Need some advice about high definition tv subscriptions

[Techman]

You're really getting me to consider the PS3! The wireless networking is a big advantage for me. I'll definitely look into it. Probably won't get anything until the xmas sales though, I figure there'll be some decent sales around then.

By the way...who's the girl in your sig? She's a babe!

 

[JustBob]

Bob,

I have Digital Video Essentials HD Basics which gave me good results but what bugs me is that on one of my sets I'm using three inputs for three different sources. With this disc I can only adjust the HDMI input used by the BD player so what I did was note the settings of the HDMI 1 input and copied them to the other inputs I use. Seems pretty good to me but I was wondering if you handle multiple inputs in a different way?

Well on my tv, I calibrated two inputs. One for BD and one for HDTV. I use "movie mode" and calibration for that mode for BD since I always watch movies in the evening without any lights on. And I use "standard" with it's own calibration for TV/HDTV" daytime viewing mode/sports/etc... I never use or calibrate anything using "sports/dynamic/vivivd" mode.

 

[JustBob]

The one pain with the PS3 is that it uses Bluetooth instead of IR for the remote. I know you can get a Logitech Harmony Universal Remote Adapter for PS3 and there are a couple of other solutions but it's not perfect. There's also a universal remote (Blu-link) for PS3 that uses both Bluetooth and IR but it doesn't have a screen.

 

[Techman]

The one pain with the PS3 is that it uses Bluetooth instead of IR for the remote. I know you can get a Logitech Harmony Universal Remote Adapter for PS3 and there are a couple of other solutions but it's not perfect. There's also a universal remote (Blu-link) for PS3 that uses both Bluetooth and IR but it doesn't have a screen.

That's one of the reasons I hate Sony. For whatever reason they just can't do things the way everyone else does. Anyone remember the mini disc? Or their stupid memory sticks that were like a stick of gum that no other company would use? They like to think that they are innovative but no one ever follows their lead. I was always hoping for HD-DVD to come out on top but somehow Blu-ray ended up the winner. I guess they were due to win one ever since they lost the VCR war when they had the better product but their stupid licensing decisions gave the victory to VHS.

 

[Roadyvh]

You're really getting me to consider the PS3! The wireless networking is a big advantage for me. I'll definitely look into it. Probably won't get anything until the xmas sales though, I figure there'll be some decent sales around then.

By the way...who's the girl in your sig? She's a babe!

Hey Techman,
Do you know or anyone else, if with the play station, you can browse and watch video files that are on your PC?

I download tv series and would mind watching them on my big screen tv instead of my monnitor.

Also somebody told me of a device called WDTV at costco that reads all kind of video formats and all you have to do is transfer the video files on a usb stick plug it in the WDTV and watch them on tv.

thanks

 

[JustBob]

Hey Techman,
Do you know or anyone else, if with the play station, you can browse and watch video files that are on your PC?

I download tv series and would mind watching them on my big screen tv instead of my monnitor.

Also somebody told me of a device called WDTV at costco that reads all kind of video formats and all you have to do is transfer the video files on a usb stick plug it in the WDTV and watch them on tv.

thanks

Windows Media Player or other DNLA/UPnP compliant players that can act as a server will work (sometimes...). A pain to set up, won't play all file types, won't play downloaded HD/AC3-PCM encoded files.

PS3 Media Server is the best option (software wise). Plays all types of files because it can transcode/remux files. Files can be located anywhere on your PC. It's known to have some subtitles issues with MKV 1080p or 720p files but maybe the latest version (Sept. 9th) fixed that. Also, if you're on wireless, you may experience video glitches. A powerful PC with a direct (internet) connection to the PS3 is better. The PS3 does not support 720p - 1080p/24 for streaming content.

http://ps3mediaserver.blogspot.com/

WDTV is good from what I read. Small, portable, easy to use and it will work with any USB drive. Upscaler not as good as PS3. Although I'm not sure why you'd need this if you already have a PS3.

 

[bond_james_bond]

Got rid of cable many years ago.

Don't miss it at all, especially with OTA HD for free.

 

[bond_james_bond]

As for PS3 playing videos on TV, too many problems.

I eventually ended up using an old laptop.

 

[Techman]

Hey Techman,
Do you know or anyone else, if with the play station, you can browse and watch video files that are on your PC?

I download tv series and would mind watching them on my big screen tv instead of my monnitor.

Also somebody told me of a device called WDTV at costco that reads all kind of video formats and all you have to do is transfer the video files on a usb stick plug it in the WDTV and watch them on tv.

thanks

The best unit to use for that is a XBox 360. It works as a media extender along with Windows Media Center on your PC and will allow you access to all of the media on your system. I've seen a couple of stand alone boxes that you can plug an external hard drive into but from what I've read they aren't that great and they aren't cheap. Western Digital and Seagate both make similar products for this purpose. But from checking out some Blu-ray player specs, most of them with a USB port will allow you to do pretty much the same thing.

But if you want to access your files directly, Xbox 360 is the best way to do it.

PS: A friend of mine has an upconverting DVD player with a USB port and he can play any thing other than H.264 content by connecting either a USB flash drive or hard drive. The player cost him 39 bucks. I have a similar player but no USB on it so I just burn to a DVD-RW, watch the vids and then re-use the disc after. Works great.

 

[Mike Mercury]

Techman, Whether you go with Bell or not, any satellite service will require a clear line of site towards the west, .

Geostationary orbits are in the southern direction when in Canada and other northern hemisphere places.

 

[G1GBallday]

Came across this product over the weekend while searching for something else and thought some here might be interested.

http://ca.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=18&l2=194&l3=0&l4=0&model=3102&modelmenu=1 (Warning slow web site. )

Unfortunately it's wired but it does support just about everything and is cheap.

Video Compression: MPEG1/2/4, RM/RMVB, VC-1, H.264
Video File Extension: .MP4, .MOV, .XVID, .AVI, .DIVX, .ASF, .WMV, .MKV, .RM, .RMVB, .FLV, .TS, .M2TS, .DAT, .MPG, .VOB
Audio: MP3, WAV, AAC, OGG, FLAC, AIFF
Image: JPEG, BMP, PNG, GIF, TIFF
Subtitle: SRT, SUB, SMI, SSA

http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Play-Media-Player-Black/dp/B002MCZJ3C

 

[oobe]

Geostationary orbits are in the southern direction when in Canada and other northern hemisphere places.

Was he talking about the real west, or the Montreal west?
http://wikitravel.org/en/Montreal#Orientation

 

[Mike Mercury]

Was he talking about the real west, or the Montreal west?
http://wikitravel.org/en/Montreal#Orientation

He was probably refering to the "west" of the downtown, plateau and eastend street grid.
This is really southwest.

By the way from Montreal many TV sats are actually slightly west of due south.

Try this:

http://www.dishpointer.com/