I know a lot of people like monoprice cables, but just wondering if someone can link me to some which would traditionally be used to hook up a cable box, dvd player, etc...

Any time I look for myself at monoprice, there are many different hdmi cables so I'm not sure which are better or worse and which are used for other purposes than general user use etc etc.

By chance does anyone know if using a cable box connected via hdmi would fix the stupid problem where the cable box does not properly set the widescreen flag for dvd recorders? I have had that issue for years where HD channels when viewed through the dvd recorder will have black bars on all four sides.

Or if it's not related to cable box connection, would it stop happening once I have the dvd recorder connected to the tv via component rather than composite? Thus far I have had no chance but to use only composite because the cable box (old one) was connected via component and I had no open connections left. If I ever get the cable box connected via hdml properly, then I will have a component open up for the dvd recorder finally.

I got a new cable box and I tried connecting it with the hdmi cable from my dvd player and the end of the hdml cable pulled off the cable and got stuck in the cable box. LOL. So now I have no hdmi cable for either my player OR my cable box either one. The hdmi cable now consists of one normal end and then the other end has bent wires hanging off of it which originally were obviously under the casing which has pulled off.

It was some expensive cable which I dumbly bought when I knew what a ripoff it was. I was too lazy to order monoprice ones then and take back this $70+ one and so i just wasted a lot of money.

Sorry if this is in the wrong forum, but it's kind of borderline which forum to put it in. I guess it would have been better in the HDTV area, but this is more related to cable boxes...

lol someone named hdmi guy posted in another thread yet no response here in a thread with hdmi in the title.

Anyway it's a good thing I did break that cable. They gave me a refund because it had a lifetime warranty on it. So now for the price I originally paid I can get 2 hdmi cables from monoprice, a cd, and a video game.

I just get confused with all of the different descriptions of hdmi cables is why I created this thread. I guess I would need both ends being male? I am always confused with that (which ends to get) and also they ahve various other descriptions which make it confusing whether one cable is better than another even when I do figure out the right type.

Thanks.

ie forums, dvd recorders would have been ok, afaik.

what dvr and dvd recorder do you have?

hdmi will have nothing to do with recording on your dvd recorder (dvdr).

i used to have a comcast sa8000hd dvr with SARA software. when i wanted to record w/s dvds, it had to be switched from hd mode to sd mode, then a formerly hd image would be vertically stretched and passed out the s or composite video, into the dvdr. upon playback on a 16x9 widescreen tv it would be stretched back out to normal.

i'm not sure what other dvrs can do this properly. afaik, there aren't very many.

some of the sa8000hd dvrs had different software, 'passport' iirc, that did not do the proper stretching.

Some people in the past (I think) said that some connection types may get rid of that issue, but I'm not sure. I do know it's NOT the dvd recorder's fault though. Reason being... with my old HD cable box (years back) it properly recorded. So it was a difference in cable boxes that did it.

I currently have a pioneer 610 dvd recorder and a cable box dvr through comcast (because I can't have satellite at the moment, which is annoying because the cable company is ridiculous PQ-wise).

Anyway either way I need to buy 2 hdmi cables where I don't have to continue having the pioneer dvd recorder connected via composite.

Some people in the past (I think) said that some connection types may get rid of that issue, but I'm not sure. I do know it's NOT the dvd recorder's fault though. Reason being... with my old HD cable box (years back) it properly recorded. So it was a difference in cable boxes that did it.

I currently have a pioneer 610 dvd recorder and a cable box dvr through comcast (because I can't have satellite at the moment, which is annoying because the cable company is ridiculous PQ-wise).

Anyway either way I need to buy 2 hdmi cables where I don't have to continue having the pioneer dvd recorder connected via composite.
the hdmi cables are only for playback, not recording.

if your gear is set up correctly, you should be getting some decent pq from your cable box.
again which one is it?

for recording onto dvdr, i would call your cableco and politely insist on a sa8000hd with sara software or the sa8300hd dvr, a newer version which iirc, also does the stretch.

if someone's got some better ideas, please help op.

lol someone named hdmi guy posted in another thread yet no response here in a thread with hdmi in the title.

Anyway it's a good thing I did break that cable. They gave me a refund because it had a lifetime warranty on it. So now for the price I originally paid I can get 2 hdmi cables from monoprice, a cd, and a video game.

I just get confused with all of the different descriptions of hdmi cables is why I created this thread. I guess I would need both ends being male? I am always confused with that (which ends to get) and also they ahve various other descriptions which make it confusing whether one cable is better than another even when I do figure out the right type.

