Buy a tv and not have digital cable? - Blu-ray Forum

Bear28 · 04-27-2010, 04:57 PM

Hi,

My family is thinking of getting my grandma a new LCD tv but will the picture quality be horrible without getting a digital box?

I have 2 LCD tv's, the one connected to my digital box, the SD cable looks alright, but the one that is connected straight from the wall looks horrible.

Any suggestions would be welcome!

Thanks

Wingman1977 · 04-27-2010, 08:04 PM

Unless she gets HD/HD box, the picture will not look good as it should.

My_Two_Cents · 04-27-2010, 08:25 PM

I would defy you to find an appreciable difference between analog and digital cable. Whether you have a 'box' or are watching SD cable right from the wall, you won't see much difference. Now, feed the set an HD signal and your picture just got 10X better. Most basic cable also gives you local satations in HD, so if Grandma watches a lot of local stations, it would be a huge benefit to her.

Bear28 · 04-27-2010, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

I would defy you to find an appreciable difference between analog and digital cable. Whether you have a 'box' or are watching SD cable right from the wall, you won't see much difference. Now, feed the set an HD signal and your picture just got 10X better. Most basic cable also gives you local satations in HD, so if Grandma watches a lot of local stations, it would be a huge benefit to her.

This is my concern, the analog vs digital. As I mentioned the difference between my SD digital box and non box is huge IMO.

Thanks

My_Two_Cents · 04-27-2010, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bear28

This is my concern, the analog vs digital. As I mentioned the difference between my SD digital box and non box is huge IMO.

Thanks

I've compared analog vs digital and absolutely no difference. It's all SD cable (480i), so if there are any differences, they should be negligible. Are you sure you aren't comparing SD vs HD cable?

blarneyrubble · 04-27-2010, 09:28 PM

With a QAM tuner she will be able to get any digital channel the provider does not scramble. My local provider does not scramble the HD channels of local networks.

steve1971 · 04-28-2010, 12:38 AM

If she watches just standard channels then she would be fine without a an HD Box because the analog/digital thing makes no difference PQ wise, at least not to my eye anyway. We have Comcast here at my house and I am the only one with an HD cable box but my cousin got what Comcast calls an adapter for his little boob tube tv and his PQ looks pretty good and he only gets your standard "Digital" channels. So if you buy Grandma an HDTV you might want to try one of those as well.

04-27-2010, 04:57 PM	#1
Bear28 Expert Member Member since:Nov 2008 Location:Surrey, BC Blu-ray collection:48	Buy a tv and not have digital cable? Hi, My family is thinking of getting my grandma a new LCD tv but will the picture quality be horrible without getting a digital box? I have 2 LCD tv's, the one connected to my digital box, the SD cable looks alright, but the one that is connected straight from the wall looks horrible. Any suggestions would be welcome! Thanks

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04-27-2010, 08:04 PM	#2
Wingman1977 Blu-ray Champion Top contributor Member since:Mar 2008 Location:The empire state Trading Score:23	Unless she gets HD/HD box, the picture will not look good as it should.

04-27-2010, 08:25 PM	#3
My_Two_Cents Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Dec 2007 Location:Wherever I may roam.... Home Theater Gallery:40 4K collection:35 Blu-ray collection:507 DVD collection:19 Blu-ray reviews: 1 Trading Score:4	I would defy you to find an appreciable difference between analog and digital cable. Whether you have a 'box' or are watching SD cable right from the wall, you won't see much difference. Now, feed the set an HD signal and your picture just got 10X better. Most basic cable also gives you local satations in HD, so if Grandma watches a lot of local stations, it would be a huge benefit to her.

04-27-2010, 09:28 PM	#6
blarneyrubble Active Member Member since:Apr 2009 Location:Greenville Blu-ray collection:186	With a QAM tuner she will be able to get any digital channel the provider does not scramble. My local provider does not scramble the HD channels of local networks.

04-28-2010, 12:38 AM	#7
steve1971 Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Feb 2008 Location:Saint Paul Minnesota. 4K collection:15 Blu-ray collection:352 Blu-ray reviews: 119 Trading Score:1	If she watches just standard channels then she would be fine without a an HD Box because the analog/digital thing makes no difference PQ wise, at least not to my eye anyway. We have Comcast here at my house and I am the only one with an HD cable box but my cousin got what Comcast calls an adapter for his little boob tube tv and his PQ looks pretty good and he only gets your standard "Digital" channels. So if you buy Grandma an HDTV you might want to try one of those as well.

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