I recently bought this monitor http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1646804&Tab=2&NoMapp=0 , knowing that it wasn't the best quality out there but I couldn't pass it up for the price. When I attempted to hook it up to my Comcast HD cable box using the component cables, I encountered a problem (unfortunately I don't remember what it was...either no picture, no sound, or the remote wouldn't work). I proceeded to unplug the component cables and use a coax cable to go from the box through the VCR and into the TV as our old TV was connected. This got everything working, but I am not pleased w/ the quality of the HD picture at all. Is the bad quality due to the coax connection or the quality of the TV?
After reading the new reviews on this monitor I am beginning to think it's my connection that is causing me problems. I don't think everyone would be raving about the picture quality if it was as bad as mine is. That being said could one of you kind folks help me out w/ connecting my system to provide better pq? Here is a list of items I would like connected and in the photo gallery tab at the link in the first post you can find a pic to all of the i/o's on the TV: 1. Comcast HD cable box 2. Xbox 360 3. DVD player 4. VCR 5. N64 (not necessary but nice to have) Any help you could provide would be GREATLY appreciated.
You where write to use component video (at first) but I would recommend using the DVI port if your comcast box has an HDMI or DVI output. remmeber to connect stereo audio cables from your cable box to your tv aswell. For everything else (except N64) use Component Video. For the N64 the best you can use is S-Video. ------- Looking at your specs, it doen't appear that you have Component Video as an option... Is your VGA port able to except a Componet Video signal via an adaptor? Ced
Thanks for the reply. I have 3 component video inputs on my new monitor (I think). You can see all the input/outputs under the photo gallery tab on the link I provided. There 2 component -or- composite inputs on the right side and 1 component -or- composite on the left in addition to another input and stereo output. It's tough to explain, but I'm sure you'll understnad if you see the pic. Would the coax connection cause the bad HD quality I'm seeing?
Yes. In light of the pics I would suggest exactly what I said above. Use the DVI port with your HD-Cable service (if you can) and use Component Video with everything else except the N64. Use S-Video for with N64. Here is some info on the different cable technologies... Composite Video - One channel for Y (Grey Scale)-Pb (Blue)-Pr (Red) signals. All signals suffer degredation. Maximum resolution is 480i. Super (S) Video - Two channels; one for Y; one for Pb and Pr. Only the color signals suffer degradation. Very good grey scale (contrast). Maximum resolution is 480i. Component Video - Three channels for Y-Pb-Pr (sometimes noted Y-Cb-Cr on digital devices). None of the channels suffer from degradation. Very good grey scale and color reproduction. Can handle Interlaced Scan and Progressive Scan video signals. Maximum resolution 1080i/p. DVI (DVI-Digital): All digital connection that carries Component Video (in its digital form) for video transmittion. Is compatible with HDCP. ------ A/V Cable Technology ------ RF-Coax (when used to transmit analog signals): Uses Composite Video technology to compress the video signal. Only carries 1-Channel "Mono" audio. HDMI: All digital connection that carries Component Video (in its digital form) for video. Will carry virtually any type of compressed or uncompressed digital audio format. Is compatible with HDCP (since HDMI v1.1). Ced
Thanks so much for your advice. I'll be reconnecting everything the first chance I get. Edit - One last question...am I correct in saying that (in addition to the DVI cable from the cable box to the TV) I have to keep the coax cable connected from the wall into the cable box, then into the VCR, then into the TV?
No... The way I always suggest hooking things up is to feed every tunner in your system! Why? For recording purposes. Meaning that a splitter should be used to send the source signal to the cable box and the VCR. The TV doesn't need to be feed the source since the cable box takes the place of the tv tunner. Also a run of standard Yellow, Red, and White cables should be ran to the VCR from the cable box so that you can record scrabled premium content! If you don't want to use your VCR to record just hook it directly to the tv without any other connections. In short... Wall -> 2-Way Splitter -> VCR & Cable box (all using RF-Coax cable) Then... Cable box -> TV via DVI and stereo audio cables Cable box -> VCR via Composite Video and stereo audio cables VCR -> TV via Composite video and stereo audio cables DVD -> TV via Component Video and stereo audio cables Xbox 360 -> TV via Component Video and stereo audio cables N64 -> TV via S-Video and stereo audio cables Don't forget about buying a surge protector + clean power filter for best system proformance! In my opinion that is the best way to hook everything up, Ced
