Comcast HDTV - without HDTV equipment?

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

you sure you'd get espnhd or espn? at least here in atlanta, comcast does
not technically charge anything for hd...they charge $5 for the hd box...you
get whatever hd stations are available that match whatever regular stations
you subscribe to - if you subscribe to hbo, you get hbohd, as an
example...if you don't subscribe to espn, i don't see why you'd get it with
the hd box...and you certainly wouldn't be able to see espnhd if your tv
isn't hd...am i misunderstanding the question?


"sportsfan" <no@spam.net> wrote in message
news:buejm0l665paojv2d5af7jg3nkjde0gv5v@4ax.com...
> I'm interested in getting Comcast's HD service for ESPN, since HD is
> only $5/mo while expanded/digital cable is.. considerably more.
> Resolution, etc. doesn't matter, I just want the content. Is it
> possible to feed Comcast's HD box into a regular TV? I can also feed
> it to my PC if that'll work - s-video, composite, usb, firewire. Can
> it work? How about if I had an HDTV card, e.g. MyHD MDP-120 card,
> would that work?
>

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

Yes, you can feed the output from the HD box into a normal tv. The S-Video
jack puts out a 480i signal (i.e. downconverts HD to SD).

Brad

"sportsfan" <no@spam.net> wrote in message
news:buejm0l665paojv2d5af7jg3nkjde0gv5v@4ax.com...
> I'm interested in getting Comcast's HD service for ESPN, since HD is
> only $5/mo while expanded/digital cable is.. considerably more.
> Resolution, etc. doesn't matter, I just want the content. Is it
> possible to feed Comcast's HD box into a regular TV? I can also feed
> it to my PC if that'll work - s-video, composite, usb, firewire. Can
> it work? How about if I had an HDTV card, e.g. MyHD MDP-120 card,
> would that work?
>

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

oscargrouch <leeYOURjackVIRGINITYmo@hotmail.com> wrote:
} you sure you'd get espnhd or espn? at least here in atlanta, comcast does
} not technically charge anything for hd...they charge $5 for the hd box...you
} get whatever hd stations are available that match whatever regular stations
} you subscribe to - if you subscribe to hbo, you get hbohd, as an
} example...if you don't subscribe to espn, i don't see why you'd get it with
} the hd box...and you certainly wouldn't be able to see espnhd if your tv
} isn't hd...am i misunderstanding the question?
}
}
} "sportsfan" <no@spam.net> wrote in message
} news:buejm0l665paojv2d5af7jg3nkjde0gv5v@4ax.com...
}> I'm interested in getting Comcast's HD service for ESPN, since HD is
}> only $5/mo while expanded/digital cable is.. considerably more.
}> Resolution, etc. doesn't matter, I just want the content. Is it
}> possible to feed Comcast's HD box into a regular TV? I can also feed
}> it to my PC if that'll work - s-video, composite, usb, firewire. Can
}> it work? How about if I had an HDTV card, e.g. MyHD MDP-120 card,
}> would that work?


Normal ESPN is included in the expended basic package here, which is
about $30/month extra. ESPN-HD is included in the basic package + the
HD box for only $5/month extra, so it saves a bunch of money to get
ESPN that way.

The HD box has both composite and S-video outputs and will work with a
normal TV, BUT there is one catch: the setup menus for the HD box only
work on the component video outputs. The compenent outputs can be set
to 480i for a normal TV, so if you have component inputs it should work
OK.

--

Frank Ball frankb@sonic.net

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

On Mon, 11 Oct 2004 03:06:40 GMT, frankb@sonic.net wrote:

>The HD box has both composite and S-video outputs and will work with a
>normal TV, BUT there is one catch: the setup menus for the HD box only
>work on the component video outputs. The compenent outputs can be set
>to 480i for a normal TV, so if you have component inputs it should work
>OK.

A Sony rep was telling me that their SD / analog TV's look better than
ever with a HD signal... about "DVD quality".... has anybody tried
this and found it to be so?

