I have a 50" Toshiba hd-ready tv and have Cablevision iO. Until last week the analog channels (most under channel 100 except for HBO and some premiums I believe) were decent but with 2-7 always looking bad.
Then my iO box stopped working and it required a tech to come out. Apparently the box stops functioning when the signal is weak. Because I have Optimum Online which requires that it be split to first (any more splits before the cable modem and the service doesn't work) by the time the signal got to my big screen it was split like 3 times and then I split it so I could hook up my VCR and PIP.
Well, the tech, added a four way splitter at the source to help the signal and ran that first split off to my Toshiba. Well, now the pictures look great. I can still tell that they are not digital, but I am MORE then happy with how they look. (Apparently a booster won't work with the cable box.)
Now the only thing that may cause me to switch to DirecTV is the dual tuner TIVO. Unless, of course, they move to HD quicker then Cablevision...the tech said 2006!!! I hope he was misinterpreting because I believe that is the federal deadline for all channels offering digital service (which we all know will be extended). Then again, I think I could form a cable company today and get HD up and running before Cablevision does!
Good luck!
Joe