Im not satisifed with how cable looks...

[Grand Bob]

Originally Posted by forsberg21

Keep in mind that there are still some compression issues with certain channels, so you will still see some HD channels as superior in PQ than others......it is not your TV, it is the cable company and/or the broadcast channel that is creating the poorer PQ.

I have seen this with our cable provider (Comcast). Some HD channels look much better than others. After a while, it can become very annoying.

[My_Two_Cents]

Originally Posted by digitalfilmlover

How so? I've used both...

HD Cable is only 1080i/720p, which is carried equally by component or HDMI. You will not see a noticeable difference between the two (enough to complain that the picture looks like crap). If you have really bad DACs, then you may notice a slight difference, but again, not enough to call into question whether you are watching HD or not.

[digitalfilmlover]

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

HD Cable is only 1080i/720p, which is carried equally by component or HDMI. You will not see a noticeable difference between the two (enough to complain that the picture looks like crap). If you have really bad DACs, then you may notice a slight difference, but again, not enough to call into question whether you are watching HD or not.

Well, the poster was complaining or was not satisfied with his cable. Secondly, component carries analog whereas HDMI carries digital but that's the obvious...so it really depends on several factors, but the most important one being whether the cable box even has an HDMI port...I've had two where they both had one or the other...Everything else I agree with...

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by Grand Bob

I have seen this with our cable provider (Comcast). Some HD channels look much better than others. After a while, it can become very annoying.

Comcast is the worse with compression IMO....that is why I went with DirecTv.

By the way, I see you are a HUGE LOTR fan.......very cool!

[mtbkr]

there is no such thing as HD wiring or coax. the cable guys that came out and put in the new wires may have done that to get you a better or cleaner signal to the cable box. if you have a good signal going to the box it will have faster tuning times between changing channels, it can prevent you from having tiling issues, or on-demand errors. again its not the wiring thats HD. its the box that tunes the encrypted signals thats HD.

[steve1971]

I will say that I see no difference in PQ with Comcast using either an HDMI cable or the component cables with my Bravia tv. Comcast states that their signals go only as high as 1080i and 720p. So I figure why bother going with an HDMI cable? I have no love for Comcast and I will get Direct Tv in the spring.

[Horrorview]

I haven't ever been fully satisfied with the quality of the HD programming offered from Comcast. One of my biggest gripes lay with things like concerts on that Palladia channel, where lights (especially BLUE!) appear super hot and, occasionally, I get this sort of flashing/garbled image when there's too much going on onscreen (ie; lots of explosions, fireworks, flashing lights, etc). I've complained about it on numerous forums but it always comes down to compression issues, so I guess it's just something cable customers have to live with. I've seen FIOS HD in action, and, to be honest, I don't think it's nearly as nice as Comcast HD (when it behaves!).

[digitalfilmlover]

Originally Posted by mtbkr

there is no such thing as HD wiring or coax. the cable guys that came out and put in the new wires may have done that to get you a better or cleaner signal to the cable box. if you have a good signal going to the box it will have faster tuning times between changing channels, it can prevent you from having tiling issues, or on-demand errors. again its not the wiring thats HD. its the box that tunes the encrypted signals thats HD.

I would use cables instead of the term "wiring". And, you need cables capable of transmitting the signals. So, if you have poor or degraded cables then you won't get a HD signal.

[progers13]

Originally Posted by digitalfilmlover

Well, the poster was complaining or was not satisfied with his cable. Secondly, component carries analog whereas HDMI carries digital but that's the obvious...so it really depends on several factors, but the most important one being whether the cable box even has an HDMI port...I've had two where they both had one or the other...Everything else I agree with...

If you'll read posts 2 through 5, you'll see that I troubleshot this with the OP last night. He confirmed the problem was that he didn't have HD programming to that TV. HDMI and Component have their differences, you are correct. However, from conversing with the OP, his complaint was not over slight quality differences between HDMI and Component. His complaint came from quality differences stemming from watching SD, which will look poor regardless of HDMI or Component.

[cembros]

Originally Posted by Oat07

Actually, you can recieve HD via coax. Thats what an antenna hocked to an HDTV is basically. In my area with comcast, I was able to run the coax directly into to tv and tune into the HD channels available without subscribing to any packages. Unfortunately, my TV did not place the channels in the proper place so I ended up getting an HD cable tuner and using the HDMI connection. I am not sure if the HD cable boxes will transmit HD via the coax, but component and HDMI will work.

Yes that is true, I actually get HD through coax connected straight to the wall but you will not get HD from the cable box.

[Chloenator]

Originally Posted by K_Williamson42

get directv

-1
I hate DirecTV!
Until they work out a deal with Comcast and get Versus on their system, I will not be doing business with them.

[iam1bearcat]

Just by reading the name of this forum, I understand completely.

Actually when my cable was hooked up, they brought the wrong box, so my "HD" box didn't have an HDMI hookup. Ugh. But I was fine for the time being. But having the cable hooked up with component cables caused my TV to freak out and the screen would tear to static and screech at me. It actually was caused by the cable connection (don't ask, because I don't really understand how haha). Ever since I disconnected the cable, no TV issues for me. Don't trust cable companies with their "intelligent" employees anymore.

[Grand Bob]

Originally Posted by forsberg21

By the way, I see you are a HUGE LOTR fan.......very cool!

Yes, it is difficult to explain why I'm so interested in Tolkien's world, its just one of those things. I know it's only literature, but it is something I thoroughly enjoy and look forward to revisiting every year. Therefore I have deviated from the wisdom of the Buddah and not chosen "the middle way", as all obsessions and habits are bad. Ha!

[Trogdor2010]

I haven't been satisfied by satelite programming myself, and from my experience, the quality of cable depends on the provider. If you live in an urban area (a city) or a suburb, there really isn't any reason to get satellite television, and some of the broadcast I've seen on cable (Comcast), look much better than the macroblocking nightmares from satellite, and bandwidth issues don't help. I however live rurally and the cable service is servicable, but not satisfactory, and not even HD broadcast are availible, this is where using satelite is ideal, since cable acts as a peer to peer local network, satelite is ideal for when there are fewer users watching the broadcast in a single server (or say channel), so to make the lives of satelite users better, must kill off their own to get more bandwidth to get better broadcasts , until those users are what keep it running.

[GOAT]

called TWC... having a box (and must upgrade my room to digital cable as well) for an extra 7 bucks a month... its worth it to watch my basketball in HD on my 46 1080... rather than the crappy 32 720'' in my family room