[Matt_Smi]

Ok I have a question here about what you need to receive HD signals; obviously you need an HDTV (which I will be buying sometime this summer) and then all I have to do from there is call my cable provider (RCN) and tell them that I want HD and they will give me a HD cable box correct? Do they need to put any additional wiring in your house? I believe that the same coaxial cable that I am using on my SDTV right now goes into the back of the HD box, and then another coaxial cable goes out from the HD box into the TV along with a set of component cables, and the box does all the “work†for you. Am I right here, or is it more complicated than this? Sorry for the newb HD questions…

 

[dt_dc]

Quote:

Originally posted by Matt_Smi Am I right here, or is it more complicated than this?

Nope ... that's it. Nothing complicated.


You'd only have to do re-wiring if the existing coax wasn't done well in the first place.


Also, no need to run coax from the STB to the TV ... just component should do (although, depending on the STB, you might find SVideo also useful).


You might also be interested in one of the CableCard TVs coming out ... then you don't even need the STB. You get a card from your cable company and put it in a slot in the TV ... plug the coax in to the TV and you're good to go.

 

[Matt_Smi]

Quote:

Also, no need to run coax from the STB to the TV ... just component should do

Ok so I could just keep my current setup which has the coax cable coming from the wall into my VCR and then out from my VCR to my TV, and just run a component cable from the HD box into my TV? Sounds good, thanks for confirming what I wrote. Now I just need to figure out how much extra my cable provider will change a month. It kind of sucks because I am 19 and live with my parents (when I am not at college). So I would be paying for the whatever extra cash getting HD will cost a month, it would be great for this summer, but somewhat useless once I go back to school as I will only be able to enjoy it a few weekends a month. I am debating if it’s worth it or not, but at least I now know that it would not be a big deal to get it.

 

[Joxer]

In theory they just add the HD cable box and connect the cables. For a VCR setup if you want to record directly from analog channels only you would need to add a splitter or else you could only record the channel the box is set for. But if your coax cable in the house and outside the house to the drop point is old RG59 they may need to replace it with RG6 for higher signal levels at the higher frequencies used for digital/HD cable - that can be a big job. Also if you have any splitters and/or amplifiers they may have to be eliminated or replaced with better designs. I ordered cable HD installation the other day and the installer guy decided to replace the outdoor underground 100foot coax cable (all channels using the HD box were black) but failed - he managed to get the old cable out of the ground but couldn't get a new one in, so now I've lost all cable TV for weeks until they can get some contractor to lay a new cable. The irony is the new cable wasn't even needed the cable box just needed a reset! So if the installer wants to change your outdoor coax cable - don't let him!!