[PAmedic]

ok- so when are you coming over?

[mrmacphisto]

I am assuming cable television in Lynchburg is so expensive that HD isn't worth it.

last I checked cable didnt offer HD in this area yet. Proto says that jetbroadband is working on it, but adelphia wasnt. But now it's Comcast, so maybe they're more on the ball.

Comdelphia just got HD on February 1, when they added CBS HD (had I known this, I may have picked up an HDMI cable for the Super Bowl). As of right now, that's the only HD channel offered. There is no HD package, just an HD box (which is the same thing as the DVR box; if you have DVR, you have HD).

While there is no set schedule with the whole Adelphia changeover, they claim that more HD channels will be available in the coming months (here's hoping ABC and FOX are next).

[mrmacphisto]

Update: FOX HD is now available through Comdelphia.

[adam42381]

I'm waiting for them to add ESPN, NBC and ABC next. Things are looking good on the 2 channels I have (during the 1-2 hours per night they broadcast in HD). I'm really hoping they get ESPN HD before baseball season starts!

[mrmacphisto]

Yeah, I really want ABC HD, for Lost. I'm looking forward to seeing 24 in HD, as soon as I can get an HD cable (which unfortunately won't be until at least next month).

[adam42381]

Depending on the TV and cable box that you have, component cables can work just as well as HDMI. The picture quality can actually be the same. HDMI allows the largest signal to go through and also carries audio but it doesn't guarantee that it'll be better quality output on your TV. Just a thought. You can get good component video cables for $20 at Best Buy.

[mrmacphisto]

But can a component signal carry HD in a way that will show up as HD on my TV? I'm currently connected to my cable box by coax, and it does this weird matting thing on the HD channels. Are you saying component won't do this?

[nickrichard]

If your TV is HD capable, do you even need the box, or can you run directly into your TV-AV receiver?

[mrmacphisto]

Thing is, I don't know if I have an HD tuner. I know I have two tuners built-in, one analog and the other I assume is at least digital, if not HD. I haven't really looked at my manual (because it's in digital format, which take more effort than flipping through a booklet). Even so, I doubt I would get a decent signal in my apartment, which is halfway underground, and I don't want to purchase an antenna only to find this out.

[LUconn]

You don't need an over the air tuner to get the channels via cable provider. What you would need is an HD capable digital cable box. It would act as your tuner.

[mrmacphisto]

I have that, and I get 2 HD channels through my provider. I just don't have an HDMI cable to properly transfer the HD signal.

[kel varson]

I had HD and got rid of it. Its vastly overrated. It only costs a few more dollars a month, but its still not worth it.

[Libertine]

I like HD for sports or live events but that's it. Other than that, the better picture is actually a distraction. Don't get me started on the local news in HD.

[LUconn]

I think Kel Varson is mildly insane. I think it's too expensive over regular, but it it were only a few bucks, it would be well worth it. It's something that doesnt knock you over when you see it like the hype wants you to believe. But I was watching free HD for a couple of months and then I got satellite and now I think everything looks terrible. Just try watching something in HD and then changing it right away to the SD channel. It's almost unwatchable.

[Rocketfan]

I like HD for sports or live events but that's it. Other than that, the better picture is actually a distraction. Don't get me started on the local news in HD.

There isn't one local news station is this area that broadcasts in HD.....so i hope you weren't referring to the burg?

[Rocketfan]

Depending on the TV and cable box that you have, component cables can work just as well as HDMI. The picture quality can actually be the same. HDMI allows the largest signal to go through and also carries audio but it doesn't guarantee that it'll be better quality output on your TV. Just a thought. You can get good component video cables for $20 at Best Buy.

Stop SMOKING THE BUD.....component cables will NEVER i repeat NEVER be the same quality as HD, you have lost your mind. If your TV has a tuner just hook up an antenna ( not matter if you live underground or not ) and see what type of signal you get, its really not that hard. You just have to run the "Program Channels" feature and if you have a digital tuner it should show you how many digital and analog signals you can receive. When its complete surf around and see what you get or move you antenna around because that can improve your signal strength.

