TV

1
TV associated buying advice

• Whats going on in the jungle of new screens,
  formats, high definition, digital switchover
  etc.
• Hope your ability is better than -

2
HDTV - present and immediate future

• Available forthcoming services
• Display devices
• PVRs and recording devices
• The analogue switch off and its effect.
• Modulation and encoding
• HDef resolutions and HD ready
• The HiDef DVD format war (HD-DVD vs BluRay)
• Analogue and digital connections
• Some practical pointers to choosing a TV.

3
From www.avforums.com

• Sky digibox to freeview
• This site looks like the kind of place where I
  get the answer!I have a Sky digibox (Sony)
  which I am trying to transform into a freeview
  box (I now have a Sky box so this one is no
  longer of use). So I am plugging it into the TV
  aerial, but it says 'no sattelite signal being
  received'.Is this a problem with my aeial not
  being a digital aerial? Or is it no possible to
  transform a Sky digibox into a freeview box?I
  should also point out that I do not have a
  viewing card into my box (i.e. it is now in the
  Sky box) - do I need to purchase a Freeview
  card?? If this is not possible - was told it
  was - I will simply go out to purchase a new
  Freeview box. I just wanted to make use of my Sky
  digibox.Thanks

4
Similar confusion in USA

• Broadcasting and Cable via NewsEdge Corporation
  If you haven't shopped for HDTV yet, the first
  thing you'll encounter is confusion. You want LCD
  or DLP? Or LcoS? Flat-screen or rear-projection?
  Get ready to hear about pixels and
  resolution--"Sir, would you prefer 1,080 lines
  drawn on-screen in an odd/even or interlaced
  pattern, or 720p, 720 lines scanned in one sweep,
  or progressively? Plasma or cathode-ray tubes?"
• There is so much to know about HDTV. A co-worker
  told me the story of his friend, who had just
  bought a big-screen HDTV and invited everyone
  over to watch the game. They stood around
  oooohing and aaaahing.
• But my co-worker, who owns an HDTV, thought
  something was amiss. Turns out that, while the
  friend owned an HDTV, he didn't know that he also
  needed to upgrade his cable box to HDTV.
  (Research shows as many as half the consumers
  with HDTV sets aren't actually receiving it.)
• I contacted a friend who had just bought an HDTV
  and had used Consumer Reports as his guide to
  help me sift through all the confusion. I
  determined that a 36-inch screen fit my family's
  needs perfectly. For that size, Consumer Reports
  says sets with cathode-ray tubes, although bulky
  and heavy, still offer the best picture quality
  and value.
• The magazine recommended a Sony model selling for
  about 1,100. Circuit City had a floor model for
  sale for around 900. We were in the process of
  buying it when the salesman mentioned that the
  set he had in his house was better. (I bet he
  says that to all his customers.)
• It was a Polaroid--yes, a Polaroid. He showed me
  a lightweight, plasma Polaroid. It was
  beautiful--just an inch or so deep, and I could
  lift it with one hand. Impulsively, I changed my
  mind. I took it home and turned on the football
  game. My son saw it and proclaimed, "Dad, it's
  all blurry." He was right. So I boxed it up, took
  it back and got the Sony.
• The Sony picture was clear and clean, even before
  I had it hooked up to HDTV. Now I thought it
  would be a good time to try something really new.
  Rather than get my HDTV set-top box from a cable
  or satellite provider, I could use Verizon Fios.
  (We happen to live in Keller, Texas, the first
  area in the country to offer Verizon's new
  fiber-optic connection.)
• We watched our first NFL playoff game in HDTV,
  and it was beautiful. When we watched an HDTV
  underwater special on the Discovery channel, we
  thought the fish would jump through the screen.
  Everything is beautiful. Letterman and Leno
  somehow seem funnier in HDTV.
• As my son remarked, "Life should be in HDTV,
  Dad."
• Indeed, son, indeed.

5
After analogue TV ceases ?

• 1st Border 20082nd West Country 20083rd HTV
  Wales 20084th Granada 20095th HTV West 20096th
  Grampian 20097th Scottish TV 20098th Central
  20109th Yorkshire 201010th Anglia 201011th
  Meridian 201112th Carlton/LWT 201113th Tyne
  Tees 201114th Ulster 201115th Channel 2012

6
What do we do after 2009 ?

• Can use analogue TV with STB
• Existing Freeview , ky or cable boxes can be
  connected to old TVs via SCART
• Some boxes have modulator so connection via
  aerial socket possible
• Very few Freeview STBs have a modulator- SCART or
  phono connection only.

