PDA

View Full Version : Bought my first HDTV



CharlieMac
08-06-2008, 10:08 PM
Okay, so I have the tv. The HD service. What else do I need? Right now I am using the regular audio/video cables. What's up with the HDMI cables? is that needed and is that why my picture drags at times?

Aggie Hoopsfan
08-06-2008, 10:31 PM
Yes, get an HDMI cable. Get it from monoprice.com, don't go buy one of the retarded $100 Monster cables from Best Buy though.

Here's a ten foot cable:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10240&cs_id=1024008&p_id=3993&seq=1&format=2

And a 6' cable:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10240&cs_id=1024008&p_id=3992&seq=1&format=2

Dunno how long your run is, but they have longer cables there.

Also, depending on your audio system setup you'll want to get fiber connections between your receiver and the stereo if you want to max out your surround sound experience.

CharlieMac
08-06-2008, 10:48 PM
Yes, get an HDMI cable. Get it from monoprice.com, don't go buy one of the retarded $100 Monster cables from Best Buy though.

Here's a ten foot cable:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10240&cs_id=1024008&p_id=3993&seq=1&format=2

And a 6' cable:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10240&cs_id=1024008&p_id=3992&seq=1&format=2

Dunno how long your run is, but they have longer cables there.

Also, depending on your audio system setup you'll want to get fiber connections between your receiver and the stereo if you want to max out your surround sound experience.


That 6 footer will be perfect. Thanks. I bought this shitty Element from Circuit City and immediately returned it for a Vizio. The sound was horrible. Like listening to an old 13 inch tv. You get what you pay for I guess.

Aggie Hoopsfan
08-06-2008, 11:13 PM
Generally speaking, the speakers on all flat panels are weak. If you've got any way to run the audio out to an amp/receiver you'll be much happier.

CharlieMac
08-07-2008, 12:07 AM
So will this cable make a big difference? It says 480i now in the corner.

CharlieMac
08-07-2008, 12:10 AM
http://www.nextag.com/Vizio-VU37LHDTV10A-37-LCD-607318243/prices-html

That's what I bought.

baseline bum
08-07-2008, 12:11 AM
Component sucks. HDMI rules. Goodnight now.

baseline bum
08-07-2008, 12:14 AM
So will this cable make a big difference? It says 480i now in the corner.

480i is standard definition tv, so if you don't have a component, HDMI, or VGA hookup to your TV from your cable/satellite box, XBox360/PS3, DVD/BluRay, etc., you're only getting SD instead of HD on your TV.

On your TV,
1080i will be best for movies
720p for sports and games

Aggie Hoopsfan
08-07-2008, 12:18 AM
Your Vizio has 1080i capabilities, depending on who your provider is your HD content will either be in 720p or 1080i.

Either will be ridiculously better viewing than 480i.

CharlieMac
08-07-2008, 12:26 AM
480i is standard definition tv, so if you don't have a component, HDMI, or VGA hookup to your TV from your cable/satellite box, XBox360/PS3, DVD/BluRay, etc., you're only getting SD instead of HD on your TV.

On your TV,
1080i will be best for movies
720p for sports and games

Good to know. There still seems to be a big difference between regular ESPN and ESPN HD, but it still feels liek it's off. That may be why.

baseline bum
08-07-2008, 12:37 AM
Your Vizio has 1080i capabilities, depending on who your provider is your HD content will either be in 720p or 1080i.

Either will be ridiculously better viewing than 480i.

In terms of raw data rate, 720p and 1080i blow 480i out of the water.


data rate = resolution * frame rate

480i = (640 pixel/row * 480 row) * 29.97/second = 9,206,784 pixel/second
720p = (1280 pixel/row * 720 row) * 60/second = 55,296,000 pixel/second
1080i = (1920 pixel/row * 1080 row) * 30/second = 62,208,000 pixel/second

As you can see, 720p and 1080i give way more data (and thus a much better picture). 1080i is 676% the information as 480i, 720p is 601%.

