Comcast HD / HDMI not used

ADONY · 04-18-2009, 06:46 PM

A friend of mine just bought a top of the line Samsung 46" HD TV and scheduled Comcast to upgrade his SD digital receiver to an HD receiver. In advance of them arriving I gave him an HDMI cable to use. When the technician arrived, and brought in the new receiver, he told them that the new HD receiver (not DVR) wasn't HDMI compatable so he connected it with the red/blu/gree/audio l/r cable. Is this normal for Comcast HD receivers to be non-HDMI compatable or should he complain?

Sykotic · 04-18-2009, 09:54 PM

Not all HD equipment is HDMI compliant yet. All newer equipment is. HD was around before HDMI. He should be able to go down to a payment center and request a box that offers HDMI output. I am sure that the peice of equipment that the tech installed was what was issued to him to install.

JohninTenn · 04-19-2009, 01:16 AM

My old Comcast box was DVI. I used a DVI-HDMI cable

Sooner Al · 04-19-2009, 06:42 AM

Just curious but what make and model is the set top box that was installed by the Comcast installer? Beyond that many folks, including myself, have a hard time seeing the difference between the picture with HDMI versus component cables. In my case the only reason I use HDMI is to minimize the number of cables between my SA 8300HDC set top box, DVD player and my HDTV.

HiDefRev · 04-19-2009, 08:49 AM

Never trust what is told to you by a tech. Many times the person who comes to your house is a contractor with little to no training and knows less than you. Even many cable company employees don't have the proper knowledge, either. The last time I had a cable box installed, the tech didn't even know what an HDMI cable was !! Personally, I would try it for myself. Make sure the STB is not HDMI capable. If it's not, do what the above poster said - return it and get one that is capable.

JohninTenn · 04-19-2009, 08:50 AM

I think it's a Motorola 8300 or there abouts. I'll check a bit later. As far as picture quality The all look good. Kind of a + for having ole fart eyes.

Sooner Al · 04-19-2009, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohninTenn

I think it's a Motorola 8300 or there abouts. I'll check a bit later. As far as picture quality The all look good. Kind of a + for having ole fart eyes.

LOL...

Like me an OOF (Official Old Fart)...

Sykotic · 04-19-2009, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HiDefRev

Never trust what is told to you by a tech. Many times the person who comes to your house is a contractor with little to no training and knows less than you. Even many cable company employees don't have the proper knowledge, either. The last time I had a cable box installed, the tech didn't even know what an HDMI cable was !! Personally, I would try it for myself. Make sure the STB is not HDMI capable. If it's not, do what the above poster said - return it and get one that is capable.

By this, I am sure he means you shouldnt take just one persons word. You should try to educate yourself on the basics of what you intend to accomplish. A store salesman will tell you anything to get you to buy the tv. The tech will tech you whatever he can to finish the install. The CSR will tell you anything to just get you off the phone. And the poster on a HD forums could just be ranting about everyone elses ignorance, hoping to disguise thier own.

CasperJames · 04-21-2009, 02:47 PM

I just had Comcast install an HD box today. I asked the installer to use my HDMI cables too, but he couldn't because the box didn't have any HDMI outputs. He said they didn't have those boxes yet. He said I could trade the box in for a new one once they receive the boxes with HDMI outputs.

On a side note, he claimed that HDMI wouldn't make a difference over Component now anyway. He said all broadcasts are 720p at this time, so the HDMI wouldn't make a difference until they start broadcasting in 1080p. That was his claim.

deadhead68 · 04-21-2009, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CasperJames

On a side note, he claimed that HDMI wouldn't make a difference over Component now anyway. He said all broadcasts are 720p at this time, so the HDMI wouldn't make a difference until they start broadcasting in 1080p. That was his claim.

His claim is somewhat correct. If the component and HDMI inputs on your TV are properly calibrated, you should not see any difference in PQ between them.

His claim that all broadcasts are 720p at this time is incorrect. The only HD channels I know of that broadcast 720p are Fox, ABC and the ESPN family. The rest broadcast 1080i.

