Pie:

You're right, digitalwavewire is not a "highly competitive low-end, bargain-priced market" site. never was meant to be one. It is simply starting to market ComponexX's cable line with a choice of 3 different quality cables. And you're right that a 3 foot Component cable on digitalwavewire starts at $19.68 (http://shop.digitalwavewire.com/product.sc?productId=394&categoryId=80). The top of their line Component cable is $74.50, but is considered by me to be comparable somewhere between Monster’s 3 High-Resolution Component Video Cable which retails for $69.95 and their top of their line Z300 which retails for $120.

Does Quality Matter? And how much should someone pay for a cable? A debate that will not end here. Beauty and sound are in the eyes and ears of the beholder.

Ralph Graves, one of the blog editors for Crutchfield, recently wrote an article: "Audio and Video Cables: Does Quality Matter?
(http://www.crutchfield.com/S-TVUiWpn6fA1/learn/learningcenter/home/cables.html)

He said, ” Whether you're a hardcore gearhead or you just bought your first home theater system, you want to get the most out of your audio/video equipment. Poorly made cables can allow noise and interference to compromise the signals coming from your source components, resulting in a subpar listening or viewing experience.

If you owned a high-performance sports car, you wouldn't outfit it with low-end tires —you'd get insufficient traction, poor handling, and increased road noise. You'd lose all the benefits of buying a high-performance car in the first place. In the same way, low quality cables can rob you of the performance you paid for when you bought your system
.
Many A/V components don't include all the cables you need; some may include a cable whose length isn't right for your setup. And, when cables are included, they're always low-quality. Replace those free "in-the-box" cables with higher-quality ones, and enjoy more realistic sound and a clearer picture.”

So people can pick their quality and price and enjoy, if they can tell the difference.

For those viewers who have not yet purchased a converter box, Consumer Reports has just upgraded their ratings on some of the available converter boxes at:
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/electronics/2008/08/ratings-of-dtv.html

While cable and satellite program providers will continue to serve the great majority of homes as the primary signal source, missing HD local reception, compression issues, higher costs, billing add-ons, service outages, contact difficulties, in-home service waits and no shows have left many of these subscribers looking to OTA antennas as a good, alternative and Off-Air viewers happy with their free programming.

But TV reception starts with the right antenna and Off-Air TV is FREE.

Viewers should certainly try their old antenna first. It’s true that any of these older antennas will pick up some signals, maybe all the broadcast signals a viewer wants to receive, depending on their location. If they’re getting all the OTA channels they want, than they’re good to go.

While Antennas can’t tell the difference between analog and digital signals, there are definitely certain models which have higher DTV batting averages than others. Not all antennas are equally suited for DTV. A percentage of viewers will require something a little more tailored for DTV reception.

With one of the newer and smaller OTA antennas, with greatly improved performance, power and aesthetics, viewers may also be able to receive out-of-town channels, carrying blacked out sports programs not available locally, several additional sub-channels or network broadcasts. And for those with an HDTV, almost completely uncompressed HD broadcasts (unlike cable or satellite).

OTA viewers can go to antennapoint.com to see quickly what stations are available to them, the distance, and compass heading to help in choosing and aiming their antenna. And if they decide to buy a newer antenna, they should buy it from a source that will completely refund their purchase price, no questions asked, if it doesn’t do the job.

Go to:
http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/19/antennas-direct-cuts-its-clearstream2-antenna-in-half-calls-it/#comments

before you buy any antenna, go to: http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/17/antennas-direct-unveils-clearstream2-long-range-ota-antenna/. Read about Antennas Direct's newest antenna line.

They offer a "no fault" 90 day gaurantee and a full purchase price refund, if this antenna does not knock your socks off.

Most of the responses repeat the obvious benefits of having an OTA antenna, for free almost completely uncompressed digital signals, unlike cable or satellite; local HD programming not carried, sub-channel broadcasts and as a backup for lost service.

You may also be able to receive out-of-town channels, carrying blacked out sports programs, or network broadcasts not available locally. As an added benefit, an OTA antenna provides reception for second sets in homes or apartments not wired for whole-house signal distribution.

