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Thread ID: 78933 2007-05-03 00:35:00 LCD TV's Analogue only? Pato (2463) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
546468 2007-05-03 00:35:00 I am about to upgrade our TV to an LCD model but am a bit confused about digital and analogue and would appreciate some knowledgable advice.

The Sony model I was looking at states in the specs "it is capable of displaying high-definition video sources, but its built-in tuner receives standard (analogue) over the-the-air broadcast only". What does this mean and would this apply to all makes of LCD on the market at present?. As we are on Telestra cable would this 'analogue only' not have any effect?.
Pato (2463)
546469 2007-05-03 01:46:00 I asked Sony this question several weeks ago. They said 2009 before they install digital tuners here in NZ. I suspect the rest will be the same.. These things are just a plug in card so I wonder if it will be an after market item?? paulw (1826)
546470 2007-05-03 01:50:00 Whats Telstra cable got to do with an LCD whether its analogue or not?

I dont think analogue and cable have anything to do with each other

Or does this Telstra cable do TV channels in digital?

Or is that what u mean?
Speedy Gonzales (78)
546471 2007-05-03 02:18:00 It has an analogue tuner, sure means it can pick up normal TV signals (antenna on roof) BUT it will also have other inputs, such as HDMI, Component and Composite etc If you have an external digital reciever (we currently don't have HDTV but the states do) or player that is capable of playing HD then the TV will display it in HD. Just because it is CAPABLE of playing it doesn't mean that the inputs have to be HD The_End_Of_Reality (334)
546472 2007-05-03 02:20:00 Whats Telstra cable got to do with an LCD whether its analogue or not?

I dont think analogue and cable have anything to do with each other

Or does this Telstra cable do TV channels in digital?

Or is that what u mean?

Yes. I understand you can pay for digital on Telstra cable.
Pato (2463)
546473 2007-05-03 02:22:00 I asked Sony this question several weeks ago. They said 2009 before they install digital tuners here in NZ. I suspect the rest will be the same.. These things are just a plug in card so I wonder if it will be an after market item??

Thanks Paul. I find it is nearly impossible to get any satisfaction from sales people. One sales person I asked about the dead/bright pixel warranty told me "these LCD TV's don't use pixels".
Pato (2463)
546474 2007-05-03 06:33:00 I find it is nearly impossible to get any satisfaction from sales people. One sales person I asked about the dead/bright pixel warranty told me "these LCD TV's don't use pixels".

It is RARE these days to find a "sales person". 97% of people who work in shops are not sales people, they are order-takers.
They don't know what they are selling, what products they do and don't stock, what the capabilities and features of the products they do have are, or what would really suit you best.

Classic example - I went into a fairly well known electronics chain recently to buy something totally unrelated, and while I was there, spotted some smoke detectors on special. I took one of the optical units up to the counter and the assistant said to me "Oh, why not buy one of these ones here, they are cheaper and they are the same". He was referring to an ionisation detector, which is so far different from an optical detector it's not even in the same street!
I then spent the next few minutes explaining to him the differences between optical and ionisation detectors and why one was better suited to a particular application than another.

These days, you need to do your own homework and go into stores armed with your own knowledge, otherwise you'll go home with something you don't want and don't need.

I get tired of "robots" in stores asking me in a cheesy voice "Hello sir, is there anything I can help you with today?" It's very tiring to stand there, spend a good 5 - 10 minutes explaining what you want, only to have them stare blankly back at you and say something like "I don't know what that is" or "I don't think we sell those".

In less than 5 minutes I can usually get around ANY store and quickly determine if they have what I am looking for or not.

Still, I suppose there are many people who walk into shops without the faintest idea what they actually want either.
supertrouper (6665)
546475 2007-05-03 06:49:00 Supertrouper, As you may have expected I totally agree with you. I am doing as much research as I can but I still appreciate the comments I have received which are helpful. Cheers. Pato (2463)
546476 2007-05-03 06:53:00 They are "sales consultants". The fancy title is to make up for the poor pay. Graham L (2)
546477 2007-05-03 07:13:00 Anyways, my dissertation was slightly off-topic so back to the original issue. At the moment most TVs and tuner devices (DVD recorders, PC tuner cards) are being supplied with analog tuners only, as the infrastructure to support an all-digital receiver is not in place yet. It is coming however, and the next thing I think we will see will be dual analog/digital sets. On that basis I'd put off buying anything too pricey at the moment until sets with digital tuners start to hit the shelves. The whole issue with one decoder for this service, another decoder for that service and a third for something else will take some time to sort itself out, much like the Beta/VHS fiasco did. supertrouper (6665)
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