Brett, et al, This is going to be a bit long because I am surprised at the response in this post regarding high definition broadcasts in general and Pioneer HD RPTV in particular. I love my HDTV. I have been enamored of high quality video and audio for a very long time. I purchased a laser disc player before VCRs were sold. I was then amazed that anyone would buy a VCR because the picture was so crummy and the sound was worse.
When I was given the okay to upgrade my video gear at the beginning of 2001, a wide-screen HDTV was tops on my list because I was tired of watching DVDs with black bars on my 27" Mitsubishi. Like most people who have seen the Pioneer Elite RPTVs, I was smitten. But could not afford one. I went with the standard (53") Pioneer RPTV because I felt it displayed regular cable (NTSC) better than the other comparable RPTV sets. I saw very little difference in the high definition picture among the sets I was interested in. HD output was uniformly outstanding!
I was surprised at the cost of all the other stuff I needed. To get a high definition signal I had to purchase DTV tuner (Hughes) for about $600 (a bargain). Then, I needed to send about $100 for a video cable that would connect the tuner to the TV's component video inputs (otherwise I couldn't display true HD signal). I then went through about 4 or 5 antennas until I found a great (Channel Master) UHF antenna that would reliably capture the OTA digital broadcast signal from local stations. (Since, for the most part, you can't get HD network broadcasts from satellite or cable!) Now, I can not wait to watch HDTV shows.
The CBS primetime lineup is mainly in HDTV and they have been broadcasting SEC college football games every Saturday this fall. ABC is broadcasting more and more in HD and NBC (in conjunction with HDNet) will be broadcasting the 2002 Winter Olympics in HD.
The HD shows (especially sports) is like watching reality through a window. It is truly WOW TV. I have found myself watching shows just because they are broadcast in HD. I recently watched about 10 minutes of The Young and The Restless on CBS. (Now that was sad, watching a soap opera because it was in HD!)
If your HD picture on your Pioneer RPTV is not simply great, you may not have the DTV tuner correctly connected to the TV. HD signals must be input through either component video inputs, Input 1 or Input 2 (which is recommended) or through the VGA input (Input 4). If you are running the output from the DTV tuner through the standard antenna or S-video output, the quality will probably be lower than watching the direct cable feed from the Antenna A or Antenna B inputs. (At least that is my experience. I watch the digital and HD broadcasts through the DTV tuner and regular cable through the antenna inputs.) Check your manuals for correct connections.
Irrespective of HDTV, watching widescreen DVDs on this Pioneer is still worth it. It isn't WOW TV, but it sure beats the heck out of my 27" Mitsubishi with the black bars!!!
By the way, DVD players have outsold VCRs for the last few months (since August I believe). And digital TVs are increasing in popularity by leaps and bounds. Probably because of those "black bars" or 4:3 sets. Widescreen sets are here to stay.
