HDTV Advice

[iWong]

I recently purchased the Viewsonic N3752W 37" LCD HDTV from Costco. However, I don't have any HD content to view on it. I don't have any gaming consoles and I'm on Shaw Basic Cable. I'm not sure where to go from here, whether I should get a satellite or subscribe to HD service. I've also read about ATSC but I'm not too sure how it works. Are there channels available in Vancouver, and is simply setting up an antenna to receive channels legal? TIA!

[bembol]

I've read it's a Hit & Miss with OTA/ATSC...it depends on you location! It's the reason why I never cared for it.

Can you afford a $40+ a month? I would just upgrade to Shaw HD, the easiest/hassle free IMO!

[iWong]

I've read it's a Hit & Miss with OTA/ATSC...it depends on you location! It's the reason why I never cared for it.

Can you afford a $40+ a month? I would just upgrade to Shaw HD, the easiest/hassle free IMO!

If I went with Shaw HD, I would have to get the $448 Terminal, right?

How much of an improvement is Digital TV over Basic Cable? And how much better is HD than Digital?

[iWong]

Shaw has a new Digital TV box for $98. With that, do you not have to pay the $51.95 per month for a Digital TV subscription? Cause for the price, I guess I wouldn't mind sticking with that until there are more HD channels available.

[Jon Lai]

Regarding the ATSC tuner, of course it's legal! It's just like receiving AM/FM signals from your radio.

I suggest that before you decide anything such as getting digital cable, go to Wal-Mart and pick up a Philips HDTV antenna first - it's only $30 or so. Here in Toronto, we get 4 HD channels, which is not bad for a flat fee that you just pay once.

[Pagliaro]

Do not get Shaw HD

I live in Ottawa and our equivalent is Rogers HD and it beautiful 10+ channels of HD

When I went to Calgary and got my mom and step dad a HD set top box for their HDTV hardly any difference in picture from sdtv or even edtv. About 5 hd channels.

Ottawa's HD service is superb crisp and clear. Calgary's (Shaw) was mediocre not worth the price I paid.

I would look into satelitte hd on the west coast

[Lil Big Mec]

I love my StarChoice! They don't charge anything extra for HD content if you already subscribe to channels that are also available in HD. Their service and support are the best in the industry too. I've been a subscriber for 6 years now and when I bought a HDTV a week and a half ago, I purchased a HD receiver off these forums and when I activated it on my existing account, I never had to upgrade my programming package to receive an extra 16 or so HD channels and the CSR even credited my account with 10 free PPV credits!

[Ho!Ho!Ho!]

I was looking for a good indoor HDTV antenna the other day and there is a thread came across with the DIY antenna. I check it out and it seem everybody happy after trying it out. I will definitely try it myself this weekend.

Here is the link http://www.lumenlab.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=9613

[Unibomber]

get a terk HDTV antenna from http://www.sayal.com

[redkid]

I recently purchased the Viewsonic N3752W 37" LCD HDTV from Costco. However, I don't have any HD content to view on it. I don't have any gaming consoles and I'm on Shaw Basic Cable. I'm not sure where to go from here, whether I should get a satellite or subscribe to HD service. I've also read about ATSC but I'm not too sure how it works. Are there channels available in Vancouver, and is simply setting up an antenna to receive channels legal? TIA!

it's purelly digital HD
if your tv has a atsc decoder not sure if they got hd channels in VC but you can surelly get some from USA

[Anessa]

get a terk HDTV antenna from http://www.sayal.com

Try to get one that's amplified for more signal.

[Anessa]

I recently purchased the Viewsonic N3752W 37" LCD HDTV from Costco. However, I don't have any HD content to view on it. I don't have any gaming consoles and I'm on Shaw Basic Cable. I'm not sure where to go from here, whether I should get a satellite or subscribe to HD service. I've also read about ATSC but I'm not too sure how it works. Are there channels available in Vancouver, and is simply setting up an antenna to receive channels legal? TIA!

604 people using OTA or reading digitalhome.ca/forums should give you more info on what HD signals they have out there.

[Impossibles]

I recently purchased the Viewsonic N3752W 37" LCD HDTV from Costco. However, I don't have any HD content to view on it. I don't have any gaming consoles and I'm on Shaw Basic Cable. I'm not sure where to go from here, whether I should get a satellite or subscribe to HD service. I've also read about ATSC but I'm not too sure how it works. Are there channels available in Vancouver, and is simply setting up an antenna to receive channels legal? TIA!

Are you able to have a dish at home, or do you live in a building that does not allow that?

I have shaw HD with the PVR (in Langley). I love it. But you do pay $51.95 for digital cable + basic HD channels and $60.95 for all the HD channels.

If you can go with Bell, I would do that. I can't cause I'm in a condo.

[john widow]

Satellite is all digital? Is that why sometimes it gets scrambled info, so then it looks all pixelated?

Oh, and why don't you hook up your HDTV to your PC and just download some high def vids just to see it's beauty.

[ppl4golf]

I second hooking it up to a computer (VGA is fine) and do some justice to your new 'TV'.

Download and play some WMVHD demo clips (all legal!)

[idk-bart]

there's a lot of TV shows capped in 720p too so you dont really have to spend $80 a month to watch HD shows you like.