HDTV Hookup via Comcast

kberg

Comcast was supposed to provide me with all digital channels plus HD channels today, and was unable to do so because each of the 3 Motorola HD boxes he had in his truck were bad and would not download the channels - needless to say I was ticked that I had to wait around for this guy to show up for absolutely nothing - had to reschedule for next Saturday.

However, while the Comcast tech was here I noticed the connections he made to the Motorola box. There was a DVI out (as I expected) but this was NOT being used for the connection to my HDTV - instead, the tech made a component video connection from the Motorola box to my HDTV.

My question is this - don't I need to have an HDMI/HDMI or DVI/HDMI cable connection between the Motorola box and my HDTV to get a true HD signal? I didn't think I could get true HD from just a component video connection. The tech couldn't answer this question so he contacted another tech/manager on his Nextel, who said (it was hard to hear) something about the unit (or perhaps the service) not being sophisticated enough (or something like that) to utilize the DVI out from the Motorola box to the HDTV. Does this make any sense?

Thx,

KB

bobman1235

I don't know about your second question, but as far as HD goes, you can in fact get HD through component cables. Whether you like component vs. DVI/HDMI is probably a set by set decision - personally I would stick with the component hookup.

Also, it sounds like you might have a weak signal (bad drop, or too many splitters) -- three bad boxes seems pretty unlikely.

kberg

bobman1235 wrote:

Also, it sounds like you might have a weak signal (bad drop, or too many splitters) -- three bad boxes seems pretty unlikely.

Nope, he checked for bad drop and troubleshot other possibilities as well but the signal/power, etc were all good to go. I specifically asked him if it was the boxes or possibly something on "my side of the fence" - he said no, most definitely it was the boxes. But I agree, it DOES seem VERY strange that all three boxes were "bad" - we'll see what next weekend brings.

Man was I depressed!

gidrah

I have Comcast HD and it is connected via component cables and works great. I'm not surprised by the 3 bad boxes. I need a new one. Mine has been bad since that storm we had a few weeks ago. I can unplug it and plug it back in and it's good for about 20 minutes, after that I can't change channels or even turn it off without unplugging it.

fireshoes

A lot of cable companies don't have the DVI port on their boxes activated. If you specifically request one, they probably have some available. I'm going to vote for retarded tech over three bad boxes though.

okiepolkie

One frustrating thing this week was that one of the cable boxes used in one client's house showed the fatal "Your DVI port is not compatable with your HDTV because it does not meet HDCP requirements"(or something along those lines).

I guess that is what happens when you get an older Vizio refurb from tiger direct.

Component still looks good.

unc2701

I haven't noticed too much of a diff between component and HDMI- only had a week so far on the HDMI, though. As for the DVI port not being active- that's pretty common. TWC in NC just added it recently to their DVRs and I've seen that complaint on a number of forums.

kberg

unc2701 wrote:

As for the DVI port not being active- that's pretty common. TWC in NC just added it recently to their DVRs and I've seen that complaint on a number of forums.

Yep. And I believe I am in the same situation in my area. Thanks.

mantis

I suggest if your tv has DVI input , use it from the cablebox. If it has HDMI then buy a DVI to HDMI cable and use it.

You can however get hdtv with component cables as noted above. There isn't much difference between component , HDMI and DVI for picture quality. It takes alot to find the very small improvements. If your getting a DVR HDTV cablebox, I strongly suggest you do, you will get the 6412. It has DVI out and it works. This box is made by Motorla and a good one it is. There is suppost to be a new cablebox coming out right now with HDMI out. Suppost ot be a faster better box. next year we may see actual TIVO loaded HDTV cableboxes. I'm waiting for this as I feel TIVO is much better then cables DVR current service.

Good luck with your cablebox issues.

Dan

AsSiMiLaTeD

I've got the 6412 from Motorola and like it alot, using component cable. I know there's got to be a way to get the recordings off the box over to my PC, anyone played around with this?