Thanks.
I would recommend this cable in whatever length you need. http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10240&cs_id=1024004&p_id=3661&seq=1&format=2
However you will not be able to use HDMI or component from the cable box to the DVD recorder. The HDMI and component connections on the DVD recorder are outputs not inputs. Use an S video from the cable box to the DVD recorder. I can not help with the widescreen flag problem.

The one I just now got is the 8300 and it doesn't stretch it properly still.

I would recommend this cable in whatever length you need. http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10240&cs_id=1024004&p_id=3661&seq=1&format=2
However you will not be able to use HDMI or component from the cable box to the DVD recorder. The HDMI and component connections on the DVD recorder are outputs not inputs. Use an S video from the cable box to the DVD recorder. I can not help with the widescreen flag problem.
Yes I know I can't use component, hdmi, etc... between recorder and cable box. Although I forgot about s-video! I think someone said s-video will solve that flag problem. I am pretty sure that was what they said and I got confused in here and was thinking about the other connections. Although I don't see how s-video would solve it either.

ANyway thanks. :) If you happen to know a good s-video one please tell me about that too. Not sure if those are cheaper than in stores or not, I haven't checked anything or ehard about anything other than hdmi, dvi, etc... as far as cheaper at monoprice.

The one I just now got is the 8300 and it doesn't stretch it properly still.
I have a Toshiba DVD recorder and am not familiar with the pioneer 610 dvd recorder.
I would try different settings on the recorder and your TV until you get the one that works the best. I doubt the cable box settings will be of much help.

I have a Toshiba DVD recorder and am not familiar with the pioneer 610 dvd recorder.
I would try different settings on the recorder and your TV until you get the one that works the best. I doubt the cable box settings will be of much help.
Toshiba is known for being able to set the widescreen flag though, wheras the Pioneer does not have that option. I always listen to people here and went with Pioneer despite that issue, but it sure is a major issue. I'm not sure what else I can do at this point. I've tried other cable boxes and it always does this. The cable box is supposed to set that flag. Like I said, in the past it did it properly with another box. So it just is disappointing if I can never record in widescreen unless I buy a new recorder.

(by the way, s-video would be male to male also wouldn't it? at least from memory I am thinking they were like that)

s-video will be cheaper at monoprice. It probably will not help with the broadcast flag but should give better picture quality. http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10207&cs_id=1020701&p_id=2402&seq=1&format=2

Thanks.

Oh just as an aside question, I have a denon upconverting dvd player (biggest waste of money ever, maybe... I heard good things about denon but the thing has made a lot of weird noises and didn't seemt hat good even though when I bought it, it cost more than some blu-ray players now cost)... but anyway when I watch something that is NOT 16:9 it stretches it and is all distorted. Since the hdmi upconverts, is it always going to look incorrectly for 4:3 cxontent, or do you think I have some setting incorrect?

Or maybe it's my tv's fault for automatically being forced into fulls creen mode.

edit: Probably should have asked this before buying... but honestly is there even any reason to want to hook the cable box up with hdmi rather than component? I'm not so sure there is. Also I guess all I am really doing by going from dvd recorder hooked up with composite to hooked up with component would be for viewing on the dvd recorder... so I am not actually going to have things in much better shape. s-video may be useful though.

The one I just now got is the 8300 and it doesn't stretch it properly still.

basher, im not sure which software the 8300 has (8300hd right?) or if the software makes any difference on that model but:

check bottom right of remote, if its the same as mine was, there is a button for aspect ratio control, iirc.
it has 3 settings, 'normal', 'stretch', and 'zoom'.
the 'stretch' setting is the one that lets the dvr put out the vertically stretched image for recording on a dvdr.

also, use s video as it gives better pq than composite.

also, many upconverters, my faithful and trusted panny s77 for example, will not let 4x3 be scaled to 720p or 1080i.

monoprice is best but if you need the s video cables right away, i got mine at walmart, $6+ each.

Yes I know I can't use component, hdmi, etc... between recorder and cable box. Although I forgot about s-video! I think someone said s-video will solve that flag problem. I am pretty sure that was what they said and I got confused in here and was thinking about the other connections. Although I don't see how s-video would solve it either.

ANyway thanks. :) If you happen to know a good s-video one please tell me about that too. Not sure if those are cheaper than in stores or not, I haven't checked anything or ehard about anything other than hdmi, dvi, etc... as far as cheaper at monoprice.

a widescreen flag is used to make a widescreen dvd image that normally fits a widescreen tv also fit into a 4x3 sdtv, inserting, as necessary, the letter and pillar boxes on all four sides of the image.

using s video will not solve the problem altho you do want to use s video for its better pq.
problem can only be solved at source (cable box, in this case).
see post before this one, #14.

