b1999
join:2005-10-02
Bayville, NJ | [STB] 4250C Set top box and Samsung 55D6000 PQ My senior-citizen neighbor currently has the a Scientific Atlanta 4250C STB that only supports composite cables. As you can imagine, the picture quality on his new LED LCD TV isn't great.
I want to help him get a better picture but it looks like he's limited unless Comcast would provide him with a different STB that supports HDMI or Component technology.
Short of paying the additional cost for HD, are there any STBs he could request that would support HDMI or Component cables without increasing his monthly cost?
He says his TV, Internet and telephone run about $200 a month. I forgot to ask if he subscribed to any premium packages. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
bg |
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| doesn't HD come with most comcast triple play plans? |
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b1999
join:2005-10-02
Bayville, NJ | That's what I had thought too. Their triple play promotion period has finished and now they are at the "standard" monthly rate. I think they may have priced it originally with HD but downgraded based on the cost after the promotion ended. |
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| reply to b1999
said by b1999:I want to help him get a better picture but it looks like he's limited unless Comcast would provide him with a different STB that supports HDMI or Component technology.
Short of paying the additional cost for HD, are there any STBs he could request that would support HDMI or Component cables without increasing his monthly cost? You DO realize that w/out also adding the actual "HD fee", their pictures are STILL going to look crappy on their TV(s). JUST adding a box with an HDMI/component connection, is ONLY going to basically "up-convert" the already crap SD signals at best - so what IS really the point???  |
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b1999
join:2005-10-02
Bayville, NJ | I was thinking that a STB that supported HDMI for SD subscribers, if Comcast supports such a box, would be better than a STB that only supported composite cables.
Should I look at inserting up-converter between the STB and the TV? I've seen some positive reviews at Amazon and elsewhere but I've never seen the actual results myself. Or are up-convertors marginal at best?
bg |
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andyrossPremium,MVM
join:2003-05-04
Schaumburg, IL | reply to b1999
Don't waste money on an outboard 'upconverter'. I haven't checked costs, but it'd probably be cheaper in the long run to just upgrade to HD. By me, it's $8.95/month and covers all boxes in the household. Some areas may still use a separate per-box fee.
That said, some TV's may give a better picture via component or HDMI, even if that input signal is 480i. Composite inputs are like AM on a radio: Just something thrown in as cheap as possible. |
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b1999
join:2005-10-02
Bayville, NJ | Thanks Andy. Amazon has up-convertors ranging from $40-$100 and since the Samsung 55" is brand new, I think it should work better with HDMI or Component connections. OTOH, the up-convertors have mixed reviews so you may have the right idea.
bg |
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| said by b1999: Amazon has up-convertors ranging from $40-$100 and since the Samsung 55" is brand new, I think it should work better with HDMI or Component connections. OTOH, the up-convertors have mixed reviews so you may have the right idea. Think about it...you really, really think a little $100 box is somehow going to "magically" turn a (crappy, compressed) SD picture, into something even remotely resembling HD quality???  Again, the fact a box has an HDMI/Component connection is NOT going to magically or materially alter an SD picture source into an HD one.
Yes, WE all have the right idea; spend the $9 extra on "real HD" & be done with it! And as Andy already told you...if they have (or would get) additional boxes/TV's, those would also have HD enabled on them as well, for NO added cost. (other than the normal additional TV outlet (box) charges. |
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b1999
join:2005-10-02
Bayville, NJ | This has helped a lot. I'm a Directv user myself and didn't understand the Comcast packages. Now it will be easier to make the case to persuade them to go HD. The single HD charge covering both STB boxes clinches it.
Thanks to all. |
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| said by b1999:Now it will be easier to make the case to persuade them to go HD. The single HD charge covering both STB boxes clinches it. Good; one small FYI...if their other box is NOT already an HD capable box, they can take it back to their local CC office & exchange it for an HD capable one at no charge. |
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