If you are looking for tfa receivers and related equipment, don’t forget to check out our fta receivers and equipment page.
You can find everything from replacement dishes and brackets to satellite receivers and satellite finder meters. The result are updated all the time, just as our fta keys are!
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More Personal Video Recording storage!
The personal video recording (PVR) or DVR (digital video recorder) is no longer a nice-to-have gadget. It is here to stay, so out with the VHS recorder! Landfills are cringing and moaning at the thought.
For those that do not know what a PVR is; it is a set top box that has a built in hard drive. The hard drive is designed to store television programming so that you may watch it at a later date. DVR’s can pause, rewind live tv, and then can also skip the commercials! The standard DVR holds about 80 - 300 hours of television programming. This depends on the quality of the recording. High definition (HD) programming gobbles up much more space than standard programming. The inherent problem with early PVR models is that there is no way to export your saved programming to an external device for backup. The only solution is to manually delete shows and movies.
Offloading your saved movies and tv shows to a dvd, or a computer for the most part is not readily available. The hardware simply has not come to market YET. Many DVR manufacturers include firewire and usb ports to allow future options for storage and backup, however most are shipped with these options disabled. Quite useless and many of are still scratching our heads as to why they would even bother.
Some DVR manufacturers have released firmware updates which could enable those features that are disabled. The problem is most of us have no idea how to use these firmware updates. So cable and satellite tv providers simply upgrade customer to a newer model PVR.
No matter the features and options your pvr has, you will inevitably run out of storage space. Thankfully, products coming to market are designed for this exact purpose.
First out of the gates for the 2007 holiday season, is Western Digital with their MyDVR Expander product. Essentially, a 500Gb eSATA portable hard drive that connects to your PVR, thus expanding your storage capabilities.
The MyDVR expander can instantly add up to 60 hours of high-definition TV, or up to 300 hours of standard-definition TV to your eSATA-enabled DVR. Not all DVR’s are eSATA compatible, so verify your model’s compatibility first. Here is a short list of some models that this will work with:
Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300, 8300 HD, 8300 MR, and 8300 HD-MR
TiVo®, TiVo Series3, TiVo HD
Key Features
- Connects to your DVR via external SATA (eSATA)
- No-fan passive cooling system and special hard drive ensures low noise operation
- Designed with a soft amber LED indicator, ideal for the living room or bedroom
The MyDVR is ideal for adding more recording hours to your Digital Video Recorder
It should be noted that ths MyDVR is not intended to be an archival or portable storage device. The DVR Expander is designed to expand the recording capacity of a single DVR
Additional information is available online through westerndigital.com
The MSRP is $199 USD and is available at most
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So you finally want to kick your analog TV to the curb and buy a high-definition television? Congratulations! You are about to embark on a digital journey to a world of crystal-clear picture quality, widescreen images and 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound in the comfort of your own home. But before you buy an HDTV, there are several things to consider.
First things first, you should understand the different types of HD displays available. There are several options out there, and each looks and works differently to bring you that incredible HD picture quality. Next, you need to determine how you will receive an HD signal, as the source dictates what accessories you might need. All too often, people think they are watching HD content when they’re really not. Finally, an HDTV isn’t complete without a surround sound home theater system. You will need to connect your television to your speakers, DVD player and gaming system to create the ultimate HD home entertainment center.
Sound confusing? It doesn’t have to be. RadioShack has long been known for cables, connectors and making things work, and just recently, our stores began carrying a great selection of high-definition, flat-panel LCD televisions. Now, we are able to offer a complete HD solution to customers, and our knowledgeable sales associates can demystify the world of HDTV and help customers find the right display, source and sound for their needs.
Which display is right for me?
There are several different display technologies that can bring HDTV into your home, and it is helpful to familiarize yourself with these options and understand how each works before you buy. Here’s an overview of four popular options:
· LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) – An LCD is a flat-panel television that works by directing light through liquid crystals and then magnifying it for projection. They are known for being lightweight, stylishly slim and extremely bright. If an LCD sounds right for you, consider one of the many LCD TVs available at RadioShack today, such as the AKAI Widescreen LCD HDTV that comes in 27” 32” and 37” sizes.
· Plasma - Plasma technology uses hundreds of thousands of individual pixel cells that are a lot like tiny fluorescent lamps, creating a smooth, evenly lit image across the entire surface of the flat-panel display. Although this is typically a more expensive option, the result is a bright, sharp and accurate picture.
· DLP (Digital Light Processor) - These rear-projection televisions utilize a small Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) to tilt more than 1.3 million micromirrors on or away from the light source inside the DLP to create beautiful picture. DLP televisions are usually much larger in size and produce clear, bright and colorful images.
· CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) - If you are not ready to drop serious money on one of the options above, you might consider a CRT television. These rear projection televisions produce great picture with good contrast when hooked up to an HD signal; however, they tend to take up significantly more space than a flat-panel and are much heavier.
How do I get HDTV programming in my home?
You can get HD programming the same way you get regular television shows – via cable, satellite or simply over-the-air.