RSTERN

I have the single tuner motorla box(not sure of model number) and have the firewire hooked up to the t.v. I would think you could run firewire to computer and record to it?
Rob

jtgranby

I have a 6412 also. Comcast sucks. I knew more about the install than the tech. He admitted this was his first HDTV install. Sometimes with the new boxes you have to unplug them for a few minutes and let them reset the programing. I had one bad box and it took them three trips to finally figure out it was on there end it wasn't programed to HDTV or premium channels.
DS's Good luck with Comcast
JT

unc2701

The Sci-atlanta DVR alegedly encrypts everything and I don't know of anyone hacking it just yet. I just got the new one w/ HDMI & a SATA hookup for an external drive- when I get the time I'll try recording stuff on the external & see what kind of format it has...

As for the firewire- I'm gonna be honest- you might be the first person in the entire united states who has both a firewire cable box & TV!!!

RSTERN

unc,
Mits big screen tv have had firewire for a couple years now. I think that they thought it was going to be firewire instead of dvi/hdmi. As for the cable box, the port was there all along, It wasn't until 8 months ago it was activated. Only thing is you do not get the on screen guides with the firewire connetion.
Rob

kberg

Ok, the Comcast guy came out for the second time two days ago and the ONE Motorola box he had was BAD! I'm thinking....WHAT?!

Anyway, to make a long story short, he ended up installing a Motorola DVR box instead of the standard box for digital/HD channels; THIS box worked and it downloaded all of the channels. While downloading, the Comcast guy left for another job and 25 minutes later I had all of the channels I expected; HOWEVER, there was no audio! The Comcast guy had the L/R audio cables plugged into the wrong A/V input! And I'm supposed to now pay an install fee after all of this?! I think not! I do have the capability to record with this box, which I don't have to pay extra for (and I shouldn't for all of the grief Comcast has caused me, killing my weekends like this).

The HD channels look terrific, but I have one question...

It seems that the standard network stations (ABC, CBS, NBC) that are also available in HD show up twice in the onscreen Comcast TV Guide. For example, Channels 2, 4 or 7 (Non-HD) also show onscreen as HD Channels **** (like 204, or something like that). Any way to "delete" the non-HD channel and/or make the HD channel of **** show up as 2, 4 or 7, etc.? It may cause confusion with other household members, and there's no reason for them to tune to Non-HD Channel 2 when they can see it in HD on Channel **** - just want to make it easy, as we are all used to tuning to 2, 4, 7, etc.

jtgranby

Just to warn you sometimes the HD channels go out for awhile and all you have are the
analog channels.
JT

kberg

jtgranby wrote:

Just to warn you sometimes the HD channels go out for awhile and all you have are the
analog channels.
JT

Well, let's hope THAT doesn't happen too often!

HBombToo

kberg
I have been thinking about dumping my D* for comcast but I don't know if comcast compressed their digital channels... do you have any information linkable to show what they are actually offering?

HBomb

snakebitten

I have a motorola hd/dvr cable box from charter. It came with python digital audio link hdtv cables by steren. Would it be worth the money to buy better component cables? The dvi does not work on this dvr. I have a hitachi 46f/ws-has the dvi/hdtv but no hdmi.
Do I run the cables through the yam rx-v2500 or straight to the tv?

unc2701

If you want to use the switching on the yammie (DVD, Xbox, etcv), then run them through there. Otherwise, just go straight to the TV. Does the rx-v2500 do video upconversion?

snakebitten

yes, the 2500 does video upconversion.

unc2701

in that case, I'd run everything into it so you can leave your TV on component and do all the switching using the yammie- the inputs have enough bandwidth to handle HDTV. only reason not to would be if the upconversion looks bad... or you really want to minimize the components in the signal path.

snakebitten

ok, thanks. Would you upgrade the cables? The cables I am using are the ones that charter gave me.

unc2701

I dunno- I got a few sets of monster ones open box at Best buy for dirt cheap (I walked up as the guy was marking them down and I talked him into putting them waaay cheap). The time warner ones are pretty solid and I can't tell them from the monsters... I just switched to HDMI recently, so I'm out of that game. Maybe get some that you can return and see if they make a diff in your system.

snakebitten

I appreciate the reply, I will swap the ones I use for my dvd and see if I can tell the difference. Bought the hitachi about 1 1/2 years ago so I am far away from getting hdmi tv. The hd channels do look nice though.