HDTV/Gaming setup for cheap gamers!

jondiehl · Post by **jondiehl** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 1:39 pm

sportdan30 wrote: Welcome to DSP. Nice to see another guy from St. Louis posting here. That makes five of us total from the 'Lou.

Thanks. I remember your handle from way back too, I think we may have played a few games of NHL on Live perhaps as well (ages ago).

As for the "catch" with those rebate deals, they usually make you re-up for another year if you add new technology (like going HD and getting the free install with the 3 LNB dish, or adding Tivo and getting a 2nd line dropped for dual tuner functions).

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 1:43 pm

sportdan30 wrote:Supposedbly, it's a directv hd receiver "free" after rebates.

You told ME to use a spell checker...at least I was close.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 1:47 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:
sportdan30 wrote:Supposedbly, it's a directv hd receiver "free" after rebates.
You told ME to use a spell checker...at least I was close.

Spell checker is cheating.

Yeah yeah, would you believe I was text messaging from my phone? LOL. Didn't think so.

I don't mind signing a contract with directv given that it makes sense and isn't outrageously expensive. I'm a huge fan of their service.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 1:50 pm

sportdan30 wrote:Spell checker is cheating. Yeah yeah, would you believe I was text messaging from my phone? LOL. Didn't think so.

I wouldn't believe YOU were, but you know I was. Hell, I've shown everyone here pictures of this forum on the Treo. That way I can monitor the boards on the go! Wouldn't want to miss out on all of the fun when I'm running errands ya know.

jondiehl · Post by **jondiehl** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 2:24 pm

sportdan30 wrote: I don't mind signing a contract with directv given that it makes sense and isn't outrageously expensive. I'm a huge fan of their service.

Same here. As long as Sunday Ticket in HD stays with them, they can lump on whatever contract they want with me.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 4:07 pm

Question for all you guys who have the directv Hd receiver. I was reading the reviews over at Circuit City and the majority of them were rather negative. Many of the complaints were concerning "black outs" (where the screen would go black) that occured every so often and the system rebooting when caller id was enabled. With the "black outs", it seemed the issue had to deal with the HDMI output.

Have these issues been rectified? Someone from an August reviewed mentioned there was a patch that fixed these problems.

Thanks.

jondiehl · Post by **jondiehl** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 4:18 pm

I have four DirecTV HD receivers, but only one of them is a DirecTV branded unit (my HD Tivo, the HR10-250).

My other three were all bought before DirecTV became the sole provider of HD receivers for their satellite system:

Zenith HD- SAT520
RCA DTC-210
RCA DTC-100

The DirecTV HD receiver that you're referring to (I think) is the H10? It probably does the same thing that my HR10 does with the HDMI output.

If I turn my HR10 on before my HDTV, I won't get any picture. I think it has something to do with the HDMI signal not syncing properly. Instead, I always turn the HDTV on, make sure the input is on the HDMI on, then power up the HD receiver. If I don't do it that way, it's simple to re-sync it without powering down my HDTV. I just hit the resolution/format button on the front of the receiver and cycle it to a different resolution (ie. 1080i, from 720p) and the image pops on the screen.... then I switch back to 720p (native input for my DLP).

It's not a bad receiver, especially for free, but it still way better than most HD cable boxes. I guess that's what happens when there's no more 3rd party support and only one company is making the equipment. Competition is usually good, and with DirecTV hardware right now, they're it.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 5:08 pm

I've got to do the same thing with my RCA DirecTV unit...I'm not sure of the model number. The TV has to come on before the receiver. I just re-programmed my Harmony 880 to do it and everything works fine.

jondiehl · Post by **jondiehl** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 5:22 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote: I just re-programmed my Harmony 880 to do it and everything works fine.

Not to go OT, but how do you like that remote? I've been reading some reviews of it, looks slick and simple enough for the wife to use (after I've programmed it all).

My only concern is line of site with infrared. My TV remote needs to be pointed straight at it to work, while my Yahama receiver is RF and I can control the volume even if I'm sitting on it accidently. The receiver (and DVD player, etc) are at a wide angle away from my TV's sensor, and if I have just one remote (like the Harmony) is it able to send those IR signals out at wide angles when doing macros (or do you have to sort of wave the remote around so that it hits all of the components in order?)

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 5:31 pm

Here you go Jon:

http://www.digitalsportspage.com/module ... hlight=880

And to specifically answer your question...my HDTV is the same way (Hitachi 46F510) and all of my components are off to the left. I've never had a problem controlling those devices (DirecTV SD Tivo, RCA HD Reciever, Panasonic Stereo Receiver and DVD Player). All work fine without having the remote pointed right at them. I just point it at the TV and it handles the rest.

