THE HD INBOX - NOVEMBER 2009
More Resolution = Higher Brightness?
Q. I am one of the projection engineers for Shen
Yun Performing Arts.
Currently, we use Christie projectors for our 3 internationally touring performance troupes.
Each troupe uses 2 HD18k or S+20k models. The projectors are used for digital backgrounds
for our dance pieces and for lyrics for our singers. Typically the image is 50-60ft wide.
We use Gerriets high gain screens.
Overall, we aren't too happy with the reliability and performance of the Christie's, but there are very few alternatives with the same footprint and brightness. I was wondering what you know about the Sony SRXT110, I guess in terms of brightness it is lesser, but, in your opinion, would the 4K resolution do anything to compensate for this under high ambient light conditions?
A. The increased resolution won’t be of any help in creating a brighter image. Based on the demos I’ve seen of both technologies, you are probably better off sticking with the Christie DLP units simply because they have better brightness and color temperature uniformity than any of the Sony SXRD models. The additional resolution might be helpful if you are projecting static graphics, but again, I’d want to know more about brightness uniformity so the background images don’t appear to have hot spots or other brightness irregularities.
Frozen Television
Q. In 2007, a northern (Wisconsin resident) asked about
LCD TVs freezing in cabins over the winter. I can’t find the answer. We have
a 40" Samsung LCD and (are)
wondering about leaving it in the cabin over winter. (The cabin is in) Northern (Minnesota!) Thanks.
A. From what I’ve been able to tell, LCD TVs should not “freeze” over in normal winter conditions (temperatures in the teens to 20s). The specific gravity of liquid crystal compounds results in a freezing point lower than that of water (32oF). I did some quick research on the Internet and saw references to survivable temperatures well below –10oC (14oF). Some even went as low as -30oC (-22oF).
That said, you cannot expect to take an LCD TV exposed to such low temperatures and turn it on without first letting it warm up to normal room temperatures. You’d run the risk of cracking the LC pixels from such a rapid warm-up cycle. I’d suggest bringing your LCD home with you during the winter to avoid stressing it. Of course, you could put a plasma TV into your cabin instead, and not worry about low temperatures at all!
I Want My Lowband DTV
Q. I'm really glad I found your website...very informative! Wanted to let you know that
since they bumped the power up for Channel 6, I have been able to get them where I live,
which is halfway between Hershey and Elizabethtown, PA. I have a VHF-only antenna with
a pre-amp 20 feet off the ground. Most of the time (WPVI-DT is) solid, but there can
be times of the day and certain atmospheric conditions that cause the cliff effect. It
can range from mildly annoying to non-watchable. This is the only digital signal I can
receive from Philly.
I can get several channels from Baltimore on a very consistent basis, and I have no problems with the Harrisburg area stations. Do you think a Channel 6-only antenna would help my situation at all? If so, do you know of any place I can find one without having to go into the couple hundred-dollar range? Should I be happy with what I have? Are there other factors I am not thinking of? Thanks for any help!
A. There are indeed antennas for lowband VHF reception only. Antennacraft sells the Y5-2-6 for $33 on their Web site (http://www.antennacraft.net/Yagi.html) and you’ll pay some extra for shipping via FedEx ground. It’s an easy antenna to install and should do the trick nicely.
I would be curious to see if you have any man-made interference and noise near channel 6, using a spectrum analyzer. This may be the source of the intermittent signals, since the nearest co-channel operations are in southern Virginia, New Haven CT, and Albany NY. None of those would be logical culprits — they’re too far away. But you may be affected by fluorescent lamp ballasts, digital cameras, computers, or any number of consumer electronic devices.
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For…
Q. I am so completely lost! The more I read, the more confused I become. I want
to purchase a flat screen TV, but cannot figure out what type of TV to buy — standard,
enhanced, or high definition. I have cable, but do not subscribe to any HDTV programming. I
just want a flat screen TV that looks and sounds great. If I don’t have HDTV
programming, will the picture suffer? If I buy a standard or enhanced TV, can you
upgrade that set to HD? If no one broadcasts 24/7 in HD, why are all the sets HDTV?
