HDTV Systems Information

HDTV Broadcast Systems Information
Ever since High Definition Television (HDTV) came into the consumer domain, I did not understand all the numbers that were attached to it. I figured the higher the number the better it must be, after all bigger must be better. After much research, reading and re-reading, manuals and HDTV specifications, I was able to break the code. With that said, HDTV is an extremely scientific subject dealing with compression ratios of a digital signal, which is effected by the recording and broadcasting compression rates.

There are basically three major parameters that identify HDTV systems.
1. Frame size, which is denoted in Pixels, is the number of horizontal pixels by the number of vertical pixels. This is where you will usually see the numbers, 1280 X 720 or 1920 X 1080. Normally the number of horizontal pixels are constant based on the vertical pixels, and are usually omitted. That is why you will usually see only the 720 or 1080 numbers regarding the frame size.
2. Scanning system, is identified by the letter p, which stands for progressive scanning, or the letter i, for interlaced scanning. Progressive scanning simultaneously displays all 1,080 lines of resolution at 60 frames per second. The interlaced scanning systems, the 1,080 lines of resolution are divided into pairs, the first 540 alternate lines are painted on a frame, and the second 540 lines are painted on a second frame, effectively reducing the bandwidth.
3. Frame rate is the number of video frames per second.
When you see the numbers, 1920 X 1080p25, it represents the horizontal pixels of 1920, the vertical pixels of 1080, the letter p for progressive scanning, and the 25 that represents the number of video frames per second or the frame rate. This same representation may be written as, 1080p25, and I have seen it written just 1080p.
The configuration of 1080i25 or 1080i50, identifies an interlaced scanning system with a frame size of 1920 X 1080 pixels, and the frame rate noted as 25 for the frame rate per second or the 50 for the number of fields (remember the interlaced system was divided into pairs, so 50 number for fields is a different way of saying 25 frames per second).
Last but not least, in order to view High Definition TV, it must be initially recorded in HD, broadcast in HD, and connected to a HDTV using HDMI or component video cables that support the HD digital signal. If you use your old cables to connect your HD box, cable, or satellite TV and they are the standard SDTV cables, you will not be watching HDTV.

Internet Shopping and Returns

To start with a personal note, sorry it has taken me so long to get back with another post. Since I have retired, I don’t know how I had time to work before. Back to the subject at hand, recently I had ordered a product from one of the stores associated with, TBD Associates Electronic Stores. When I received the item I realized that it was the wrong one. I contacted the store, and was sent to their return policy section. To my surprise, it was very easy to follow the instructions and was put in contact with the product provider, via email. I explained the situation, the item I received was not the one that I had ordered, and included attachments showing the item description that I had ordered and the one I had received. Now, I sent this email at about 7:00 pm. The next morning at 7:30 am, I had received an email stating that they had received my email and were in the process of reviewing it and would get back with me as soon as possible. Now, regular stores say this and usually after a week, you have to repeat the process as there are no records of your initial call and the person that you talked with is not working. Again to my surprise, I received another email from them early in the afternoon, the same day. They had researched my complaint and found that an error had been made. They then stated that the item I wanted, and repeated it’s description, was in stock and cost $10.00 more than my original purchase. However, due to the error on their part, if I still wanted the item there would be no additional charges. Well to say the least I immediately returned the email stating that I definitely wanted the item. They informed me that the return shipping labels would be sent to me with-in the next several days and the proper item would be sent out. In most cases that would have been the end of the deal. Several days later, I received a follow-up call from the provider, who assured me that he was going to double check and make sure that everything was taken care of in accordance with our understanding.

No matter who we deal with, when humans are involved, mistakes will happen. What I tend to look at is not the problem, but how I am treated, and how they resolve the issue is what I look at. In a regular store, to return an item can be a contest of wills, not to mention the time to drive to the location, walk inside with the item and being viewed as if you may have stolen the item. The sales person usually has to call a supervisor, more waiting, you again explain it to the supervisor, he looks you up and down and then removes the item from the box, inspects it for any external damage, then has you fill-out a return/exchange form and of course wants to see your original sales receipt, along with your personal identification to verify your name and address. This process can take anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes, to an hour. All together you spent time driving, parking, waiting in line and going through the inspection process. Now, with the Internet I spent a total of about 15 minutes, no driving, no parking, no dealing with crowds, and no dealing with the salesperson, supervisor or manager.
Basically, if you are dealing with a reputable store or company online, they will usually treat you fairly. They know that customers on the Internet expect to be treated fairly and quickly, or they will not return. Whereas a lot of physical stores don’t really care, there are always more customers. I also realize that there are horror stories about online shopping problems also, but in my experience, when dealing with a reputable store online I have always been treated fairly and respectably.
Send me your comments on the good and bad experiences you have had dealing with stores and with the Internet.

How Men Shop for Home Electronics

The last place a man wants to be on a Sunday afternoon, is in a mall or being dragged all over town by their spouse, shopping. Going from store to store, touching, squeezing, comparing, and trying out or on, every item in a store. Except; tools, gym equipment, electronics, automobiles' and or auto parts, or camping gear. These are the area's that the spouse will never visit and if you happen to wander away, she'll know right where to find you, refer to the above list.