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

On Mon, 11 Oct 2004 03:06:40 GMT, frankb@sonic.net wrote:
>The HD box has both composite and S-video outputs and will work with a
>normal TV, BUT there is one catch: the setup menus for the HD box only
>work on the component video outputs. The compenent outputs can be set
>to 480i for a normal TV, so if you have component inputs it should work
>OK.

Whoa, that's surprising. Unfortunately I don't have anything with
component inputs... are there any critical adjustments that can only
be made in the menus? Will the cable guy need to be able to access
the menus as part of the installation?

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

"sportsfan" <no@spam.net> wrote in message
news:buejm0l665paojv2d5af7jg3nkjde0gv5v@4ax.com...
> I'm interested in getting Comcast's HD service for ESPN, since HD is
> only $5/mo while expanded/digital cable is.. considerably more.
> Resolution, etc. doesn't matter, I just want the content. Is it
> possible to feed Comcast's HD box into a regular TV?
===========================
It should be. All other (direcTV and OTA) allow it.
===========================
> I can also feed
> it to my PC if that'll work - s-video, composite, usb, firewire. Can
> it work? How about if I had an HDTV card, e.g. MyHD MDP-120 card,
> would that work?
>

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

"HDTV-slingr" <NOSPAMMERS@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:jd3km01jdl06kl4idcvi0pcvdnup8rjtnq@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 11 Oct 2004 03:06:40 GMT, frankb@sonic.net wrote:
>
> A Sony rep was telling me that their SD / analog TV's look better than
> ever with a HD signal... about "DVD quality".... has anybody tried
> this and found it to be so?

================================
Virtually any TV will produce good results.
Downconverted HD (via S-Video) IS HD quality.
=================================

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

but is regular espn included in that package? and/or are you saying that,
with the output set correctly, you can view the hd stations on a regular tv?

by the way, the setup menu on the hd box (moto 5100whatever) actually
appears on the box's display, albeit it's a little abbreviated...with a
manual you could do it that way


<frankb@sonic.net> wrote in message
news:4Nmad.16878$54.279124@typhoon.sonic.net...
> oscargrouch <leeYOURjackVIRGINITYmo@hotmail.com> wrote:
> } you sure you'd get espnhd or espn? at least here in atlanta, comcast
does
> } not technically charge anything for hd...they charge $5 for the hd
box...you
> } get whatever hd stations are available that match whatever regular
stations
> } you subscribe to - if you subscribe to hbo, you get hbohd, as an
> } example...if you don't subscribe to espn, i don't see why you'd get it
with
> } the hd box...and you certainly wouldn't be able to see espnhd if your tv
> } isn't hd...am i misunderstanding the question?
> }
> }
> } "sportsfan" <no@spam.net> wrote in message
> } news:buejm0l665paojv2d5af7jg3nkjde0gv5v@4ax.com...
> }> I'm interested in getting Comcast's HD service for ESPN, since HD is
> }> only $5/mo while expanded/digital cable is.. considerably more.
> }> Resolution, etc. doesn't matter, I just want the content. Is it
> }> possible to feed Comcast's HD box into a regular TV? I can also feed
> }> it to my PC if that'll work - s-video, composite, usb, firewire. Can
> }> it work? How about if I had an HDTV card, e.g. MyHD MDP-120 card,
> }> would that work?
>
>
> Normal ESPN is included in the expended basic package here, which is
> about $30/month extra. ESPN-HD is included in the basic package + the
> HD box for only $5/month extra, so it saves a bunch of money to get
> ESPN that way.
>
> The HD box has both composite and S-video outputs and will work with a
> normal TV, BUT there is one catch: the setup menus for the HD box only
> work on the component video outputs. The compenent outputs can be set
> to 480i for a normal TV, so if you have component inputs it should work
> OK.
>
> --
>
> Frank Ball frankb@sonic.net

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

On Mon, 11 Oct 2004 07:08:08 -0700, "Richard C."
<post-age@spamcop.net> wrote:

>> A Sony rep was telling me that their SD / analog TV's look better than
>> ever with a HD signal... about "DVD quality".... has anybody tried
>> this and found it to be so?
>
>Virtually any TV will produce good results.
>Downconverted HD (via S-Video) IS HD quality.

