Just moved, and setting up the new service.

Guys that came in hooked it up as RF, so I of course had to upgrade from that.

Planned on s-video, but the TV (Samsung ln32a330) doesn't have it, so went with composite instead.

The box though has a "Dolby Digital Ac3" input, which I've never seen before.

If the TV has somewhere for this (which I need some help with!), would it be any better than standard red/white audio for SD content?

Box:
http://i43.tinypic.com/2rdhruw.jpg

TV:
http://i41.tinypic.com/2vww7ea.jpg

It's for hooking up to a surround sound system using a digital coaxial cable. It's for high definition channels that output 5.1 (and some standard def channels that output 2.0) sound.

The TV won't have the input (it has an output, the optical, which does the same thing if you were using the TV's tuner instead of the cable box.) The TV doesn't need it, as it at best has stereo speakers, so the L/R are fine.

Also, why not opt for a high definition box that has component and/or HDMI output, since you have that? Is the cost considerably higher? The picture would be considerably better than composite.

Thanks for the quick reply - I'd never seen that Ac3 connection before...had me confused!

Can you even buy a new flat-screen TV today without a HDMI port?

Yeah, I'll certainly look into getting HD, with a better box.

Was kinda funny though that when the service techs came in to set up the service, they hooked it up with plain 'ol RF, and stretched the picture so it'd fit the screen.

Switching to composite, and going back to 4:3 looks so much better - and people no longer look like some wide-blob, alter-ego of their actual selves...



It's for hooking up to a surround sound system using a digital coaxial cable. It's for high definition channels that output 5.1 (and some standard def channels that output 2.0) sound.

The TV won't have the input (it has an output, the optical, which does the same thing if you were using the TV's tuner instead of the cable box.) The TV doesn't need it, as it at best has stereo speakers, so the L/R are fine.

Also, why not opt for a high definition box that has component and/or HDMI output, since you have that? Is the cost considerably higher? The picture would be considerably better than composite.

You really need to take that box back and get an HD Set Top Box. (STB).
If you want to take advantage of your TV.

Is there another location on your TV with additional input Jacks?
It looks like you have your yellow cable feeding part of the component input not the composite input.

You really need to take that box back and get an HD Set Top Box. (STB).
If you want to take advantage of your TV.

Is there another location on your TV with additional input Jacks?
It looks like you have your yellow cable feeding part of the component input not the composite input.
On that TV the normal yellow composite uses the green from the component input. He has it connected correctly for a non HD box. I agree with the assessment that an HD box would be much better.