'Full HD' Panasonic and Pioneer Plasmas

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comicalali

18 posts

Geek

#16708 24-Oct-2007 12:59

I am looking into buying a 1920x1080 50" Plasma.

I was talking to a JB drone the other day who told me the new "Full HD" 1920x1080 50" plasmas for the NZ market won't come with built in HD digital tuners.

The Pana and Pio websites show the new full HD models but they are very vague about what sort of tuner is included. And in fact the models numbers are diferent to those sold with HD tuners in Aust. ie

Aust - Pana - TH50PZ7**A
NZ - Pana - TH50PY7**AZ (even the 1365x768 ealrier models were different - V and X)

Aust - Pio - PDPLX508A
NZ - Pio - PDPLX508G

Surely the wouldn't land us with models that won't support the impending HD service in this country ...... would they?

I was hoping to not have to get a Freeview HD STB when all this happens.

old3eyes

9119 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#92209 24-Oct-2007 13:07

comicalali:
I am looking into buying a 1920x1080 50" Plasma.

I was talking to a JB drone the other day who told me the new "Full HD" 1920x1080 50" plasmas for the NZ market won't come with built in HD digital tuners.

The Pana and Pio websites show the new full HD models but they are very vague about what sort of tuner is included. And in fact the models numbers are diferent to those sold with HD tuners in Aust. ie

Aust - Pana - TH50PZ7**A
NZ - Pana - TH50PY7**AZ (even the 1365x768 ealrier models were different - V and X)

Aust - Pio - PDPLX508A
NZ - Pio - PDPLX508G

Surely the wouldn't land us with models that won't support the impending HD service in this country ...... would they?

Yep they sure would. From what i hear we won't see any inbuilt tuners until about this time next year.. Guess someone wants to sell lots of Freeview STB before certifying inbuilt tuners..

Regards,

Old3eyes

openmedia

3324 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#92212 24-Oct-2007 13:25

old3eyes:
comicalali:
I am looking into buying a 1920x1080 50" Plasma.

I was talking to a JB drone the other day who told me the new "Full HD" 1920x1080 50" plasmas for the NZ market won't come with built in HD digital tuners.

The Pana and Pio websites show the new full HD models but they are very vague about what sort of tuner is included. And in fact the models numbers are diferent to those sold with HD tuners in Aust. ie

Aust - Pana - TH50PZ7**A
NZ - Pana - TH50PY7**AZ (even the 1365x768 ealrier models were different - V and X)

Aust - Pio - PDPLX508A
NZ - Pio - PDPLX508G

Surely the wouldn't land us with models that won't support the impending HD service in this country ...... would they?

Yep they sure would. From what i hear we won't see any inbuilt tuners until about this time next year.. Guess someone wants to sell lots of Freeview STB before certifying inbuilt tuners..

Most manufacturers don't have H264 ready tuners at present. Sony have announced a new X Series unit with H264 support that might hit NZ by mid next year.

The current AU models have HD capable MPEG2 tuners that won't work here.

Steve

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

upsilon

84 posts

Master Geek

#92252 24-Oct-2007 17:16

My guess on this is that they only include one tuner, either a DVB-T or a plain old analogue. Once DVB-T kicks off in NZ i imagine they will start selling the ones with integrate DVB-T/HD tuners

Artifact

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#92864 29-Oct-2007 11:22

they would be foolish to sell a TV without testing it first.

And as Freeview Aerial (DVB-T) doesn't start until March next year, they cannot test it.

So you won't realistically see inbuilt DVB-T tuners until after the Freeview Aerial service commences.

old3eyes

9119 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#92879 29-Oct-2007 12:42

Artifact: they would be foolish to sell a TV without testing it first.

And as Freeview Aerial (DVB-T) doesn't start until March next year, they cannot test it.

So you won't realistically see inbuilt DVB-T tuners until after the Freeview Aerial service commences.

I suspect that as the DVB-T that we are using is a known standard that tuners can be included that will work with Freeview NZ.. I suspect any minor differences will be foftware settings..

Now if i could just get a Tvix M4100 with NZ DVB-T tuner..

Regards,

Old3eyes

Artifact

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#92883 29-Oct-2007 12:55

True, but DVB-T MPEG4 is so new that the issues of inter-operability are still present.

A wise supplier would test compatibility before ordering in quantity...