is this going to work, meaning can i see the picture and hear the sound even though the quality is just standard def? thanks to all that helped.

Yes if the box has regular composite or s-video outputs (they are in 480i SD format) and your TV has video and audio inputs that match.

What you'll get will depend on the specific box you get from your cableco - if you're watching standard-def programming, it'll definitely work, but if it's anything in HD, different boxes may or may not downscale the image appropriately. A friend with a TiVo S2DT hooked to an SA 3100HD found this to be a problem - it would not downscale HD programming for S-Video/composite output at all, leading to just a black screen. The slightly high-end 3250HD, however, would do so.

i'll have optimum cable installed next week. do you think that their hd cable box would work on my standard non hdtv?

is this going to work, meaning can i see the picture and hear the sound even though the quality is just standard def? thanks to all that helped.
Just set the box's output to 481i and use the composite or s-video outputs. I watched HD programming on a Goldstar TV set for about a year before getting an HDTV set.

A while ago, some posters mentioned that the local cableco would not give you an HD box without an HD set in the home. I can't say whether things are different now.

YMMV

Comcast up here you can just pick up an HD box easily. Just ask.

A while ago, some posters mentioned that the local cableco would not give you an HD box without an HD set in the home. I can't say whether things are different now.

YMMV
When I had my service installed, the installer had no clue as to how to hook it up to a non-hd TV set, so he just left the STB for me to connect and setup.

and how exactly did you connect yours? what wires did you use?

Comcast up here you can just pick up an HD box easily. Just ask.

That's what I did with Time Warner. I had ordered an HDTV, but I went ahead and exchanged my old SD box for an HD one before it was delivered. Since I still wanted to watch TV, I hooked it up using S-video (what my old TV used) and it worked. Even the HD channels came through fine (granted, I wasn't watching in 720p/1080i at that point, but they were coming through fine.)

and how exactly did you connect yours? what wires did you use?

Most HD boxes I've seen have legacy SD connections like composite (yellow plug) and S-video. And TW charges the same rental on all their boxes ($5 a month. DVR service extra, regardless of resolution.) Not sure what Comcast and the others do.

Yes you can but you only receive up to 100 channels with no HD capability..

Why would he be limited to 100 channels?

Why would he be limited to 100 channels?

Because older & regular TV do not have digital tuner to receive difital broadcast channels they are only capable of displaying analog programming unless your "Cable Box" has both digiatl/analog tuners in that regards your TV become just dammy display.

Because older & regular TV do not have digital tuner to receive difital broadcast channels they are only capable of displaying analog programming. .

You seem to be a bit confused about what is happening here.
He is using an HD cable box to receive digital broadcasts. The question that he had was could he connect the box to his non HD tv - which he certainly can. He will receive every channel that he pays for, regardless of what tv he has connected.

Because older & regular TV do not have digital tuner to receive difital broadcast channels they are only capable of displaying analog programming unless your "Cable Box" has both digiatl/analog tuners in that regards your TV become just dammy display.

Well, if you have a cable box, why would you use the TV's tuner? I'm under the impression that he is using it as just a "dammy display."

You seem to be a bit confused about what is happening here.
He is using an HD cable box to receive digital broadcasts. The question that he had was could he connect the box to his non HD tv - which he certainly can. He will receive every channel that he pays for, regardless of what tv he has connected.


Before you acting that you know all please read carefully on my comment.

and how exactly did you connect yours? what wires did you use?
Just use the composite (yellow, red, white) cables connecting the standard A/V outputs on the box to corresponding A/V inputs on the TV set. Go into the setup menu of the box (for Motorola, with the box and TV on, turn the box off then press "menu" within a couple of seconds and the setup menu will come up. Set the resolution to 480i and press the power button to turn the box off. Turn it back on and you should be watching tv, including all of the HD services to which you subscribe (in non-HD, of course).

Before you acting that you know all please read carefully on my comment.

While your comment is true that older TVs won't get more than 100 channels, that has nothing to do with the original poster's concern, which even in the title he said he was using a box. Yes, he's using the TV as just a display. That's what he wants to do.

Note that if your box has a modulated Channel 3/4 output like my Motorola HD DVR does, you can easily pipe SD and HD programming around the house. I have this running to a little set in the kitchen so I can continue to view a program while doing domestic chores. Under this scenario the HD set continues to display an HD picture along with the 12" SD set in the kitchen. I actually split this up and run it to other rooms as well.

Of course every set will be displaying the same channel, which is exactly what I want.

HD will be displayed in a box on SD sets so the picture is smaller, but very clear!

John K.