Does the individual make/model of the cable/satellite box make a difference?

Rick Meyer

Rick Meyer

Veteran
Let me explain.

I had my 56" High Def TV connected to a cable box that only had component jacks. It looked pretty good and I was satisfied. But, last night I exchanged the box for a newer model which had an HDMI output slot. I used the HDMI cable they supplied but the image looked noticeably sub-par (compared to the older model box). I then swapped the HDMI cable they supplied for one of my own. No difference. I then used the component cable they supplied. No good. I am almost certain that the older box with only component jacks gave me a better picture.

Any one else experience this? It could be that new box=reconfig my display settings. But, I'm not too sure. Could be in my head but I don't think so. Sometimes the picture looks so good I have to cross my legs. But last night, I was strattling the couch, spread eagle, completely unsatisfied.

Rick
 
Composite in, composite out, man. It matters not what spicket you take out, if it's input is composite, your signal has already been mixed.
It cracks me up how so many cable companies are claiming uncompressed componant HD.
I know of absolutly no cable company that can offer this today or will be able to later on. They run to houses via coax, plain and simple and they'll never be able to afford a complete redo.
 
Thanks for the reply grinner.

My issue mainly has to do with the fact that I changed cable boxes so I'd have a box with an HDMI output jack. However, the image that was produced from the new box, with the HDMI cable, seemed inferior to my previous box. I ditched the HDMI jack and tried using component cables. No luck. The image is still inferior, albeit slightly.

I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced this? It would seem to me that the box is just the receptacle for the signal; that it should make NO difference which brand box you have. However, it seems to make a tiny bit of difference. At least to me it does. So, I was just wondering if anyone else had this problem because I was trying to decide if I was going going crazy or being picky. And, as a result if I should just leave it alone or go get that older, different branded box.

I mean, if you have a 1080p tv, you might as well get the most bang for your high def dollar.
 
I have noticed with every downgrade the cable companies make and call it an upgrade, the quality is worse than before as well. Their digital boxes are sub par to whatever they are swapping out on a constant basis. I can tell you when they swapped ours out last time, I lost not only a better picture, but outputs I was utilizing and the lower monthly fee I was enjoying. They simplya re not trying very hard to compete. If not for the net, cable companies would already be gone.
 
grinner said:
They simplya re not trying very hard to compete. If not for the net, cable companies would already be gone.
Click to expand...

Aint that the truth. Staring at the TV (jockeying between CNN and FOX, usually the two best looking HD channels) I just keep shaking my head at how disappointing the image looks.
 
But then look at cable advertising prices now. They start at 18 bucks a spot and haggle from there. Kind of hard to distribute wizbang componant badboys with that little incoming revenue. They get their money from people too lazy to swich to a different internet provider. While they pretend to offer bundling to save ya money, man it's just another way to hike up your bill to a point you do make that internet switch and get a dish.
They are trying about as hard as GM to compete. Doing such a bad job, it's only a matter of time until rewarded by the government.
 
Does the cable box switch between 480, 720, and 1080? Mine does and it defaults to 480, even though I have an HDTV and use HDMI. I had to change it to 720p manually.
 
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