Astros in HD for Next Few Nights

[Limey]

Tonight, tomorrow and Sunday on Ch. 302 on Time Warner.

[Matt]

Is the HD worth a new tv?  I've never seen a baseball game on HD but was impressed with an NHL game on HD.  Just contemplating on making the upgrade here soon.

[Limey]

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Is the HD worth a new tv?  I've never seen a baseball game on HD but was impressed with an NHL game on HD.  Just contemplating on making the upgrade here soon.

Sports in HD is fantastic.  During the World Cup, I watch two games in HD, then whatever golf tourney that was on, then I switched over to KNWS for the Astros.

It was as if someone had plucked out my eyes.

HD sets are getting cheaper, and for the average sports TV junkie well worth the cost.  Just make sure you have access to decent HD programming.

[CJM]

It's like watching a different game when you see baseball in HD.  Besides the great picture quality, you get the benefit of the widescreen (16x9) view.  You can see so much more of the game.


Thanks for the heads up Limey- the game on 8/25 vs. the Brewers was listed on the TWC site as being in HD, yet it wasn't (there were a couple of others this month that were listed but were never shown).  I really hope they give these three games.

ETA:  Time Warner and FSN did get it right this time- The pre-game show is already on channel 302.  Thanks again Limey, I would've never checked tonight.

[T. J.]

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Is the HD worth a new tv?  I've never seen a baseball game on HD but was impressed with an NHL game on HD.  Just contemplating on making the upgrade here soon.

In my opinion, definitely.  The difference between regular TV and HDTV is like the difference between black-and-white and color.  After watching HDTV, it's nearly impossible to go back.

[Andyzipp]

Are you really asking this sausage festival if a new expensive piece of technology is worth it?

Really?

[Limey]

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Are you really asking this sausage festival if a new expensive piece of technology is worth it?

Really?

Check out this baby!

[Limey]

Wandy's starting tonight.  Better get an update on his facial herpes before deciding to tune in to the HD feed.

[jeffrey]

Austin Time Warner has yet to come through with an HD Astros game this year, as far as I can tell.  No matter what the FSN-HD schedule says, we just get black screens or test patterns.

[austro]

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Austin Time Warner has yet to come through with an HD Astros game this year, as far as I can tell.  No matter what the FSN-HD schedule says, we just get black screens or test patterns.

I check every night, and I have yet to stumble across one.  They had several last year; I don't understand the regression.

[ValpoCory]

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Austin Time Warner has yet to come through with an HD Astros game this year, as far as I can tell.  No matter what the FSN-HD schedule says, we just get black screens or test patterns.

I check every night, and I have yet to stumble across one.  They had several last year; I don't understand the regression.

Exactly.  Austin Astros/Texans HD programming sucks.  FOXHD and ESPNHD (if you pay the extra for the Premium HD stations) are the places you see the Astros in HD in Austin.

[Tralfaz]

You might try Ringers downtown for the HD broadcasts, but I'd call first to make sure.

 Edit to add:  In Austin

[Matt]

I just purchased a new fangled xbox which is heavily recommended for HD to get the best picture so I figured if the tv programming was worthwhile to go ahead and make the plunge.  I have seen some reasonably priced HDTVs recently so that helps.  Unfortunately being in southern california only allows me to get Astros games in HD whenever they're on ESPN.  I know the Angels and Ducks games have a robust HD schedule though.

[Limey]

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I just purchased a new fangled xbox which is heavily recommended for HD to get the best picture so I figured if the tv programming was worthwhile to go ahead and make the plunge.  I have seen some reasonably priced HDTVs recently so that helps.  Unfortunately being in southern california only allows me to get Astros games in HD whenever they're on ESPN.  I know the Angels and Ducks games have a robust HD schedule though.

Make sure you have enough component HD video inputs to handle all your stuff.  You'll want one for your satellite/cable, one for your DVD player (you get a better picture when you hook up your HD TV to a DVD with progressive scan - which almost all have as standard these days), and one for your XBox.

Most likely you'll want two rear component inputs and one front.

[HudsonHawk]

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It's like watching a different game when you see baseball in HD.  Besides the great picture quality, you get the benefit of the widescreen (16x9) view.  You can see so much more of the game.
 

