High Definition
by Dave on Mar.27, 2009, under The Future
No question HD is the next big wave – and to make sure everyone is comfortable, let me assure you that we are on it.
Our approach to this is to provide HD distribution as an add-on-module to the current Xtender system. While HD capable TVs are flying off the shelves, the percentage of folks who actually put an HD signal into them in more than one room of the home has been very slow to grow. Sure, most of us have invested in at least one nice big HDTV and now have a HD cable box and perhaps a Blue-Ray under it but surprisingly even those folks who have a 32″ LCD HDTV in their bedroom (the most common second HDTV purchase) are not plugging HD sources into it as the industry expected they would.
So, that puts a kink in the whole “product planning thing” – how many HD distribution channels does a home need? One, two, and how many sources that you want in another room just as bad are fine with staying an SD signal? Frankly, I’d love to get as much input as possible from as many people as possible so we get those kinds of things right – but in the meantime, the key seems to be flexibility.
Our approach, therefore is not to ask anyone to replace the system you already have, just run down to your friendly neighborhood [un-named] store and pick up the BOCS HD modulator (available fall of ’09). It sits on top of your Xtender, takes an HD input, replaces one of your SD channels, and upgrades that channel to HD. That way you get to decide how many SD, how many HD and how it all fits in your home.
St this early date, that is about all I can share – but this is your chance – tell me what you want and how you use it!!
9 Comments for this entry
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March 28th, 2009 on 7:47 am
Your logic on the penetrance of SD vs HD is flawed. I have 6 HD flat panel and only 2 are attached to HD signals(cable box) and the others just get a straight coax signal.
The reason is not that I don’t want the HD to each set but rather, I do not have the space to put all the STB around each unit and I refuse to pay for something (STB) when no more than 3 TVs will be on at a given time. I would have to think that there are many others with the same situation and choose to not have HD because of the ‘hassle’ and cost.
Therefore, if BOCS was produced in HD format initially, many would migrate to it much sooner due to the simplicity of the distribution. I understand the reason and thought of assuming that SD is still the prodominate media, but it is only used because there is not an efficient option or solution. BOCS is a great idea.
If you build it they will come.
March 28th, 2009 on 3:04 pm
I have three sources that I would like to me able to distribute in HD. I currently use a channel plus modulator to sent to the non-hd tv’s, but the picture quality is not that great.
I have:
2 DirectTV HD DVR’s
1 Media center PC
I would like to eventually add one or two more source.
I’d like the option of feeding digital or analog audio .
Chris
March 28th, 2009 on 3:08 pm
Excellent point – to that end we are working fast and furious on the HD version of our product to solve just that problem.
The really funny thing is that every cable TV exec I talk to keeps telling me “they have it all figured out” – they are headed all engines at full speed down the whole MOCA path. Yeah it works, in fact it works great (although I liked the Digio version better but they pulled the plug) – they drawback is that you are still required to have a set top box at every TV as each becomes a slave to the master STB somewhere in the house. So you end up with the same problem you are talking about – paying for and having to find a place for another box under each TV…
Man I gotta speed the engineers up!!
DF
March 28th, 2009 on 3:13 pm
Chris:
Thanks – that kind of information really helps us in product definition.
In the meantime, the current product kicks Channel Plus’ butt – I’d sure encourage you to give it a try – no risk 30 day return policy if it does not improve your situation. Not HD but we can put out a really hot signal and we went to a lot of trouble to balance the video signal and it is a full stereo (passes Dolby pro logic as well)…
I’ve got a media center in my system as well – I put a lot of work into making sure our remote works well with MC…
March 28th, 2009 on 3:26 pm
What does everyone think of QAM vs. ATSC?
QAM is actually easier to do but not all TVs have that tuner – best I can tell from the stats about half of HDTVs sold in the last year have QAM but all of them have ATSC –
What do each of you have?
March 30th, 2009 on 1:11 pm
I currently only have ATSC, as both sets were bought a few years ago, but these two are direct wired from the central location, so distribution HD is not a big deal. In the other 2 locations I will have to buy new TV’s, so my options are open, but something that would work on most tv’s would probably be preferable as, the other rooms I will most likely try to buy TV’s on the cheap.
I am debating between this solution or a 4×4 matrix switch and run some wires, not the ideal solution, but definitely a solution.
April 3rd, 2009 on 1:57 pm
I like what you have going here. I have 3 HD tv’s, 2 of them hooked to a surround sound system, 2 HD tivos, Blu-ray and Xbox 360 I currently record everything in HD when possible, SD for the kids stuff. I would like to get more HD to the third set but its not worth the cost of the extra units when i only use it occasionally.
I noticed in one of the prior posts you mention that you are passing Dolby pro logic. Are you assuming that the HDTV will have an optical out so you can pass the signal via the TV to the receiver? or is there another solution that I am not aware of? I only have optical out on one of my TV’s so if I can’t get surround sound out of the system that will be a major drawback for me.
Once the HD unit comes out I will be checking this out again, until then I wait with great anticipation.
August 4th, 2009 on 1:25 pm
I assume the input to the HD modulator will be via component video and not HDMI, right? Currently I have the HD TIVO’s so I have 1080i component output available and my BlueRay will output 1080i (I think).
So, at the moment HD component video input is available to me but my concern is what will happen in the near future – like next year!
The BlueRay encryption license (AACS)requires manufacturers to limit the resolution of analog video outputs to 480i after 2010 (next year!) and totally eliminate ALL analog video output at any resolution after 2013.
And from what I read the ICT (image constraint token) that studios have agreed not to implement until 2010 will cut resolution on all existing BlueRay players in half to 540p when these new disks are played on the old players.
The only way to get 1080i out of a BlueRay player if that happens will be to play old disks without the ICT on old players made prior to 2010. Players made after 2010 will only output 480i when playing the same old disk I am able to watch at 1080i now.
To me this seems unbelievable but I’ve read the licenses.
And the “Broadcast Flag” if passed by the FCC as expected can cut analog resolution even on my HD TIVO’s I suppose. From what I read the cable company supplied DVR’s are already limited to 480i analog output. (Can anyone confirm if that’s true?)
I guess what I am asking from your vantage point is do you see anything that can change this situation and allow continued HD analog video availability in spite of the HDMI HDCP and ACCS licensing requirements and the ICT?
December 4th, 2009 on 3:59 pm
So, fall ’09 is nearly over. Is there anything new to report on this product?