TWC HD Questions

[Lebowski]

Hi,

Just got around to setting up my TWC HD cable box.  I'm by no means a pro at this stuff so please help me out!

My Philips TV has 1 regular HD input, which I previously had my Progressive Scan DVD player connected.  The TV also has a DVI input.

1.  Without buying a $120.00 DVI cable and running that from my DVD player to my DVI HD input to free up the regular HD input, is there an easier way to have BOTH the TWC HD input and Prog.Scan DVD connected to the TV?  I thought at first the TWC box would have some sort of selection feature to toggle from say an AUX IN back to cable programming, as in running the DVD output thru the cable box...I do see a video in area, but not sure what to do.

Will I have to manually disconnect the TWC connection whenever I want to view a DVD in HD???

Thanks!

[summerfun]

First of all, you don't need to spend $120 on a DVI cable. You can get a good one for about $20. Check ebay.

If you don't want to use the DVI, you will need to get a switch. A switch is like a reverse splitter. You will have multiple inputs, with one output going to the TV. Most audio receivers are also switches, so if you are going to add an audio system to your new home theater, that will solve your problem as well.

If you have to choose, put your TWC HD box on the HD input and the DVD player on the s-video input. DVD is only half the resolution of HD, so you will not loose as much PQ from the DVD player being on S-video as you would from the HD box being on s-video. Never use the composite (yellow) or RF (coaxial) inputs.

[gparris]

summerfun is right, use the s-video for the DVD, but you lose the ability to use the progressive scan of the DVD if you do.
Progressive scan is one of things you buy HDTV sets for, IMO, as well as great HD reception.

In most cases, the A/V receivers have input switching, some are as low or lower than $200 for 5.1 DD surround if you intend to buy one and this I recommend strongly as HDTV has great sound, too, as well as DVDs.

Negating that, I have tried-and-it-worked, this option:

Buy a input splitter box from radio shack (or wherever), with the manual buttons on top and the red, white and yellow composite inputs and one output on the back. Take the component cables from both HD box and Progressive-scan DVD player and insert the red to red, green to black and blue to yellow as a suggestion for inputs and folllow these back to the matching outputs, then red, green and blue component cable colors  to the HDTV correctly. Forget what these are supposed to be as you are using RCA cables to RCA cables.

This way, when it is time to play a DVD, you push the second button (if you assign it that way in connections) to move the DVD picture-only output signal to the HD input of the HDTV :
You have to go there anyway, to insert and retreive the DVD for play, anyway. Now is a good time to switch inputs.
When you are done with DVD, push the other button to begin watching HDTV again.

I found this works instead of buying a reciever or using anything less than component cabling like S-video.

Hope this helps you out.:wave:

[Paul S.]

Search the forums for Audio Authority for a cool product that I use!

[gparris]

Originally posted by Paul S.
Search the forums for Audio Authority for a cool product that I use!

Paul S.: I was trying to make it easy and cheaper for Lebowski;)
I know my method is quicker and cheaper and does the same, but I must admit what you have does it for you.

Lebowski: Try whatever works for you, but do it with component cables you already have and don't sweat it.

 Enjoy!;)

[Lebowski]

Thanks for all the advice guys.

I've decided to try out DVI...I found a cable online for $15...via ebay.  I guess its a personal preference not to have to 'switch' something manually...I'll live with the flicker issues I've read about in other posts when DVI is used from the TWC box to the DVI Input on the tv...

But I'm pretty excited to get my system going...I've been watching some HD content and it looks supreme...especially HD Discovery.

Anyone know if Fox's HD NFL games are broadcast in Widescreen?

Thanks again.

[Gregg Lengling]

Fox last year did the NFL in 16:9 480p so basically enhanced regular tv.  However Fox is installing 720p at all it's stations and the projected date is supposed to be before the NFL season.  The list they have provided so far regarding Green Bay is that all the games they have (I think 12 or 13) for the Packers will all be in 720p widescreen.  Now if WITI would just get a real signal on the air before August...I'm mean they've been working on it for over 2 years and keep promising, but they've been vacant promises.

BTW there is a great search function on this board and you'd be wise (everyone would be unless they've read every post over the last 2 plus years) to use it.  You could put in "NFL" and "FOX" and you'd come up with the answer I just gave you.

Cheers and only 2 months til Football.:guns: