jmelcher
join:2006-02-08
Augusta, GA
 ·VOIPo
·ViaTalk
 ·Insight Communicat..
|  [Cable] DVR Quality vs Cable Card
Can anyone tell a difference in picture quality between the set top box and the cable card? I swear I can, and I just had one installed to compliment my STB. I'm only using the box for On-Demand and interactive stuff now, and using the cable card to watch the "normal" channels. I swear I can see a difference in picture quality.
BTW, when I called to schedule the install, they told me the cards would no longer be supported after the summer due to being too unreliable. And since that is so, I got the cable card free of charge - no monthly fee  |
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dishrich
join:2006-05-12
Springfield, IL
1 edit | How do you have the DVR connected to you TV?
If you are using using an HDMI or DVI connection to your TV, (in theory) you shouldn't see really much, if any difference. The HDMI/DVI type of connection keeps the incoming digital signal all digital through the box & back out to the TV. Having a cable card in your set does it in the same way, as it allows the incoming digital signal to stay digital in the TV. If your TV has an HDMI or DVI connector, you really should have your DVR hooked up using those.
OTOH, if you are using a component connection, then (again, in theory) you might, since by using a component connection you are taking the incoming digital cable signal, having the DVR box convert it to an analog signal for output through the component connectors to the TV, than having the TV turn right around & turn it back to digital for internal processing. |
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jmelcher
join:2006-02-08
Augusta, GA
·VOIPo
·ViaTalk
·Insight Communicat..
| Prior to having the card installed, I did (and still do) have HDMI from the box to the TV. Now with the card, I have a splitter (provided by Insight) from the outlet with a run to the box and a run to the TV.
I understand what you mean about the signal remaining digital all the way to the TV/Box through HDMI. I may be making a big deal about nothing, but I was just wondering if anyone experienced a crisper, cleaner picture on the cable card vs. the DVR. |
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TBC1
join:2002-05-31
Ft Mitchell, KY
| I don't use a card, though my TV can. I have HDMI and component cable being used from the cable box (which is also DVR). I see little difference between the two to be honest, though HDMI can do 1080p, component cannot. The reason I do this setup is, component allows closed captioning, whereas HDMI does not, unless I go into the cable box menu itself and have it do it own version of CC, but it is terrible as it scroll the whole transcript regardless of where the program dialogue is during the program. |
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solodogg
join:2006-01-23
Evansville, IN | reply to jmelcher
wonder which one of us installed your card
btw...i haven't heard anything about cable card's not being supported after this summer as of yet. |
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madmax2000
Premium
join:2007-04-25
Lookout, KY | reply to jmelcher
I think as of this summer all equipment that is new has to be issued or at least been in an account due to an FCC mandate for all cable providers.
All new equipment will be required to have a cable card in them or so we have been told. |
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Couch Potato
What?
Premium
join:2004-08-29
Evansville, IN | reply to solodogg
I haven't heard anything like that either |
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odog
Cable Centric Vendor Biased
Premium
join:2001-08-05
Norcross, GA
clubs:
·Comcast
·Metrocast Communic..
·Vonage
| The cable card is looking at the analog channels natively and tuning them directly for display on the TV. The DVR has to encode the analog video in order to spool it to the hard drive for buffering. When you watch TV through the cablecard you are watching realtime television. With the DVR you're watching delayed video as it takes time to encode the video, write it to the drive, and then finally read it off the drive for viewing. Also if the DVR is not a series III 6412/6146 is doesn't have the more advanced chipset that resolves some of the video encoding artifacts generated by the encode/decode process. |
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jmelcher
join:2006-02-08
Augusta, GA | Well, that would make sense as to why my "perceived" quality is indeed better on the card than on the DVR. |
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