Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

HELP!!!! HDMI cables

Dec 5, 2008 11:30PM PST

I just purchased a Samsung LN52a650 T.V. And I want to know what HDMI cable I need to connect it to a HD/DVR DirecTV receiver. And also Best Buy tried to sell me a $ 150.00 HDMI cable is ther really a difference in cable from 60hz to 120hz? Any help on this matter?

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Don't buy a $150 cable
Dec 5, 2008 11:41PM PST

Don't fall for the gimmicks. Any 1.3 version HDMI cable will do the job. Remember, these cables use digital signals and not analog so the chances of a signal being better on one cable rather than another is slim if you're just looking to go about 1 or 2 meters (3 to 6 feet.)

However if you're looking to run a cable more than 8 feet, you may want to consider better cables as resistance and capacitance may become a factor.

Personally, I have a 4 meter cable that I purchased for $60 with great results.

Anything that has the word "Monster" in it, walk away because they usually have close to 10x markup on those things.

- Collapse -
Feet to Meters
Dec 5, 2008 11:42PM PST

FYI: Approx 3 feet to a meter.

- Collapse -
Best Buy prices
Dec 6, 2008 12:40AM PST

Yeah BB tried to sell me the Monster cables for 120hz signal I have since found out that is a joke. How do they get away with mis-leading people like that?! Obviously I am not vey savy on this stuff so i was almost suckered into that cable.

- Collapse -
no new cables
Dec 6, 2008 2:25AM PST

so i do not need to upgrade to new $$$$ cables..i have a set of gold tipped on the old samsung dlp tv that are only a year old..can i just hook these up to the pn50a650??

- Collapse -
monoprice
Dec 6, 2008 2:45AM PST

I found the cable I was looking after talking to tech support at Monoprice.com. Cost about $5.oo the part# is pid3992

- Collapse -
At some point....
Dec 6, 2008 2:26AM PST

At some point (not anywhere in the near foreseeable future that I can tell), there might be a 120Hz source. When that happens, those cables will be ready.

You could technically make and market a 240Hz cable too, but again, until that kind of source content is invented for consumer or industry use, it's just words on a package.

One of the moderators on C|Net posted a link to good, inexpensive cables somewhere. However, since I make it a point to not officially recommend any specific retailers (online, or brick and mortar), I'll let the forum members share their found bargains if they wish.

--HDTech

- Collapse -
okay
Dec 6, 2008 2:36AM PST

my tech guy hooked up my old dlp samsung for me last year to surround sound system.so i can use old cables to hook it up..my next question is ..how easy is this to set up?can i do it by looking at my old set and using that as a guide?

- Collapse -
You coud try....
Dec 6, 2008 3:22AM PST

In most cases, yes you probably could.

If you run into problems, however, you're going to have to be really descriptive on what you're asking. Forum members here (and myself) can't see what you're looking at.

In most cases, Red Blue Green or HDMI cables are pretty standard.

Keep us posted!

--HDTech

- Collapse -
i will
Dec 6, 2008 5:53AM PST

the set comes tomorrow..you will probably hear from me again..thanks for all of the help.

- Collapse -
Don't buy over-priced cables, surf before you buy!
Dec 7, 2008 3:31AM PST

I can echo the over-priced cable situation here in the UK. There is no decernable difference between a $20 cable and a $200 cable for the "TV at home market". The super priced cables have thier place at exhibitions and show business applications no doubt.

I have a 1 metre cable from my HD satellite receiver ($20) going into a HDMI 2 Way Splitter box ($50), another $20 1 metre cable to the first TV in the lounge, then a 25 metre cable ($60) to the TV in the bedroom upstairs, another HDMI 2 Way Splitter Box ($50),.. another 1 metre cable to the TV up there, then a 15 metre cable ($40) over to the TV in the family room for the kids with a HDMI Signal Repeater ($30) before the final 1 metre $20 cable to the TV. The cables were not the cheapest on the web-site (I did go for the premium grades with multiple shielding and interferance suppressors), but along with the splitters and repeaters if you compare the various non big name websites you can see they all sell exactly the same items in plain packaging but at different prices. So surf for the best deal.

- Collapse -
Monoprice.com
Dec 7, 2008 3:35AM PST

Your best place for cheapest and high quality cables is http://www.monoprice.com You can get most cables for dollars and buy in bulk for in the 20-50 dollar range.