Considering the investment in TV entertainment already made by many viewers, except for location problems, why would they not have a Digital Off-Air Antennas as a second signal source?

If you don't have one, buy it from a source that will refund your purchase price, no questions asked, until you find the right antenna.

Purchase a DA-001 from someone like Antennas Direct, who gives a 90 day "no fault" guarantee. If it doesn't do the job for you, send it back for a refund.

Smaller is better when it comes to the DB2

More Sophisticated Antennas Required
For Digital Off-Air Signal Reception


As spending tightens in these uncertain economic times, discretionary purchasing has shifted away from other key market categories, to consumer electronics and particularly to digital TV and HD. High Definition Televisions bumped digital cameras out of the top spot for the most desired CE product for 2007. Several dynamics effecting millions of households now relying on analog signals for reception of their broadcast TV signals, with antennas older than 2 years, who need to upgrade to the new antenna technology, along with cable and satellite customers looking for alternatives, have resulted in tremendous sales increases of OTA antennas for Antennas Direct.

The simple fact is that not all antennas are equal, some are better and some are the best for particular reception situations. Tremendous improvements in Off-Air antenna technology and design have taken place in the last few years, making them smaller than ever thought possible, with ultra efficient design and directionality and good looking as well.

According to an article in Ad Age �As Giant Retailers Reel, Marketers Gird for Worst�, as to one key marketing category, Consumer Electronics, the news appears very positive. �Consumers seem to have designated technology as a new necessity, along with food, gasoline and home-heating oil" said the Consumer Electronics Association�s group economist, Shawn DuBravac. Ad Age continued �Forecasts for 2008 from the CEA and other CE researchers such as iSuppli bear that out, with predictions of overall electronics growth.� "Last year, when oil prices were going through the roof, we saw that people said, 'Since we're not traveling, let's spend some of that money on buying a flat-panel TV,'" said iSuppli analyst Riddih Patel.

As for cable and satellite subscribers, an Off-Air Antenna provides many benefits as an additional signal resource. On November 29, 2007, The Bridge Data Group reported overall �customer satisfaction� with DBS at 72% and cable at only 58% and the �likelihood to switch� for both at 10%. These numbers might have accounted recently for the �attack� on a Comcast payment center in Virginia by a 75 year-old hammer wielding grandmother, as reported by CE Pro Magazine. There is only so much room on cable or satellite bandwidth in which to squeeze signal, so data is compressed to fit, resulting in a somewhat "soft" picture. An OTA signal is the gold standard in digital reception because it's almost completely uncompressed and also FREE. But what about those cable or satellite subscribers that want access to all their local broadcasts or all available HD local broadcasts, but can�t get them from their present provider.

Local digital TV broadcasts are everywhere. But bandwidth limitations mean that cable and satellite providers may not carry all local channels in many areas, or may not offer all of them in high definition. Contract disagreements between local operators and local broadcasters can mean that major networks may not be available in several areas. DISH Network� offers local HD coverage to about 47 percent of U.S. markets, while DIRECTV� reaches 76 percent and for an additional monthly fee.

What about those other millions of viewers who want to see their favorite local shows and in HD. The answer is to add an OTA antenna to other signal reception sources. This not only gives a viewer the ability to receive all their local stations, but, with the right Digital antenna from AntennasDirect.com, some viewers may even be able to receive out-of-town channels, which may carry blacked out sports programs or network broadcasts not available in their home town. As an added benefit, an OTA antenna provides back-up reception options for local cable or satellite signal loss due to equipment failure or rain, snow and ice fade and to smaller TVs and second sets in homes not wired for whole-house signal distribution.