I read that even with an HDTV, you will end up watching SD programming, so is it a matter of having the right type of connections with an HDTV? I cannot seem to find any SDTV or EDTV's available for sale. Just LCD or LCD HDTV, what's the difference? I do not want to go out and by a TV, bring it home, just to find out it's all wrong and plasma TV's are not in my price range. Sorry to unload on you, but your help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
A. Wow! Seems like you are lost in a fog of information! I’ll try to simplify things.
First off, there really aren’t any “standard,” or “enhanced” TV categories anymore. Flat-screen TVs using LCD and plasma technology are instead classified by pixels of resolution, and the two main classes are 720p (1280x720 pixels) and 1080p (1920x1080 pixels). 1080p has become dominant and also inexpensive across a wide range of screen sizes.
You can find LCD TVs as small as 32 inches and plasma TVs as small as 42 inches with 1080p resolution. TV manufacturers have standardized on several different pixel resolutions, some of which are very close to high definition TV standard resolutions. Other pixel counts are based on computer video monitor standards.
LCD and plasma prices continue to drop. It’s not hard to find 32-inch LCD TVs for less than $500. In fact, Westinghouse Digital has a 42-inch LCD HDTV for that price! On the plasma side, one of my local department stores is offering a 42-inch Panasonic plasma with 720p resolution for $550 — a great deal.
On the programming side, you will find some standard-definition TV, just like the old days, with a squarish screen shape. These programs will look OK on a new flatscreen TV, but a little on the soft side. You’ll also find high definition TV programs (1280x720 or 1920x1080) that will look great on your new HDTV set.
Even though you don’t subscribe to HDTV programming, it may still be present on your cable system anyway. New LCD and plasma TVs will be able to tune in any HD programs, as long as the cable company doesn’t scramble them. Generally, these HD channels will be the off-air TV stations in your market. The displayed channel numbers may or may not make sense, but you should still be able to watch them.
Depending on how far you live from local TV transmitters, you may also have the option of using an antenna to get free over-the-air digital TV and HDTV broadcasts. All TVs sold after July 2007 must include a tuner for over-the-air digital TV stations. If the TV stations aren’t too far away, an indoor antenna may do the trick. Otherwise, an attic or rooftop antenna will be required. But those channels will be free every month!
A True Blue Fan
Q. I have been following your website for quite awhile and you seem to be about the most
knowledgeable person out there re: DTV and OTA reception. My situation is that my wife's
failing health has caused me to miss my first two Giants football games in 35 years (vs.
Raiders and Saints a couple weeks ago). I believe I should be able to pick up the CBS
and FOX stations from NYC (channels 2 and 5). My address is Ottsville, PA.
My question is if you can recommend an antenna to pick up the NYC stations from my house. It is two stories (tall), I believe about 500 feet above sea level and no hills to the east that I can see. Thanks for any help you can lend, and thanks for your website.
A. From the more detailed address information you provided in your email, I ran a signal prediction table on TVFool.com. The distance from your house to the Empire State Building is almost the same as mine, and you also have a 2-Edge terrain path in the way. WCBS on channel 33 shouldn’t be any problem at all, as they come in fine down here.
However, WNYW-44 (Fox) may be difficult because there is another DTV station on UHF channel 44 in south Jersey — WMCN. They’re not terribly strong up this way, but strong enough to interfere with the signal from WNYW. When WMCN was off the air some time ago for antenna work, WNYW came in just fine.
Another option is to check for reception of WWOR on UHF channel 38. WWOR is owned by News Corporation and carries WNYW’s programming in standard definition on channel 9-2. (WNYW carries WWOR on 5-2.) This unusual arrangement came about after the collapse of the World Trade Center towers, so that WWOR could stay on the air. Now that everyone’s moved their transmitter to Empire, I’m surprised that the simulcasts still continue.
As for an antenna, I like the Channel Master 4308 suburban UHF yagi. A four-bay collinear antenna, such
as your CM 4221, won’t have enough gain to do the job. You’ll also need a mast-mounted preamplifier,
like Channel Master’s Titan 2 #7775, to pull in those weak signals from New York City.
