HD Cable Box-to-Old Tube TV Question...

[IntelliVolume]

In our workout room (a bedroom we designated a treadmill space because we don't have kids) we have one of the older 4:3 tube TVs (a Magnavox/Phillips) that's connected to a new HD box from our service provider, which is Cox. No matter where I leave the box's output set -- 480i, 720, 1080 -- we get a picture sent to the screen with no issues, but it's weird in that all these format outputs don't change the image we're seeing at all. I would think leaving the box set to, say, 1080i would distort the image going into this old TV or yield no image at all, but that's not the case...

What SHOULD the cable output be set to for a TV such as this? I assumed 480i, but as I said, NO RESOLUTION choice makes a difference, as we get the same picture...in fact, I can even eliminate all the output choices on this Cox HD box (by switching off those "bullet points" next to each resolution output selection) and it STILL shows a picture on the TV...

Weird, indeed...

Can anyone help?

[floridaswamprat]

While this may not be a definitive answer, the max image for that TV is 480. With that being said, I would think that you would save a little money by not having a HD box hooked up to it (you are not going to get a HD pic no matter what). While I do not have Cox, I know that Comcast has a simple non-HD digital box for such set ups. I have a tube set in the basement and the additional cost is only $4.00 per month as opposed to the higher cost of a HD box. Anyway, just my thoughts.

[Potatohorror]

Originally Posted by IntelliVolume

In our workout room (a bedroom we designated a treadmill space because we don't have kids) we have one of the older 4:3 tube TVs (a Magnavox/Phillips) that's connected to a new HD box from our service provider, which is Cox. No matter where I leave the box's output set -- 480i, 720, 1080 -- we get a picture sent to the screen with no issues, but it's weird in that all these format outputs don't change the image we're seeing at all. I would think leaving the box set to, say, 1080i would distort the image going into this old TV or yield no image at all, but that's not the case...

What SHOULD the cable output be set to for a TV such as this? I assumed 480i, but as I said, NO RESOLUTION choice makes a difference, as we get the same picture...in fact, I can even eliminate all the output choices on this Cox HD box (by switching off those "bullet points" next to each resolution output selection) and it STILL shows a picture on the TV...
Weird, indeed...

Can anyone help?

Sorry to tell you this but most channels these days are presented in a wide screen display. That means that even if a cable box is set to 480i it will still be presented as a widescreen display on your tv.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

It's a non-issue. Your image quality will always be limited by the equipment being used and/or the source material. In this case, the lowest common denominator in the equation is your TV, so you'll always get the same quality image based on TV capabilities.

In fact, I'm not entirely sure what information you are actually trying to seek out. LOO

[punisher]

is there a zoom feature on the remote control?..Fios has several zoom modes on their remotes. Might help a bit.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by IntelliVolume

What SHOULD the cable output be set to for a TV such as this? I assumed 480i, but as I said, NO RESOLUTION choice makes a difference, as we get the same picture...in fact, I can even eliminate all the output choices on this Cox HD box (by switching off those "bullet points" next to each resolution output selection) and it STILL shows a picture on the TV...

Weird, indeed...

Can anyone help?

If you're outputting the image through composite the quality will always be the same, the box will pump out 480. That's the limit of composite. It would be the same result if you plugged a BD player in through composite.

[IntelliVolume]

Originally Posted by chip75

If you're outputting the image through composite the quality will always be the same, the box will pump out 480. That's the limit of composite. It would be the same result if you plugged a BD player in through composite.

That's pretty much what I wanted to know; and I forgot to mention in my original post that the connection is a plain old coax cable going from the box to the TV...

As for the member who mentioned not even using this box on this TV -- yes, I understand I'll never get high def using this display, but our service provider gave me this box in substitute of a "mini" box that he claimed wouldn't work with our particular cable package, and he adjusted the bill so that we're not charged for another HD box. So that's a non-issue; I'm just using the box with this old analog TV for the "gym room."

That said, if the coax connection will always pump out 480, it then doesn't matter what output setting the box is adjusted to? As I said, no matter what resolution output I select on the box -- 480, 720, 1080 -- the picture quality on the display doesn't change (that I can tell), so I suppose what I'm asking is, what resolution should I leave it at (or does it not matter at all)?

[HDTV1080P]

Chip75 answered the question correctly. Since RF channel 3 and 4 coax, composite video, and S-Video are always 480i quality, the cable box 100% of the time will always send a 480i NTSC standard definition image to those connections. The resolution setting on the digital cable box only effects the HDMI and component video outputs.There might be a menu selection in the cable box to choose between letter box and 4:3 ratio. Or the box might automatically convert HD channels to 480i letterbox when using legacy 480i analog video outputs.

Now if your old 4:3 SD CRT TV only has an antenna input for RF channel 3 and 4 then you cannot improve the picture quality. However if you had component video, S-Video, or composite video inputs then you should use one of those.

Also you can find a used 2010 Panasonic or Sony Blu-ray player with analog video and audio jacks if you want to hook up a Blu-ray player to your old TV set (if your old TV has at least one composite video input).

Here is the order of input jacks you should use when connecting a new TV to a cable box or old Blu-ray player

1. HDMI: HDMI offers up to 4K Ultra HD or 8K picture quality, this is the ideal connection if a consumers display supports it. Some old tube 4:3 HDTV’s support HDMI up to 1080i quality. Technically HDMI 2.1 can support between 480i to 8K resolutions.

2. Component video: Component video using 3 separate RCA jacks for video offers up to 1080i picture quality. Many older 4:3 TV’s have at least 480i component video inputs while some tube HDTV’s have 1080i component video inputs. Component video is an analog signal that supports between 480i-1080i quality (Some extremely rare equipment can do 1080P over component video).

