Hi everyone,

I just purchased a 42" Westinghouse 720p LCD TV, and the picture from our Rogers Digital Cable service (non-HD) is awful and pixelated.

On our previous 20" LCD TV, the picture/reception was pretty damn good via S-Video, however using either S-Video or RCA shows virtually the same on the new 42": poor. When I put on my XBox 360 however, the picture is incredibly clear.

The cable box we have is a Scientific Atlanta Explorer E940, and the video out options I have are either RCA or S-Video.

My TV has the following inputs:

HDMI: (open)
DVI: HTPC
VGA: Xbox 360
YPbPr1: (open)
YPbPr2: (open)
S-Video: Digital cable
RCA Video: (open)

Would the poor picture be significantly improved if I got an S-Video-to-HDMI adapter and use an HDMI cable? Or S-Video-to-YPBPr?

I will invest the $100+ in cables and adapters if it will make a significant improvement, but if it's only going to marginally clear up the display, is there anything else I can do?

Pretty disappointed, I thought digital cable would look fantastic on the new TV... it's almost unwatchable due to the pixelation. Even the TV Guide looks like you're reading a computer at 420x640 resolution...

Thanks in advance!
Chris

Sounds like you need an HD Box. HD and digital aren't the same thing.

http://truehd.ca/experience/

https://your.rogers.com/store/cable/ptv/learn/hardware.asp?shopperID=41JJ4XWNM2NV8LUTFMS2PRP83P31ET26

It looks like they offer a SA3250HD and an SA8300HD DVR, or something to that effect. You can hook either up with HDMI cables (The 3250 might need a DVi-HDMI cable if it's like mine.)

Pretty disappointed, I thought digital cable would look fantastic on the new TV... it's almost unwatchable due to the pixelation. Even the TV Guide looks like you're reading a computer at 420x640 resolution...

Chris,

Were you with Rogers digital cable with the previous TV as well? I am just wondering if you might have a signal strength issue either way. 20" to 42" is a pretty big step up but I would think you would have seen pixelation on the smaller screen if it were present previously. Unfortunately SD is always less satisfying on bigger screens but it sounds like you are having more significant issues than that alone. I think you should have your STB checked and/or your signal strength, SNR, etc. checked by Rogers.

" I think you should have your STB checked and/or your signal strength, SNR, etc. checked by Rogers."

Ditto on that - before you do anything else....

Hi everyone,

I just purchased a 42" Westinghouse 720p LCD TV, and the picture from our Rogers Digital Cable service (non-HD) is awful and pixelated.

On our previous 20" LCD TV, the picture/reception was pretty damn good via S-Video, however using either S-Video or RCA shows virtually the same on the new 42": poor. When I put on my XBox 360 however, the picture is incredibly clear.

The cable box we have is a Scientific Atlanta Explorer E940, and the video out options I have are either RCA or S-Video.

I either don't understand your connections, or you're using one of the 480i outputs from your cable box (S-Vid or RCA) to your TV? Those should only be used for connecting to a SDTV recorder, which requires 480i input.

What happened to the normal coax connection from the box to the TV! Is your "TV" a tunerless monitor?

Chris,

Were you with Rogers digital cable with the previous TV as well? I am just wondering if you might have a signal strength issue either way. 20" to 42" is a pretty big step up but I would think you would have seen pixelation on the smaller screen if it were present previously. Unfortunately SD is always less satisfying on bigger screens but it sounds like you are having more significant issues than that alone. I think you should have your STB checked and/or your signal strength, SNR, etc. checked by Rogers.


" I think you should have your STB checked and/or your signal strength, SNR, etc. checked by Rogers."

Ditto on that - before you do anything else....

I was with Rogers previously, and we didn't see this issue before we upgraded to digital. I did call Rogers about the issue and just like you indicated, they are sending a technician out today to check the signal strength.

I either don't understand your connections, or you're using one of the 480i outputs from your cable box (S-Vid or RCA) to your TV? Those should only be used for connecting to a SDTV recorder, which requires 480i input.

What happened to the normal coax connection from the box to the TV! Is your "TV" a tunerless monitor?

My cable box only has 2 video-out options: S-vid and RCA video.
Yes, my TV is a tunerless monitor, which is why we elected to go digital since it was practically the same cost as our analog was previously.

I am hoping that when the cable guy comes by tonight, I can ask to get a different box that has digital video out options, not just S-Vid or RCA Video. Would that help the picture?

My cable box only has 2 video-out options: S-vid and RCA video.
Yes, my TV is a tunerless monitor, which is why we elected to go digital since it was practically the same cost as our analog was previously.