Do they actually use a different camera for broadcasting in HD?  If not, then you're actually getting less picture than a regular screen.

[Limey]

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Do they actually use a different camera for broadcasting in HD?  If not, then you're actually getting less picture than a regular screen.

They must use the same camera.  What you get is the same vertical picture, but an extra couple of inches on either side of the frame.  And who doesn't like an extra couple of inches?

[Bench]

 

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Most likely you'll want two rear component inputs and one front.
 

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And who doesn't like an extra couple of inches?

I'm sensing a theme here, Limey.

[Limey]

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I'm sensing a theme here, Limey.

I'm not responsible for how your brain interprets things.

[Craig]

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I just purchased a new fangled xbox which is heavily recommended for HD to get the best picture so I figured if the tv programming was worthwhile to go ahead and make the plunge.  I have seen some reasonably priced HDTVs recently so that helps.  Unfortunately being in southern california only allows me to get Astros games in HD whenever they're on ESPN.  I know the Angels and Ducks games have a robust HD schedule though.

Make sure you have enough component HD video inputs to handle all your stuff.  You'll want one for your satellite/cable, one for your DVD player (you get a better picture when you hook up your HD TV to a DVD with progressive scan - which almost all have as standard these days), and one for your XBox.

Most likely you'll want two rear component inputs and one front.

I'll just reiterate what Limey said. MAKE SURE you get enough component video inputs. At least three would be best, like he said. (And be sure it's "component" ... it can be confusing because there are also "composite" video inputs. But the ones you want are "component.")

We bought HD a few years ago and had to really shop around to find one with two component inputs. Two inputs is workable, but with satellite taking one slot and the Xbox360 taking the other, we have no place to plug in the DVD player. So the Xbox doubles as a video player, but that's not the best option.

My brother-in-law just bought an HD TV that we have to go hook up this weekend. It sounds like they just went and bought something without researching, and they got a TV with only one component video input. Since they have satellite, that will take the slot. I guess they have to unplug satellite to watch a DVD.

Oh yeah, and don't be surprised if you end up buying a shitpile of new video cables. All that old coax is pretty much useless now.

[HudsonHawk]

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Do they actually use a different camera for broadcasting in HD?  If not, then you're actually getting less picture than a regular screen.

They must use the same camera.  What you get is the same vertical picture, but an extra couple of inches on either side of the frame.  And who doesn't like an extra couple of inches?

If they use the same camera, you get the same field of vision.  They may stretch the picture to fit a different aspect ratio, but it's the same field of vision as a regular screen.  You dont' get any more inches in HD, despite what you tell your wife.

[CJM]

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It's like watching a different game when you see baseball in HD.  Besides the great picture quality, you get the benefit of the widescreen (16x9) view.  You can see so much more of the game.
 

Do they actually use a different camera for broadcasting in HD?  If not, then you're actually getting less picture than a regular screen.

Like Limey said, same camera and yea, a few inches on each side.  For instance on a 37" 16x9 monitor gives you about 4" on each side of extra picture.

[Craig]

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Do they actually use a different camera for broadcasting in HD?  If not, then you're actually getting less picture than a regular screen.

They must use the same camera.  What you get is the same vertical picture, but an extra couple of inches on either side of the frame.  And who doesn't like an extra couple of inches?

If they use the same camera, you get the same field of vision.  They may stretch the picture to fit a different aspect ratio, but it's the same field of vision as a regular screen.  You dont' get any more inches in HD, despite what you tell your wife.

I think they have to use different cameras, but I could be wrong. I vaguely remember reading a few years ago about how the HD cameras were hella-expensive compared to the standard ones.

[CJM]

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Do they actually use a different camera for broadcasting in HD?  If not, then you're actually getting less picture than a regular screen.

They must use the same camera.  What you get is the same vertical picture, but an extra couple of inches on either side of the frame.  And who doesn't like an extra couple of inches?

If they use the same camera, you get the same field of vision.  They may stretch the picture to fit a different aspect ratio, but it's the same field of vision as a regular screen.  You dont' get any more inches in HD, despite what you tell your wife.

They crop the picture for regular 4x3 TV's, there is no stretching for a true 16x9 picture.

