specifications

HDMI 1.3 specifications

Hi Resolution Audio

Dolby True HD

DTS HD

HD Movies

Blu-ray Movies

HD DVD Movies

HD Players

Blu-ray

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Equipment Reviews

audioholics.com

audioreview.com

cnet.com

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TV Antennas

To find out what size antenna you would need to receive over the air HDTV broadcasts and what direction to point them, click here . Follow the 3 steps and you will receive a map showing the direction to point your antenna and a list of stations that can be received. The TV stations are grouped and color coded to indicate the size of the antenna needed to receive the station. Click on a TV station to see the recommended antenna size to receive the station. Radio shack carries a wide variety on TV antennas that will most likely fit your needs.

All the digital stations in Central Florida are broadcasting from Bithlo on the UHF band except WESH-DT which is VHF channel 11. The correct length for rabbit ears to pick up channel 11 is 28 inches tip to tip. Position both rabbit ears down flat parallel to the top of the tv for best results.

There is no such thing as a "digital ready" off air antenna.
Digital ready is just marketing language to sell the same rooftop antenna that we have used since the 1950's.

Before you erect your TV antenna, see the FAQ page for information on protecting yourself from the Florida lightning.

Never install a TV antenna near power lines.

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