Will digital cable look worse than my analog cable on 34" HDTV?

pedrohead · 09-28-2005, 06:02 PM

I'm most likely buying a Panasonic 34" widescreen CRT HDTV monitor this week, and was concerned about the typical "pixelated" look that I saw on non-HD channels when looking at Circuit City etc.

But I went to a friends house who has the exact TV, and on basic analog cable (Wide Open West, what I have), the picture wasn't as sharp, but it actually looked OK. No real "pixelation" to speak of.

If I get this TV, and get HD cable service through Wide Open West (which is what I would do) you are forced to upgrade to digital cable as well, so I assume all of my non-HD channels would now be digital cable instead of analog.

On a 34" widescreen CRT display, is there going to be a noticable degredation in the picture quality in this new WOW digital cable stations vs. what I saw at my friend's house who had normal analog WOW cable? I was able to stand the analog signal's picture quality, if its going to be like that in digital, I'll be ok.

Please let me know any of you who have digital cable who switched from analog, or have Wide Open West. Thanks.

JAG72 · 09-28-2005, 06:34 PM

With WOW most of your stations will be in analog even with the digital plan. Go to their website and you will see what stations will be in analog and what ones are digital. I tried WOW for a couple of days but the analog picture on my 46" was so bad it just had to go. The digital picture and HD was great but to many things I watch are on the analog stations.

pedrohead · 09-28-2005, 06:43 PM

So even though it's "digital cable", the channels that I had before in my analog cable connection will look exactly the same even though it's coming through a "digital cable" and STB?

I was under the impression that all of the stations (that I used to get in analog cable) underwent unnecessary compression and transmission into digital since I was now going through a "digital cable" STB, even though they were analog transmissions to begin with. Is this incorrect?

Thanks for the reply.

FedEx Guy · 09-28-2005, 08:42 PM

I just returned home from Circuit City,took back my 30 inch HDTV.

The first week I had it hooked up to a basic cable system. The non HD channels were ok, not great but acceptable.

Upgraded to digital cable so I could utilize the HD capabilities of my TV. HD channels were perfect but the rest of the channels were poor to fair.

I decided to hold off on HDTV until all stations broadcast in this mode. 90% of my TV watching is non HD channels. Only bought the TV because it was thin enough to fit in to my new bedroom armoire.

After experiencing HDTV broadcast for several weeks I don't really see what all the hype is about. HDTV broadcast are definitely better than non but not to the extent to warrant the extra$$$$.

pedrohead · 09-28-2005, 08:45 PM

So even on a 30" screen, you saw a noticable degredation from analog to digital cable? Were these on the same "non-digital"stations, just broadcast over digital cable?

Also, how did you have your non-HD signals hooked up to your TV? Everything through the HDMI input, or some through the RF or Component inputs?

Thanks for your help.

ja2935 · 09-28-2005, 08:57 PM

I have a mix of analog and digital stations plus the HD. On my TV most of the digital stations look quite good - or at any rate, acceptable. Strangely enough some of the analog stations also look reasonable and similar to the digital ones, however some look pretty bad. I haven't noticed pixelization on SD channels, they just look a bit fuzzy and out of focus compared to HD or even DVDs.

34" direct view crts are generally quite good at displaying SD cable - not really big enough to look bad as most people would be watching from about 8 or 10 feet. I can imagine if you are up close to a large screen it would be unacceptable.

When you get your tv you will probably need to compromise a bit on settings - if I set mine at the right brightness for HD, the SD channels are a bit too dark but I don't want the bother of having to change brightness every time I change channels!

pedrohead · 09-28-2005, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ja2935

I have a mix of analog and digital stations plus the HD. On my TV most of the digital stations look quite good - or at any rate, acceptable. Strangely enough some of the analog stations also look reasonable and similar to the digital ones, however some look pretty bad. I haven't noticed pixelization on SD channels, they just look a bit fuzzy and out of focus compared to HD or even DVDs.

34" direct view crts are generally quite good at displaying SD cable - not really big enough to look bad as most people would be watching from about 8 or 10 feet. I can imagine if you are up close to a large screen it would be unacceptable.

When you get your tv you will probably need to compromise a bit on settings - if I set mine at the right brightness for HD, the SD channels are a bit too dark but I don't want the bother of having to change brightness every time I change channels!

So on average, you think your "digital" cable stations look better than your "analog" ones? How are you hooking your STB up to your TV? HDMI? Component? RF antenna connector?

Thanks for the reply.

S1ay · 09-30-2005, 03:36 PM

I have a mix of analog and digital with hd as well. On my tv analog looks like crap. Digital is always clear but can get some pixilation. In my opinion pixilation is a lot better than snow all the time. HD channels are clear and perfect. I can't wait till we go 100% digital. I'm sick of these analog channels. My stb is hooked up through DVI.