[loganck]

different cameras
The Link

edit:  to add The Link  which is slightly more relevant

[HudsonHawk]

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It's like watching a different game when you see baseball in HD.  Besides the great picture quality, you get the benefit of the widescreen (16x9) view.  You can see so much more of the game.
 

Do they actually use a different camera for broadcasting in HD?  If not, then you're actually getting less picture than a regular screen.

Like Limey said, same camera and yea, a few inches on each side.  For instance on a 37" 16x9 monitor gives you about 4" on each side of extra picture.

If they use the same camera, you don't get any more inches.  They have to either cut off the vertical inches to give you the 16:9 aspect ratio or strech the horizontal image to fit it.  You don't get any larger field of vision.  

Now, if there's some difference in the camera involved, then yeah you might.

[Limey]

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If they use the same camera, you get the same field of vision.  They may stretch the picture to fit a different aspect ratio, but it's the same field of vision as a regular screen.  You dont' get any more inches in HD, despite what you tell your wife.

Your coming from the wrong direction.  They use the same, widescreen camera, then chop off the edges for the non-HD broadcast.  This is exactly the same as when a movie is "formatted to fit" a regular screen - they lop off the sides of the frame.  Even the flashy, score-graphic thingy at the top of the screen stops a couple of inches from the edges of the widescreen picture.

[HudsonHawk]

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They crop the picture for regular 4x3 TV's, there is no stretching for a true 16x9 picture.

I don't think that is correct, but now folks are saying it's actually a different camera.  Which means I shall be explaining the benefit of added inches to Mrs. Hawk this very evening.

[HudsonHawk]

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Your coming from the wrong direction.  They use the same, widescreen camera, then chop off the edges for the non-HD broadcast.  This is exactly the same as when a movie is "formatted to fit" a regular screen - they lop off the sides of the frame.  Even the flashy, score-graphic thingy at the top of the screen stops a couple of inches from the edges of the widescreen picture.

I understand how they crop movies to fit your TV screen, but that's because movie cameras shoot in a 16:9 format.  TV cameras do not.  Ty in Tampa is in the TV production business, he could settle this for us.

[CJM]

 A little information about widescreen.


A standard def camera can't show HD, but a HD camera can broadcast a standard def picture.

[Gizzmonic]

Limey mentions one of the unfortunate side effects of getting HD-a good HD set will expose the limitations of non-HD broadcast TV (particularly on Time Warner's craptastic analog feed).

Be sure you view some standard definition TV on your HDTV before you put down money for it.  You can get great deals on CRT rear projection HDTVs nowadays.  Projectors are also a relatively cheap way to step up to HDTV, although the bulbs burn out and must be replaced every 2000 hours or so.

I teach a short HD-for-dummies session every semester at my college.  PM me if you want more information about HD stuff.

[Limey]

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A little information about widescreen.

Just to clarify, using the aspect ratio graphic in this link, the regular broadcast will show the 1.33:1 green box, whereas the HD broadcast will show the 1.85:1 red box.

For the most part, for sports, it seems that the camerawork is designed to get what the director wants to show into the regualr aspect frame.  The HD broadcast is essentially showing some extraneous images off to the side.  However, this is moot because you're not losing any frame and your gaining a gazillion times better picture.

Obviously for movies (HD movies are much better quality than even DVD!) and recent TV shows designed with widescreen in mind, you're getting the best of both worlds.

[T. J.]

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I understand how they crop movies to fit your TV screen, but that's because movie cameras shoot in a 16:9 format.  TV cameras do not.  Ty in Tampa is in the TV production business, he could settle this for us.

Yes, but HDTV cameras do.  Limey is exactly right in saying that the HDTV broadcasts have a few extra inches on the side which is cropped for the regular broadcast.  There's no stretching for the HDTV broadcast, I guarantee it.  Otherwise it wouldn't really be an HDTV broadcast.

[Matt]

The hookups on the tv won't be much of an issue since the xbox is pretty much running everything and is hooked up to my network.  I use it as a dvd player and media player with the Windows Xp Media Center extension.  I think the HD programming from the local cable company is pretty decent.

