Getting my TW HDTV cable box on Monday

[pdieten]

Hello all,

As you can probably tell I'm a newbie here; just found the site yesterday. Learned a lot, but still confused........

We just bought an HD-ready RP set after my old 27" analog died, and since we're on TW digital cable and the swap to the HD box is free, we thought we'd give HD a try. Our current hookup is: wall cable to a dimestore splitter - one output to the current cable box, the other output to the antenna in on the TV for PIP (I like having PIP but don't need the digital channels there right now.) The cable box coax out goes to a VCR and from there to the TV via composite video.

So, my question is this: What can I expect when the cable guy gets here Monday to install the new HDTV box? Will any wiring changes have to be made (or should be made)? It's a 50" set surrounded by shelving; moving this is nontrivial and I'd like to do it as infrequently as possible.

And, of course, is the service any good right now, or should we still be planning to watch very little of channels 504 through 512 for the time being?

VCR recording has to be done on the analog channels, I presume? Where in the system does it get hooked up?

I have no idea what model cable box we will be getting - when I called last week for the swap, they told me they had no HD boxes in stock and would be getting some in. Presumably they'll be in this week............

TIA for the advice -

Best regards,
Paul Dietenberger

[RickNeff]

There really shouldn't be a lot in the way of wiring changes, but there will be some.

For starters, the splitter may be an issue, depending on the cabling leading into the building all the way to the cable box.  If you notice a lot of pixelation while on the HD channels, you might want to seriously consider removing or replacing the splitter.

Second, find the component inputs on your set, since that will need to be connected to the HD cable box in order to see the HD channels.  On most sets, this also requires you to switch inputs -- And some sets are much better than others.  I'd seriously consider getting some better component cables than the ones provided with the HD cable box.  At the very least, getting some Radio Shack components would be a good starting point.  Better would be Audio Research cables or the like.

As far as the VCR is concerned, you'll put that between the cable box and the TV set using the standard coax cable.  And as you've already figured out, you'll only be able to record non-HD channels with it.

Concerning the installer, don't expect too much knowledge, especially with HD.  So, make sure you have the HD box by immediately selecting the component input and surfing the 500 range.  Don't let the installer walk out the door without checking this out and making sure everything is OK.

Another thing you might want to do:  Lower your brightness and contrast from the often default 100%.  This will help reduce screen burn in, especially in those instances when you have black bars from letterboxing or watching non-HD material on HD inputs. (You don't mention if you have a widescreen or 4:3 set)  Ideally, you would actually calibrate this using the Avia DVD or the like.

[pdieten]

Thanks Rick.

So let me get this straight:

There will be two connections between the HD box and the TV: cable box coax to VCR to cable input 1 on the TV, on which we watch non-HD programming and record things to the VCR. Also, we connect via component cable from the box directly to line input #1 on the TV, over which we watch HD if there's something on.

Then, the DVD player can stay on line input #2 on the TV, and if my splitter stays in place that can go on cable input 2 on the TV. And finally the Playstation gets line input #3 on the front and the camcorder gets the VCR's input jacks. Sheesh, and here I thought five inputs to a TV was overkill. Plus, none of this includes sending the TV's audio to the stereo amp. Heh. Heaven help me if we get any more A/V equipment.

Mine is a 4:3 set, so I will take your brightness etc. suggestions into account. Good idea. Thanks.

Regards, Paul

[RickNeff]

Yes, you've pretty much gotten the connections straight and it's very similar to my setup below:

I've got the cable box & VCR going to my ANT coax input on my TV.  The HD part of the cable box goes to Component 2 on my TV. (Component 1 is used by my Panasonic E30 DVD recorder)  I've also got a Playstation 2 typically connected to Input 3 (my front panel) where I also occationally hook up my camcorder for playback.  I also have a Panasonic CP-72 on Input 1 of the TV as well.

As far as the audio, the TW cable box should have a coax digital surround out (at least with the SA boxes, that's the case.)  Hopefully, your amp has both a fiber and coax surround input (mine has 2 fiber and 1 coax)

Best of luck with your upcoming HD setup!

[Mike Sura]

Paul, make sure the tech knows about your splitter. If it's a cheap splitter and the tech knows his stuff he'll swap it out no charge. If he's really good he'll check the signal strength with a meter. If you get a Pioneer box they don't have an RF output for your VCR. It does have S-video and video output along with the componet.

[drgingras]

Don't forget to have some RCA audio cables available if you're going to use the TV's sound with HD and/or DVD.

If you end up with the SA3100, here's a pic of cable-HD-DVD cabling.

Dave

[drgingras]

Oh yeah, forgot to mention that the coax output on the SA3100 only gives you mono sound, not stereo (common with a lot of SA boxes). Here's an example of a VCR hookup that gives you stereo, if interested. Also note the use of y-cables. This comes in handy when sending audio from the SA3100 to multiple inputs.

Can you say Ratshack Roadtrip, anyone?

Dave

[mhz40]

Originally posted by drgingras
clip Oh yeah, forgot to mention that the coax output on the SA3100 only gives you mono sound, not stereo (common with a lot of SA boxes). /clip

Great point...  FYI, that is common with all TW digital set tops, including Pioneer.  To get stereo, one must use the L & R and/or coaxial AC-3 connector.  AC-3 output will only work when tuned to digital channel (above 99) that provides an AC-3 audio stream, which is about 90% of the digital channels.

[pdieten]

Thanks all for your assistance. Follow-up: The guy arrived (way late) and, as expected, had absolutely no clue whatsoever what he was doing. I wound up recabling the whole mess myself after he left, and now have something I can work with. (Thanks for posting your pictures Dave, that was more-or-less how I had to do it......)

The box has the Pioneer name on it (I think SA makes the Pioneer-brand boxes; I had to use SA codes to program my universal remote) and the model # is 3150 IIRC. All the HD stations look good, nice clear component video pictures. I was able to change the aspect ratio so the picture fills all of my 4:3 screen. I haven't actually watched any HD content yet though (and won't get to tonight either; going to Dairyland to lose some money......)

Has anyone else experienced this odd problem: If my TV input is set to HDTV video, the non-HD channels are unwatchable - the TV can't seem to make up its mind whether to display them in 4:3 or 16:9 and keeps changing back and forth. I have to switch over to the antenna/cable input coming from the VCR to watch the other stations. The HD stations are visible on that input too, but they look noticeably worse than they do coming over the component input.

At any rate, looks like I'm good to go. Now to just find some HD content somewhere and see how it looks.

Thanks much
Regards, Paul

[Tom Snyder]

Why no HD content?  

You should be able to get HBO and Showtime on 731 and 721. If you don't subscribe to those, the Time Warner feed from Channel 10 should be running the HD demo loop on 510...

[pdieten]

I don't subscribe to HBO or Showtime. Didn't even think to check channel 510, I guess I'll do that when I get home. :-)

Thanks much

[Mike Sura]

The Pioneer box allows you to set the output to match your TV. Look under settings, aspect ratio and see if there is a selection for 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i. You can select each one with a toggle like selection. Select only the ones that your TV can use. Then the box will send the selected signals without any conversion. I selected all the signals and set my Toshiba TV for FULL in the stretch mode and all the channels fill the screen. (except of course for 1080i HD that is not wide screen) This method works great for people (wife) who don't want to mess with settings.

[pdieten]

Holy. Cow.

I'm watching the NBA finals game 1 on 512. 16:9 and Dolby Digital 5.1.

I am thoroughly and completely blown away. This rocks. I'm never going back to analog. Never.

Thanks--

-paul