Woah... interesting! You are saying that an analog TV will show HD
quality with a HD signal (downconverted) going into it??? I'm going
to have to see this for myself!

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

"sportsfan" <no@spam.net> wrote in message
news:s29km0tt9mf2hqiqva3844lad2jdkvofhd@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 11 Oct 2004 03:06:40 GMT, frankb@sonic.net wrote:
>>The HD box has both composite and S-video outputs and will work with a
>>normal TV, BUT there is one catch: the setup menus for the HD box only
>>work on the component video outputs. The compenent outputs can be set
>>to 480i for a normal TV, so if you have component inputs it should work
>>OK.
>
> Whoa, that's surprising. Unfortunately I don't have anything with
> component inputs... are there any critical adjustments that can only
> be made in the menus? Will the cable guy need to be able to access
> the menus as part of the installation?

I'm not sure what box the other guy has but I have a Motorola DCT6200 from
Comcast connected via S-Video to my standard def tv and I can see the menus
on mine...

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

That is not correct...downconverting 720p or 1080i to 480p or 480i will look
good but certainly not high def. It will look about the same as a dvd which
is not high def.

-Ken


"HDTV-slingr" <NOSPAMMERS@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:6iclm092rqkotctm1an7sn60jqe7nuimn1@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 11 Oct 2004 07:08:08 -0700, "Richard C."
> <post-age@spamcop.net> wrote:
>
> >> A Sony rep was telling me that their SD / analog TV's look better than
> >> ever with a HD signal... about "DVD quality".... has anybody tried
> >> this and found it to be so?
> >
> >Virtually any TV will produce good results.
> >Downconverted HD (via S-Video) IS HD quality.
>
> Woah... interesting! You are saying that an analog TV will show HD
> quality with a HD signal (downconverted) going into it??? I'm going
> to have to see this for myself!
>

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

"HDTV-slingr" <NOSPAMMERS@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:6iclm092rqkotctm1an7sn60jqe7nuimn1@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 11 Oct 2004 07:08:08 -0700, "Richard C."
> <post-age@spamcop.net> wrote:
>
>>> A Sony rep was telling me that their SD / analog TV's look better than
>>> ever with a HD signal... about "DVD quality".... has anybody tried
>>> this and found it to be so?
>>
>>Virtually any TV will produce good results.
>>Downconverted HD (via S-Video) IS HD quality.

==================================
OOOOPPPPPPPPPPPPSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

I meant "Downconverted HD (via S-Video) IS DVD quality!"

Big screw-up on my part...........too many fingers on the keyboard.....
===================================
>
> Woah... interesting! You are saying that an analog TV will show HD
> quality with a HD signal (downconverted) going into it??? I'm going
> to have to see this for myself!
>

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

"K V" <kenvt@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote in message
news:RHzad.454403$8_6.369975@attbi_s04...
> That is not correct...downconverting 720p or 1080i to 480p or 480i will
> look
> good but certainly not high def. It will look about the same as a dvd
> which
> is not high def.
>
> -Ken

=======================
Which is what I meant to say, but didn't!
===========================
>
>
> "HDTV-slingr" <NOSPAMMERS@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:6iclm092rqkotctm1an7sn60jqe7nuimn1@4ax.com...
>> On Mon, 11 Oct 2004 07:08:08 -0700, "Richard C."
>> <post-age@spamcop.net> wrote:
>>
>> >> A Sony rep was telling me that their SD / analog TV's look better than
>> >> ever with a HD signal... about "DVD quality".... has anybody tried
>> >> this and found it to be so?
>> >
>> >Virtually any TV will produce good results.
>> >Downconverted HD (via S-Video) IS HD quality.
>>
>> Woah... interesting! You are saying that an analog TV will show HD
>> quality with a HD signal (downconverted) going into it??? I'm going
>> to have to see this for myself!
>>
>
>

