AVS › AVS Forum › HDTV › HDTV Technical › Cable card vs. coaxial vs. hdmi
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Cable card vs. coaxial vs. hdmi

post #1 of 4
1/1/08 at 12:18pm
Thread Starter 
This may sound redundant to some other posts out there but none answered my question.

If you are to hook up cable or sat, what will give you the best PQ?

HDMI, Cable Card, or Coaxial

I don't want to start a HDMI, Componet debate.

I have a 55" hitachi with a cable card installed right now, but I am interested in Directv for more HD channels or atleast inproving my picture with cable tv.
Reply
Reply

AVS Top Picks

post #2 of 4
1/1/08 at 12:31pm
HDMI can provide the best picture quality with an external source.

If your TV is DCR (digital cable ready) and has CableCard, using the coax(RF) connection is the best you can do without an external receiver.

No coax (RF), composite or S-video should be used with external receivers since it can't provide HD resolution(s).

CableCard has nothing to with cable interconnects. It's merely a decryption device.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 4
1/1/08 at 12:46pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks Ratman, another question: Is the external source going to be better than the built-in tuner.
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 4
1/1/08 at 1:15pm
If you have satellite, you have to use an external tuner.

IMO... with digital cable, the TV's internal tuner should be better since you are not introducing additional hardware/cables.

You could always rent an extenal cable box (for a month or so), buy an HDMI cable from www.monoprice.com and see for yourself. One benefit with the external box is that you could take advantage of recording programs (with a DVR box rental).
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: HDTV Technical

AVS Top Picks

AVS › AVS Forum › HDTV › HDTV Technical › Cable card vs. coaxial vs. hdmi