In alt.tv.tech.hdtv RobH wrote: | "Too_Many_Tools" wrote in | news: snipped-for-privacy@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com: | |> I am looking to buy a PORTABLE HDTV set. |> |> Are there any available...I can't seem to find anything but LARGE sets |> that are anything but portable. |> |> Also I would like to hear anyone's experience with a HDTV set that is |> being used while traveling in a RV. |> |> Thanks |> |> TMT |> |> | | Look on Amazon. These are all under $500.
NONE of them are genuine HDTV. These are just HD-ready or ED-ready. NONE have an ATSC tuner so they require an external STB tuner to get HD broadcasts (which will subsequently be reduced in quality to fit the 4:3 screens they have).
Note that an external tuner may be fine for a large screen home theatre system, but they are inconvenience for a portable.
The ideal portable TV will include a 16:9 screen, ATSC/NTSC tuner (for North American markets), and correct handling of all ATSC formats to be sure resolution is never any less than what that small screen can show (it won't be anything like a large screen, but that is no cause for dumb engineering that downgrades video below the 480 size before displaying it). An integrated Blu-Ray DVD player would also be nice when that technology finally makes it to market. The ability to also handle 576i/p, 25/50 fps, DVB-T, world channeling, and 100-250v power in the mains adapter, would be a big plus. Cable TV (QAM) would also be a plus for many people.
| Sharp LC-13B6U-S 13" AQUOS HDTV-Ready
The aspect ratio is only 4:3. The tuner is only NTSC (no ATSC). Apparently it can do "HDTV" only via video input, up to 480p (really just EDTV). but it can do PAL and SECAM (maybe only via video in).
| Zenith Z15LA7R 15" Flat Panel HD-Ready LCD TV
This one is also 4:3. No mention of a tuner is given, but no mention of ATSC certainly indicates it has no such capability.
| Philips 15PF8946 15" HDTV-Ready Flat Panel TV
Another 4:3 unit. Again, no mention of ATSC. This one does have an FM (radio) tuner.
| Sharp Aquos LC-15B9US 15" HD-Ready LCD
I see no "LC-15B9US" but there is a LC-15B6US at Amazon. It says ED-ready (not "HD-ready") and appears to be a larger screen version of the LC-13B6U-S.