Comcast HDTV, digital box w/ componenet or HD DVR w/ HDMI?

[MBony]

Just called Comcast about HD packages. Nice CSR said $6.95/month on top of current digital package for set top box w/ component out or HD DVR for $11.95/month for HDMI. I am new to which is going to give me better reception, but I am guessing HDMI. I have a Tivo and really would like to keep it. What are my options?

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: MBony
Just called Comcast about HD packages. Nice CSR said $6.95/month on top of current digital package for set top box w/ component out or HD DVR for $11.95/month for HDMI. I am new to which is going to give me better reception, but I am guessing HDMI. I have a Tivo and really would like to keep it. What are my options?

i don't see how the out interface will help with "reception" either way.


if your TV can't take advantage of HDMI, why would you want it?

 

[MBony]

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold

Originally posted by: MBony
Just called Comcast about HD packages. Nice CSR said $6.95/month on top of current digital package for set top box w/ component out or HD DVR for $11.95/month for HDMI. I am new to which is going to give me better reception, but I am guessing HDMI. I have a Tivo and really would like to keep it. What are my options?

i don't see how the out interface will help with "reception" either way.


if your TV can't take advantage of HDMI, why would you want it?

I can take advantage of HDMI. I just didn't know if I would get as clear a picture w/ component as I would with HDMI.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: MBony

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold

Originally posted by: MBony
Just called Comcast about HD packages. Nice CSR said $6.95/month on top of current digital package for set top box w/ component out or HD DVR for $11.95/month for HDMI. I am new to which is going to give me better reception, but I am guessing HDMI. I have a Tivo and really would like to keep it. What are my options?

i don't see how the out interface will help with "reception" either way.


if your TV can't take advantage of HDMI, why would you want it?

I can take advantage of HDMI. I just didn't know if I would get as clear a picture w/ component as I would with HDMI.

Think the difference would be minimal, if anything, assuming it's 1080i. (I don't think any of the cable providers are doing 1080p yet for bandwidth purposes correct?)

 

[GrantMeThePower]

You're completly missing the point.

The price difference isn't for HDMI (though you will get a better picture with HDMI)...Its for the DVR!!!

You're getting a dual HD tuner in the second box...it will act like a TIVO.

It doesn't matter if you already have an older tivo box (like a series two or something)....you can't record HD to it....only SD

Does that make more sense? Get the DVR box and be happy you did.

 

[pulsedrive]

What can you do? You can go slap down 300 bucks on a Tivo HD, then call comcast and fight with them for over a month to try and get Cable cards. Honestly, once you get it up and running i have heard nothing but good things about the Tivo HD, but it's been a ROYAL pain for me to get Comcast to come out and install them.

 

[MBony]

Originally posted by: pulsedrive
What can you do? You can go slap down 300 bucks on a Tivo HD, then call comcast and fight with them for over a month to try and get Cable cards. Honestly, once you get it up and running i have heard nothing but good things about the Tivo HD, but it's been a ROYAL pain for me to get Comcast to come out and install them.

I was planning on getting the TivoHD, that is why I don't want the Comcast DVR, but it is the only option out of the two that has HDMI. What is this cable card? Are they cheap and why is Comcast stubborn about giving them out?

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: MBony

Originally posted by: pulsedrive
What can you do? You can go slap down 300 bucks on a Tivo HD, then call comcast and fight with them for over a month to try and get Cable cards. Honestly, once you get it up and running i have heard nothing but good things about the Tivo HD, but it's been a ROYAL pain for me to get Comcast to come out and install them.

I was planning on getting the TivoHD, that is why I don't want the Comcast DVR, but it is the only option out of the two that has HDMI. What is this cable card? Are they cheap and why is Comcast stubborn about giving them out?

Does your TV have a QAM tuner? I went to a buddy's place and he has a gorgeous Samsung 50" DLP going through Comcast Digital cable RF (he didn't have component cables and doesn't know much about electronics). I was like, hold on I think you can get free HD, so I ran autoscan with the cable straight into the TV and got him free network channels, TNTHD, and playboy channel. For some reason playboy channel video was unencrypted but audio was. LOL who really needs the audio anyways?

