Watching Digital Cable vs. 480i DVD PQ on a 720P/1080i HDTV - Blu-ray Forum

Collectors Set · 06-14-2008, 01:44 PM

So I have actually never really seen normal everyday digital cable or standard channels on an HDTV. We all know 480i DVD is what it is; however on an HDTV it is a pretty clean and very doable picture experience. My question is; are the normal digital or standard analog cable channels going to look as good as watching a 480i DVD???

I only ask because I have a HD antenna and obviously get all the local and a few other random stations in 720P or better. But I do get a few others in 480i, but they look absolutely terrible. I can not imagine digital cable channels having this kind of PQ.

Some have suggested you are better off with analog cable channels, but from what I can tell, you would have to go with an "HD" cable converter terminal and everything above a certain channel number range is digital by default. The standard cable channels might still be analog; not sure.

Thanks

Riff Magnum · 06-14-2008, 01:57 PM

I guess it depends on your carrier, but my friend has a 46" 1080p HDTV and cable, but when watching the NBA finals on ABC the game looked horrible. My OTA signal looked much better on my 30" 1080i. Way better.

Collectors Set · 06-14-2008, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riff Magnum

I guess it depends on your carrier, but my friend has a 46" 1080p HDTV and cable, but when watching the NBA finals on ABC the game looked horrible. My OTA signal looked much better on my 30" 1080i. Way better.

Interesting -- that NBA finals PQ is scary sounding.

Someone just sent me an email and said that you can go into the HD converter terminal and eliminate all of the pic settings, going with 1080i only and this greatly helps

allstar780 · 06-14-2008, 05:45 PM

it also depends on the TV a lot too... a friend of mine has standard digital satellite and it looks horrible on every HDTV in the house (including the 26 inch toshiba) but i have cable right now and it looks fine on my 32" panny

forgot to add... on the demo model of my tv at work it has the best pic on standard digital satellite... so yeah, depends on the TV

06-14-2008, 01:44 PM	#1
Collectors Set Senior Member Member since:Dec 2007 Blu-ray collection:36	Watching Digital Cable vs. 480i DVD PQ on a 720P/1080i HDTV So I have actually never really seen normal everyday digital cable or standard channels on an HDTV. We all know 480i DVD is what it is; however on an HDTV it is a pretty clean and very doable picture experience. My question is; are the normal digital or standard analog cable channels going to look as good as watching a 480i DVD??? I only ask because I have a HD antenna and obviously get all the local and a few other random stations in 720P or better. But I do get a few others in 480i, but they look absolutely terrible. I can not imagine digital cable channels having this kind of PQ. Some have suggested you are better off with analog cable channels, but from what I can tell, you would have to go with an "HD" cable converter terminal and everything above a certain channel number range is digital by default. The standard cable channels might still be analog; not sure. Thanks Last edited by Collectors Set; 06-14-2008 at 02:00 PM.

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06-14-2008, 01:57 PM	#2
Riff Magnum Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Apr 2008 Location:The Island Blu-ray collection:149	I guess it depends on your carrier, but my friend has a 46" 1080p HDTV and cable, but when watching the NBA finals on ABC the game looked horrible. My OTA signal looked much better on my 30" 1080i. Way better.

06-14-2008, 05:45 PM	#4
allstar780 Special Member Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Mar 2008 Location:Grande Prairie, Alberta Home Theater Gallery:15 Blu-ray collection:115 Blu-ray reviews:2	it also depends on the TV a lot too... a friend of mine has standard digital satellite and it looks horrible on every HDTV in the house (including the 26 inch toshiba) but i have cable right now and it looks fine on my 32" panny forgot to add... on the demo model of my tv at work it has the best pic on standard digital satellite... so yeah, depends on the TV

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