Digital Cable set-up

[LoverBoyJ]

I would like to try digital cable to be used with the recently bought Toshiba 57HX81. The 18yr old house that we purchased few months ago already have cable connections all over the house and was wondering if:

- do we need to change the cable splitters? the primary cables has been split to go to the living room (where the tv is located) and to all other rooms in the house.
- do we need first class / expensive gold connectors?
- do we need to have termination (50 Ohms??) to any open cable connectors (not used)?
- whats the good digital cable provider in the San Jose area?

 

[bmacd]

you don't need anything new. Easiest way to understand how it works is that they hook up a receiver box to your current coax line feeding to your TV. Only the TV with the receiver will be able to receive digital channels unless you split the connection coming from your receiver box, but then everybody connected to the receiver box will be watching the same channel.

-=bmacd=-

 

[LoverBoyJ]

do we "rent" the receiver box or is it included with the monthly subscription?

 

[Lucky]

Originally posted by: bmacd
Only the TV with the receiver will be able to receive digital channels unless you split the connection coming from your receiver box, but then everybody connected to the receiver box will be watching the same channel.

-=bmacd=-

How do you figure that? Thats not the way my roadrunner digital setup works. I have two TV's that are completely independent of each other and able to watch different channels at the same time.

edit: my digital cables boxes cost 2.95 a month each.

 

[LoverBoyJ]

never mind I just read the VERY VERY fine print of AT&T's digital cable info

You must purchase or rent a converter and remote control for a separate charge to access and other charges may apply

thanks bmacd

 

[bmacd]

Originally posted by: Lucky


How do you figure that? Thats not the way my roadrunner digital setup works. I have two TV's that are completely independent of each other and able to watch different channels at the same time.

Hmmmmm....*scratches head in confusion*

And BTW...it's always best to terminate all unused terminals for the sake of clarity. No you don't need gold, but gold is supposedly the best conductor. I use gold/silver at my house. You probably don't need to change your splitters. And i have no idea for cable providers in your area. Ask you neighbors what they have.

-=bmacd=-

 

[LoverBoyJ]

I think if u have 2 tv's, would mean that u also have 2 digital receivers.

Whats the proper termination value should be?

 

[etech]

Originally posted by: LoverBoyJ
I would like to try digital cable to be used with the recently bought Toshiba 57HX81. The 18yr old house that we purchased few months ago already have cable connections all over the house and was wondering if:

- do we need to change the cable splitters? the primary cables has been split to go to the living room (where the tv is located) and to all other rooms in the house.
- do we need first class / expensive gold connectors?
- do we need to have termination (50 Ohms??) to any open cable connectors (not used)?
- whats the good digital cable provider in the San Jose area?

You may need to change the cable splitters. Some of the older ones will attenuate the higher frequencies more than ones designed for the signal. I had a cable tech replace one of mine and that was his explanation.
Running RG6 is also recomended but try it first with the cable you have. If the signal is not adequate call the cable company. They will (at least my company will) upgrade the cable and splitters for free.
You don't need gold though it can't hurt especially if you live near the ocean and have problems with contacts corroding. My sister lived in Pensocola,Fl. and was told to use gold connections because of the salt.
The terminators are 75 ohms for open cable connections. Yes they are recomended. The open end can reflect the signal back down the cable causing some unusal problems. Radio Shack sells them.

Can't help you with San Jose.

We have one cable box. Only on the TV hooked to that box can we get the "premimum HBO Cinemax" digital channels. The rest of the channels of the basic service any other TV can show them. It will depend on the sevice in your area. That's just how ours is set up. If you want to watch more than one premium channel at a time on different TVs then you will need another cable box.

 

[yakko]

Have you spoken to the cable company about what you may need yet?