If you get them( HD channels) from your cable provider i HAVE heard that optical sound may be a bit better than HDMI sound( again thats personal preference ) but the picture quality isn't even close.

[Rocketfan]

I think Kel Varson is mildly insane. I think it's too expensive over regular, but it it were only a few bucks, it would be well worth it. It's something that doesnt knock you over when you see it like the hype wants you to believe. But I was watching free HD for a couple of months and then I got satellite and now I think everything looks terrible. Just try watching something in HD and then changing it right away to the SD channel. It's almost unwatchable.

See i gotta disagree here as well.....the Superbowl being a MAJOR difference. The difference with that SD and HD simply had people shaking there heads. I watched that game on two different TV's ( a 72'' Sony and a 72'' Samsung) and going back and forth between SD and HD the clarity and detail had some women even commenting ( who knew nothing about HD ) why is the picture so clear??? When women notice these things, its a big deal cause most could care less about that games ( ok the ones i was around at least)

Also where were you watching Free HD? If you say it doesn't blow you away but then you notice all SD stuff looks awful, how is that not a huge difference?

[LUconn]

Free HD as in over the air. Fox, and ABC are the easiest to pick up but I was able to get CBS most days. I don't even know if NBC has and HD signal. I found a digital signal but it never seemed to be in HD.

As for the difference I was speaking of, it's like if you drank Pepsi all the time and then had a Coke for the first time in your life. It's better sure, but not blow away your taste buds better. But then if you go directly back to Pepsi, it's like drinking urine.

(swap the 2 drinks if you prefer Pepsi.)

[Libertine]

I like HD for sports or live events but that's it. Other than that, the better picture is actually a distraction. Don't get me started on the local news in HD.

There isn't one local news station is this area that broadcasts in HD.....so i hope you weren't referring to the burg?

Sorry. I should have been more specific. Right now, the local stations put out their regular signal on the HD channel and it looks horrendous. I'm afraid to see what kind of radioactive mutants we actually have behind the newsdesk here should they ever decide to go to HD broadcast.

[mrmacphisto]

I had HD and got rid of it. Its vastly overrated. It only costs a few more dollars a month, but its still not worth it.

If you're talking about cable in Lynchburg, you're technically wrong. The HD box costs money to rent, but the HD programming itself (sparse as it is) is no additional charge. I'm already paying for DVR, and the DVR box is also the HD box, so I'm not paying any extra for HD.

That said, without an HDMI cable, I get the HD aspect ratio, but it displays in SD with gray bars at the top and bottom (the standard black bars appear on the left and right). I'm able to use my TV's zoom feature to get a full screen display without losing a significant portion of the picture, but I'm guessing the HD cables would allow me to watch true HD in full screen.

[fsn32]

Depending on the TV and cable box that you have, component cables can work just as well as HDMI. The picture quality can actually be the same. HDMI allows the largest signal to go through and also carries audio but it doesn't guarantee that it'll be better quality output on your TV. Just a thought. You can get good component video cables for $20 at Best Buy.

Stop SMOKING THE BUD.....component cables will NEVER i repeat NEVER be the same quality as HD, you have lost your mind. If your TV has a tuner just hook up an antenna ( not matter if you live underground or not ) and see what type of signal you get, its really not that hard. You just have to run the "Program Channels" feature and if you have a digital tuner it should show you how many digital and analog signals you can receive. When its complete surf around and see what you get or move you antenna around because that can improve your signal strength.

There is not a big difference in HDMI and component. I have a DirecTV setup and have the component output going to one TV and the HDMI to another and I would be willing to bet you that you can't tell the difference from one to another. Now if you are talking COMPOSITE, then you are right... it is not capable to carry HD... but COMPONENT seems to work just fine and is standard install for DirecTV.

