New hd plasma, but no hd input

[wewokahorn]

I'm considering purchasing a Panasonic VIERA TC-P50X1 and trash my old crt. The problem is that I don't plan to upgrade my cable to HD for about a year or so. Will the picture quality be acceptable until I upgrade?

 

[bevo_daddy]

why not upgrade for a year? seems silly.

the picture will be decent but no point in having an HDTV without HD service IMO

 

[texascoder]

My opinion would be that if your new HDTV is no bigger than about 42" the SD picture will be tolerable on it. Anything bigger and the SD picture will just seem really bad. I have a 52" plasma and the difference between an HD and SD broadcast is night and day. For the bigger screens you really do need an HD signal to get a nice clean picture. Just my 2 cents

Edit: I was also going to add that even if you don't plan on upgrading your cable for another year, then you can still get the local over-the-air stations in HD with a cheap antennae and the TV's built-in tuner.

 

[wewokahorn]

I suspected that I would be disappointed with SD quality on a 50" screen; it appears that I was right. Thanks for the replies.

 

[LosIllini]

Two notes-

1. Google your local cable system- and see if there are any posts regarding QAM channels--- you may actually receive the networks- ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, etc. in HD over your current cabletv.

2. If you're close enough to the towers- you may be able to pickup HD - 'OTA' over the air - via a simple set of rabbit ears- or a $20 antenna.

 

[Holden]

Also TW has "free" HD channels.

 

[210-816-Horn]

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[Horn9497]

Its not only on local. I don't pay for the HD tier and still get ESPN's in HD, TNT and TBS in HD, Fox Sports etc. The only thing I don't get are channels like HDNet and Discovery HD, I believe.

 

[brntorng]

Good advice on the antenna. If you're close to the transmitters you don't need much of an antenna. A simple $10 set-top UHF HD antenna (not "rabbit ears") is all you'll need in many cases. BTW, it's not uncommon for you to get a better HD signal over the air than the same channel over HD cable because some cable companies transcode the signal into a lower data rate for their system. And, your DVD player should provide a much better picture on your new HDTV.

 

[nashhorn]

hey 9497 how do you get the ones in HD without the box? What channels do you pick them up on? I get great pic on air, and some - like public network spills thru but ESPN, the important one, I cannot get. Suggestions?
Hookem

 

[zork]

Get this one for the next year and you'll be cool:
The Link

It has a QAM so your digital cable will look fine.

 

[Horn9497]

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