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

Brad Griffis <bradgriffis@hotmail.com> wrote:
}
} "sportsfan" <no@spam.net> wrote in message
} news:s29km0tt9mf2hqiqva3844lad2jdkvofhd@4ax.com...
}> On Mon, 11 Oct 2004 03:06:40 GMT, frankb@sonic.net wrote:
}>>The HD box has both composite and S-video outputs and will work with a
}>>normal TV, BUT there is one catch: the setup menus for the HD box only
}>>work on the component video outputs. The compenent outputs can be set
}>>to 480i for a normal TV, so if you have component inputs it should work
}>>OK.
}>
}> Whoa, that's surprising. Unfortunately I don't have anything with
}> component inputs... are there any critical adjustments that can only
}> be made in the menus? Will the cable guy need to be able to access
}> the menus as part of the installation?
}
} I'm not sure what box the other guy has but I have a Motorola DCT6200 from
} Comcast connected via S-Video to my standard def tv and I can see the menus
} on mine...

I have the DCT5100 and the menus aren't on the S-video.
As somebody else pointed out there is a very abbreviated output on the
LED display for the most basic configuration settings, but not for
everything.

--

Frank Ball frankb@sonic.net

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

oscargrouch <leeYOURjackVIRGINITYmo@hotmail.com> wrote:
} but is regular espn included in that package? and/or are you saying that,
} with the output set correctly, you can view the hd stations on a regular tv?

I've heard ESPN-HD isn't supposed to be included with the most basic HD
package (about $25/month total, price varies a few dollars city to
city), but I get it and most people seem to get it. It may disappear in
the future unless you pay for an extra package, but for now it's there.

And it can be viewed on a regular TV (but not in HD obviously). It can
output either pan & scan or letterboxed format to a regular TV.

--

Frank Ball frankb@sonic.net

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

ESPN-HD is $1.50 per month extra (beyond the HDTV box charge) on
Adelphia in Southern California. A bargain, at least during football
season!

Bill

<frankb@sonic.net> wrote in message
news:3QDad.17001$54.282221@typhoon.sonic.net...
oscargrouch <leeYOURjackVIRGINITYmo@hotmail.com> wrote:
} but is regular espn included in that package? and/or are you saying
that,
} with the output set correctly, you can view the hd stations on a
regular tv?

I've heard ESPN-HD isn't supposed to be included with the most basic HD
package (about $25/month total, price varies a few dollars city to
city), but I get it and most people seem to get it. It may disappear in
the future unless you pay for an extra package, but for now it's there.

And it can be viewed on a regular TV (but not in HD obviously). It can
output either pan & scan or letterboxed format to a regular TV.

--

Frank Ball frankb@sonic.net

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

On Mon, 11 Oct 2004 18:19:45 -0700, "Richard C."
<post-age@spamcop.net> wrote:

>> That is not correct...downconverting 720p or 1080i to 480p or 480i will
>> look
>> good but certainly not high def. It will look about the same as a dvd
>> which
>> is not high def.
>>
>> -Ken
>
>Which is what I meant to say, but didn't!

Cool. So basically, the Sony rep was telling it straight. He
mentioned something about the digital comb filters in some of the Sony
analogs helped to boost the picture quality above other analogs when
viewing a HD signal.

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

After getting the new Motorola HD DVR from Comcast for my HDTV I decided I
also wanted the DVR for my old standard TV since relegated to the basement
in front of my exercise equipment. Comcast installed an identical box last
Saturday. It works fine on either regular AV or S-video input into the TV.
The HD channels look OK, but they are sized so they fit in the center of the
screen. They could be larger, but I haven't tried adjusting the size as I
don't care about those channels on that TV. I got the DVR mostly to record
shows to watch during early morning exercise routine. It's much nicer than
using the old VCR and works fine.


