Composite to HDMI converter for my cable box?

kthulhu · 01-07-2013, 02:45 PM

Just moved in to a new area and got a free deal with my internet where I get a cable box and free cable for a year when signing up. However, they sent me a cable box that only has composite output. I've looked around online for boxes that can upscale from composite to HDMI but I haven't found anything under about $130. Does anyone know of anything cheaper out there? I hate to watch a 480i or whatever picture on my 55 inch plasma.

Bigloww · 01-07-2013, 02:51 PM

A converter will do nothing to improve the SD feed/picture. So do not waste your money.

kthulhu · 01-07-2013, 02:52 PM

Why won't it help? Sorry, this is the first time I've ever had cable so I don't know a lot about how the boxes work.

jpcamaro70 · 01-07-2013, 02:56 PM

You probably have an SD box, you need to call them and get the HD box. The tv will not upscale a SD image coming from that box, regardless of the wires used.

ITALIAN926 · 01-07-2013, 02:56 PM

Use the component

Might be confusion
composite is yellow red white

do you mean component?

red blue green red white, if so just use those

Bigloww · 01-07-2013, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kthulhu

Why won't it help? Sorry, this is the first time I've ever had cable so I don't know a lot about how the boxes work.

Because it still will be a SD feed. All that converter will do is convert the analog composite 480i video signal to digital video 480i signal so your HDMI input can process the video. You will need a HD cable box and service to get HD. You may want to try and connect your coax strait to the TV and do a scan and see if you can pick up any HD channels (locals).. IMO a converter will do very little to nothing to improve your picture and would be a waste of money. It may even make it worse.

kthulhu · 01-07-2013, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ITALIAN926

Use the component

Might be confusion
composite is yellow red white

do you mean component?

red blue green red white, if so just use those

No, it's composite (red, white, yellow). I just figured if I bought a converter box that upscales composite to HDMI it would help out. I guess I'll have to call and see if they can give me an HD box without an extra monthly charge.

jkkyler · 01-07-2013, 06:17 PM

your tv will already 'upscale' whatever image it get's to the tv's native resolution (either 720p or 1080p) so eventually EVERYTHING ends up there at that resolution but in order to get a true unaltered HD image you must give your tv HD material for which you need a box that has an hd feed.

Rick-F · 01-08-2013, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kthulhu

No, it's composite (red, white, yellow). I just figured if I bought a converter box that upscales composite to HDMI it would help out. I guess I'll have to call and see if they can give me an HD box without an extra monthly charge.

I am almost positive they WILL charge you for the HD box-- and they probably will try to talk you into HD service too . . .

Take Bigloww's advice: connect the cable directly to the TV and do a complete channel scan. if your TV has a QAM tuner (and most all newer sets do), you will probably see some HD channels. While you will loose the "guide" from the box, if you set up your "favorites" in a thoughtful manner, you won't miss the guide all that much and you will have some HD.

Clerk · 01-08-2013, 08:43 AM

If it is not expensive , you can try to buy

zip2play · 01-08-2013, 12:12 PM

Composite out will not get you high definition no matter HOW you wire it. The old saying GIGO is apt: garbage in, garbage out.

Spring for the HD box...probably something like $6 a month. It's well worth it unless you have an old cathode ray TV set.

If you are willing to live with low definition just wire the composite into the composite input on the TV.

01-07-2013, 02:45 PM	#1
kthulhu That one guy Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Gulfport, Mississippi Posts: 84	Composite to HDMI converter for my cable box? Just moved in to a new area and got a free deal with my internet where I get a cable box and free cable for a year when signing up. However, they sent me a cable box that only has composite output. I've looked around online for boxes that can upscale from composite to HDMI but I haven't found anything under about $130. Does anyone know of anything cheaper out there? I hate to watch a 480i or whatever picture on my 55 inch plasma.

01-07-2013, 02:51 PM	#2
Bigloww "Shitter was Full" Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: In a van, down by the river. Posts: 8,319	A converter will do nothing to improve the SD feed/picture. So do not waste your money. __________________ Commit to the Indian.. "I don't get drunk, I get awesome"..

01-07-2013, 02:56 PM	#4
jpcamaro70 Yea sure, I get it? Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Long Island Age: 39 Posts: 557	You probably have an SD box, you need to call them and get the HD box. The tv will not upscale a SD image coming from that box, regardless of the wires used. __________________ Den: LG 3D 47" 47LM7600 , LG BP620 BD 3D, Denon AVR-591 A/V Reciever, Klipsch HD Theater 500, HR22-100, TiVo Premier, PS2, Wii, XBox Living Room Samsung 46" 3D LED UN46ES7100, Samsung BD 3D BD-E5900ZA, Denon AVR2312CI, Definitive Tech supertower 8040 (pair), ProCenter 1000, ProMonitor 800 (pair), SuperCube 2000, HR21-200 Master Bedroom: Samsung UN22D5003, HR24-500 Daughters room: Samsung UN22D5003, H25-500

01-07-2013, 02:56 PM	#5
ITALIAN926 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,445	Use the component Might be confusion composite is yellow red white do you mean component? red blue green red white, if so just use those __________________ 60" plasma- Pioneer PDP-6010FD 55" LCD Vizio E550VL 42" plasma Panasonic TH-42PX77U ~1500 DVD's , 90 HD-DVD's , yes chose the wrong format , , Toshiba HD DVD Player (HD-A20) Xbox 360 Former FiOS technician My Family Room Pic #1 My Family Room Pic #2

01-07-2013, 06:17 PM	#8
jkkyler I bleed for HD Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 7,663	your tv will already 'upscale' whatever image it get's to the tv's native resolution (either 720p or 1080p) so eventually EVERYTHING ends up there at that resolution but in order to get a true unaltered HD image you must give your tv HD material for which you need a box that has an hd feed. __________________ HT- Panasonic TH-50PZ800U 1080p plasma, Panasonic PT-AX200u LCD projector, Elite Vmax Electric 100' screen, Onkyo TX-NR905 AVR, Paradigm Titan Monitor v5 fronts, Paradigm CC-190 v6 center, Paradigm Atom Monitors v5 surrounds(x4), HSU research VTF-2 sub, xbox360+hd-dvd player ,Sony BDP-S550 blu-ray, D*tv H21 HD-DVR Bedroom: Insignia NS-lcd26, Samsung BDP-1400 blu-ray Den - Vizio 20" 1080p LCD + Samsung BD-p1600 Don't believe everything you read on the internet - Albert Einstein

01-07-2013, 02:52 PM	#3
kthulhu That one guy Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Gulfport, Mississippi Posts: 84	Why won't it help? Sorry, this is the first time I've ever had cable so I don't know a lot about how the boxes work.

01-08-2013, 08:43 AM	#10
Clerk How can anyone watch standard def? Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 17	If it is not expensive , you can try to buy

01-08-2013, 12:12 PM	#11
zip2play Fireman, Save My TV Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: New York City Posts: 900	Composite out will not get you high definition no matter HOW you wire it. The old saying GIGO is apt: garbage in, garbage out. Spring for the HD box...probably something like $6 a month. It's well worth it unless you have an old cathode ray TV set. If you are willing to live with low definition just wire the composite into the composite input on the TV.

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