- Collapse -
*Edit to previous post*
Dec 7, 2008 3:57AM PST
- Collapse -
monoprice.com
Dec 7, 2008 4:10AM PST

Don't be suckered into buying those overpriced Monster cables, et al. Go to monoprice.com or bluejeanscable.com.
You might also want to check out DL.TV. Search on episode 156, then click on "HD Update: Help choosing cables for your HDTV."

- Collapse -
Monoprice all the way!!!!
Dec 7, 2008 6:49AM PST

Go with monoprice, Best Buy tried to screw me with their 150.00 dollar cables! I bought at monoprice for 5.00. I already distrusted BB and this did nothing to bolster my trust in them. I guess thats what I get for even going in there.

- Collapse -
help again
Dec 8, 2008 7:39AM PST

okay i went to cc and they do not carry the attachment anymore.i found a hdmi cable on the clearance rack and the tv is on.i cannot get the auto program ''channel memory''to work.i have hd cable from comcast.can anyone help this untechie gal get hooked up?

- Collapse -
Sure thing!
Dec 8, 2008 9:04AM PST

Wolfgal,

You mentioned that you had a HD cable box. You'd probably want to control the channel switching from the cable box. Ideally, your box will search for all your channels and store that information in the box, and your television will just display the output source from the box. Does that make sense, or can you clarify what you have and what you're trying to do?

--HDTech

- Collapse -
Thank You
Dec 7, 2008 6:53AM PST

I went to Monoprice and got the same cable for $5.00. I will never trust Best Buy again!

- Collapse -
yeah
Dec 8, 2008 2:12AM PST

i tried to hook up the tv but i did need the attachment like you said..unfortunately''best buy'' does not carry them.so i went to clearance rack and got a cheap hdmi cable.tv works fine..saw my eagles play..picture is great..hooked it up to mu onkio and had sound.. all done in ten minutes.i am not a techie..far from it..do i need an antenna wire as i cannot get tv to set up channels through auto set up?

- Collapse -
Antenna....
Dec 8, 2008 8:53AM PST

Wolfgal,

Good news! Happy

If you don't have cable or a cable/sat box, you can hook up an antenna and get local over-the-air HD broadcasts.

Those don't have to be excessively expensive either, though some will argue that the powered antennas (requiring a plug in) work better than the non-powered ones. It depends on where you live in reference to the broadcast towers.

--HDTech

- Collapse -
Hey
Dec 8, 2008 9:01AM PST

the tv is hooked up via hdmi to the cable box.the samsung clicker does not recognize the channels.i can use the cable clicker for channels..dvr..guide..the samsung clicker does the volume, power, menu stuff.when i try to auto set up it goes through the setup but does not complete it

- Collapse -
Okay...
Dec 8, 2008 9:16AM PST

Wolfgal,

I see what you're saying.

The setup process on the television itself is for OTA (Over The Air) channels, and that is if you have an antenna hooked up to the RF (round coax connection in the back) connection. It's probably not finishing setting up because it's not detecting any channels.

Since you have a cable box with HDMI, you can control your channels there. Most people, at this point, use the cable box remote because it can be programmed for your TV features, such as turning it on, raising or lowering the volume, etc.

The cable company should have a manual on how to find codes for your specific TV so that you can control everything with one remote - the cable remote. If you have a model number and the name of your cable provider, I can search online for those codes (they vary, and are sometimes available - it's worth a shot, and I don't mind doing that for you).

That way, when you press the volume, the cable remote will control the volume on your TV. When you press the channel buttons, the cable remote will change the channels on the box.

Keep me posted.

--HDTech

- Collapse -
thank you
Dec 8, 2008 11:03AM PST

you took care of my question..again thank you..i think i know how to set the cable remote to do these things..saved my sanity..i thought i could use the tv remote to run everything but you are right as i use the dvr and pause my shows sometimes..a happy #2 samsung owner

- Collapse -
HDMI cables for Blue-Ray
Dec 9, 2008 1:11AM PST

Should I purchase better HDMI cables for use between my TV and Blue-Ray player?

- Collapse -
In reference to what?
Dec 9, 2008 1:56AM PST

Lawdawg14,

Better cables than what, and why? I'm not understanding the context of your question.

--HDTech

- Collapse -
No problem!
Dec 9, 2008 1:55AM PST

Keep us posted if you have any other questions.

--HDTech