Men shop very differently from women. We usually know exactly what we want, what store it is in, where it is located, and about how much it will cost. We drive to the store, park, walk in, go directly to what we want, check the price, close does count here, pay for it and leave. Mission completed in under 15 minutes.

Most men will never shop on the Internet, it is confusing, frustrating and they don't know anything about it. Since most men don't like to go shopping, the Internet is actually the best way to do it. Get brand named items, at the same or reduced price, and delivered. You don't have to get dressed, you save time, gas, money and frustration.



Buying Home Electronics



Men usually have thought about buying a home electronic device, but not understanding all the technical information will usually decide to do it later. In this case we will discuss the process the man uses to purchase a High Definition Television, normally referred to as an HDTV. As a test ask any man what HDTV stands for, most will not know unless they have purchased one recently. What motivates a man to buy an HDTV. Usually, he will go to a friends house to watch a sporting event. The friend has invited him over to see the game on his New 60" LCD HDTV which he had just purchased. As the man enters his friends living room and See's the HDTV for the first time he is impressed with it's size, the bigger the better. The friend then tell and shows him everything about the HDTV. The clarity, the size, everything that the remote allows you to do, and finally the price. The man's first thought is he can not spend that much for a TV, his mind then begins calculating if there is a way he can afford to buy it and then begins to put together a plan to connivance the wife that they need a new HDTV. The game starts and the man is impressed, he now wants, needs an HDTV. The man returns home and realizes that his TV is like looking at the old black and white TV, and comparing it to the color TV. His mind is made up, armed with the information from his friend he goes to the local electronics store, walks directly to the HDTV and quickly finds the 60" one his friend has. He will glance at the other HDTV's. If there is a bigger one, he may look at it, calculate the extra size, price, and review his plan for the wife's approval. If anyone of these factors are a negative, he will return to the salesman and purchase the 60" HDTV, he will make a delivery date and time so that the wife will not be present, knowing that once she See's the size and clarity of the picture, she will agree with his purchase.



Buying Home Electronics on the Internet



My first attempt at buying a HDTV over the Internet was a failure. The only thing I knew was I had to go to a search place and put in what I wanted, and that's what I did. I went to the google search and entered "HDTV". I got back, 256,000,000 sites that had something to do with HDTV. On the first page on the top and right side were advertisements, so I started with them. After about 1/2 hour of going from one site and then back to the search page and then to the next site I was getting frustrated. Then I looked at the websites listed on the page, there were 10 of them. Several were for electronic stores, some were for buying guides, comparisons, magazines, and how HDTV works. So I click Thur all of them and did not find what I wanted, went Thur page #2 and found more of the same I had found on the first page. My frustration is growing, but I want that HDTV, I am determined so I decide to look for "To buy HDTV's". Now I found 91,000,000 sites that dealt with buying HDTV. There were again several stores listed, but there were also sites listed as How to buy HDTV's, and why to buy them. I am now determined not to get beat by a machine, I will find what I am looking for. Okay, now I type in "Electronic Stores", this has to list just stores, right, nope guess again. There were 732,000,000 sites as having Electronic Stores. A majority of the sites listed were store's and I went through several of those sites, again bouncing from site to listings and to another site. Also listed were consumer reviews on HDTV's, consumer reports and a government report titled, 2007 NAICS definitions. The last and final time I typed in, "HDTV STORES". There were 33,700,000 sites found, and again there were several stores listed and listings such as, How to find HDTV's, compare, review, and buy HDTV's. I had spent several hours, could not find the TV I wanted, or at the price I wanted. The Internet destroyed me, I gave up, and refused to ever use it again. After all, I could spend half the time and drive to a store and buy it.



How to find Home Electronics on the Internet



After this experience I did not even think about the Internet for a long time. Then with the financial crisis and the cost of gas, I got to thinking that the Internet would be a good place to purchase items I needed. My 16 year old daughter is in to MP 3's, Ipods, and her music, My 26 year old son wants I-phones, Plasma flat screen TV's and other electronic gadgets. What was needed was a website that could put all these things together, wide variety of brand name, off brand, and discount Home electronics and accessories. That would make it possible for me to go to one place to find what I wanted. Again, after hunting the Internet for several hours, I could not find a site that had HD, LCD TV's, MP3 players, Ipods, and their music or,Iphones, and GPS systems (I get lost a lot when i am driving).



I went on the Internet, visited Hundreds of websites and read reviews on thousands of others. I took what I felt were the best sites for HDTV, plasma TV, GPS', MP3 players, I-pods, music for the mp3 players and Ipods, I-phones and the accessories for these items. Listed them on my website, http://www.tbd-associates-electronic-stores.com/. You can save time, money and the best is your piece of mind. No more frustration looking for site's that are easy to review, secure and allow you to compare the items and prices so you can get the item you want at the price you want. It is very simple, got to http://tbd-associates-electronics-stores.com/. Looking for HDTV's, click on the HDTV button at the top of the page, click on the stores logo you want to review and your there. Didn't find what you wanted, return to the HDTV page, pick another store and click on the logo of that store and view their site. You can view/buy 100's of HDTV's in 10 to 15 minutes.