Hi..first post here, so please be gentle with me!! I'm looking at finally 'Going Widescreen'. My trusty old Schneider 28 inch 4:3 set has served me well, and there are a couple of functions I'd hate to be without when I do take the plunge and 'upgrade'. The new set must have NTSC compatibility, A minimum of two scarts (I currently have three, so three inputs would be preferrable) but the main thing I want is P-I-P or P-A-P mode (Picture -in-Picture/Picture-and-Picture) mode..I've looked at lots of models on line, but hardly any seem to mention this, yet someone I was talking to the other day told me 'Oh yes, most Panasonics have that...' To confirm it's not a split picture and text screen I'm looking for, it's the ability to monitor what is being input via the scarts or maybe even via a second tuner - I saw a set in Comet that did this but it was outside my price range and too big for the room I want it in. Not got any hang up's about names or brands, so has anyone any suggestions what 28 inch or 32 inch models (Not LCD or Plasma) have this facility?
The forthcoming JVC HV-28D40 & HV-32D40 can do: DTV on left / analogue tuner on right. DTV on left / external input on right. The current HV-28P37 and HV-32P37 can do: Normal picture on left / external input on right. The P37s are much cheaper. Both sets meet all your other requirements.
Thanks for that GaryB..Just the info I was looking for, and looking at the spec on line, it looks like just the thing I'm after..Anyone any comments on JVC TV's?? Good? Bad?? Indifferent??? I've had JVC hi fi gear that was ok, but nothing TV or video related.
Thanks for that..went out looking for one to take a test drive of this afternoon..local specialist shop was shut for 'half days closing' (I thought those things went out with the ark!!) and the local Comet had one, but 'couldn't find the remote'..after hang around for half an hour, I baled out!! One thought..this model would be right at my top end price wise (Over it actually on the 32 inch), and I see it has built in freeview...I don't need this as I've got a freeview box, so are there any other models that have some form of P-I-P? I could live with 2 scarts as I'm going to be routing at least three bits of kit through my AV amp. Thanks
Panasonic TX32PD30 - can monitor any 2 from analogue tuner and 5 AV inputs. Has got picture by picture (split screen), picture out of picture (main picture something like 14:9 ratio with smaller picture to the right), picture in picture (16:9 with smaller picture in bottom right hand corner). It may be outside your price range - £999 from John Lewis including 5 year warranty & delivery.
Yep, it is more than I'm looking to spend really..This set is going to be something more of a short term investment until LCD/Plasma become more mainstream (And from what I've seen of them, get better!!), so I guess £700 is my real limit..I know, I know, I'm almost asking for the moon on a stick if I want a 32 inch with the features I've mentioned, but it doesn't hurt to shop around! I only really want what my current Schneider set gives me (A small picture in the corner of the screen which displays the inputs from the scarts). Oh well, I'll keep looking..maybe I'll either have to lower my sights and go for a 28 inch or get my old PIP View unit out of mothballs!!
Make sure the tv has two tuners as with some pip they only have one. This means it will display a tuner on one and av input on the 2nd pic. The Thomson tv's have two tuners so u can view either av or tuner on both pics. This good as u have analogue cable as u can watch $ky1 on the left and ukgold on the right. hope that helps......
Does the Panasonic TX32PD30 have two tuners? I hear some TV's use the Loudspeaker for 1st pic and headphones for the 2nd pic. Any idea which tv's offer this?
The tv that does that is the Sharp 32" widescreen, can't think of the model no at the moment. It has 3scarts BUT only 1 is rgb though. Pity as it seems like a good tv.