Well if stretch mode is all that needs to be done, I could do that with my last cable box, but the problem then is you can't watch HD shows actually "in" HD because it would be distorted when watching the cable box straight from the tv rather than watching it through the dvd recorder. At least I know it can be done though... But that still doesn't solve much of my problem becuase during the olympics, for example, what annoyed me was i wanted to record some of it but still watch it in high definition. If I stretched it then I wouldn't be able to watch it in true high definition. I just don't see why this stupid issue happens to begin with.

By the way nobody answered whether hdmi cables are even better than component. I think component can not do 1080p can it? But I assume the cable box won't allow output better than 1080i anyway. So as cheap as these cables are, I still may be wasting money if there is no advantage and then it makes it easier for them to control content and keep me from recording it, I believe, since supposedly hdmi is mainly for that purpose (or similar).

Well if stretch mode is all that needs to be done, I could do that with my last cable box, but the problem then is you can't watch HD shows actually "in" HD because it would be distorted when watching the cable box straight from the tv rather than watching it through the dvd recorder. At least I know it can be done though... But that still doesn't solve much of my problem becuase during the olympics, for example, what annoyed me was i wanted to record some of it but still watch it in high definition. If I stretched it then I wouldn't be able to watch it in true high definition. I just don't see why this stupid issue happens to begin with.

By the way nobody answered whether hdmi cables are even better than component. I think component can not do 1080p can it? But I assume the cable box won't allow output better than 1080i anyway. So as cheap as these cables are, I still may be wasting money if there is no advantage and then it makes it easier for them to control content and keep me from recording it, I believe, since supposedly hdmi is mainly for that purpose (or similar).

afaik, the 8300hd allows you to watch hd from the hdmi output and still use your s video going to your dvdr.
to be honest i forget if the stretch mode affects the hdmi output.

a little secret- i use a separate cheapo tv/monitor to monitor the dvdr video output (from composite output of dvdr).
this frees up your hdtv for watching the program in hd.

re hdmi output-it 'should' give you a sharper and clearer picture over component. however, YMMV.

I randomly tried stretch mode when watching something off of the actual DVR part of the cable box and it did not change the picture at all through the dvd recorder, only when watching it directly through the cable box.

I randomly tried stretch mode when watching something off of the actual DVR part of the cable box and it did not change the picture at all through the dvd recorder, only when watching it directly through the cable box.
what kind of cable goes from your 8300hd output to input on your dvd recorder?
if you have an s video or composite cable and the stretch mode is enabled on your 8300, you should be getting the correct vert. stretched image recorded onto your dvd recorder.
if not, maybe that version of 8300 just wont do what is needed.

what kind of cable goes from your 8300hd output to input on your dvd recorder?
if you have an s video or composite cable and the stretch mode is enabled on your 8300, you should be getting the correct vert. stretched image recorded onto your dvd recorder.
if not, maybe that version of 8300 just wont do what is needed.
composite

pathetic that as technology gets "better" it's worse in amny ways.

And like I said, when watching anything via hdmi on my denon dvd player it has improper ratios for anything other than 16:9./ I spent all tyhis money on electronics that cause problems with everything because apparently morons made them.

composite

pathetic that as technology gets "better" it's worse in amny ways.

And like I said, when watching anything via hdmi on my denon dvd player it has improper ratios for anything other than 16:9./ I spent all tyhis money on electronics that cause problems with everything because apparently morons made them.
basher, go to dvd recorder forum and ask your questions. those guys have a lot more experience than i do and can write better than i can.
they can help more with the hdmi stuff, dvrs, etc.
dont even think about giving up on this stuff. it's tuff at first but you'll get it.
we've all been where you seem to be now.

good luck!

No clue if this is a sign that the monoprice cables aren't good or if hdmi cables themselves aren't, but I already got them and started using them and it's noticable that the tv has to be turned up more to get the volume wehre I want it. So apparently the audio is not good with these hdmi cables. I dont use audio equipment so it matters.

Also it "seems" like colors are softer. So I am not so sure it helped to use these. Adding all of these cables really hasn't seemed to do much. I still have all of my same problems and really the only changes are pioneer hooked up with component instead of composite, pioneer to cable box s-video now, and then cable box using hdmi instead of component. So far everything I have noticed seems to be a negative effect. None of the equipment is doing what a user would desire.

Actually I figured out the audio issue. Still not sure about PQ though.