Moral of the story: if your TV has QAM you don't need either. And if not, search for a cheap set top box QAM tuner on ebay, you can find good ones for $50-$100, so if you were planning on keeping the digital cable for a year thats about the same. Only neg is no ESPNHD (it's encrypted).

 

[MBony]

Originally posted by: thepd7

Originally posted by: MBony

Originally posted by: pulsedrive
What can you do? You can go slap down 300 bucks on a Tivo HD, then call comcast and fight with them for over a month to try and get Cable cards. Honestly, once you get it up and running i have heard nothing but good things about the Tivo HD, but it's been a ROYAL pain for me to get Comcast to come out and install them.

I was planning on getting the TivoHD, that is why I don't want the Comcast DVR, but it is the only option out of the two that has HDMI. What is this cable card? Are they cheap and why is Comcast stubborn about giving them out?

Does your TV have a QAM tuner? I went to a buddy's place and he has a gorgeous Samsung 50" DLP going through Comcast Digital cable RF (he didn't have component cables and doesn't know much about electronics). I was like, hold on I think you can get free HD, so I ran autoscan with the cable straight into the TV and got him free network channels, TNTHD, and playboy channel. For some reason playboy channel video was unencrypted but audio was. LOL who really needs the audio anyways?

Moral of the story: if your TV has QAM you don't need either. And if not, search for a cheap set top box QAM tuner on ebay, you can find good ones for $50-$100, so if you were planning on keeping the digital cable for a year thats about the same. Only neg is no ESPNHD (it's encrypted).

And I'm going to need ESPNHD

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: thepd7

Originally posted by: MBony

Originally posted by: pulsedrive
What can you do? You can go slap down 300 bucks on a Tivo HD, then call comcast and fight with them for over a month to try and get Cable cards. Honestly, once you get it up and running i have heard nothing but good things about the Tivo HD, but it's been a ROYAL pain for me to get Comcast to come out and install them.

I was planning on getting the TivoHD, that is why I don't want the Comcast DVR, but it is the only option out of the two that has HDMI. What is this cable card? Are they cheap and why is Comcast stubborn about giving them out?

Does your TV have a QAM tuner? I went to a buddy's place and he has a gorgeous Samsung 50" DLP going through Comcast Digital cable RF (he didn't have component cables and doesn't know much about electronics). I was like, hold on I think you can get free HD, so I ran autoscan with the cable straight into the TV and got him free network channels, TNTHD, and playboy channel. For some reason playboy channel video was unencrypted but audio was. LOL who really needs the audio anyways?

Moral of the story: if your TV has QAM you don't need either. And if not, search for a cheap set top box QAM tuner on ebay, you can find good ones for $50-$100, so if you were planning on keeping the digital cable for a year thats about the same. Only neg is no ESPNHD (it's encrypted).

Your friend is lucky he got anything more than the locals. All of that should be encrypted, and in most places is.

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: ViRGE

Originally posted by: thepd7

Originally posted by: MBony

Originally posted by: pulsedrive
What can you do? You can go slap down 300 bucks on a Tivo HD, then call comcast and fight with them for over a month to try and get Cable cards. Honestly, once you get it up and running i have heard nothing but good things about the Tivo HD, but it's been a ROYAL pain for me to get Comcast to come out and install them.

I was planning on getting the TivoHD, that is why I don't want the Comcast DVR, but it is the only option out of the two that has HDMI. What is this cable card? Are they cheap and why is Comcast stubborn about giving them out?

Does your TV have a QAM tuner? I went to a buddy's place and he has a gorgeous Samsung 50" DLP going through Comcast Digital cable RF (he didn't have component cables and doesn't know much about electronics). I was like, hold on I think you can get free HD, so I ran autoscan with the cable straight into the TV and got him free network channels, TNTHD, and playboy channel. For some reason playboy channel video was unencrypted but audio was. LOL who really needs the audio anyways?

Moral of the story: if your TV has QAM you don't need either. And if not, search for a cheap set top box QAM tuner on ebay, you can find good ones for $50-$100, so if you were planning on keeping the digital cable for a year thats about the same. Only neg is no ESPNHD (it's encrypted).

Your friend is lucky he got anything more than the locals. All of that should be encrypted, and in most places is.

