HDTV Forum

Hello all, we are brand new to HDTV and are excited about our purchase! We bought a Pioneer plasma TV and ordered digital cable through Cogeco. Prior to hooking up the box, we had 2 days of regular TV patched into the Pioneer, and we were very impressed with the HD signals it did decode. Awesome clarity! However now that the box is installed, the signal does not look as sharp on the HD channels. Is this a signal issue? Is the box adjustable in any way?
I would appreciate the opinions of the HDTV members. Thanks

Have you got all the connections right? The most desirable would be with a HDMI or DVI cable, but if your cable box does not have that, then you will need to use component cables, the red, green and blue. No other cables will pass a HD signal. Also, go into the setup menu of the cable box and make sure it is set to 16:9 and that it is outputing a HD resolution, such as 1080i/720p. Then use the "source" or "input" button on the TV remote to match the connection you used in the rear of the TV, such as component 1.
Hopefully, you are also using a digital audio connection, such as HDMI, coaxial, or optical. You won't get the good surround sound through the red and white RCA cables.

Dave, thanks for your reply. The box (Motorola) does not have HDMI connections, and the instructions clearly indicate that I was to use another length of "regular" cable (which came with the box) back into the TV. Is this wrong??

Well, that explains why your HD shows don't look so hot.

That sounds like either a coax (just like the cable coming out of the wall) or S-video, neither of which support HD.

Look on the back of the cable box. You should see HDMI or DVI digital outputs or component (3 rca connectors - Red/Green/Blue might be labeled YPrPb). You must use one of these to get HD resolution. If you only have S video or standard (composite) video then they did not give you a HD capable cable box.

If you'll post the brand and model number of the box and the TV we can help more.

akirby wrote:That sounds like either a coax (just like the cable coming out of the wall) or S-video, neither of which support HD.

I have never understood this (and don't want to confuse anyone)...

I am using an off air antenna to get my HDTV...it is connected directly to the set via coax. So, if coax does not support HD, how am I getting HD???

Sorry for the hijack...

If Coax is used to carry OTA signals then yes, it can be connected to a HD tuner and you can get HDTV.

In your case it sounds like the output from the digital cable box to the TV is coax and if so then that is the worst possible connection and you aren't receiving any HD signals. Does the TV have to be on a certain channel for it to work? The HD receiver is sending out a SD signal on the coax on a NTSC channel (usually 3 or 4) which is different from the ATSC signal you get from the OTA antenna. Apples and oranges. That type of connection is only used on older TVs where the only input is a NTSC coax.

You should have the coax cable going to the cable box and from the cable box to the tv should be HDMI, DVI or Component Video. Check the cable box output options and your TV input options.

Hi sorry for the delay it is a Motorola 6200. I have swapped out the coax and have run component and the picture is amazing!
Would I get significant picture improvement by upgrading to DVI (no HDMI which is strange considering the unit is brand new?)?

It may be new to you but the 6200 is almost 4 years old now. The 6412 is the latest and greatest.

I don't think DVI would improve the picture. If you like the component picture keep it.

twmattox wrote:I have never understood this (and don't want to confuse anyone)...

I am using an off air antenna to get my HDTV...it is connected directly to the set via coax. So, if coax does not support HD, how am I getting HD???

twmattox never really got his question answered. I think I know but am not sure, so I will defer to someone more capable. So, why does a coax (RG-6 type) carry a HD signal from an antenna into a TV tuner, or into a cable/sat STB, but will not carry a HD signal OUT of that same cable/sat STB into the TV???????

Akirby did answer it but it was so quick I missed it too...
If Coax is used to carry OTA signals then yes, it can be connected to a HD tuner and you can get HDTV.

but then you said...

but will not carry a HD signal OUT of that same cable/sat STB into the TV???????

Akirby answered that too...
The HD receiver is sending out a SD signal on the coax on a NTSC channel (usually 3 or 4) which is different from the ATSC signal you get from the OTA antenna. Apples and oranges. That type of connection is only used on older TVs where the only input is a NTSC coax.