Cable Box HDTV, Dell 2405FPW and Inputs

[the eephus]

Okay guys, I'm not a technical idiot, but I'm definitely behind the pace with most of you here.

I'm not a huge TV watcher, but I'm a baseball fan, and I'd love to be able to watch games at the same time I'm working at home on the PC.

I'm about to spring for the Dell 2405FPW, but am wondering one thing; how do I get an HDTV signal to display as well as possible through the monitor.

I'll be using the DVI input for my PC.

If I get an HDTV box from my cable company, what else will I need to display HDTV on the PC? And can I run it through the component inputs and expect the same high quality as DVI. Or can I expect to be able to run it through the component inputs at all?

Note that I do NOT wish to only have OTA signals. I have no desire to deal with an antennae. I've left those long ago behind in my youth.

I should also say that I have no burning desire to record any programming either. We have pretty good PVRs on two other sets in the house. I'm good there.

I need a little help on where to go from here. I don't need a primer in HDTV, just a good sorting of what the hardware diagram is going to look like.

TIA for any help for the newb,

-e

 

[SynthDude2001]

You should have no problems running a HD cable box to the component inputs on the 2405FPW.

Edit: Yes, the quality should be similar to DVI (though perhaps just a bit lower since it's not a digital signal), and Component does not support copy protection like the cable box's DVI output might, so no problems there.

Edit 2: Of course you'll need some way to hear the audio from the cable box, whether you run a cable to an input on your sound card, or hook it up to its own receiver or speakers, or whatever.

 

[Matthias99]

Yes, the quality should be similar to DVI (though perhaps just a bit lower since it's not a digital signal)

HD signals are digital, but transmitted over an analog interface when used over HD component cables. It will look identical. It would not be as immune to electrical noise/EMI as DVI, however.

Unfortunately, the 2405FPW does not support HDCP, so you can't use it with the DVI output of your cable box (if it has one). But it sounds like you want to use the DVI for your PC anyway.

 

[the eephus]

That's true (the PC using DVI). Now do I need a DVI to Component converter coming out of the box, or *should* there be component outs on the HD Cable Box?

So if I'm not getting the HDCP signal, am I still getting HDTV? What's the downside of not having that HDCP compatibility?

Now's where I'm starting to get lost.

I *definitely* want to make sure I'm getting the best possible signal from both the PC and the HDTV Cable Box.

Am I going about it the right way?

Thanks again,

-e

edit: Just read up some more. HDCP is something I don't need anyway, right? It's a copy-protection technology if I'm understanding correctly. Is that right?

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: the eephus
That's true (the PC using DVI). Now do I need a DVI to Component converter coming out of the box, or *should* there be component outs on the HD Cable Box?

There are usually component outputs. There is no such thing as a DVI->Component transcoder (at least not at a reasonable price).

So if I'm not getting the HDCP signal, am I still getting HDTV? What's the downside of not having that HDCP compatibility?

HDCP is copy protection that is used with DVI from devices like HD cable boxes. It has nothing to do with whether or not the signal is HD.

Now's where I'm starting to get lost.

I *definitely* want to make sure I'm getting the best possible signal from both the PC and the HDTV Cable Box.

Am I going about it the right way?

Thanks again,

-e

edit: Just read up some more. HDCP is something I don't need anyway, right? It's a copy-protection technology if I'm understanding correctly. Is that right?

Plug the cable box into the monitor with component and you're all set. Jeez, is this so complex?

 

[the eephus]

Just read some more. So if my cable box doesn't support non-HDCP output, I won't be able to use the monitor for HDTV, is that correct?

And yes, it IS that complex for me. I'm not dropping $1K+ on a monitor unless I know it can do what I want it to.

I was just going to comment about how nice folks here at AT have been, but...

Bro, I said I was a newb. Please be patient. If you came into an automotive forum (or baseball, or something else I know well and you don't - whatever that may be) and started asking very basic questions about cars (or whatever) that I knew, I'd return the favor of trying to be as polite as possible.

Everyone has a learning curve for things. That's why I'm sticking my neck out and trying to learn first, before I buy something, bitch about how its a piece of junk because I don't know how to operate it and thus turn into a TRUE idiot.