[fsn32]

As far as the best option... cable is not at the moment... not in L-burg anyway. Overall, cable has some advantages in some places (at my mom's she gets local HD for free but no espn etc.)

Dish Net. is a little ahead at the moment in regard to national networks in HD. DirecTV has decided to focus more on getting locals up on its birds, but Roanoke/L-burg will be down the list. (2010-12?) D-TV has about 10 HD stations now and a few specialty HD stations (NFL games, NBA, concerts, pay per view.)

That said, there is supposed to be a sat launched for D-TV this year that will add "up to" 150 HD channels... I have heard that it would be half nationals (TLC, MTV, TBS, etc.) and the other half locals in large markets like Chicago, Philly and so on. Another sat is supposed to go up at the end of the decade too.. that's why you have to get a new dish that can pull in from 5 sats. Even in the best cable markets (not Lynchburg) there are only 40-50 HD stations. Also, D-TV says that it will have more HD sports than anyone by years end... I'm guessing that all the regional nets will be HD and the NBA, NHL, MLB, NCAA tickets too.

Right now the set-up I have is a DirecTV HD DVR and an antenna mounted to my house. The antenna runs into the DVR and records just like D-TV programs. It works really well. I got a pretty nice antenna with amp and can get the Lynchburg stations at 98% and the Roanoke stations at around 92%. I may have gotten a better set-up than needed but I had heard of some people who had trouble getting the Roanoke stations and I didn't want to get something that might not work. It rarely has a glitch and for the most part the locals are solid with the antenna and when the new D-TV HD sat gets launched it will be all I will need.

It was worth it just for NFL Sunday Tix in HD (only avaliable on D-TV if memory serves me.) If you are going to be in L-burg for a while it is certainly worth the trouble to get an antenna and one of the sat. packages... my opinion is that "set-up" will stay ahead of cable here.

[El Scorcho]

Until I have another option for real broadband Internet access (DSL does not count), cable is my only option no matter how good satellite is. It's unfortunate, but true.

[Rocketfan]

Depending on the TV and cable box that you have, component cables can work just as well as HDMI. The picture quality can actually be the same. HDMI allows the largest signal to go through and also carries audio but it doesn't guarantee that it'll be better quality output on your TV. Just a thought. You can get good component video cables for $20 at Best Buy.

Stop SMOKING THE BUD.....component cables will NEVER i repeat NEVER be the same quality as HD, you have lost your mind. If your TV has a tuner just hook up an antenna ( not matter if you live underground or not ) and see what type of signal you get, its really not that hard. You just have to run the "Program Channels" feature and if you have a digital tuner it should show you how many digital and analog signals you can receive. When its complete surf around and see what you get or move you antenna around because that can improve your signal strength.

There is not a big difference in HDMI and component. I have a DirecTV setup and have the component output going to one TV and the HDMI to another and I would be willing to bet you that you can't tell the difference from one to another. Now if you are talking COMPOSITE, then you are right... it is not capable to carry HD... but COMPONENT seems to work just fine and is standard install for DirecTV.

Jamie again your wrong, do the research....if both Tv's have an HD tuner( and have the HD package from DTV with an HD receiver) and are capable of showing HD, component isn't even close. I am more than willing to take that bet. You also have to get into some Tv's menus and manually release them to show a picture better than 480i ( or basically DVD quality) so if thats not done correctly it won't work either. I know Directv may set up and HD box for you but that doesn't mean they also set you individual TV up correctly for optimal viewing, i have seen it on numerous occasions and had to help fix the problem.

[mrmacphisto]

Question...

Through coax and composite, when I tune to an HD channel, I get matting on the top and bottom, as if it's re-formatting for SD. Sometimes the bars are black, other times gray.

As far as I know, this is not due to a setting on my TV. Does anyone know (or think) that the cable box is configured to only send a true HD signal through the HDMI port? Or is it possible that my TV will only recognize a signal as HD if it comes through the HDMI input?