DEMAND FOR FREE HD OVER-THE-AIR BROADCASTS
SPURRING TREMENDOUS GROWTH IN ANTENNA SALES
FOR ANTENNAS DIRECT�

Sales Increased 220% 3Q 2007 Over 3Q 2006
As Cable TV Looses 1.1 Million Subscribers


December 3, 2007, St. Louis, MO �The cable industry has lost over one million subscribers this year, suggesting a year ending with a 2 percent loss of market share, as reported recently in several newspapers, trade magazines and Internet newsletters. Some of the declines actually surprised Wall Street. But they didn�t surprise Richard Schneider, President of Antennas Direct, whose new Terrestrial Digital brand of antenna sales tripled during the same period. Schneider said �Because of the tremendous improvements in our Off-Air antenna technology and design that have taken place in the last few years, along with changing customer attitudes and needs in the new and highly competitive digital TV and HD era, we�ve found ourselves right in the middle of a thriving resurgence of Over-The-Air (OTA) antennas. Research projects that 15 percent of TV households and 23 percent of TV sets in U.S. homes don�t receive cable or satellite TV. That represents more than 70 million TV sets that only receive OTA broadcast television. It�s no wonder our phones are ringing off the hook.�

Schneider continued �Two of the reasons suggested by most business reporters for the decline in cable numbers are TV subscribers switching to Satellite (DBS) and the emergence of telco TV. While partially true, telco numbers are much too small to be a significant factor, but a meaningful percentage of these cable TV losses come from unhappy cable customers switching to OTA antennas and dumping cable�s hundreds of unwatched channels in favor of getting all their favorite local broadcasts FREE. Cable companies are stumbling with penetration percentages hitting a 17-year low. A significant number of cable subscribers are finally getting enough of cable TV�s higher costs, billing add-ons, service outages, contact difficulties, aggravating half-day in-home service waits and no shows, resulting in lost customers, while our business is doubling about every 180 days�

On November 29, 2007, The Bridge Data Group reported overall �customer satisfaction� with DBS at 72% and cable at only 58% and the �likelihood to switch� for both at 10%. These numbers might have accounted recently for the �attack� on a Comcast payment center in Virginia by a 75 year-old hammer wielding grandmother.

And it�s not only problems with Cable (and Satellite) providers that have caused this dramatic OTA antenna sales increase. The benefits of Off-Air antennas are compelling and numerous. There is only so much room on cable or satellite bandwidth in which to squeeze signal, so data is compressed to fit, resulting in a somewhat "soft" picture. An OTA signal is the gold standard in digital reception because it's completely uncompressed and also FREE; good news for the millions of homes not using cable or satellite. But what about those cable or satellite subscribers that want access to all their local broadcasts or all available HD local broadcasts, but can�t get them from their present provider.

Local digital TV broadcasts are everywhere. And how hot is HD? High Definition Televisions bumped digital cameras out of the top spot for the most desired CE product for 2007. But bandwidth limitations mean that cable and satellite providers may not carry all local channels in many areas, or may not offer all of them in high definition. Contract disagreements between local cable operators and local broadcasters can mean that major networks may not be available via cable TV in several areas. DISH Network� offers local HD coverage to about 47 percent of U.S. markets, while DIRECTV� reaches about 65 percent, but for an additional monthly fee.

�What about those other millions of viewers who want to see their favorite local shows and in HD� asks Schneider? �The answer is to add an OTA antenna to other signal reception sources�. This not only gives a viewer the ability to receive all their local stations, but, with the right Terrestrial Digital antenna, some viewers may even be able to receive out-of-town channels, which may carry blacked out sports programs or network broadcasts not available in their home town. For lower income families, an OTA antenna may be the only alternative. As an added benefit, an OTA antenna provides back-up reception options for local cable or satellite signal loss due to equipment failure or rain, snow and ice fade and to smaller TVs and second sets in homes not wired for whole-house signal distribution.

The Consumer Electronics Association, which does not track antenna sales, puts antennas in their accessory category. Accessory? Try getting an OTA broadcast signal without one.

We all know who and what Sharpton and Jackson are. Sure Imus offends people, that's his style, but he doesn't try to extort money, which to me is a much more serious offence. It made my skin crawl to see him on Sharpton's show.

Now he's being sured. About reputations, no. About money, yes.

I watched Imus every morning and hope he will be back. I stopped watching CBS and MSNBC and stopped buying the products from the cowardly sponsors who immediately bolted. You should do the same.