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General discussion

My HD cable signal sucks, HELP

Feb 3, 2005 11:42AM PST

I just got a 42" Sony LCD (42WE655). The picture looks great when I get over-the-air HD and a raw cable feed from a coax. However, I also upgraded my digital cable box to a HD digital DVR through my cable company (Motorola DCT 5106). I have the component video outputs hooked up to my TV. I get great cable HD channels out of this setup but when I turn to all the other "digital" channels that are broadcast at 480i, the picture is worse than what I get from the raw cable (NTSC) signal from the coax cable into my tv.

Is this because the signal is getting downgrading from going through my cable box?

HELP?!

Discussion is locked

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My HD cable signal sucks, HELP
Feb 4, 2005 1:56AM PST

I guess you could call your cable company and complain about this problem.
One of the reasons I switch to Dish Networks 5 years ago was because of the fact that the picture on cable was so bad. John

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re. Cable signal sucks with component cable
Jun 22, 2005 4:55PM PDT

i had the same problem- it looked terrible with the 3 component cables for picture- so I switched it to the fancy HD cable, the DVI plug, and it looks great now. Colors are very dull compared ot my Samsung TS-160 that gets over the air. I think- as usual- the cable companies buy the cheapo boxes to rent to us (then charge $12 a mo. plus all these little hidden fees (i have adelphia). i think im going back to DirecTV when i eventually buy one of the top of the line DVR/Tivos- because the picture quality is so much better its amazing. the colors make it look alive.

-Mike

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COMPONIT CABLES VS D.V.I I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM
Jun 26, 2005 4:04AM PDT

I have the dish 811 hi-def satellite system and I also had to replace my componit vidio cable to a d.v.i interface Problem solved, But one more thing . My d.v.d picture was nasty so I bought a denon 2910 d.v.d. player with a d.v.i output and a Giffen d.v.i. swotcher so I could switch between d.v.d and the satellite box and now I gat a awsome picture So If your d.v.d looks bad try it good luck please reply Iam new at this chat room cadillacstew@aol.com or reply under stewart norrie

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great news
Jul 6, 2005 6:00AM PDT

I to had the same problem with componit vidio cables so I replaced them I bought a DENON 2910 d.v.d. player with d.v.i. output and a GIFFEN d.v.i. switcher so now my 811 dish network hi-def satellite system and d.v.d player look awsome I dont understand but componit vidio cables just didnt look rite even thou they are listed at 1080 good luck reply stewart norrie

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well
Jun 23, 2005 2:13AM PDT

one thing with the sony lcd or any fixed pixel display tv the already crappy cable signal may look worse to you. Those tv's show more detail than standard analog tv's and will show you more of the flaws of a standard cable signal. The you will get used to it, and until then just try and grin and bear.

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Where were you when I bought my new hi-Def t.v.?
Jun 26, 2005 4:22AM PDT

If other salespeople new as much as you everyone would buy a hi-def t.v. The problem is when you go to Frys, circut city whatever and ask a question ,They dont know Its like here is the T.V. you figure it out I have spent a year getting the bugs out of my system I didnt even know about over the air digital Hi-Def until I hooked up my old cheap outside antenna to my Dish 811 box and was blown away I now have 9 over the channels in stunning hi-def I believe broadcasters should have programming showing its viewers how hi-def works and what great programming is available to them keep up the good work and since Iam new at this computor thing I would like to hear from you I have postings under stewart norrie or cadillac@aol.com

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Reply to: well
Jul 6, 2005 8:01AM PDT

Hi, I have seen several posts about poor picture quality from componet cables lately. Most of my experence is with large LCD projectors that you have to go into the settings and tell the projector if you using RGB or componet so it will know how to handle the signal. Do home units have to be setup the same way. john