BTW...Logitech just released the Harmony 510 and my friend picked it up and he loves it. He said it's not as nice as the 880 but it's only 100 msrp so that's worth looking at too.

jondiehl · Post by **jondiehl** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 6:15 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:
BTW...Logitech just released the Harmony 510 and my friend picked it up and he loves it. He said it's not as nice as the 880 but it's only 100 msrp so that's worth looking at too.

Yeah, I saw that one too.. but they're coming out with a new one (basically the 510) that has Xbox 360 specific buttons for the same price after rebate.

I just love the custom LCD panel of the 880, but can't decide if it's worth it since the Tivo remote is in my hand 99% of the time and can do everything but control the DVD player and switch inputs on the A/V receiver.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 6:20 pm

There are three things that separate the 880 from the rest of the Harmonys. The LCD, the rechargable battery and the fact that you can have 8 "soft" keys on the screen at a time rather than 4. The last advantage is probably the biggest...

redneck · Post by **redneck** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 12:38 am

jondiehl finally makes his way over from the newsgroups. You gotta love that.

red

jondiehl · Post by **jondiehl** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 12:51 am

redneck wrote:jondiehl finally makes his way over from the newsgroups. You gotta love that.

red

Well, it's all but dead, I can't recall a decent conversation on csipgs in over a year. I just found out today that alot of the old usenet regulars were posting here or I would have registered sooner.

redneck · Post by **redneck** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 1:17 am

Cool. Welcome.

red

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 10:38 am

Alright, one more question. Seemingly, this is an easy one. As it stands right now, my hdtv and soon to be 360 are going to be in my bedroom. How then am I going to be able to play online when my computer and router are clear across the other side of the hall?

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 11:05 am

sportdan30 wrote:Alright, one more question. Seemingly, this is an easy one. As it stands right now, my hdtv and soon to be 360 are going to be in my bedroom. How then am I going to be able to play online when my computer and router are clear across the other side of the hall?

You'll either need to go wireless, get a long ethernet cable that can stretch from the router to the XBox, or unplug your router and bring it into the bedroom when you want to play.

I ran into the same issue when I moved into my house last year. With my current set-up, I have a wireless modem downstairs and the XBox plugged into that via ethernet. My wife's laptop already had wireless built in, and I bought a wireless card for the desktop PC. I get fast connections for surfing, while keeping the XBox hooked up to my DSL.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 4:26 pm

Thanks Brando.

jondiehl · Post by **jondiehl** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 5:34 pm

I use a wireless bridge to connect my Xbox's to the internet and my home network. Actually, the bridge connects to a 4-way switch (both D-link products), and then I use cat-5 to both of my Xbox's and soon to be 360.

Jayhawker · Post by **Jayhawker** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 6:12 pm

sportdan30 wrote:Alright, one more question. Seemingly, this is an easy one. As it stands right now, my hdtv and soon to be 360 are going to be in my bedroom. How then am I going to be able to play online when my computer and router are clear across the other side of the hall?

I use this wireless range extender kit from Netgear. You don't even need a wireless router to use it. Works great for me.

http://www.netgear.com/products/details/WGXB102.php

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 11:14 pm

Thanks, Sport. I remembered your post and saw the TV in the paper today for $899 so I picked it up for our family room.

I'm watching the football game tonight in HD and it is awesome.

HipE · Post by **HipE** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 11:22 pm

Leebo33 wrote:Thanks, Sport. I remembered your post and saw the TV in the paper today for $899 so I picked it up for our family room.

I'm watching the football game tonight in HD and it is awesome.

Wasn't one of your big reasons to skip the Xbox 360 launch your lack of a HDTV in your house? Interesting timing of your purchase....

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 10:03 am

HipE wrote:Wasn't one of your big reasons to skip the Xbox 360 launch your lack of a HDTV in your house? Interesting timing of your purchase....

LOL. My wife could see through it as well. She is *VERY* happy as well though as she was thoroughly impressed with how good Desperate Housewives looked last night.

It also helps that I won the elimination pool at work and just brought home half the price of the 360. Thank you Broncos and thank you Cardinals!

I'm still not heading out at midnight and I have to work so the chances of getting one at launch are slim.

Sport73 · Post by **Sport73** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 1:44 pm

Congrats on the new set Leebo, and I hope you somehow manage to score a 360. If I pay a visit to my neighbors house again soon, I'll post the settings I used after calibrating his set (using Avia). While it won't be the same with your set, in your environment, with your components, it might give you a general guideline of ways to improve contrast/black level/detail and color purity.

$899 is a steal for a decent 32" Direct View LCD.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 2:12 pm

Leebo33 wrote:Thanks, Sport. I remembered your post and saw the TV in the paper today for $899 so I picked it up for our family room.

I'm watching the football game tonight in HD and it is awesome.

What tv did you purchase? $899 for a 32" sounds like a great deal.