Hi I am a newbie to HDTV. I just got a panny plasma and have it hooked up with just standard def right now. I am waiting for my cable company to get HD boxes in. Do I need an HDMI cable to view HD? Right now I just have the cable from my cable box going right to the tv. Can I just hook up the same way once I get the HD box?

You can get HDTV through the three Component video cables. The single composite cable will only carry standard def. You will also need audio cables (either two analog or one digital/optical audio).

The are two reasons to use HDMI:
1. It carries the digital video/audio signal directly to your TV.
2. A single cable carries both video and audio.

Thanks I will pick one up.

Thanks I will pick one up.

for hdmi/all cables, check out monoprice.com be4 spending 'mega' $ on other cables for same quality.

Check what box your cable company which type cable to use before buying the HDMI cable. My downstairs Television (PVR) uses HDMI and my bedroom set (non PVR box) uses DVI. In my bedroom I have it hooked up to component.

Your cable company should be able to tell you if the component output will be what you need (my bedroom set is 720P). Some devices do not output 720P through component. I'm a geek and checked the manual for the cable box on the internet.

Good luck.

Check what box your cable company which type cable to use before buying the HDMI cable. My downstairs Television (PVR) uses HDMI and my bedroom set (non PVR box) uses DVI. In my bedroom I have it hooked up to component.

Your cable company should be able to tell you if the component output will be what you need (my bedroom set is 720P). Some devices do not output 720P through component. I'm a geek and checked the manual for the cable box on the internet.

Good luck.

Thanks for the tip. I checked the diagram of the box and I was suprised that I did not see any HDMI connections. Looks like I will have to go component, unless the diagram is not up to date.

Thanks for the tip. I checked the diagram of the box and I was suprised that I did not see any HDMI connections. Looks like I will have to go component, unless the diagram is not up to date.
You might want to wait until you get the box. As you noted, sometimes the on-line info is not current. I would think most new boxes now have HDMI.