"sportsfan" <no@spam.net> wrote in message
news:buejm0l665paojv2d5af7jg3nkjde0gv5v@4ax.com...
> I'm interested in getting Comcast's HD service for ESPN, since HD is
> only $5/mo while expanded/digital cable is.. considerably more.
> Resolution, etc. doesn't matter, I just want the content. Is it
> possible to feed Comcast's HD box into a regular TV? I can also feed
> it to my PC if that'll work - s-video, composite, usb, firewire. Can
> it work? How about if I had an HDTV card, e.g. MyHD MDP-120 card,
> would that work?
>

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

OK, I tried adjusting the HD screens on my standard TV and discovered that
when the HD STB is tuned to an HD channel the menu's do not show up, they
only show up when tuned to a non-hd channel - digital or analog.

Unfortunately when I tune to an HD channel the widescreen is slightly shrunk
in the middle of my screen and can't be adjusted so it even fills the screen
horizontally. Since I can't get to the menu's when the cable box is in HD
mode I can't change this.

I have Comcast in north suburbs of Chicago.


"Larry Simon" <lsimon@mail.com> wrote in message
news:y%_ad.2560278$ic1.261176@news.easynews.com...
> After getting the new Motorola HD DVR from Comcast for my HDTV I decided I
> also wanted the DVR for my old standard TV since relegated to the basement
> in front of my exercise equipment. Comcast installed an identical box
> last Saturday. It works fine on either regular AV or S-video input into
> the TV. The HD channels look OK, but they are sized so they fit in the
> center of the screen. They could be larger, but I haven't tried adjusting
> the size as I don't care about those channels on that TV. I got the DVR
> mostly to record shows to watch during early morning exercise routine.
> It's much nicer than using the old VCR and works fine.
>
>
> "sportsfan" <no@spam.net> wrote in message
> news:buejm0l665paojv2d5af7jg3nkjde0gv5v@4ax.com...
>> I'm interested in getting Comcast's HD service for ESPN, since HD is
>> only $5/mo while expanded/digital cable is.. considerably more.
>> Resolution, etc. doesn't matter, I just want the content. Is it
>> possible to feed Comcast's HD box into a regular TV? I can also feed
>> it to my PC if that'll work - s-video, composite, usb, firewire. Can
>> it work? How about if I had an HDTV card, e.g. MyHD MDP-120 card,
>> would that work?
>>
>
>

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

"Larry Simon" lsimon@mail.com wrote:

>OK, I tried adjusting the HD screens on my standard TV and discovered that
>when the HD STB is tuned to an HD channel the menu's do not show up, they
>only show up when tuned to a non-hd channel - digital or analog.
>
>Unfortunately when I tune to an HD channel the widescreen is slightly shrunk
>in the middle of my screen and can't be adjusted so it even fills the screen
>horizontally. Since I can't get to the menu's when the cable box is in HD
>mode I can't change this.
>
>I have Comcast in north suburbs of Chicago.

I have Comcast in the west suburbs of Chicago and my menus DO show up when my
HD STB is tuned to a HD channel. Perhaps you should call Comcast.

Michael W.
Chicago, IL, USA

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

portsfan no@spam.net wrote:

>I'm interested in getting Comcast's HD service for ESPN, since HD is
>only $5/mo while expanded/digital cable is.. considerably more.

You may want to investigate this further, if you haven't already.

I have Comcast digital cable in the Chicago suburbs and got the $5/mo HDTV
"upgrade" about 15 months ago. At that time, ESPN HD was included in the basic
package. Then, about nine months ago, I no longer had access to ESPN HD. I
called Comcast and was told that ESPN HD was now only available through a
higher-priced premium package (can't remember which one). In any case, I ended
up just going with the Platinum "top of the line" package (or whatever it is)
to get all of the HD and movie channels available. Things may have changed, or
perhaps be different in your area.

Michael W.
Chicago, IL, USA

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

In article <20041016101555.24246.00002373@mb-m02.aol.com>,
keybdwizrd@aol.comzzzzzz (KeybdWizrd) wrote:

> >OK, I tried adjusting the HD screens on my standard TV and discovered that
> >when the HD STB is tuned to an HD channel the menu's do not show up, they
> >only show up when tuned to a non-hd channel - digital or analog.

Are you sure you have the proper video cables? Is your antenna on
component?

Otherwise the menus will not show up on HD stations.

m-m