CharlieMac
08-07-2008, 12:42 AM
In terms of raw data rate, 720p and 1080i blow 480i out of the water.


data rate = resolution * frame rate

480i = (640 pixel/row * 480 row) * 29.97/second = 9,206,784 pixel/second
720p = (1280 pixel/row * 720 row) * 60/second = 55,296,000 pixel/second
1080i = (1920 pixel/row * 1080 row) * 30/second = 62,208,000 pixel/second

As you can see, 720p and 1080i give way more data (and thus a much better picture). 1080i is 676% the information as 480i, 720p is 601%.

My degree is in English. I took college algebra 3 times. :sleep

I just wanna see every hair on Brett Farve's beautiful 6-day stubble. Now I feel like a chump with the 480i junk. Tell me I'm not imagining it though, with the video cable alone, HD channels are still better than regular channels though, right?

I'm pretty excited to get that HDMI cable and see what my tv can do.

baseline bum
08-07-2008, 12:45 AM
My degree is in English. I took college algebra 3 times. :sleep

I just wanna see every hair on Brett Farve's beautiful 6-day stubble. Now I feel like a chump with the 480i junk. Tell me I'm not imagining it though, with the video cable alone, HD channels are still better than regular channels though, right?

I'm pretty excited to get that HDMI cable and see what my tv can do.

HDMI is the cleanest interface out there. You'll be able to see the sweat from Farve's balls with it.

Are you using a component or a composite cable right now? Component will have five connections: one for red, one for green, one for blue, and two for stereo audio. Composite will have three: one for video (yellow), and two for stereo audio (one red, one white).

The difference between HDMI and composite is night and day. The difference between HDMI and component is very significant also, but not nearly as much as HDMI vs composite.

CharlieMac
08-07-2008, 12:50 AM
I'm using the old school composite.

balli
08-07-2008, 12:51 AM
I don't think 480i is that bad. I have a 1080p and another 1080i TV, but unless I'm watching sports (when HD becomes essential), I predominantly use my good ol' tube from 1997. I rarely even put my 360 on either of my HD TV's. HD's nice and all, but it's not like 480i is unwatchable and other than certain blu-ray movies and sports, it doesn't even make much of a difference IMO.

Still, HD is absolutely great the aforementioned purposes and I hope you enjoy your new purchase.

CharlieMac
08-07-2008, 12:53 AM
I don't think 480i is that bad. I have a 1080p and another 1080i TV, but unless I'm watching sports (when HD becomes essential), I predominantly use my good ol' tube from 1997. I rarely even put my 360 on either of my HD TV's. HD's nice and all, but it's not like 480i is unwatchable and other than certain blu-ray movies and sports, it doesn't even make much of a difference IMO.

Still, HD is absolutely great the aforementioned purposes and I hope you enjoy your new purchase.

I was in Padre for a few days and all I could think about was watching Mike and Mike as soon as I got home.

baseline bum
08-07-2008, 12:58 AM
I don't think 480i is that bad. I have a 1080p and another 1080i TV, but unless I'm watching sports (when HD becomes essential), I predominantly use my good ol' tube from 1997. I rarely even put my 360 on either of my HD TV's. HD's nice and all, but it's not like 480i is unwatchable and other than certain blu-ray movies and sports, it doesn't even make much of a difference IMO.

Still, HD is absolutely great the aforementioned purposes and I hope you enjoy your new purchase.

To me, it's hard to go back to 480i on games. I know no one develops X360/PS3 games that can actually do 60 fps, but games like Oblivion, NBA 2k8, and GTA4 look drastically different in SD vs HD. I gotta give it to Infinity Ward though; COD4 is still amazing graphically even at 480i.

balli
08-07-2008, 01:16 AM
I gotta give it to Infinity Ward though; COD4 is still amazing graphically even at 480i.

Hence my complacency when it comes to 360 I think. I'm so addicted to COD right now that it isn't even funny. If I was playing anything else these days, HD might matter more, but COD 4's got me in a vice grip.

CharlieMac
08-07-2008, 10:52 PM
Okay, heres the situation:

I plugged in teh HDMI cable and it says this, "Copy Protection: The DVI/HDMI output is blocked."

Whats the deal with that?

CharlieMac
08-07-2008, 10:59 PM
Now it says "DVI Alert: Your HDTV does not support HDCP. Please disconnect the HDMI connector and use the YPrPb connection to continue watching TV. "

PM5K
08-07-2008, 11:05 PM
Now it says "DVI Alert: Your HDTV does not support HDCP. Please disconnect the HDMI connector and use the YPrPb connection to continue watching TV. "

Is the TV saying that or the converter?

