Connections Heads-up...and Cheap Cable Reminder
Analog Sunset.
Was checking out BD Players on display at Sam's and saw that a LOT of players now have HDMI connection ONLY.
FORTUNATELY, if you look at the boxes you can find (in small print) the words "No analog connections." This probably doesn't mean much to the average consumer, until you get it home and can't connect it to your TV, that is. Personally, I think they should do what is done with TV's...show a diagram of the connections so people have a visual reminder of what they can connect.
While recent TV's have at least one HDMI...you may run into trouble if you want to connect multiple devices to your TV but have limited number of options (like two devices and only ONE HDMI port).
Now, if your TV DOESN'T have HDMI...you may be in trouble. However, there are still models that support component (red, blue, green cables) and even a couple with old RCA composite (red, yellow, white) jacks.
Fortunately, satelite and cable companies still use boxes with older jacks in the back, so if you have it connected via HDMI, you can drop it to component to make room for your digital only BD player.
Fewer and fewer inputs/outputs makes me sad. How's a guy supposed to connect his SNES, N64, and 9 year old DVD player (Sony Psyc, it's been a workhorse!) if you've got just ONE S-Video input?
And speaking of cable boxes, just a reminder about Clear QAM...you DID know that the 'Basic' service your cable company offers isn't their cheapest offering? If you check, in most areas you can find a 'Broadcast' service, which gives you the local channels (in Hi-Def, mind you!) and a hodge-podge of other channels for around 10 bucks. Another nifty thing is that since these are clear channels and not scrambled, you don't need to mess with a decoder box...just connect the cable straight into your TV. Only downside is that sometimes the virtual channels for the digital stations change and you have to do a 'channel search' to find it again. So, yeah, cable (of a sort) for just $10. Not a plethora of networks (varies by provider/area, I understand), but enough to watch NFL in HD on Sundays. If you google clear qam and your provider, you MIGHT find a listing of what channels are available.
Perhaps the best thing about this set-up...you can render the Dish Network/DirecTV people speechless when they approach you at stores...
"Did you know you can save money with satelite? How much do you currently pay for cable?"
"'Bout ten bucks."
"...oh..."
EDIT: Did a quick google myself and found this link to CNET article about Clear QAM channels It does a better job of explaining than I.
Was checking out BD Players on display at Sam's and saw that a LOT of players now have HDMI connection ONLY.
FORTUNATELY, if you look at the boxes you can find (in small print) the words "No analog connections." This probably doesn't mean much to the average consumer, until you get it home and can't connect it to your TV, that is. Personally, I think they should do what is done with TV's...show a diagram of the connections so people have a visual reminder of what they can connect.
While recent TV's have at least one HDMI...you may run into trouble if you want to connect multiple devices to your TV but have limited number of options (like two devices and only ONE HDMI port).
Now, if your TV DOESN'T have HDMI...you may be in trouble. However, there are still models that support component (red, blue, green cables) and even a couple with old RCA composite (red, yellow, white) jacks.
Fortunately, satelite and cable companies still use boxes with older jacks in the back, so if you have it connected via HDMI, you can drop it to component to make room for your digital only BD player.
Fewer and fewer inputs/outputs makes me sad. How's a guy supposed to connect his SNES, N64, and 9 year old DVD player (Sony Psyc, it's been a workhorse!) if you've got just ONE S-Video input?
And speaking of cable boxes, just a reminder about Clear QAM...you DID know that the 'Basic' service your cable company offers isn't their cheapest offering? If you check, in most areas you can find a 'Broadcast' service, which gives you the local channels (in Hi-Def, mind you!) and a hodge-podge of other channels for around 10 bucks. Another nifty thing is that since these are clear channels and not scrambled, you don't need to mess with a decoder box...just connect the cable straight into your TV. Only downside is that sometimes the virtual channels for the digital stations change and you have to do a 'channel search' to find it again. So, yeah, cable (of a sort) for just $10. Not a plethora of networks (varies by provider/area, I understand), but enough to watch NFL in HD on Sundays. If you google clear qam and your provider, you MIGHT find a listing of what channels are available.
Perhaps the best thing about this set-up...you can render the Dish Network/DirecTV people speechless when they approach you at stores...
"Did you know you can save money with satelite? How much do you currently pay for cable?"
"'Bout ten bucks."
"...oh..."
EDIT: Did a quick google myself and found this link to CNET article about Clear QAM channels It does a better job of explaining than I.