7
After 2009 continued

• VCRs may not be much use but modulator may
  allow them to act as interface between Freeview
  STB and non-SCART TV.
• VCR being ousted by PVR / DVD recorders anyway
• Not many of above have 2 tuners (for recording 1
  channel whilst viewing another).

8
Communal aerial SMATV issues

• THOUSANDS of Glasgow tenants could have their
  tellies switched off - unless housing bosses act
  quickly.
• Satellite TV giant Sky today warned that social
  landlords across the city are being too slow in
  changing over to digital technology.
• And the Government plans to stop broadcasting in
  the old analogue system as early as 2009.
• Many tenants and home owners have already
  switched to digital by buying a set-top box from
  Freeview or a satellite dish from Sky.
• But social landlords - housing associations and
  councils - have to make the switch for tenants
  who live in large buildings, such as tower
  blocks, with communal aerials.
• Simon Jackson, Head of Sky Homes, said "In just
  two years' time, the Government plans to begin
  switching off analogue television - landlords
  need to act now to upgrade their aerial systems."
  
• Glasgow and the west of Scotland, which has a
  higher density of tower blocks than anywhere else
  in Britain, is particularly vulnerable.
• The UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport,
  the Government's ministry in charge of the
  switchover, last year revealed that half of all
  registered landlords had not even started
  upgrading their aerial systems.
• One Glasgow housing association, however, is well
  on the way to sorting things out for its tenants
  bygiving them early access to all the free-to-air
  channels available, like CBBC, BBC3 and Sky News.

9
PVR / DVR ?

• There are no Twin Tuner PVRs that also have DVD
  burners.You can buyAn HDD-DVD machine with a
  single Freeview tunerAn HDD only machine (PVR)
  with two tuners.If you get the latter, you can
  connect via RGB (preferably) to your existing DVD
  recorder and create a disc for something you want
  to keep.
• You can also use the internal HDD for
  recording/timeshifting.
• Editing features on PVRs are usually very
  limited/basic.

10
Sky Hi-Def plans

• http//hd.sky.com/
• Launches in 2006
• Sky HiDef box (400) will initially output HD
  via its analogue component outputs
• Ultimately will only output HD via (secure) HDMI
  (digital) output
• HDMI uses HDCP content protection- requires
  display device with HDCP built in

11
Late March 2006 ky announcement

• Sky has moved closer to the launch of its
  (HDTV) service. The company today announced
  pricing details and confirmed that the first
  installations of Sky HD are scheduled to begin in
  May 2006.
• Customers will pay 299 ( 433) for the Sky HD
  set-top box and 10 ( 14) per month in addition to
  their Sky digital subscription. As an
  introductory offer, standard installation of Sky
  HD is free for all new or existing Sky digital
  subscribers taking a Sky HD subscription.

12
BBC press release ,Feb 20th 2006

• BBC commits to HD on FreeSat and onlineThe BBC
  plans to make high-definition television
  available through its online media player and
  free satellite platforms. The corporation's plans
  come as British Sky Broadcasting is expected to
  launch commercial HD services within three
  months, predicting the number of homes with sets
  capable of displaying high-definition images will
  rise from 700,000 to 2.1m this year.Ashley
  Highfield, the BBC's director of new media and
  technology, said "We want to be ready to move
  with HD on to FreeSat and I'm also very
  interested in getting HD on to the interactive
  media player."