Also who is your HDTV provider and what converter do you have?

Your TV DOES support HDCP which is a copy protection scheme so more info might help figure out what the problem is.

CharlieMac
08-07-2008, 11:13 PM
It's the converter. I have TWC

PM5K
08-07-2008, 11:15 PM
Which converter do you have, it says which on the front, probably on the top right.

Also, didn't you get either an HDMI or Component from TimeWarner with your box?

CharlieMac
08-07-2008, 11:19 PM
I have the Explorer 8300 HDC. I did get the component cables from TWC and have been using that. I now have an HDMI cable and that doesn't seem to work. I had TWC reboot the box and everything, but still nada.

PM5K
08-07-2008, 11:22 PM
Oh, I thought you were using composite before.

You probably won't notice any difference with your set using HDMI over component, but since you bought the cable I'm sure you'd like to fix it.

I'd check the owners manual for the tv.

PM5K
08-07-2008, 11:28 PM
There's usually some type of handshaking between the two devices so make sure you follow the correct procedures for connecting them:

Turn off the power to the HDTV and HDTV Set-Top Box.
2. Connect a HDMI cable to the HDMI output of your HDTV Set-Top Box and the other end to
the HDMI Input (white color area) at the rear of the HDTV.
3. Turn on the power to the HDTV and HDTV Set-Top Box.
4. Select HDMI using the INPUT button on the remote or side of the HDTV, or directly by
pressing the HDMI button on the Remote Control.

CharlieMac
08-07-2008, 11:30 PM
My mistake, I was using the composite cable before.

I just got off the phone with TWC tech and they flat out said it's just a compatability issue with their box and the tv and there is nothing they can do. I have a component cable just sitting there, I'm gonna give that a shot now.

CharlieMac
08-07-2008, 11:36 PM
There's usually some type of handshaking between the two devices so make sure you follow the correct procedures for connecting them:

Turn off the power to the HDTV and HDTV Set-Top Box.
2. Connect a HDMI cable to the HDMI output of your HDTV Set-Top Box and the other end to
the HDMI Input (white color area) at the rear of the HDTV.
3. Turn on the power to the HDTV and HDTV Set-Top Box.
4. Select HDMI using the INPUT button on the remote or side of the HDTV, or directly by
pressing the HDMI button on the Remote Control.

You work for TWC don't you? But the guy had me go through all that and nada. I hooked up the component cable and am up to 1080i. It's a huge difference between that and the 480i that the composite was giving me. Wow.

PM5K
08-07-2008, 11:48 PM
You work for TWC don't you? But the guy had me go through all that and nada. I hooked up the component cable and am up to 1080i. It's a huge difference between that and the 480i that the composite was giving me. Wow.

No I don't and yes it is a huge difference between 480i and 1080i which you can only get with component or HDMI.

I wonder what the problem is, that set is capable of HDMI 1.3 with HDCP.

I can't say HDTV is my favorite piece of technology since there are so many other cool things, like computers and MP3 players, but I love the shit out of my HDTV.

baseline bum
08-08-2008, 12:18 AM
Oh, I thought you were using composite before.

You probably won't notice any difference with your set using HDMI over component, but since you bought the cable I'm sure you'd like to fix it.

I'd check the owners manual for the tv.

Having worked in the video game industry for a couple of years, that is completely false as far as game consoles goes (on both PS3 and X360). I can't speak as to the difference b/w HDMI and component with cable TV though.

PM5K
08-08-2008, 12:22 AM
Having worked in the video game industry for a couple of years, that is completely false as far as game consoles goes (on both PS3 and X360). I can't speak as to the difference b/w HDMI and component with cable TV though.

The statement I made wasn't absolute so how can it be COMPLETELY false?

baseline bum
08-08-2008, 12:31 AM
The statement I made wasn't absolute so how can it be COMPLETELY false?

Because I'm assuming eriks isn't blind. Both consoles look very noticeably better over HDMI (and VGA too) than they do over component on every HDTV/monitor I've ever seen them on.