[ourisman]

I have a new Panasonic HDTV, 1080p, ... and am trying to figure out the "ins and outs" of how best to use it.

(1) First thing I notice, the Standard broadcast channels are in regular definition, but there is a secondary set of stations (70X) that provide the same signal but in high definition. I assume these are the preferred ones to use ... but is there a way to automate choosing 702 when you want channel 2?

(2) Once everything goes digital in February, will the regular channels also be HD?

(3) Are there other versions of these channels that have "16:9" signals?

(4) This question is about the programming of the television itself. Some programs are in 1080p. Others are not. Is it best to use a setting that instructs the TV to display the picture in 1080p (upscaling smaller signals)? Or not? I'd be interested in a discussion of this setting...

thanks,
David

[EndlessMac]

Since no one else responded, I'll give it try.

1. Comcast does have a separate set of channels for HD on some of the non-HD channels and no I don't believe there is a way to automatically assigned those higher HD channels to your normal lower channels instead. You just have to memorize the channels.

2. No they shouldn't. I believe the stations themselves have to broadcast in HD in order to have HD and it's not really up to Comcast. Comcast doesn't create the shows they are just a service provider. A show can't magically become HD if it was never recored in HD in the first place. In February cable is going digital but it doesn't require HD. HD is just another form of digital cable. What is stopping is the analog TV broadcasts, so no you won't automatically get everything in HD.

3. I don't know

4. I'm assuming upscaling is going to give you poor results. It's best to test it to see if it's acceptable to you. I thought the newer TVs will automatically switch back and forth if the station is not broadcasting in HD? Anytime you artificially upscale an image you lose quality. How much quality loss depends on several factors.

[mduell]

Originally Posted by ourisman 

(2) Once everything goes digital in February, will the regular channels also be HD?

Only broadcast is going digital; cable will keep analog support for years. Of course the cable companies try to confuse you about this, so they can push you into higher priced/lower cost digital cable packages.

[msuper69]

Originally Posted by ourisman 

...

(1) First thing I notice, the Standard broadcast channels are in regular definition, but there is a secondary set of stations (70X) that provide the same signal but in high definition. I assume these are the preferred ones to use ... but is there a way to automate choosing 702 when you want channel 2?

If you can find a third party remote that supports Comcast, there may be a way to reassign channel numbers. Dunno if one exists.

Originally Posted by ourisman 

(2) Once everything goes digital in February, will the regular channels also be HD?

The "regular" channels will go away. They occupy the frequencies that the FCC auctioned off.

Originally Posted by ourisman 

(3) Are there other versions of these channels that have "16:9" signals?

The new HD channels replace the old channels.

Originally Posted by ourisman 

(4) This question is about the programming of the television itself. Some programs are in 1080p. Others are not. Is it best to use a setting that instructs the TV to display the picture in 1080p (upscaling smaller signals)? Or not? I'd be interested in a discussion of this setting...

thanks,
David

You could just try it yourself and see what it looks like to you. If upscaling looks acceptable, set it to that. It's a subjective viewing experience so what anybody else thinks really means nothing.

[SVass]

Originally Posted by mduell 

Only broadcast is going digital; cable will keep analog support for years. Of course the cable companies try to confuse you about this, so they can push you into higher priced/lower cost digital cable packages.

In some areas, Comcast is dropping analog carriage to gain cable bandwidth. (Chicago is one example and Seattle will soon follow.) Supposedly, they will provide a digital SD box at no cost. They will lease the HD box for less than $10 per month. The digital SD channels are remapped in the box to give them numbers equivalent to their old analog numbers. TNT HD is notorious for converting SD to HD by widening the picture giving the actors weird looking faces and bodies. Sam

[SpaceMonkey]

This is unrelated, but since I have Comcast (and an SD TV): does anyone know why certain shows that should be presented in letterbox come through as cropped (NBC late night) and others as letterbox (Sci Fi)? It's extremely irritating.