13
Sky Italia

• SKY Italia HD package.
• SKY Italia has leased an additional HOT BIRD
  transponder taking its total capacity used across
  Eutelsat's HOT BIRD satellites to 18
  transponders. Launches 17th May with live
  coverage of the European Champions League Cup
  Final.
• In June, SKY Italia will cover 2006 World Cup.
  sting in DVB S2 with MPEG4 compression.
• SKY Italia will put up to 5 HDTV channels in a
  single HOT BIRD transponder

14
Other HD sources

• BBC carrying out tests and announced HD via
  satellite by May/June 2006
• NTL / Telewest making HD noises nothing firm .
  Telewest previewed an MPEG2 HiDef box at IBC in
  Sept 2005. My spies tell me it is now trialling
  in UK (made by SA) and has HDMI output.
• HD1 (formerly Euro1080) already available. This
  is currently using MPEG2, will move to MPEG4
• German channel Premiere, Sat1 , ProSieben
• Astra and French HD tests
• Check http//lyngsat.com/hd/index.html
• http//www.kingofsat.net/en/hdtv.php

15
Modulation and encoding

• MPEG4, especially H264/AVC, much more efficient
  vs MPEG2 (but needs more processing power).
• DVB-S2 (usually combined with 8PSK instead of
  qpsk) enables more channel efficiency.
• If used for terrestrial will obsolete the MPEG
  decoder in current IDTVs STBs.
• IDTV owners would have to buy an external STB ,
  defeating the original object of integration !

16
HD Ready (what this logo should mean)

• To be able to legally sport the logo a display
  device must
• Have at least 720 lines native resolutionHave
  approx 169 aspect ratioHD inputs must accept
  720p and 1080i resolutionHD inputs must accept
  component and digital inputs HD inputs must
  accept 50 and 60HzDigital inputs may be DVI or
  HDMIDigital inputs must accept HDCPThere are
  many sets that do not meet those requirements,
  and they will be cheaper than those that do.
• HD compatible means either the set was produced
  before the logo certification system existed or 1
  or more of the above conditions is not met (e.g.
  no digital input)

17
Resolution

• 720P 1280 x 720 pixels , progressive
• 1080i 1920 x 1080 pixels , interlaced i.e.
  sequential fields(input)
• 1080p 1920 x 1080 pixels, pixels updated twice
  as often.
• Forget 1080P at present no affordable sources
  (some 1000 HD-DVD players, possibly some games
  ).
• 1080P needs lots of bandwidth (expensive to
  transmit)
• Would need 50 or 60 inch screen viewed from less
  than 8 feet to notice any difference !
• May be affordable (under 2000) by 2008
• NB EDTV 852 x 480 (USA marketing term)

18
High Definition DVD format war

• BluRay Sony (new Playstation has Blu-Ray DVD
  player)
• HD-DVD Toshiba Microsoft and Intel
• Hollywood split Time Warner, Paramount, NBC
  Universal Viacom HD-DVD. Disney, Fox , Sony
  and MGM (Sony owned) backing Blu-Ray
• Samsung already announced a hybrid DVD player
  others hopefully will follow

19
HD-DVD camp

• Microsoft CorpIntel CorpToshiba-Samsung Storage
  Technologies (TSST)NEC CorporationToshiba
  CorporationSanyo CorporationMemory-Tech
  CorporationVerbatim (Mitsubishi Kagaku Media Co
  Ltd)Hitachi Maxell LtdDM holdings Inc
  (DenonMarantz)Alpine Electronics IncOnkyo
  CorporationBandai Visual Co LtdFuji Photo Film
  Co LtdKenwood CorporationRicoh Company
  LtdFunai Electric Co LtdRitek CorporationAcer
  IncKonica Minolta Opto IncTeac
  CorporationSumitomo Heavy Industries LtdToho
  Company LtdViacom (owns Paramount Pictures
  Home Entertainment, and 33 of United
  International PicturesGeneral Electric majority
  owner Vivendi 20 of NBC-Universal which
  includes Universal Pictures)Time Warner
  Inc(Warner Brothers, New Line Cinema, Warner
  Music)Digital Theater Systems IncDolby
  Laboratories IncImation CorpProdisc Technology
  IncRitek CorporationThomson