It's very frustrating when you go to the electronics store and they don't know what you're talking about, you call the cable company and they don't know what you're talking about, etc., etc. I figured if there was a place to come for good, patient, advice, this was it.

Still fishing for definitive answers on whether this'll work.

TIA,

-e

 

[Ackmed]

I have Comcast HD, and the 2405FPW. I have a splitter type box for my component cables, one to my TV, another to my LCD. I can watch TV in HD on my LCD, while browsing the web or whatever. Then I have optical audio from the HD box, to my Z-5500 pod for sound.

Works pretty well for me, looks and sounds great.

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: the eephus
Just read some more. So if my cable box doesn't support non-HDCP output, I won't be able to use the monitor for HDTV, is that correct?

Yes.

And yes, it IS that complex for me. I'm not dropping $1K+ on a monitor unless I know it can do what I want it to.

I was just going to comment about how nice folks here at AT have been, but...

Bro, I said I was a newb. Please be patient. If you came into an automotive forum (or baseball, or something else I know well and you don't - whatever that may be) and started asking very basic questions about cars (or whatever) that I knew, I'd return the favor of trying to be as polite as possible.

Everyone has a learning curve for things. That's why I'm sticking my neck out and trying to learn first, before I buy something, bitch about how its a piece of junk because I don't know how to operate it and thus turn into a TRUE idiot.

Then you should still be doing research, not posting basic questions on a forum like this (especially one that's not really geared towards AV topics). This is not secretive information that is unavailable to the general public.

I'm not trying to be mean, and I did not mean to be impolite or insulting, but I maintain a "teach a man to fish" philosophy when it comes to questions like this. AT is not your personal research service.

It's very frustrating when you go to the electronics store and they don't know what you're talking about, you call the cable company and they don't know what you're talking about, etc., etc. I figured if there was a place to come for good, patient, advice, this was it.

Still fishing for definitive answers on whether this'll work.

TIA,

-e

It will work if your cable box has HD component output (most do), or non-HDCP DVI output (however, all cable boxes I've seen with DVI use HDCP).

 

[the eephus]

Okay. I'm done.

Thank you very much to the two of you that gave me helpful information without being condescending and didactic.

And Matthias, if it makes you feel bigger to insult me and turn this into your 'personal tirade against those who think it's their personal research service', you've succeeded. You'll carry yourself more upright today feeling better for telling off someone who knew less than you about something.

I'm sorry you feel the board shouldn't be used to learn. Apparently it's more for a few (not all) 'experts' who have self-esteem problems.

Carry on then.

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: the eephus
Okay. I'm done.

Thank you very much to the two of you that gave me helpful information without being condescending and didactic.

And Matthias, if it makes you feel bigger to insult me and turn this into your 'personal tirade against those who think it's their personal research service', you've succeeded. You'll carry yourself more upright today feeling better for telling off someone who knew less than you about something.

I'm sorry you feel the board shouldn't be used to learn. Apparently it's more for a few (not all) 'experts' who have self-esteem problems.

Carry on then.

I'm sorry if you feel that I've personally offended you. I never "insulted" you (if you feel I did, I apologize), nor do I think I launched a "tirade" (I just tried to explain my reasoning for the comment I made) or "told you off". But yes, I do get annoyed at the seemingly endless legions of people who post extremely basic questions to a discussion board and expect others to hop to it and explain things they could figure out themselves. Personally, I think it shows a lack of respect for other people's time, but that's going a bit beyond the scope of this thread.

I'm happy to help you learn, and to answer specific questions, but no, I don't like hand-holding people through things they can do on their own. When I feel people are asking questions that could be answered more quickly and easily via a search of the net or this forum, I tell them that. If you don't like it, feel free to ignore me.

And, to be fair, I did answer your questions. At least I'm not one of those jerks that just makes a pithy comment and doesn't offer any help or advice.

 

[apapia]

A lack of respect for other people's time? He might be asking a newb question but he's not wasting anyone's time unless you bother to reply. If it's such a waste of your time, don't reply. And if you are going to reply, why be condescending about it? Why answer his question while making him feel like a jerk for asking?