[Limey]

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The hookups on the tv won't be much of an issue since the xbox is pretty much running everything and is hooked up to my network.  I use it as a dvd player and media player with the Windows Xp Media Center extension.  I think the HD programming from the local cable company is pretty decent.

The  you're in good shape.  Most HD TVs have two component inputs - just make sure you check so that you aren't having to swap out your XBox and cable box to get the good picture.

Just as an aside, HD broadcasts are also in Dobly (sic) 5.1.

[austro]

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The hookups on the tv won't be much of an issue since the xbox is pretty much running everything and is hooked up to my network.  I use it as a dvd player and media player with the Windows Xp Media Center extension.  I think the HD programming from the local cable company is pretty decent.

I'd try to get a unit with one or more HDMI inputs, too.  When the new Blu-Ray/whatever HD DVD players become common, I expect that they'll be using HDMI interfaces instead of component video.  (Maybe they'll offer both out the backend, but if they've got HDMI that's the one you'll want to use, if for no other reason than it'll cut your cabling costs significantly).

Does the Xbox have HDMI or DVI outputs?

[HudsonHawk]

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I understand how they crop movies to fit your TV screen, but that's because movie cameras shoot in a 16:9 format.  TV cameras do not.  Ty in Tampa is in the TV production business, he could settle this for us.

Yes, but HDTV cameras do.  Limey is exactly right in saying that the HDTV broadcasts have a few extra inches on the side which is cropped for the regular broadcast.  There's no stretching for the HDTV broadcast, I guarantee it.  Otherwise it wouldn't really be an HDTV broadcast.

Well that brings me back to my original question...HD cameras are different, then, correct?

[Matt]

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Does the Xbox have HDMI or DVI outputs?

I'm not sure, I believe you can buy the cables for that since the ones you get with it are just the HD component cables.  It wouldn't surprise me if it did support it since Billy Gates has crammed just about everything else into it.

[Limey]

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Well that brings me back to my original question...HD cameras are different, then, correct?

HD cameras are, of course, different.  I thought the original comment/question was on the subject of whether they use two sets of cameras, one HD one regular, for these broadcasts.  The answer is no, they use only HD cameras but these boys also kick out a regular feed in parallel with the HD feed.

Presumably Fox has a limited number of sets of HD cameras (or maybe only one set) which would explain why not every game is in HD.

[HudsonHawk]

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Well that brings me back to my original question...HD cameras are different, then, correct?

HD cameras are, of course, different.  I thought the original comment/question was on the subject of whether they use two sets of cameras, one HD one regular, for these broadcasts.  The answer is no, they use only HD cameras but these boys also kick out a regular feed in parallel with the HD feed.

Presumably Fox has a limited number of sets of HD cameras (or maybe only one set) which would explain why not every game is in HD.

Gotcha!  That's what I was originally getting at.

[Limey]

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Gotcha!  That's what I was originally getting at.

It must be time to talk about beer now.

[CJM]

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Well that brings me back to my original question...HD cameras are different, then, correct?

HD cameras are, of course, different.  I thought the original comment/question was on the subject of whether they use two sets of cameras, one HD one regular, for these broadcasts.  The answer is no, they use only HD cameras but these boys also kick out a regular feed in parallel with the HD feed.

Presumably Fox has a limited number of sets of HD cameras (or maybe only one set) which would explain why not every game is in HD.

It's actually the lack of a HD production truck that keeps us from getting every game in HD.  MMP is set up for HD all the time (the HD cams, fiber, etc stay there), the HD production trucks on the other hand have to be scheduled for a event (as I understand it).  I have heard that FSN wants have all a all HD simulcast in place no later than 2008 for the major regional sports they carry (baseball, basketball).  The list of teams that have more games in HD than the Astros is long (the Pirate fans, for example will get 3 times as many games in HD then we do this season), there are a few that will end up with 100+ games in HD this year.

[jeffrey]

Someone finally flipped the switch tonight!  Game is HD in Austin as of the 3rd inning - Time Warner ch. 1639.

[austro]

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Someone finally flipped the switch tonight!  Game is HD in Austin as of the 3rd inning - Time Warner ch. 1639.

I don't know about you, but my signal sucks.  I was good for about 30 minutes, but since then it's nothing but pixelated dropout.  And I don't think the Liberty Ale is affecting my judgment.