I was thinking about getting this but im usnsure if I want to or even if it will do me any good. I have full cable right now but have heard good things about digital cable but never really looked too much into it but now that I have an LCD im wondering if it really is worth while to do. Is it? I have a 47 in 1080p LCD if that makes a difference and a 32" LCD 720P
Does digital cable make TV that much better? On a LCD?
- Thread starter SuperStrokey
- Start date
I think its just plain old digital cable, not really sure though. I have complete cable right now and its ok on the LCd's but something tha tmakes it better is always a good thing. Its 2 bucks more a month so its nothing really. Im just concerned that if i buy the digital box for 55 bucks is a total waste. If its gonna look better than regular TV ill get it but if its gonna look the same then i dont wnat it at all, but even a small improvement would be great.
Here is a link to the stuff im considering, im looking at the one with teh 55 dollar cable box.
http://www.shaw.ca/en-ca/Produ...es/Television/Digital/
I know nothing about this sort of stuff but i want to learn. Im in Canada is that makes a difference but i have no idea why it would
Here is a link to the stuff im considering, im looking at the one with teh 55 dollar cable box.
http://www.shaw.ca/en-ca/Produ...es/Television/Digital/
I know nothing about this sort of stuff but i want to learn. Im in Canada is that makes a difference but i have no idea why it would
Schadenfroh
Elite Member
- Mar 8, 2003
- 38,416
- 4
- 0
I just got the HDTV and a HD box is like 600 bucks up here so im wondering if digital will work for now sorta thing, im hoping its much improved but not like HD or anything
It's not a miracle worker. Just enjoy OTA HD for the time being until you want to get more HD service. BTW, typically you rent the HD box, not buy it.
Originally posted by: s44
Digital SD cable sucks -- artefacting and all that.
If you have to pay for a HD box, buy a Tivo
But is it better than regular cable thats the question i really want to know. Cause at 2 bucks a month evena small increase would be worth imho
Oyeve
Lifer
- Oct 18, 1999
- 21,977
- 847
- 126
Originally posted by: SuperStrokey
Originally posted by: s44
Digital SD cable sucks -- artefacting and all that.
If you have to pay for a HD box, buy a Tivo
But is it better than regular cable thats the question i really want to know. Cause at 2 bucks a month evena small increase would be worth imho
IMO, no. Just because they slap "digital" to it does not make it better. In NY I use timewarner "digital" cable. I split the cable before it hits the cable box (which is what decodes the digital) and connect one to my tv and the other to my other TV. The non digitalized cable the does not go thru the box looks sooooo much better and is faster. The cable NOT connected thru the box is around 4 seconds ahead of the cable box. And I do not get the artifacting and square blocks.
Modelworks
Lifer
- Feb 22, 2007
- 16,240
- 7
- 76
Its really going to depend on the cable company.
All digital means is that they are converting the signal to 0's and 1's before they send it out.
Cable companies love it because for the same amount of analog bandwidth they can squeeze 3 or 4 digital channels in the same space.
The problem with that is that they get to decide how much of that bandwidth goes to each channel. They can compress the hell out of the channel and it will look like crap with plenty of artifacts, or it will glitch when there is high motion scenes. Unfortunately HDTV is just as succeptible to it as digital sdtv. Satellite companies are running into the same issue. They want to offer channels but they are limited by how much each sat can support. So until they launch new satellites, they compress and squeeze the channels for all they are worth.
Satellite does have an advantage though in that they can put up new satellites. Cable would have to run new cable to every home or deploy fiber.
Personally , I went with dish network for hdtv.
They gave me a free HDTV DVR and the first 6 months of HD service for free.
The quality is good and they are launching another sat soon to add even more channels.
All digital means is that they are converting the signal to 0's and 1's before they send it out.
Cable companies love it because for the same amount of analog bandwidth they can squeeze 3 or 4 digital channels in the same space.
The problem with that is that they get to decide how much of that bandwidth goes to each channel. They can compress the hell out of the channel and it will look like crap with plenty of artifacts, or it will glitch when there is high motion scenes. Unfortunately HDTV is just as succeptible to it as digital sdtv. Satellite companies are running into the same issue. They want to offer channels but they are limited by how much each sat can support. So until they launch new satellites, they compress and squeeze the channels for all they are worth.
Satellite does have an advantage though in that they can put up new satellites. Cable would have to run new cable to every home or deploy fiber.
Personally , I went with dish network for hdtv.
They gave me a free HDTV DVR and the first 6 months of HD service for free.
The quality is good and they are launching another sat soon to add even more channels.
I used to have Time Warner digital cable in Miami, it sucked as well. I figure as the number of HD sets in the market increases, eventually companies would move towards fewer, higher quality channels but it sounds like it hasn't happened yet. I guess those companies make a lot per channel, I don't think it's a case of executives thinking it's what consumers want.
Okay, I think some people are referring to "digital" cable and it's not really digital. Maybe the cable co is telling them it is, but it's not.
"Digital" cable should not be receivable on a standard TV without a digital tuner.
I have a few channels in my lineup here that are broadcast in analog and "digital" 480i. There is a noticable improvement on the 480i version of the broadcast, better color seperation and fewer artifacts. This is on Time Warner basic cable, in Western Ohio, without a cable box. My TV has a QAM capable tuner onboard, so I'm able to get like 15 unencrypted channels (CBS, FOX, and like 12 PBS channels).
Your "digital" cable box may be just repeating analog channels. A true digital channel should have a funny number if you're viewing it on a regular tuner, all bets are off through a cable box. Here, my digital channels are 7.1, 7.2, 14.1-14.6, 16.1-16.6, 45.1, 48.1, and 48.2. That's all through cable, I don't have an antenna connected for OTA.
"Digital" cable should not be receivable on a standard TV without a digital tuner.
I have a few channels in my lineup here that are broadcast in analog and "digital" 480i. There is a noticable improvement on the 480i version of the broadcast, better color seperation and fewer artifacts. This is on Time Warner basic cable, in Western Ohio, without a cable box. My TV has a QAM capable tuner onboard, so I'm able to get like 15 unencrypted channels (CBS, FOX, and like 12 PBS channels).
Your "digital" cable box may be just repeating analog channels. A true digital channel should have a funny number if you're viewing it on a regular tuner, all bets are off through a cable box. Here, my digital channels are 7.1, 7.2, 14.1-14.6, 16.1-16.6, 45.1, 48.1, and 48.2. That's all through cable, I don't have an antenna connected for OTA.
TRENDING THREADS
-
Discussion Zen 5 Speculation (EPYC Turin and Strix Point/Granite Ridge - Ryzen 9000)- Started by DisEnchantment
- Replies: 20K
-
Discussion Intel current and future Lakes & Rapids thread- Started by TheF34RChannel
- Replies: 23K
-
Discussion Intel Meteor, Arrow, Lunar & Panther Lakes Discussion Threads
- Started by Tigerick
- Replies: 12K
-
Discussion Speculation: Zen 4 (EPYC 4 "Genoa", Ryzen 7000, etc.)- Started by Vattila
- Replies: 13K
-
Facebook
Twitter