20
Blu-Ray camp

• - Sony Corporation - Sony BMG Music
  Entertainment- Hitachi Ltd- Mitsubishi Electric
  Corporation, Mitsubishi Kagaku Media Co Ltd
  (Verbatim)- Panasonic (Matsusita Electric)-
  Victor Company of Japan, Limited (subsidiary of
  Matsu)- Pioneer Corporation- Sharp
  Corporation- TDK Corporation- Yamaha
  Corporation- DM holdings Inc (DenonMarantz)-
  Onkyo Corporation- Sanyo Electric Co Ltd-
  Mitsumi Electric Co Ltd- Kenwood TMI Corp-
  Canon Inc- Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd- Ricoh Co
  Ltd- Konica Minolta Opto Inc- Alpine
  Electronics Inc- Funai Electric Co Ltd- TEAC
  Corporation- Toho Company Ltd- Toei Video
  Company Ltd- Bandai Visual Co Ltd- Disney Corp
  (Touchstone Pictures, Buena Vista International,
  Miramax Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Dimension
  Films)- Apple Corp- Dell Inc.- Hewlett Packard
  Development Company- Imation Corp- Memorex
  Products Inc- Texas Instruments Inc- Sun
  Microsystems Inc- Digital Theater Systems Inc-
  Dolby Laboratories Inc- Sigma Designs Inc-
  nVidia Corporation- Sdi Media America-
  Electronic Arts Inc- Lsi Logic Corporation- LG
  Electronics Inc- Samsung Electronics Co Ltd-
  Daewoo Electronics Corporation- BenQ
  Corporation- Lite-On It Corporation- Ritek
  Corporation- CMC Magnetics Corporation-
  Optodisc Technology Corporation- Prodisc
  Technology Inc- MediaTek Inc- Royal Philips
  Electronics- Thomson- Vivendi Universal Games-
  Ati Technologies, Inc- Meridian Audio Ltd- News
  Corp (Twentieth Century Fox Film, Fox
  searchlight) AUSTRALIA- Lions Gate Inc-
  Universal Music- Zoran corporation

21
Differences Blu-ray and HD DVD ?

• Each has single-layer and dual-layer formats.
• HD DVD - 15GB and 30GB
• Blu-ray - 25GB and 50GB.
• Toshiba had expected HD DVD earlier (this year)
  but now plans to launch products worldwide in Q1,
  2006.
• Coincides with spring launch of Blu-ray,
  eliminating the early debut advantage.
• Blu-ray uses Sun Microsystems' Java software for
  built-in interactive features, whereas HD DVD
  uses a technology called iHD that Microsoft and
  Toshiba have worked on.

22
Display types

• CRT (not many are HD)
• Plasma on 6th-8th generation
• LCD improving fast
• SED likely from 2007or 8 1080p for 50 inch
  screens
• RPTV (DLP, LDC, LCoS). Good value, large n dark
• HT projectors prices dropping needs large room
• http//reviews.cnet.com/4520-6449_7-6331566-1.html
  ?tagnl.e501

23
CRT Cathode Ray Tube

• So-called direct view technology.
• Few HD models (Samsung, Sony , LG making slimmer,
  Philips ?)
• Geometry issues but best contrast etc.

24
LCD

• Progressive scan by default
• Response times improving (impossible to compare like with like as no
  standard method of specifying this ! This is 1
  cause of motion tracking errors.
• Backlight technology improving
• Some have audible hum/Buzz (PSU compromises in
  design)
• Insects can get trapped between layers !
• Not childproof unless extra glass front like
  Loewe models
• Half power of plasmas
• Contrast / greyscale issues poor blacks /
  greys. Easy to cook the specs to get high
  numbers on the glossy !
• Watch for dead pixels manufacturer policies vary

25
Dead Pixel policies and examples (CTL)

• 12" - 17" LCD Screens 2 lit, 2 unlit, or 4
  colored non-performing pixels
• 19" 20" LCD Screens 4 lit, 4 unlit, or 7
  colored non-performing pixels

26
Plasma screens

• Power hogs
• Good brightness / contrast
• Possible image burn in issues (logos if static)
• Regassing myth !
• Many are not HD how good is internal scaling ?

27
RPTV (Rear Projection)

• Great value if you have the space
• Full 1080p available needs 60 inch to
  distinguish advantage
• Poor brightness in daylight conditions
• Lots of space for connectivity
• Cheap way to get attention grabber tends to
  dominate a living room !

28
Home Theatre Projector

• Great if you have dedicated room / space
• UXGA / HD types
• Same technology base as RPTV
• Next
  some future happenings.