LYU370 · 09-30-2005, 07:05 PM

Just switched to Comcast from WOW. To me, the SD digital channels were far better than the analog channels. Had mine initially hooked up through component, then switched to DVI. No noticable difference, but was to lazy to switch it back.

09-28-2005, 06:02 PM	#1
pedrohead High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 113	Will digital cable look worse than my analog cable on 34" HDTV? I'm most likely buying a Panasonic 34" widescreen CRT HDTV monitor this week, and was concerned about the typical "pixelated" look that I saw on non-HD channels when looking at Circuit City etc. But I went to a friends house who has the exact TV, and on basic analog cable (Wide Open West, what I have), the picture wasn't as sharp, but it actually looked OK. No real "pixelation" to speak of. If I get this TV, and get HD cable service through Wide Open West (which is what I would do) you are forced to upgrade to digital cable as well, so I assume all of my non-HD channels would now be digital cable instead of analog. On a 34" widescreen CRT display, is there going to be a noticable degredation in the picture quality in this new WOW digital cable stations vs. what I saw at my friend's house who had normal analog WOW cable? I was able to stand the analog signal's picture quality, if its going to be like that in digital, I'll be ok. Please let me know any of you who have digital cable who switched from analog, or have Wide Open West. Thanks.

09-28-2005, 08:57 PM	#6
ja2935 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 1,036	I have a mix of analog and digital stations plus the HD. On my TV most of the digital stations look quite good - or at any rate, acceptable. Strangely enough some of the analog stations also look reasonable and similar to the digital ones, however some look pretty bad. I haven't noticed pixelization on SD channels, they just look a bit fuzzy and out of focus compared to HD or even DVDs. 34" direct view crts are generally quite good at displaying SD cable - not really big enough to look bad as most people would be watching from about 8 or 10 feet. I can imagine if you are up close to a large screen it would be unacceptable. When you get your tv you will probably need to compromise a bit on settings - if I set mine at the right brightness for HD, the SD channels are a bit too dark but I don't want the bother of having to change brightness every time I change channels! __________________ Toshiba 34HF84 Vizio VO370M Toshiba SD4900 (Region Free) Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD Toshiba BDX2000KU Blu-ray Yamaha YHT-160 Home Theater System

09-30-2005, 07:05 PM	#9
LYU370 Wow, moving pictures. Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Streamwood IL Posts: 72	Just switched to Comcast from WOW. To me, the SD digital channels were far better than the analog channels. Had mine initially hooked up through component, then switched to DVI. No noticable difference, but was to lazy to switch it back. __________________ Andy Not a single Monsterously over hyped cable to be found in my system.

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09-28-2005, 06:34 PM	#2
JAG72 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 362	With WOW most of your stations will be in analog even with the digital plan. Go to their website and you will see what stations will be in analog and what ones are digital. I tried WOW for a couple of days but the analog picture on my 46" was so bad it just had to go. The digital picture and HD was great but to many things I watch are on the analog stations.

09-28-2005, 06:43 PM	#3
pedrohead High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 113	So even though it's "digital cable", the channels that I had before in my analog cable connection will look exactly the same even though it's coming through a "digital cable" and STB? I was under the impression that all of the stations (that I used to get in analog cable) underwent unnecessary compression and transmission into digital since I was now going through a "digital cable" STB, even though they were analog transmissions to begin with. Is this incorrect? Thanks for the reply.

09-28-2005, 08:42 PM	#4
FedEx Guy My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 5	I just returned home from Circuit City,took back my 30 inch HDTV. The first week I had it hooked up to a basic cable system. The non HD channels were ok, not great but acceptable. Upgraded to digital cable so I could utilize the HD capabilities of my TV. HD channels were perfect but the rest of the channels were poor to fair. I decided to hold off on HDTV until all stations broadcast in this mode. 90% of my TV watching is non HD channels. Only bought the TV because it was thin enough to fit in to my new bedroom armoire. After experiencing HDTV broadcast for several weeks I don't really see what all the hype is about. HDTV broadcast are definitely better than non but not to the extent to warrant the extra$$$$.

09-28-2005, 08:45 PM	#5
pedrohead High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 113	So even on a 30" screen, you saw a noticable degredation from analog to digital cable? Were these on the same "non-digital"stations, just broadcast over digital cable? Also, how did you have your non-HD signals hooked up to your TV? Everything through the HDMI input, or some through the RF or Component inputs? Thanks for your help.

09-30-2005, 03:36 PM	#8
S1ay How can anyone watch standard def? Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 19	I have a mix of analog and digital with hd as well. On my tv analog looks like crap. Digital is always clear but can get some pixilation. In my opinion pixilation is a lot better than snow all the time. HD channels are clear and perfect. I can't wait till we go 100% digital. I'm sick of these analog channels. My stb is hooked up through DVI.