Forgive the Noob...

fridayxiii · 12-30-2007, 08:28 AM

...for what's probably a question answered 1000's of times already here. Tried Search but couldn't quite find what I was looking for.

Just bought an Olevia 242t yesterday. It's a 42" LCD, native resolution of 1368x768. On the side of the box it says it supports HD resolutions of 720p & 1080i.

My questions is: will the TV automatically adjust to the resolution of the input, or is this a setting I can tweak? I checked all the manuals w/the TV but didn't see a setting for this. I have an HD cable box from my provider (Brighthouse in Tampa Bay, offshoot of T-W I believe). The box shows an HDTV icon on the display, and 480i for most of the HD channels I watch. I spoke w/a tech that said some channels in my lineup are 720p, some are 480i. I'm don't know if my TV auto-adjusts per the channel quality? BTW, my box is a Scientific Atlantic 8300HD if that helps at all.

And last question, it seems an HDMI input or connection is preferable to the standard cable (from OUT of the box to the ANT IN port on my TV), am I correct?

Thanks for tolerating the n00bness, and feel free to point me to good threads or other links for HDTV info for the n00b.

Best,
Brian

Loves2Watch · 12-30-2007, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fridayxiii

...for what's probably a question answered 1000's of times already here. Tried Search but couldn't quite find what I was looking for.

Just bought an Olevia 242t yesterday. It's a 42" LCD, native resolution of 1368x768. On the side of the box it says it supports HD resolutions of 720p & 1080i.

My questions is: will the TV automatically adjust to the resolution of the input, or is this a setting I can tweak? I checked all the manuals w/the TV but didn't see a setting for this. I have an HD cable box from my provider (Brighthouse in Tampa Bay, offshoot of T-W I believe). The box shows an HDTV icon on the display, and 480i for most of the HD channels I watch. I spoke w/a tech that said some channels in my lineup are 720p, some are 480i. I'm don't know if my TV auto-adjusts per the channel quality? BTW, my box is a Scientific Atlantic 8300HD if that helps at all.

And last question, it seems an HDMI input or connection is preferable to the standard cable (from OUT of the box to the ANT IN port on my TV), am I correct?

Thanks for tolerating the n00bness, and feel free to point me to good threads or other links for HDTV info for the n00b.

Best,
Brian

Your TV will automagically upscale or downscale to it's native resolution (768), whatever the content.

Yes, both component and HDMI are much better as they can carry 1080 signals as the ANT in, composite and S-video only carry 480 signals.

fridayxiii · 12-30-2007, 10:07 AM

Thanks for the info. I have a surround-sound receiver I bought last fall, and while it's pretty budget-conscious, I asked the sales guy if it would support HDTV when I moved up. Guess I'll have to read up more & figure out if I should go component or HDMI, then go grab some cables. The help is def. appreciated

fridayxiii · 12-31-2007, 08:20 PM

I Google'd for & found the 8300HD user's guide online, where, much to my surprise, I can set the box to show 480i or 1080i for SD or HD respectively. I just flipped it over to 1020 for sh1ts & grins. Don't have component cabling yet, but I think that's what I'll need to hook up the cable box, TV, and surround sound receiver. Correct?

The 8300HD box also allows for 'easy' vs. 'advanced' setup but being an HD n00b I'm still figuring out the big diff. Any advice on what setting(s) I should have based on my equipment? Thanx for your patience & help, and Happy New Year to all. BTW, I'm only jacking around w/this cuz I'm home sick on NYE & watching the Foo Fighters live in concert (in HD) & have nothing better to do...

Edit: my box now shows 1080i as opposed to 480i on the display, which is where I'd wanna be, right? I guess I'm not really taking advantage of the full capability til I get the correct cable (not just coax), but please correct me if I'm not on the right track...