29
SED - Surface-conduction Electron-emitter Display

• http//www.behardware.com/articles/593-1/close-enc
  ounters-of-the-third-kind-sed.html
• Promises to eventually oust LCD / TFT with better
  contrast

30
HDR LCD the future ?

• A new patented variation on LCD backlighting from
  Brightside
• http//www.bit-tech.net/preview/hardware/brightsid
  e_hdr_edr/1.html
• Apparently very impressive
• Not yet licenced by the main display
  manufacturers will initially be costly
• Relies on dynamic variation of backlight level
• 50,000 for current 50-inch display !!!!
  (Canadian firm called Brightside , working on
  this since 1999)

31
LCD improvement

• Choice of White LED, RGB LED, OLED, CCFL hot
  cathode backlighting
• LED has aging problems unless compensated for
• RGB LEDs if switched fast (needs more complex
  control / diver ICs)
• Dramatic improvements possible as well as purer
  whites
• Luxeon hi-brightness LED market leaders

32
Color Gamut
130 70 100
Attainable Colors with CCFL LED Backlight
Systems
Colors that Human can See
33
RGB LEDs Controller AD5120
Color Sensors
Power Management
160V/0.4A per channel avg
AD5120
Color Control
3
12-Bit ADC
Signal Condition
110-240VAC
VREF
Look Up Table
Master Blinking
EEPROM
Timing Control
3
12-Bit PWM_G
Indep SHDN for FSC
12-Bit PWM_R
2
I2C Control Logic
12-Bit PWM_B
12-Bit PWM_G
Adjustable Digital Ramp
OSC
34
Connections - digital

• HDMI High Definition Multimedia Interface.
  Supports 165 MPixels/second (almost 5 Gbps). 19
  pins, supports audio packets, TMDS signal
  identical to DVI, 19 pin connector
• HDMI switches are newish and costly not many
  TVs have more than one.
• HDMI includes content protection (HDCP).
• For DVI it is a manufacturers option !
• DVI Digital Video Interface. No audio,-I has VGA
  (RGB) output (like Graphics cards).

• DVI-I DVI-D

35
Connections - Analogue

• VGA analogue RGBHV or RGB Csync
• YPrPb or component luminance colour
  difference signals , normally using phono sockets
  AKA RCA jacks.
• SCART has RGB or S-video , Cvbs (composite) and
  audio, fast blanking for RGB, pin 8 I/O
  switching. 21 pins.
• S-Video Y/C , luminance and chrominance widely
  used in camcorders

36
Motion Processing artifacts

• Blurring may be due to
• internal picture processing assistants (Pixel
  Plus, Crystal Vision etc.)
• or poor screen response (especially LCD with 25
  mSecs response
• or poor colourspace conversion or scaling
  (picture size / format conversion)
• 100 Hz interpolation processing done badly (on
  CRTs)
• Other artifacts can be due to
• Any of the above
• Or Poor MPEG decoding
• Or Over compression of the signal ( usually the
  broadcasters fault) stat-muxing
• Broadcasters may have used transcoding or
  transrating in the signal chain
• Look for display that allows turning off
  enhancement features not all do.

37
MotionBlur (extreme example)

• The same effect as frame blending (simulated
  motion in some games).
• Heres the correct image

38
Motion Blur

• Look for this by watching a soccer ball
• There may be other motion artifacts and jerkiness
  also, especially if the video transmission is
  over compressed.
• Javelin may jerk in flight as well as not
  appearing to be a straight line shape (aliasing
  jaggies)

39
How do you test / preview

• Take good DVD with you ask shop to play it
  through your chosen display device via decent
  connection (not composite or RF input)
• Go to A/V specialist shop you may pay a little
  more but youre paying for some decent advice and
  service.
• John Lewis 5 year gtee is often worth paying a
  little extra for (try a price-match attempt 1st)

40
Testing / Previews (contd.)

• Dont be fooled by DVD demos showing Toy Story,
  Monsters Inc and similar 3D cartoons
• These always look good even on a poor display
• Make allowances for poor signal distribution in
  DSG / Comet etc. when you compare
• Confirm that viewing angle will be ok for your
  room (especially with LCD displays)

41
Other points

• Cables do vary in quality but 30-50 for a
  SCART cable is only a placebo (but it is worth
  paying 5 rather than 1 in order to get
  individually screened cores).
• Digital connections should be less critical (as
  long as they are built such that they dont fall
  apart after a few insertion/extraction cycles)
• Surge/spike protectors are worth having,
  especially if they also have RFI filters
• Forget the guarantee on the above
• None will protect against a direct (or very near)
  lightening strike.

