HDTV Resolution Answered - 1080i or 720p?
30 January 2007
The folks at Sound and Vision magazine have a primer on How to Buy an HDTV. Here's a segment from their article that discusses the resolution, "A digital TV's vertical resolution is given as the number of horizontal scan lines, or rows of pixels, from top to bottom of the screen. Its horizontal resolution is the maximum number of discernible vertical lines, or columns of pixels, from left to right across a screen width equal to the height of the picture. (This keeps widescreen sets from having higher resolution than sets with the squarer 4:3 aspect ratio simply because of their shape.)One of the two commonly used high-def signal formats is 720p (progressive-scan), which has 720 lines of vertical resolution. There are 1,280 dots, or pixels, in each widescreen line, giving it a horizontal resolution of 720 pixels when the width is limited to the height. The other is 1080i (interlaced), which has 1,080 lines with 1,920 pixels per widescreen line, or 1,080 pixels horizontally when similarly limited. By contrast, traditional 480i TV signals have 480 lines of vertical resolution and up to 720 pixels per line, for a maximum horizontal resolution of 540 lines.
It would be nice if all HDTVs had resolutions of 1080i or 720p, but unfortunately the specs can vary a lot — especially among two kinds of fixed-pixel displays, plasma and LCD. Some screens might match up perfectly with one of the high-def formats, but many have native resolutions like 1,024 x 1,024 pixels, so the TVs convert incoming video to match. These models are still considered HDTVs, which have come to be defined as any sets that can display at least 720 lines of vertical resolution."
However, 1080i and 720p have been surpassed by 1080p. Sounds confusing, I know, but here's some more current info on 1080p, from CNET.com, "Another format is also becoming more well-known: 1080p, which combines the superior resolution of 1080i with the progressive-scan smoothness of 720p. True 1080p content is extremely scarce however, and none of the major networks have announced 1080p broadcasts."
If you're looking for the best of the best, you might look to pay a little more for the 1080p set - that way, when the networks and cable or satellite providers catch up... you'll be ready!
If you'd like to talk to a professional home theater installer about putting together the right package for your home - you can post your request with Construction Deal. It's a fast, free and easy way to find a quality installation pro to make sure you get your moneys worth!
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Labels: HDTV, HDTV Specs, plasma tv
Expand Home Internet: Powerline Adapters
24 January 2007
From the Wall Street Journal Online: "There's a simple alternative to deliver a fast Internet signal to the farthest corners of your home that's often overlooked: using small gadgets called Powerline adapters, you can route your Internet connection around your house over your regular electrical power lines, the ones already in your walls. It really works, it's fast and it doesn't disrupt your electrical system. Even better, it requires zero technical skill. You just plug one of the adapters into a standard electrical outlet near the place where your Internet connection enters your home. Then, you connect the adapter to your wired or wireless router. Next, you plug a second, identical adapter into an electrical outlet in a distant room where you lack an Internet connection. Finally, you plug a computer (or even a wireless access point) into that second adapter. There's no setup, no required software and no technicians or tools are needed.
When you plug in a computer into the second Powerline adapter, it's as if that computer was right next to your cable or DSL modem and router. You are on the Internet at full speed. If you plug a Wi-Fi wireless access point into the second Powerline adapter, it will create a wireless network in and around the distant room, which multiple computers can use.
I've been testing one of Netgear's newest models, the XE104, which costs $100 per adapter, and I can heartily recommend it. It couldn't be simpler or more effective. In my tests, the XE104 gave me wicked-fast connections. I tried plugging Windows and Macintosh laptops directly into the adapters in rooms where my wireless signal was weakest. I also tried plugging a Wi-Fi wireless access point into an XE104 adapter and picking up the connection wirelessly on the laptops. (An access point is a wireless gadget that takes a wired Internet connection and propagates it through the air.)
The XE104 can handle speeds up to 85 mbps, far faster than any common connection.
You can use up to four Netgear adapters at once, and the company claims they will cover a 5,000-square-foot home. Netgear includes optional software to encrypt your Powerline connection, but this is needed only if you share an electrical system with other families.
The XE104 is a small, white rectangular gadget about 4 inches high, 3 inches wide and 1.5 inches thick. It carries a standard two-pronged electrical plug and mounts right into the wall outlet.
On the side, there are four standard Ethernet network ports, like the kind on your router and laptop. Netgear includes a short Ethernet cable so you can connect the first adapter to your router and the second one to a PC or a wireless access point.
The four Ethernet ports are what make the XE104 a 'switch.' They allow you to connect each adapter to multiple devices. For instance, the first adapter can be connected both to your router and to a PC. The second might be connected to a PC, a wireless access point and a device like a game console.
These adapters are a terrific way to clear up Internet dead spots."
Labels: DSL, Internet Connection
How High should you Install a Plasma TV?
22 January 2007
The simple answer to how high should you be placing your new plasma display is -- hang it as high as you'd like. Everyone has a personal preference to how they want to view television. Some like it way up high; others watch it down near the floor.Here are some things to consider about TV placement. With the lighter, thinner plasma and LCD displays, it's possible to put them on the wall or set them on a mantle over the fireplace. They can be inside cabinets or entertainment centers. And many people watch TV for long periods of time or they play video games for hours. If you spend a good length of time looking up from your seated position, or even looking down, even if it's just a matter of a few degrees of tilt, you can put a lot of strain on your neck muscles.
