use of hd cable box & non hd cable box on one tv...

jmf67 · 01-05-2005, 01:04 PM

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i just purchased my first hd readt tv. i got a Panasonic 34" TV (CT34WX54) tube tv. i use it with time warner cable's scientific atlanta 8000 hd cable box. the cable box is hooked up via component cables.

the picture on the hd stations is brilliant. however, the picture on any non hd stations is sub par.

i was wondering if i hooked up a 2nd cable box (this one being non hd) and used the hd one for hd stations and the non hd box for all other stations...would this improve the quality of the picture?

the picture quality on the non hd tv stations has me debating on exchanging my set for a non hd set...especially because there are only a handful of hd programs on tv. but then i watch an hd program and it almost makes it worth it. but then i think about my $100 cable bill and...

anyway, i hope that someone is able to give me some advise, because i really do want to keep my tv.

thanks in advance for any advice.

happy & healthy new year to all!

slowmo · 01-05-2005, 02:03 PM

Can't help you with the $100 cable bill; I got my own to deal with.

Don't swap out TV's to get better SD performance. Any differences between larger (vs. the old 25" TV's), widescreen monitors is not significant in that respect.

The largest difference will relate to HD content vs. SD content.

I have an ED plasma (Pany 42PWD). SD content looks crappy compared to HD (and remember that the HD content is technically downconverted to 480p by my Pany). The HD content looks stunning on my ED unit.

If you stretch the SD image to fill the screen, it's just even worse.

My solution has been to add HD availability (cable provider slowing adding channels, I added an OTA tuner, upgraded to HD DVR cable box). I watch very little SD.

winnnie · 01-05-2005, 02:14 PM

Try getting a splitter 1ghz or above and split the cable from the wall.

One to antenaa A and the other to the cable box. Watch SD chaneels through antenna A input and HD through HD cable box or HD DRV.

This will greatly imrove our SD TV watching as the picture is acceptable.

antman2x2 · 10-13-2007, 11:14 AM

Why not send out a composite cable signal to your TV? When you wanna watch SD just switch the source.

billinprinceto · 10-13-2007, 02:03 PM

I'm really curious . . . . why would anyone spend $1000?? on a HD CRT???

I would not expect any difference using an SD box over an HD box.
TW is sending signals and their box is dealing with them.

Your options are to let the TW/SA box upscale to your sets native resolution, or to feed a 480i SD signal to the set and let the set do the upscaling. The SA box may do better or the set may do better, won't know until you try them both.

01-05-2005, 01:04 PM	#1
jmf67 How can anyone watch standard def? Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 18	use of hd cable box & non hd cable box on one tv... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- i just purchased my first hd readt tv. i got a Panasonic 34" TV (CT34WX54) tube tv. i use it with time warner cable's scientific atlanta 8000 hd cable box. the cable box is hooked up via component cables. the picture on the hd stations is brilliant. however, the picture on any non hd stations is sub par. i was wondering if i hooked up a 2nd cable box (this one being non hd) and used the hd one for hd stations and the non hd box for all other stations...would this improve the quality of the picture? the picture quality on the non hd tv stations has me debating on exchanging my set for a non hd set...especially because there are only a handful of hd programs on tv. but then i watch an hd program and it almost makes it worth it. but then i think about my $100 cable bill and... anyway, i hope that someone is able to give me some advise, because i really do want to keep my tv. thanks in advance for any advice. happy & healthy new year to all!

01-05-2005, 02:14 PM	#3
winnnie Samsung 5065 DLP Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 10	Spiltting cables in Try getting a splitter 1ghz or above and split the cable from the wall. One to antenaa A and the other to the cable box. Watch SD chaneels through antenna A input and HD through HD cable box or HD DRV. This will greatly imrove our SD TV watching as the picture is acceptable.

01-05-2005, 02:03 PM	#2
slowmo High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 759	Can't help you with the $100 cable bill; I got my own to deal with. Don't swap out TV's to get better SD performance. Any differences between larger (vs. the old 25" TV's), widescreen monitors is not significant in that respect. The largest difference will relate to HD content vs. SD content. I have an ED plasma (Pany 42PWD). SD content looks crappy compared to HD (and remember that the HD content is technically downconverted to 480p by my Pany). The HD content looks stunning on my ED unit. If you stretch the SD image to fill the screen, it's just even worse. My solution has been to add HD availability (cable provider slowing adding channels, I added an OTA tuner, upgraded to HD DVR cable box). I watch very little SD.

10-13-2007, 11:14 AM	#4
antman2x2 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 42	Why not send out a composite cable signal to your TV? When you wanna watch SD just switch the source.

10-13-2007, 02:03 PM	#5
billinprinceto High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1,121	I'm really curious . . . . why would anyone spend $1000?? on a HD CRT??? I would not expect any difference using an SD box over an HD box. TW is sending signals and their box is dealing with them. Your options are to let the TW/SA box upscale to your sets native resolution, or to feed a 480i SD signal to the set and let the set do the upscaling. The SA box may do better or the set may do better, won't know until you try them both.