HDTV questions

Slappy,

While I have TWC, I strongly suspect HD access will be the same with Comcast. Comcast should have some type of digital cable box with HD capability. TWC makes you rent theirs. It does the decoding. You'll need an HD ready set for HD and for progressive scan dvd. Most people use component video inputs for HD but RGB can be used if your cable box has RGB outputs. For progressive scan you must use component video.

1. If you have a dish like DirecTV, you need to buy a HDTV decoder for DirecTV. You also need a HDTV cable box but it is usually supplied by the cable company.

2. You don't need a HDTV to view 480P (progressive scan DVD player). You need a TV with component inputs and have wide enough video frequency response to handle the 480P signal. Nowaday, all the mid-price TVs with component inputs can do that.
If you want to do 720P than yes, you do need a HDTV set.

3. I like component input because it is the more compatible form of connection. Some HDTVs also have DVI and RGB inputs. DVI is for HDTV signal and is supposed to be the best but they might suffer compatibility problem across brands. Also on most TVs DVI input is fixed on a particular resoultion. RGB should be better than component also but RGB cables are more expensive. Unless you have a front projector, you won't see much different on most sets.

I just got Comcast HDTV in Atlanta. They replaced my existing standard box with the Motorola 5100. I use an RGB component video cable to connect to my HDTV "ready" Sony Wega. S-video cannot carry an HD or progressive scan signal. I get all my previous channels plus 5 HD channels (more to come later). The box also has digital audio out which sends a 5.1 digital audio stream to your processor. Since I do not have a processor, I use the standard analog audio out jacks to send the R and L to my preamp.

My premium channels, and the audio, are better than my previous box. The HD channels are incredible... DVD quality or better. Most of the standard channels are a bit grainier than before. There is an HDTV forum where someone posted that they resort back to S-video, or a standard RCA cable, to improve their basic channels. Thus they use 2 video inputs to their TV. Since I did not get HDTV to watch the shopping channels, I can live without using 2 separate video inputs.

Blueswan...can I ask you a quick favor? I just got Comcast HDTV as well. My problem is that the installer ran the component cables into my 1080i input, and the regular F-pin wire into the normal female F-pin receptor on the back of the TV. Now, when I want to watch an HDTV program, I have to change the TV input to "HDTV," which is receiving the component video signal. Then, if I want to change the channel to a non-HD program, I have to file through all the inputs until I get back to "analog," which is the F-pin, non-HD signal. Have you had this problem? Anyone know if I can do anything about it?

Thedautch, I view all channels through the 1080i input on the back of my set. The 5100 sends all channels through the RGB output. He may have set you up this way because he knows that the basic channels are a bit grainy when viewed through RGB. Try running your cable directly to the 5100, and use only the RGB. If you can live with it, as I can, you only need one video input setting on your TV. If you cannot, use the 5100's S-video out, or RCA video out, for your basic channels. You will still have to use 2 video inputs, but you will eliminate using your TV's tuner for the F-pin input.

Note 1, my Sony Wega is not a true HDTV set, it is "HDTV ready". Note 2, S-video, and RCA video, cannot carry an HD signal. Note 3, I bought the best RGB cable I could find, Tara Labs RSC... expensive, but worth every penny.

The difference between HDTV and HDTV-ready is weather or not the TV has an on-board HD decoder right?

Without the decoder you use the cablebox as a decoder?

Thanks for all the info, Blueswan! Hugely helpful!

Slappy,
Correct.

On some HD tv's you can delete unwanted inputs. This you would use to cycle between the 2 inputs in use versus having to switch thru the 6 or seven total provided on many tv's..Tom