DeadHead68

Sykotic · 04-23-2009, 09:40 PM

Either case scenario, if the box doesnt have HDMI output, what can you do? There have been posts upon post of HDMI vs Componant. I use HDMI, cause its just 1 wire vs 5. Thats the deal breaker for me. I also use a single fiber obtic for my sound. Just cause it looks cleaner.

04-18-2009, 06:46 PM	#1
ADONY Watch the Raiders... Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bullhead City, CA Posts: 75	Comcast HD / HDMI not used A friend of mine just bought a top of the line Samsung 46" HD TV and scheduled Comcast to upgrade his SD digital receiver to an HD receiver. In advance of them arriving I gave him an HDMI cable to use. When the technician arrived, and brought in the new receiver, he told them that the new HD receiver (not DVR) wasn't HDMI compatable so he connected it with the red/blu/gree/audio l/r cable. Is this normal for Comcast HD receivers to be non-HDMI compatable or should he complain?

04-19-2009, 06:42 AM	#4
Sooner Al Old Enough to Know Better Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Norman, Oklahoma Posts: 187	Just curious but what make and model is the set top box that was installed by the Comcast installer? Beyond that many folks, including myself, have a hard time seeing the difference between the picture with HDMI versus component cables. In my case the only reason I use HDMI is to minimize the number of cables between my SA 8300HDC set top box, DVD player and my HDTV. __________________ "When all else fails, read the instructions..."

04-19-2009, 08:49 AM	#5
HiDefRev Is there HDTV in Heaven ? Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Georgia Age: 55 Posts: 508	Hdmi Never trust what is told to you by a tech. Many times the person who comes to your house is a contractor with little to no training and knows less than you. Even many cable company employees don't have the proper knowledge, either. The last time I had a cable box installed, the tech didn't even know what an HDMI cable was !! Personally, I would try it for myself. Make sure the STB is not HDMI capable. If it's not, do what the above poster said - return it and get one that is capable. __________________ Living Room Panasonic PT-50LCZ70 50" 1080p HDTV, Sony Playstation3 80 Gig, Onkyo HT-R667 7.1 AV Receiver, ESS HD-308 Main, Side and Surround Speakers on Bell'O Stands, Cadence C-17 Center Speaker, Acoustic Audio HD-SUB15 Subwoofer, DISH ViP 722 HD DVR, Panasonic DVD Recorder/VCR, Den Viewsonic NX2232W LCD HDTV, RCA RT-2500 5.1 AV Receiver, Yamaha Main, Center and Surround Speakers, Onkyo SKW-750X 10" Subwoofer, DISH ViP 211 HD Receiver, Magnavox Blu-Ray Player, Nintendo 64 & Wii

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04-18-2009, 09:54 PM	#2
Sykotic Got HD? Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Institutionalized Posts: 446	Not all HD equipment is HDMI compliant yet. All newer equipment is. HD was around before HDMI. He should be able to go down to a payment center and request a box that offers HDMI output. I am sure that the peice of equipment that the tech installed was what was issued to him to install.

04-19-2009, 01:16 AM	#3
JohninTenn High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 595	My old Comcast box was DVI. I used a DVI-HDMI cable

04-19-2009, 08:50 AM	#6
JohninTenn High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 595	I think it's a Motorola 8300 or there abouts. I'll check a bit later. As far as picture quality The all look good. Kind of a + for having ole fart eyes.

04-21-2009, 02:47 PM	#9
CasperJames How can anyone watch standard def? Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 15	I just had Comcast install an HD box today. I asked the installer to use my HDMI cables too, but he couldn't because the box didn't have any HDMI outputs. He said they didn't have those boxes yet. He said I could trade the box in for a new one once they receive the boxes with HDMI outputs. On a side note, he claimed that HDMI wouldn't make a difference over Component now anyway. He said all broadcasts are 720p at this time, so the HDMI wouldn't make a difference until they start broadcasting in 1080p. That was his claim.

04-23-2009, 09:40 PM	#11
Sykotic Got HD? Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Institutionalized Posts: 446	Either case scenario, if the box doesnt have HDMI output, what can you do? There have been posts upon post of HDMI vs Componant. I use HDMI, cause its just 1 wire vs 5. Thats the deal breaker for me. I also use a single fiber obtic for my sound. Just cause it looks cleaner.