**rbinck** · 12-31-2007, 09:49 PM

Yes you are on the right track. I'd suggest connecting from the cable box to the TV with either component cables or the HDMI cable and between the cable box and the surround receiver with an optical cable even if your surround receiver has video switching. If you use component cables I'd suggest connecting the stereo audio (red-wht) from the cable box and the TV as well so you don't need the surround system turned on to watch TV.

fridayxiii · 01-01-2008, 07:52 AM

Cool, thanks for the addt'l info. That's exactly what I'd like: to use surround sound & the receiver when I want but not be forced to all the time when watching TV.

So far this forum has been a boon to my entry into the HD world. Speaking of HD, after having it I think it's like cable internet, DVR, and my cell: won't be able to live w/out it.

fridayxiii · 01-05-2008, 12:27 PM

Update: so I got an HDMI cable today, ran it from cable box to LCD, markedly better picture. Good to go.

I also bought a set of component cables hoping to run from box to surround receiver. I used the OUT 1 on the box, and Video 2 on the receiver (per manuf. instruc.) but get no sound. I connected all 3 plugs in both cable box & receiver but am getting nada. Made sure I have the receiver on Video 2 for source but get squat.

Edit: the Video 2 In on the receiver has 3 plugs: R, G, B. Plugging all three in from the cable box gets no sound. Per the recvr. user guide I can plug R (audio) in a Digital In jack, but still nothing. I already have a bald spot going but may start pulling hair & expanding it as the day goes.

)

This is probly an oft-asked question, but any ideas on what I might be doing? My receiver has an optical in but no HDMI. I think I should be able to use component but have tried all sortsa jacks, and no luck. Is this just hit & miss trying different plug combos?

Thx for the patience & assist.

WestDC · 01-05-2008, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fridayxiii

Update: so I got an HDMI cable today, ran it from cable box to LCD, markedly better picture. Good to go.

I also bought a set of component cables hoping to run from box to surround receiver. I used the OUT 1 on the box, and Video 2 on the receiver (per manuf. instruc.) but get no sound. I connected all 3 plugs in both cable box & receiver but am getting nada. Made sure I have the receiver on Video 2 for source but get squat.

Edit: the Video 2 In on the receiver has 3 plugs: R, G, B. Plugging all three in from the cable box gets no sound. Per the recvr. user guide I can plug R (audio) in a Digital In jack, but still nothing. I already have a bald spot going but may start pulling hair & expanding it as the day goes.

)

This is probly an oft-asked question, but any ideas on what I might be doing? My receiver has an optical in but no HDMI. I think I should be able to use component but have tried all sortsa jacks, and no luck. Is this just hit & miss trying different plug combos?

Thx for the patience & assist.

Those are just for Video, You need to run additional audio source Red & White) to your Video 2 audio input from either your cable box or tv.

If your cable box has optical out then you would connect that to your video 2 optical input, Besure your cable box is set to send audio out to the optical output.

fridayxiii · 01-05-2008, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WestDC

Those are just for Video, You need to run additional audio source Red & White) to your Video 2 audio input from either your cable box or tv.

If your cable box has optical out then you would connect that to your video 2 optical input, Besure your cable box is set to send audio out to the optical output.

Thanks!!! Just got back from the store w/an optical cable. So to be straight I'll have all 3 video component plugs attached (Out from cable box, In in the recvr.), and the optical for audio? Giving that a try now...

WOOHOO! That did it! Got the ability now for audio via surround sound recvr or straight from TV if I want. All systems go. Thanks to everyone for their help.

I appreciate not getting a beat-down for asking newb'ish questions like one might on other forums.

12-30-2007, 08:28 AM	#1
fridayxiii I like my Olevia 242t Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Tampa Bay, FL Posts: 7	Forgive the Noob... ...for what's probably a question answered 1000's of times already here. Tried Search but couldn't quite find what I was looking for. Just bought an Olevia 242t yesterday. It's a 42" LCD, native resolution of 1368x768. On the side of the box it says it supports HD resolutions of 720p & 1080i. My questions is: will the TV automatically adjust to the resolution of the input, or is this a setting I can tweak? I checked all the manuals w/the TV but didn't see a setting for this. I have an HD cable box from my provider (Brighthouse in Tampa Bay, offshoot of T-W I believe). The box shows an HDTV icon on the display, and 480i for most of the HD channels I watch. I spoke w/a tech that said some channels in my lineup are 720p, some are 480i. I'm don't know if my TV auto-adjusts per the channel quality? BTW, my box is a Scientific Atlantic 8300HD if that helps at all. And last question, it seems an HDMI input or connection is preferable to the standard cable (from OUT of the box to the ANT IN port on my TV), am I correct? Thanks for tolerating the n00bness, and feel free to point me to good threads or other links for HDTV info for the n00b. Best, Brian