When determining how to get an HDTV signal, it is important to consider whether your television is “HD-compatible” or “HD-ready.” HD-ready televisions, sometimes referred to as HDTV monitors, don’t include a digital tuner. To receive a high-definition signal, you will need a high-definition tuner, also known as media receiver or set-top box. A television that is “HD-compatible,” also known as an integrated HDTV, has a built-in digital tuner and can receive over-the air HD broadcasts.
How do I connect to my home theater?
Once you have figured out the source of your HDTV signal and chosen a television display, it is time to consider the audio and video inputs and outputs. When connecting multiple devices, such as an HDTV cable box, Xbox-360, DVD player and speakers, you will need an Audio/video receiver, which acts as the hub of your home entertainment system. One great option is the Sony® STR-DG500 660W* 6.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver, available exclusively at RadioShack.
Many newer televisions offer what is called HDMI connectivity (for High-Definition Multimedia Interface). Essentially, HDMI simplifies your set-up by connecting any audio/video source (set-top box, DVD player, A/V receiver) to your television with just a single cable – eliminating the complexity of multiple composite, S-Video and component video cables. RadioShack offers an assortment of HDMI cables that deliver crystal-clear, all-digital audio and video.
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If you are considering a high definition fta receiver purchase, you need to know the facts. Many HD TFA receivers still lack critical support for broadcast formats, including a very important protocol called PSK. (Phase Shift Keying)
Dish network supports 8PSK, while Bell ExpressVu and most other HD providers support QPSK. Currently, most, if not all FTA HD receivers only support HD channels using QPSK. Dish uses 8psk for all their HD channels.
The question we have to ask; can 8PSK support be added to HD receivers? The new VS-9000 will be capable of supporting 8PSK with a addon adapter module.
Here is some more in depth info which sheds more light on the difference between 8PSK and QPSK..
In the meantime, the following graphic offers a side by side receiver comparison. No information about 8psk support is included at this time. You will need to verify from the manufacturers website.
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HD (high definition) refers to the quality of the picture being transmitted to your television set.
Picture quality is measured in scan lines. The more scan lines that are transmitted to your TV, the clearer the picture.
For instance, analog (over-the-air) TV has 525 scan lines per image. HDTV, on the other hand, has up to 1,080 lines per image — almost twice as many lines of resolution giving you twice the clarity of analog TV.
There’s a huge difference between watching TV on a regular TV set as opposed to watching an HD TV. The HD picture is sharper and the colors are brighter. The picture is so realistic it’s almost like watching a scene through a window.
HD Satellite TV Features
Here are the main features of HD satellite TV:
* High resolution picture — HDTV produces a super-sharp image, resulting
in a clearer, more lifelike picture.
* Widescreen picture — you get a full-width picture just like you see in the movies.
* Digital audio — HD audio programming is broadcast Dolby Digital format so you get a three-dimensional surround-sound listening experience.
HD Satellite TV Providers
Both DISH Network and DIRECTV offer HD programming. Here’s a rundown on their HD satellite TV channel lineups …
DISH Network HD Satellite TV
DISH Network offers two HD satellite TV programming packages:
The DISH Network HD Pak
This package includes HDNet, HDNet Movies, ESPNHD, Discovery HD, and TNT in HD.
The DISH Network Voom Pak
This package includes Ultra HD, Monsters HD, Rave HD, Equator HD, Gallery HD, Anamania HD, Rush HD, HD News, Guy TV HD, and Majestic HD.
In addition to the above packages you can also get HBO HDTV, Showtime HD, DISH on Demand Pay-Per-View in HD, and CBS HDTV.
In order to receive HD programming from DISH Network you must have an HD receiver. When you order satellite TV service from DISH Network you can get an HD receiver free.
Note: For more information on current DISH Network HD programming and subscription fees, or to order satellite TV service with a free satellite TV system, click on the links below.
DIRECTV HD Satellite TV
DIRECTV offers one HD satellite TV programming package:
The DIRECTV HD Package
This package includes ESPN HD, ESPN2 HD, Discovery HD Theater, HDNet, HDNet Movies, and Universal HD.
In addition to the above package your can also get HBO HD, Showtime HD, and DIRECTV Pay-Per-View, plus ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, and the WB channel.
Sports packages include NFL Sunday Ticket HD and NFL Sunday Ticket SuperFan HD.
In order to receive HD programming from DIRECTV you must have an HD receiver. When you order satellite TV service from DIRECTV you can get an HD receiver free (after a $199 rebate).
Note: For more information on current DIRECTV HD programming and subscription fees, or to order satellite TV service with a free satellite TV system, click on the links below.
The Bottom Line
The only drawback to having HD satellite TV is the cost. If you don’t already own an HD TV set, then you’ll have to buy one. And the HD programming fees are another expense that will add to your satellite TV bill.
However, if you want to see your favorite shows in near lifelike clarity and you can afford the extra expense, having HD satellite TV is definitely worth the added cost.Article Source: http://www.articleset.com
Brian Stevens is a professional freelance writer and webmaster who has written extensively on free satellite TV systems. For more information on free satellite TV systems go to: http://www.thesatellitetvguide.com » Read more articles by Brian Stevens
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