3. S-Video: S-Video offers 480i quality and its better quality then composite video since the luminance and chrominance is separated.

4. Composite video: Composite video offers 480i picture quality that is better than RF channel 3 and 4 since the video and audio signals are separated.

5. RF coax channel 3 and 4: is the worse quality connection a consumer can make. Some consumers are forced into this connection since they own very old low cost tube TV’s that do not offer any other video inputs. A TV with only RF inputs is called a TV, however if the TV has at least a composite video input it is called a TV monitor.

[IntelliVolume]

Thanks so much, HDTV; I think you nailed the answer when you replied with:

Since RF channel 3 and 4 coax, composite video, and S-Video are always 480i quality, the cable box 100% of the time will always send a 480i NTSC standard definition image to those connections. The resolution setting on the digital cable box only effects the HDMI and component video outputs.

This is probably why I'm not seeing any picture quality differences when I switch resolutions; being that I'm using a standard coax run from the box to the TV, what should I keep those resolution settings on the box at? I know it only affects HDMI or component, now that you pointed it out, so does it matter what this is kept at?

There might be a menu selection in the cable box to choose between letter box and 4:3 ratio. Or the box might automatically convert HD channels to 480i letterbox when using legacy 480i analog video outputs. [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

Yes -- there is a selection for this, and I have this set up properly; that is, I have it set to "4:3" for TV type and "Letterboxed" for widescreen transmissions. That's not a problem.

Now if your old 4:3 SD CRT TV only has an antenna input for RF channel 3 and 4 then you cannot improve the picture quality. However if you had component video, S-Video, or composite video inputs then you should use one of those.

To be honest with you, I don't think this TV has ANY connections in the back for ANYTHING other than the coax line; but I'll check again...

Still, it doesn't really matter because, as I said, this TV is just being used as a background filler during workouts in this room; the picture quality is not that important in this function. I just wanted to know what those resolution output settings should be set to in the box being that it's not connected to a HDTV, and you answered this in your reply (that the selections are just for HDMI or component).

I was just curious as to what I should leave those resolution settings to in that portion of the menu...

Thank you, again.

[HDTV1080P]

If you are not using HDMI or component video then it does not matter what the resolution is set for. However you might want to set the box for 480i quality to make sure the box does the ideal job of converting the HD/SD programs to the correct screen ratio (this should not matter, but its just a precaution in case there is errors in the cable box software when watching certain channels). You could also set the cable box to 1080i (or 1080P if the box supports it), if you thought that in the near future you were going to purchase a 1080P flat screen for that room.

These are all personal decisions that you need to make. To be honest I would sale that TV if it was in my home and upgrade it. The cheapest and lowest quality TV my family members have in a unimportant room is a 20 inch SDTV 480i tube TV with a Blu-ray player connected to the tube TV’s 480i component video inputs. And the Blu-ray picture quality at 480i quality looks great. The TV also has a digital ATSC/QAM tuner built in for over the air broadcast and clear QAM cable. Several years ago this TV cost under $200, and it was an ideal low cost TV for its time. My family members will most likely keep it until it breaks (or who knows one day might upgrade it).

[IntelliVolume]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

If you are not using HDMI or component video then it does not matter what the resolution is set for. However you might want to set the box for 480i quality to make sure the box does the ideal job of converting the HD/SD programs to the correct screen ratio (this should not matter, but its just a precaution in case there is errors in the cable box software when watching certain channels).

This makes sense; I'll leave the box at 480i. Thanks!

You could also set the cable box to 1080i (or 1080P if the box supports it), if you thought that in the near future you were going to purchase a 1080P flat screen for that room.

Is there a set-top box that supports 1080p? That's the first I'm hearing of that...

At any rate, no, there will be no upgrading this set for the time being; it's really not a necessary expense for us. Thanks for all your input!

[HDTV1080P]

There are satellite receivers and a select few digital cable boxes that support both native 4K Ultra HD and 1080P.

[IntelliVolume]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

There are satellite receivers and a select few digital cable boxes that support both native 4K Ultra HD and 1080P.

Really? Which ones, offhand?

[HDTV1080P]

http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?p=c61k (4K Direct TV)


http://www.digitaltrends.com/home-th...-4k-cable-box/ (4K Comcast box)


Also many HD digital cable boxes from Motorola or Scientific Atlanta can output 1080P with a firmware upgrade.


The equipment exists however in reality in the United States most likely Direct TV is the only one that currently has 4K Ultra HD channels.


There is a ton of Internet streaming 4K Ultra HD channels with a Roku Ultra box.

[IntelliVolume]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?p=c61k (4K Direct TV)


http://www.digitaltrends.com/home-th...-4k-cable-box/ (4K Comcast box)


Also many HD digital cable boxes from Motorola or Scientific Atlanta can output 1080P with a firmware upgrade.


The equipment exists however in reality in the United States most likely Direct TV is the only one that currently has 4K Ultra HD channels.


There is a ton of Internet streaming 4K Ultra HD channels with a Roku Ultra box.

Interesting; I know of the streaming and its plethora of avenues available for that, but didn't know about the boxes...

Indeed, aren't services still broadcasting in 1080i in general anyway? I mean, this gets upconverted to 1080p or 4K, depending on what kind of display the box is connected to, but...

[HDTV1080P]

Most cable and satellite channels are 1080i. Again only Direct TV has a few native 4K Ultra HD channels as far as I am aware, Comcast and Verizon FIOS should start offering some in the future.