12-31-2007, 08:20 PM	#4
fridayxiii I like my Olevia 242t Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Tampa Bay, FL Posts: 7	I Google'd for & found the 8300HD user's guide online, where, much to my surprise, I can set the box to show 480i or 1080i for SD or HD respectively. I just flipped it over to 1020 for sh1ts & grins. Don't have component cabling yet, but I think that's what I'll need to hook up the cable box, TV, and surround sound receiver. Correct? The 8300HD box also allows for 'easy' vs. 'advanced' setup but being an HD n00b I'm still figuring out the big diff. Any advice on what setting(s) I should have based on my equipment? Thanx for your patience & help, and Happy New Year to all. BTW, I'm only jacking around w/this cuz I'm home sick on NYE & watching the Foo Fighters live in concert (in HD) & have nothing better to do... Edit: my box now shows 1080i as opposed to 480i on the display, which is where I'd wanna be, right? I guess I'm not really taking advantage of the full capability til I get the correct cable (not just coax), but please correct me if I'm not on the right track... Last edited by fridayxiii; 12-31-2007 at 08:29 PM.

12-31-2007, 09:49 PM	#5
rbinck Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Katy, Texas Posts: 12,986	Yes you are on the right track. I'd suggest connecting from the cable box to the TV with either component cables or the HDMI cable and between the cable box and the surround receiver with an optical cable even if your surround receiver has video switching. If you use component cables I'd suggest connecting the stereo audio (red-wht) from the cable box and the TV as well so you don't need the surround system turned on to watch TV. __________________ www.highdefinitionblog.com www.BlogOfHawaii.com

01-05-2008, 12:27 PM	#7
fridayxiii I like my Olevia 242t Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Tampa Bay, FL Posts: 7	Update: so I got an HDMI cable today, ran it from cable box to LCD, markedly better picture. Good to go. I also bought a set of component cables hoping to run from box to surround receiver. I used the OUT 1 on the box, and Video 2 on the receiver (per manuf. instruc.) but get no sound. I connected all 3 plugs in both cable box & receiver but am getting nada. Made sure I have the receiver on Video 2 for source but get squat. Edit: the Video 2 In on the receiver has 3 plugs: R, G, B. Plugging all three in from the cable box gets no sound. Per the recvr. user guide I can plug R (audio) in a Digital In jack, but still nothing. I already have a bald spot going but may start pulling hair & expanding it as the day goes. ) This is probly an oft-asked question, but any ideas on what I might be doing? My receiver has an optical in but no HDMI. I think I should be able to use component but have tried all sortsa jacks, and no luck. Is this just hit & miss trying different plug combos? Thx for the patience & assist. Last edited by fridayxiii; 01-05-2008 at 12:38 PM.

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12-30-2007, 10:07 AM	#3
fridayxiii I like my Olevia 242t Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Tampa Bay, FL Posts: 7	Thanks for the info. I have a surround-sound receiver I bought last fall, and while it's pretty budget-conscious, I asked the sales guy if it would support HDTV when I moved up. Guess I'll have to read up more & figure out if I should go component or HDMI, then go grab some cables. The help is def. appreciated

01-01-2008, 07:52 AM	#6
fridayxiii I like my Olevia 242t Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Tampa Bay, FL Posts: 7	Cool, thanks for the addt'l info. That's exactly what I'd like: to use surround sound & the receiver when I want but not be forced to all the time when watching TV. So far this forum has been a boon to my entry into the HD world. Speaking of HD, after having it I think it's like cable internet, DVR, and my cell: won't be able to live w/out it.