Best way to watch Standard Cable

[drewski916]

Let me start off by saying I'm a newbie to HD. I just purchased my first HDtv (SamsungLN-T5271F) and I was looking for help. I'm using Comcast with an HD/DVR box with HDMI output. Is there a way to make regular tv look better. I have to say it's so hard to watch regular tv because of how bad the quality. I ordered a Monster 1000HD HDMI cable that should be here soon. Will that help at all?? I just want to make my wife happy who is saying "our old tv looked better than this!!" HELP!!!!!!!!!!!

[eliwhitney]

drewski916--

#1 - PLS stop / cancel / return that " Monster ' company cable, etc.--that is, unfortunately,
just more of the commercial " hype " associated with this new " HDTV " education. WILL NOT HELP !

To continue --- you are experiencing what might be the attempt ( by your cable company )
to simply 'squeeze' too much content into their purchased bandwidth -- consider trying to fill one's in-ground pool with a waterline from the icemaker ????

To "test' .. evaluate whether it might be the HDTV setup or cable or your neighboorhood, etc. --
one might consider ( if possible ) simply establishing an outdoor antenna --- free Over-The-Air " HD " has the least of these " compression Issues " for right now and , so, there'll be as many as 2 dozen channels in most major cities NOW broadcasting. www.antennaweb.org
plus your ZIP ( ignore those other questions ) tells the situation in your exact case.

IF there happends to be another TV set on that same COAX, that can be a problem ... IF as many as 3 or 4 more, then, there's NO hope !

There IS much better COAX also -- called "QUAD" and more costly, it is seldom used in local cable "free" installations. IF the local company is still using mostly copper distribution plant rather than having 'upgraded' to fiber, then, this will also be a definite NO-No, beyond your control, obviously.

It does sound as though your non-HD channels are still being broadcast in 'analog' ... Comcast, as well as most others, are currently converting to all-digital rapidly ( has Nothing to due w/ Feb '09 deadline ) in order to increase how much MORE content they can "sqeeze" in -- On Demand, Two-way Cable Cards, Pay-For-View, etc..

Your choices are few .... if originally in 4:3 format, select to view these 'standard' programs in their original format, with sidebars & letterboxing @ top/bottom. To see these by just "filling up" your new 16 X 9 will result in faded colors, picture distortion, a 'stretched' appearance in objects...

Set that cable box to permit 480i & 480p --- stop automatically 'UP-converting" all to 1080i.
Do the same within the HDTV ... there are a "zillion" settings, it seems .. NO HDTV is fit to view as it comes out of the box -- every default setting is for showing at our big box store sales displays .. too bright, too much contrast, etc...although a bit over-the-top, there are commercial DVDs which aid in this "calibration" as well, for under $30.

Your set IS capable of great TV ... it MIGHT be better to consider either of the satellite companies ... I'm NOT saying this is 100 % fix, by-the-way.... just an alternative, IF after a free service call by COMCAST they do NOT remedy your issues !!

Good Luck !

[akirby]

You could also try using an analog video connection like S video for non-HD channels or if your TV has an analog tuner (NTSC) just split the coax and run one to the TV tuner and one to the cable box.

[drewski916]

Thank you for all the info. Being a newbie to all this, I'll have to read it over several times and the different options. BTW, when I use the "guide" on my cale box, the picture gets small and in the corner so you can see the guide. The picture is so much better when it's in the small "guide" mode

Thanks again

[butchieK]

Hi, I'm glad you posted this because I was concerned about the same thing with my 32" Sony Bravia UNTIL I plugged the cable directly into the built in NTSC tuner and saw the difference between the Comcast analog signal being sent through their HD Motorola box,and me recieving directly to my TV's tuner.WHAT A DIFFERENCE! I thought i had a defective TV before I tried this!The thing I don't understand is why the signal becomes so degraded/pixelated through the HD box.The box is outputting the signal at 480P.My TV is native 720P.I'm wondering what the resolution is when your your cable is directly to the TV's ntsc tuner and your watching analog channels?

[Richard]

Getting Started with HDTV and DTV
SD - Standard Definition on your HDTV
viewtopic.php?t=4451

If you have a Motorola box you might try 720p or 1080i but you will likely lose your formatting options
viewtopic.php?t=4515