hd cable vs satelite

[moishe]

we live in edmonton and are waiting hd cable from shaw. tried
cable a few years back and noticed some channels were good(digital?) but that there no real improvement on "basic" cable channels so we ditched it.
Is this the same situation with hd cable (Rogers or Shaw -Calgary) or are all the channels similar or close to satelite????
planning on 16:9 sony tube

thanks--great forum
john

[jvillain]

With Shaw all of the basic cable channels are delivered to you in analgue. Same as if you didn't have a digital box at all. Only the higher channels are digital.

With Satellite all channels are delivered to you in digital so there is an improvment over the basic cable stuff. How much of an improvment bepends on how much compression is used to get the signal to you.

Some thing else you have to keep in mind is that there are lots of places along the way for ugliness to creap into your picture. It could be at the broadcaster, how your signal is transported to your provider, any conversions they may do, when they are sending it to you or even the wiring in your house.

A really clean standard definition digital signal looks pretty good. A clean uncompressed HiDef signal is stunning.

[57]

If you're asking if there is a difference between HD channels on Satellite and Cable, I don't think there is. I believe they are all close to 19.4 Mb/sec and crystal clear (if the original programm is crystal clear). Some shows like Leno are really great while others are merely good HD.

HD quality is dependent on the care that went into the programme, not the service provider.

[I_Want_My_HDTV]

I agree. Some CBS shows in particular seem grainy or have a green tinge. Some PBS shows are really stunning. I'm hoping they rerun the HD series of Nature:Africa. The photography is amazing.

[moishe]

sorry if wording messed up. actually asking if lower channels are improved from present shaw digital to when they switch to hd cable service??

thanks again
john

[Felgar]

No, the lower channels are analog and the digital receiver simply has a built-in tuner to receive them along with the digital channels. So in theory, PQ on the lower channels remains identical with analog, the new STB, or the old STB.

In fact though, the new STB has some problem with analog PQ, so the analog PQ is actually worse for those of use with the HD STB. Doesn't matter for me though, I still use a separate device for my analog tuning, and rarely use the new STB to watch the analog tier.

[I_Want_My_HDTV]

I find that Rogers is the same. Analog and digital SD channels need special treatment. Most digital boxes will deliver poor pictures if you use them for analog channels or upconverting SD signals. One way is to split the cable and tune in the analog stations with the TV tuner. Another way is to use composite video for analog SD, S-video for digital SD and component video for HD. Run each connection from the HD STB to a seperate input on your TV. i.e. Vid 1, Vid 2, Vid 3.

The quality of analog channels will vary greatly from one area to another. If the local cable on your street has been recently upgraded then the analog channels should be better. They will not be as good as comparable digital channels due to analog noise.

[digitalcable]

I use a regular 3100 box and I find my analog channels are better through the box as opposed to my tv tuner. I get really superb analog quality which i consider better than most of the digital channels I get, but I'm in a completely rebuilt area thats 860 MHZ right from the fiber node down the street.

[moishe]

thanks for all the help. How about we just trade houses Digitalcable??

[I_Want_My_HDTV]

I have new fibre burried on the street. There is still an analog distribution system in the building so that may account for some noise. I find that tuners can vary quite a bit. I have an older VCR which has an incredibly snowy picture. When it was new it was better than the TV. The tuners in the new HDTV make everything else look bad. Part of the reason is that newer TVs have much better comb filters than your average STB or older TV. That's why the TV tuner or a composite cable works better on analog channels.

[seanjoesph]

I am a subscriber to rogers digital cable and have a sonly 65 inch hdready tv.
You must adjust sharpness and picture to get your analogue signal to look good. My friends are blown away at the quality of my picutures.
I dont see any difference between my analogue and digitial.
My Hd channels rock.
So fine tune your tv and make sure your house is wired with RG6 double shielded cable. No SINGLE SHIELD DOLLAR STORE CABLE.

[Bluecruzer]

Also in Edmonton. We still live with such wonderful setups as analog programming for Sportnet West, and digital for East/Ont/Pacific.

Originally Posted by I_Want_My_HDTV

One way is to split the cable and tune in the analog stations with the TV tuner. Another way is to use composite video for analog SD, S-video for digital SD and component video for HD. Run each connection from the HD STB to a seperate input on your TV. i.e. Vid 1, Vid 2, Vid 3.

Unfortunately, the DCT 2000 cable boxes have S-Vid and composite (No component). The new tuner from Shaw for HD apparently has all three.

I run into a mess with switching. When I split the signal through the televion to watch analog, and make use of things like picture in picture, Shaw calls and asks why they are not receiving a signal on the digital cable box. I'n not a fan of external splitting.

I explained that their setup is bypassed until I need the digital stations. Apparently that is the wrong answer cuz they cut you off. Must figure I'm hacking the system or something.

So, now I'm back to the internal component switching on the receiver for DVD and X-Box, leaving one extra component in on the back of the TV for my HD decoder (when I get one).

Reg TV - no feed
Vid 1 (S-Video and composite only... used for digital cable)
Vid 2 (not used - Front of TV, composite and S-Video)
Vid 3 (not used - composite or S-Video)
Vid 4 (Composite only)
Vid 5 (Component Switched signal in; DVD / X-Box)
Vid 6 (Component - future)

(that turned into a much longer post than I had hoped)

[57]

Originally Posted by Bluecruzer

When I split the signal through the televion to watch analog, and make use of things like picture in picture, Shaw calls and asks why they are not receiving a signal on the digital cable box. I'n not a fan of external splitting.

Strange, I split upstream of my SA3100HD and don't run into problems. If you only "split" (not switch), the signal should still be getting back to Shaw. Perhaps you've got too much signal loss with your splitter and need to get your signal "upgraded" before it hits the box (use a better splitter, use fewer splitters upstream, get a better signal from Shaw, etc.)

Splitting should not cause you a problem, so something else must not be right.

[Bluecruzer]

[quote="57"]

Originally Posted by Bluecruzer

...blah blah blah from me and then...

Splitting should not cause you a problem, so something else must not be right.

Actually, when I use the internal splitter on the television, it will only send signals when I chose the antenna. So you are right, no signal is received by Shaw in that setup.

There are other ways to do this but right now, it's too much of a pain in the ()() when I know this is still not my final setup.

8)

[I_Want_My_HDTV]

Run the cable into the STB
Run an S-Video cable to Vid 3 (not used - composite or S-Video)
Run a composite cable to Vid 4 (Composite only)

Use Vid 3 for digital signals
Use Vid 4 for analog signals