I am hoping that when the cable guy comes by tonight, I can ask to get a different box that has digital video out options, not just S-Vid or RCA Video. Would that help the picture?
Unfortunately, with a tunerless monitor, you're relegated to the worst PQ outputs from your particular box (480i), intended that way by MPAA/Hollywood so you can't get a really nice copy on a recorder from an otherwise HD-quality box. That's why ALL new recorders don't have Component or HDMI inputs... you'd get an outstanding pic from a Component video source such as a DVD or cable/sat box with either of those connections.

If you can get a box with at least Component out, or better yet, HDMI out, those would be ideal for your monitor (assuming it has Component and/or HDMI inputs).

Unfortunately, with a tunerless monitor, you're relegated to the worst PQ outputs from your particular box (480i), intended that way by MPAA/Hollywood so you can't get a really nice copy on a recorder from an otherwise HD-quality box. That's why ALL new recorders don't have Component or HDMI inputs... you'd get an outstanding pic from a Component video source such as a DVD or cable/sat box with either of those connections.

If you can get a box with at least Component out, or better yet, HDMI out, those would be ideal for your monitor (assuming it has Component and/or HDMI inputs).

Yeah, my TV has HDMI and DVI. But would a non-HD digital cable box have an HDMI or component out? I thought they were only for HD, which is why my digibox only has S-Vid and RCA Video?

Keep in mind I just have digital cable, not HD cable.

Yeah, my TV has HDMI and DVI. But would a non-HD digital cable box have an HDMI or component out? I thought they were only for HD, which is why my digibox only has S-Vid and RCA Video?

Keep in mind I just have digital cable, not HD cable.
HDMI is a digital connection, doesn't have to be HD.

HDMI is a digital connection, doesn't have to be HD.

Oh really? When the cable guy came to install the box, I asked if there were any HDMI/DVI ports on the back, and he said "no, only on HD boxes. These normal digital boxes only have s-vid and composite".

I guess that's not true? Perhaps I should just ask for a new box with a digital video out. Would that noticeably improve my picture if my signal is fine?

I think your problem here is the fact that you went from analog cable signals/channels direct into your analog TV to digital channels thru the digital box. The box is using the highly compressed SD digital signals which look like crap. Analog cable is on its way out though.

Oh really? When the cable guy came to install the box, I asked if there were any HDMI/DVI ports on the back, and he said "no, only on HD boxes. These normal digital boxes only have s-vid and composite".

I guess that's not true? Perhaps I should just ask for a new box with a digital video out. Would that noticeably improve my picture if my signal is fine?
One last comment by me... I'm using HDMI out on my DVDR to my LCD TV, and I'm on basic analog cable. Many people in the DVD Recorder forum are doing the same with analog cable, digital cable, OTA, etc. Your cableco wants you to upgrade to a more expensive HD package.

Oh really? When the cable guy came to install the box, I asked if there were any HDMI/DVI ports on the back, and he said "no, only on HD boxes. These normal digital boxes only have s-vid and composite".

I guess that's not true? Perhaps I should just ask for a new box with a digital video out. Would that noticeably improve my picture if my signal is fine?

There's nothing stopping a cable box maker from putting HDMI/DVi or component on a standard box. It's just that most seem to only put them on HD boxes. At least I've never seen a non-HD box with anything higher than s-video. Maybe component, but I'm not aware of any existing.

One last comment by me... I'm using HDMI out on my DVDR to my LCD TV, and I'm on basic analog cable. Many people in the DVD Recorder forum are doing the same with analog cable, digital cable, OTA, etc. Your cableco wants you to upgrade to a more expensive HD package.

One last question to you.... did you ever run the coax straight to your TV before you went to the HDMI connection? Was the picture any better at all just by switching connection methods?

Thanks for your help.

I think your problem here is the fact that you went from analog cable signals/channels direct into your analog TV to digital channels thru the digital box. The box is using the highly compressed SD digital signals which look like crap. Analog cable is on its way out though.

I work for cable, and I can honestly say that the only times I've seen analog cable look bad is mostly when there's a problem at the customers home due to self installs (bad fittings, splitters, wiring, and amps). Yes, sometimes I even find problems outside as well, but mostly inside.

Yes, analog cable will hopefully be going away Feb 2009 (as mandated by the FCC).

HDMI and component outputs only (mostly) exist on HD boxes and DVRs. Standard digital and DVR boxes only have s-video and composite outputs. All boxes have RF outputs. In my experiences with the standard digital boxes, the best output to use is the composite (yellow, red, and white). S-video doesn't seem to look all that great. Make sure your picture settings aren't jacked up to high (contrast, brightness, and color). Sharpness especially should only be around 25 - 35.

- Cable Tech