[opendtv] Re: Toward digital TV
- From: "Manfredi, Albert E" <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 18 Dec 2005 18:25:07 -0500
Bob Miller wrote:
>> I wouldn't underestimate what the European TV retailer has
>> to do to get that signal in his store, at their lower power
>> levels, or to get a useful in the customer premises.
>> Professional TV antenna installations are the norm over
>> there, *even* in downtown residences.
>
> Where do you read that it is the norm?
By going there?
> Even if it was the reality is that with an antenna they can
> get rock solid reception. No if ands or buts. No store in
> NYC can do that that I am aware of.
I don't know about NYC, but it would certainly be no big
shakes for a store in the Washington area to install an
outdoor antenna and feed their display DTVs. In fact, they
used to do this at first, in the bad old days of 1st gen
receivers.
> I was in a Radio Shack store in Michigan recenlty. They
> should be awash with DTV receivers. They had none. And they
> could not get reception of nearby broadcasters. Such a
> store in the UK this time of year would have receivers
> stacked all over the place.
I agree that stores this year should have lots of DTT
receivers for sale, at a price I thought would have been about
$130 this holiday season. Instead, prices you see are between
$200 and $250. Last year, prices went from $200 to $300 and up,
so there might be a slight reduction overall. (Then again,
analog shutoff has been postponed to 2009 at least, so perhaps
that's their excuse? Who knows.)
I am simply saying that DVB-T would not change this. If there
is no technical reason why this year and last year are not
very different, then whatever reason there is would apply to
any type of DTT receiver.
Remember: 5th gen LG STBs *are* *on* *sale* (oh, with DirecTV
service). So let's not invent some ludicrous reasons why they,
and other 4th/5th gen receivers, can't be on shelves.
I went to Circuit City. I found a decent assortment of ATSC
STBs and of indoor antennas, right next to the STBs. Good
for Circuit City. And these were not hidden away. They are
right at the front of the store, along with DVD players,
TiVos, and other such items.
They had LG STBs. The one with DirecTV service, which is
apparently the 5th gen box, had such a big discount that they
would *pay* the customer 1 cent to take it off the shelf.
They had the LG LST 3510A, which I understand is 3rd gen. It
went for about $230.
They had Samsung SRT451. I'm not positive about these, but
believe they are also not Gemini chip boxes (the one tested
by the CRC), because they were around last year too.
They also had a no-name box. Who knows? Maybe it's a Humax,
in which case it could be a good deal. But it too went for
some $200.
The funny thing is, *now* is the time when these ATSC
products can still differentiate themselves. Soon, they will
be commodity items like DVB-T receivers have become. So why
aren't they out there strutting their stuff?
Bert
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