42
Brands to look at

• Genuine Japanese household names (Sony, Hitachi,
  Panasonic,Sharp,Toshiba,JVC , Sanyo, Mitsubishi ?
  etc. )
• LG Samsung (improving)
• Loewe
• (possibly/arguably) B O
• Dell but newish and unproven for displays
• Philips and Thomson very variable

43
Debatable Brands low end of market)

• Tevion / Medion (Aldi, ToysRus)
• Video Seven, Crown , Acer
• Benq (good name in USA)
• Bush, Goodmans , Alba , Wharfedale, Pye, Grundig
  all are marketing names trying to live off
  reputation they had when they were real
  manufacturing companies
• H B French marketing company
• Beko ,Vestel, Fusion Turkish (make low end sets
  for Toshiba, Philips and others as branding
  exercise)
• Orion, Naiko, Akura, Watson, Mikomi

44
Some setup hints 1

• LOOKS LIKE NORMAL TV
• TV channels look same as before HD was installed
  
• Have you connected your HD box using the HDMI
  lead ?
• You could still be actually watching SDTV !
  Ensure your box is set to HDMI output
• Confirm you are tuned to an HD channel
• The new HD channels sit alongside the old SD
  ones, and you may inadvertently have tuned in to
  the lower-quality digital signal.

45
Some setup hints 2

• POOR SD PICTURE
• Common complaint about new HDTV set-ups is that
  the picture quality of SD material is poor, with
  huge gaps in detail
• Standard definition programmes have only 480
  lines of information rather than the 720 or 1,080
  of HD.
• So when you buy a large new flat screen the
  picture quality on SD programmes is woeful.
• Unfortunately, there's no real affordable
  solution, with upscalers capable of changing 480
  into 720 costing up to GBP1,250 (Lumagen, Iscan
  etc.)
• Manufacturers promise that next generation of TVs
  will have better upscaling software built-in as
  standard.

46
Gaudy bright cloours

• Not a problem with high-definition, rather the
  way manufacturers set up their TVs before
  shipping them
• To make them stand out on the shop floor, colours
  are always set too bright and vibrant.
• Go into your TV's menu, choose the
  picture-settings option and adjust all the
  elements until you get a more natural image.
• If you need help with this, look out for
  THX-certified DVD movies e.g. Star Wars titles
  many Disney, which often come with THX Optimizer
  in the special features list on DVD. This walks
  you through the process.
• Otherwise purchase Avia or Video Essentials DVD

47
Heavy Contrast

• If the protagonists in your HD drama stand out a
  little too far from the crowd, with what appears
  to be a halo of white around them, it could well
  be that your TV's contrast setting is too high.
• This is often a problem if you had your
  flatscreen TV before you got HD, and the contrast
  was boosted to improve the picture on SD
  broadcasts
• Similar solution to Overly Bright Colours.
• Enter your TV's picture-settings menu and adjust
  the contrast until the lines disappear and normal
  service is resumed. If necessary, use a THX
  Optimizer (see box above) to help you calibrate
  the settings.

48
Films blurred, out of focus

• Are movies a disappointment ? Perhaps your TV is
  outputting at too low a resolution.
• There are 2 HD formats 720p and 1,080i.
• While sport looks great in 720p - faster image
  updates to follow the action more easily this
  is non optimum sharpness for films at this
  resolution.
• If your HD box's settings menu allows it, set it
  to output to your screen in its 'native'
  resolution - ie, how it's broadcast - rather than
  default to 720p or 1,080i.
• This allows the processing software in your TV to
  deal with the image and (hopefully) make it look
  its best.

49
Artifacts in dark areas

• When you look at the dark areas of an HD image,
  there are annoying amounts of movement in the
  picture, as if the black is 'crawling' across the
  screen.
• This irritating problem, known as 'dynamic false
  contouring', is the result of poor signal
  processing
• The answer ?
• New TV !
• Be warned, when looking for a new screen -
  particularly from one of the less well known
  brands - ensure you test it with some dark images
  before parting with your money.