TNTHD is unencrypted for Comcast and Time Warner for the few locations I have heard about, yes he is lucky he has playboy unencrypted, but there really isn'y much worth watching in HD other than the network channels (besides discovery and espn).

 

[Goosemaster]

one is HD and one is not. hdmi/component is irrelevant in this convo.


[/thread]

 

[Ns1]

I don't have an answer to your question

but I think my current rate is $16 per box with twcable

dual tuner hd dvr, component out, 1080i into a mitsubishi lcd

 

[rbV5]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
one is HD and one is not. hdmi/component is irrelevant in this convo.


[/thread]

They're both HD boxes, one is a DVR model (OP is looking at HD packages)

My Comcast Motorola HD boxes (non-DVR models) have both Component + DVI-D output, so maybe you need to look at the box, or ask a more knowlegable CSR.

HDMI or DVI should give you the best PQ.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: rbV5

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
one is HD and one is not. hdmi/component is irrelevant in this convo.


[/thread]

They're both HD boxes, one is a DVR model (OP is looking at HD packages)

My Comcast Motorola HD boxes (non-DVR models) have both Component + DVI-D output, so maybe you need to look at the box, or ask a more knowlegable CSR.

HDMI or DVI should give you the best PQ.

oh..I wasn't aware of a non-DVR HD box for comcast....

 

[RossMAN]

TiVo HD with cable card > *

 

[rbV5]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster

Originally posted by: rbV5

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
one is HD and one is not. hdmi/component is irrelevant in this convo.


[/thread]

They're both HD boxes, one is a DVR model (OP is looking at HD packages)

My Comcast Motorola HD boxes (non-DVR models) have both Component + DVI-D output, so maybe you need to look at the box, or ask a more knowlegable CSR.

HDMI or DVI should give you the best PQ.

oh..I wasn't aware of a non-DVR HD box for comcast....

I am unfortunately.....anyway, I've seen some excellent HD concerts on Mojo and National Geographic with shows like Taboo, so its not just ESPN and Discovery anymore. HBO HD and HD On demand is not so bad either.

 

[SLCentral]

I DO NOT suggest using HDMI with any Comcast HD box. Unfortunately, the Motorola boxes are pretty crappy, and their HDCP implementation is flaky at best. Working at Magnolia, I've found very large percentages of customers having problems with HDMI with a Comcast box, and those problems going away through Component, with no loss of image quality.

 

[nageov3t]

I switched from component cables on my hd dvr to hdmi and noticed no difference really.

only reason I did it was to make it look neater, though. hdmi cables are cheap if you buy them online.

 

[Reel]

Want to be really upset? My dad is in South Florida and I took him shopping for an HDTV last weekend. He was not going to handle QAM so we went to Comcast and swapped his digital non-HD box with an HD box. Their non-DVR boxes have HDMI. When I was in Atlanta, that was never an option. Brighthouse where I live now only has HDMI on their DVR as well. That reminds me that I need to give him an HDMI cable so he can compare with the component...

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: rbV5

Originally posted by: Goosemaster

Originally posted by: rbV5

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
one is HD and one is not. hdmi/component is irrelevant in this convo.


[/thread]

They're both HD boxes, one is a DVR model (OP is looking at HD packages)

My Comcast Motorola HD boxes (non-DVR models) have both Component + DVI-D output, so maybe you need to look at the box, or ask a more knowlegable CSR.

HDMI or DVI should give you the best PQ.

oh..I wasn't aware of a non-DVR HD box for comcast....

I am unfortunately.....anyway, I've seen some excellent HD concerts on Mojo and National Geographic with shows like Taboo, so its not just ESPN and Discovery anymore. HBO HD and HD On demand is not so bad either.

ditto....I just got mojo and MHD and was watching RHCP, coldplay, keane, jayz and a bunch of other random stuff when I got a chance...some of the shows are cheezy on mojo..some are really good...if only I had more time

 

[Gooberlx2]

If the HD-DVRs they're renting out are still the Motorolas, then go with the TIVO. God what pieces of shit those units were (I had the service a little over a year ago). They would freeze all the time and generally fuck up.

 

[daveymark]

yep the moto units are still present here. They are somewhat glitchy I pay $1.99/month for the HD DVR though so I won't complain.