The head tends to want to stay level. Look up or looking down requires muscles and tendons to push and pull the neck to move it to that position and keep it there. It's important to consider how far away you'll be sitting from the display. A set that is up high, on the fireplace, might not work if you're only 7 to 8 feet away. If you're back 12 to 13 feet, it might be less difficult to view for longer periods.
If you're unsure as to your personal preference, start out with the center of the screen at eye level from where you'll be sitting. Watch the display for a while and determine what works best. Adjust higher or lower to test it out before finally settling on a more permanent location (especially if this involves wall hanging or any invasive mounting plans.)No matter what height you decide on, make sure you TV mounting system comes with some sort of tilt mechanism. This way, if you go high, you'll be able to tilt the screen down so the display is perpendicular to your line of sight.
If you'd like to talk to an expert plasma or LCD installer for more advice and help putting it up, you can post your project on the Construction Deal site. It's a free service to find a local TV installation pro. We've got a network of companies in your area and it's much easier than searching for someone at random from the yellow pages.
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Labels: HDTV, plasma tv, Plasma TV Installation, tv installation
Home Tech Trend: Content to Television
17 January 2007
The convergence between the Web and TV is coming to solve that problem, hopefully in the near future. With the hyper-popularity of high-def plasma and LCD TVs, more people are going to want to align their online wants with their in-home technology.
At the recent MacWorld, the huge announcement was for the iPhone, but many might have missed talk of Apple's upcoming new iTV product (or Apple TV.) iTV is a new piece of hardware that you'll have in your living room that's connected to your home network via wifi and to your HDTV. It basically brings iTunes, and all of the music and movie content that can come with it, to your TV. The best news is that it works with PCs or Macs.
iTunes now has over 250 movie and 350 TV titles available. The iTV device is scheduled to ship out in February and will cost about $299.
Labels: HDTV, Home Technology Installers, Home Technology Trends, plasma tv
Trends in Home Security
11 January 2007
The next wave in automation and security will not only allow more convenience but also allow remote connection. As fast as cell phones, PDAs, and Internet connections are evolving, the new trend is going to be wireless applications. Imagine that you receive a message on your cell while you're in a meeting in another state - your house is notifying you that someone has broken in. You check a live video feed on a computer to see what has happened. It turns out your dog has knocked something over into a window. It's a false alarm. No need to notify the police of a burglary.
Our ability to communicate wirelessly - and cheaply - is allowing us to plug in to our homes without a cord. Instead of hiding expensive video cameras around the room to monitor your babysitter and then coming home to review them after the fact, you can watch live feeds on your PDA. Or, if you've left home and you forgot to turn off the oven or turn on the security lights, you can do it all from your cell phone.
The best part is that a lot of the security and automation products can be used with a wireless router, which means you won't need to run a lot of expensive wiring throughout the house.
Home security and automation requires hardware installation and possibly some software may be required but you've already got the tools to talk to your house with phones and Blackberry's and a remote high-speed computer. Talk with a Smart Home installation expert to find out what can be done to add a whole new level of convenience - and safety - to your life and the lives of your family. The home tech expert should be able to put a package together, at your budget, that will give you the tools to be able to communicate with appliances, lighting, temperature, and security equipment from nearly anywhere in the country or the world.
Labels: Home Automation, Home Security, Smart Homes
HDTV - How Big is Too Big?
02 January 2007
A lot of people have rushed out and purchased an HDTV for their homes. Believe it or not, many people are having buyer's remorse - not that they purchased a plasma TV but that they didn't get a big enough one!Here are some buying tips to make sure you get the right HDTV for you:
Size - How big do you go? It's a good idea to have a set of measurements in hand when you go to purchase your display. First, you want to make sure how much room you have. Are you using an existing entertainment center? Will it fit on your wall or fireplace mantle? Take measurements not only of where it will go but from where you'll be watching the TV. Determine how far away your chairs or sofa will be -- that matters in how big the HDTV should be. If you're sitting less than 9 feet away, any size under 40 inches should be fine. From 9 feet to 10 feet, you can get a 4o to 42 inch display. Over 10 feet, you'll want to look at 55 to 60 inches or more.
Equipment - Many don't know this but not all HDTVs come with the receiver used to pick up Hi-Def signals. You may need to purchase an HD receiver to get in the right channels. Also, consider that many satellite companies require a completely different receiver for their channels - for example, with DirecTV you need a new receiver and satellite dish. Schedule ahead to make sure these components are installed, otherwise you might have to sit and stare at a very expensive paper weight for a few days.
As prices come down, people are moving over to the high definition arena. But there is so much new equipment and so much information floating about that it's wise to do as much research as you can. The more you know about what type of TV to buy, what size to get, and what you'll be doing with it, the less chance you'll have of any buyer's remorse.
If you need help creating a home theater to go around your new High Definition display, or just need help hanging a plasma TV, you can post your project request with Construction Deal. We'll help you find a local home theater or plasma installation pro - for free.
Labels: Front Projection TV, HDTV, Home Theater Installation, plasma tv
