[mythtv-users] Is Wider better?

[Rich West]

Peter A. Daly wrote:
> On 5/1/07, *Mike Perkins* <mikep at randomtraveller.org.uk
> <mailto:mikep at randomtraveller.org.uk>> wrote:
>
>     Michael T. Dean wrote:
>     > On 04/30/2007 07:07 PM, Yan Seiner wrote:
>     >> Brad DerManouelian wrote:
>     >>
>     >>> I have to disagree. I say deal with the black bars in SD in
>     >>> preparation for when all content goes to HD format. I have a
>     42" HDTV
>     >>> display but mostly watch 4:3 content from DirecTV. Sure, the
>     bars are
>     >>> a little annoying but you get used to them quickly and when I
>     pop in
>     >>> a DVD or watch something I've captured OTA HD, it's a REAL treat.
>     >> I guess it depends on how long you plan to keep your set, and
>     how much
>     >> money you have.  4:3 monitors are *cheap* these days - so if you're
>     >> going to keep it only for a couple of years, I'd say go for the
>     4:3.
>     >>
>     >> OTOH if you have the money and you're planning long term, and
>     you have
>     >> the space to waste, go for a 16:9 with a comparable 4:3 viewing
>     area.
>     >> This will be a good bit bigger than a 4:3 monitor....
>     >
>     > But remember that brand new high-definition TV's may not last as
>     long as
>     > most of us think TV's should (those of us who grew up with
>     old-fashioned
>     > CRT TV's).  I wouldn't plan to buy something "to last me" 10 years.
>     > (Perhaps not even in 5 years.  3 years?  Probably.)
>     >
>     > Mike "waiting for a replacement light engine for my 18-month-old 67"
>     > 1080p DLP" Dean
>     > _______________________________________________
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>     >
>     In the UK at least, even though practically all transmission/cable is
>     SD, quite a large proportion is in fact 16:9. I have a 26" widescreen
>     LCD TV display and there are very few programs that are not
>     widescreen,
>     so have to juggle the width setting.
>
>     In fact, thinking about it, the only 4:3 I can remember offhand are
>     archive items from the BBC (think old Dr Who) and broadcasts from
>     other
>     countries where they don't do widescreen much yet - for example
>     European
>     soccer matches.
>
>     You don't say which country you are - most of the replies assume
>     the US
>     - but a bit of investigation of your local area may turn up more
>     widescreen programming than you might expect. Most stuff we get here
>     from across the pond is widescreen, so it's generally getting made
>     as such.
>
>     Just my 0.02 GBP.
>
>     Mike Perkins
>
> Ok, I then have (maybe) a stupid question...
>
> Will my PVR-350 record "wide format" content?
>
> I'd assumed I need an HD receiver.  Am I incorrect?  (I'm in the US.)
>
> -Pete

Yup.. you need an HD Receiver.  The PVR-150, PVR-250, PVR-350, PVR-500
are all SD-only.

The HDHomeRun is apparently a popular option.  I haven't gotten one yet,
but I'm getting close.

-Rich