Re: Digital Cable STB - analog picture quality?

From: Peter Near (peter_at_thenears.com)
Date: 02/05/04 

Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2004 11:49:37 -0500

Hi Derek:

Thanks for the info!

Another $50, well that may be true. However getting this whole thing past
the wife at $99 might be tough already! The words "why do we need that"
have already come up, followed by the typical reminder of the definition of
"want" versus "need". ;-)

Cheers,
Pete

"Derek R. Flickinger" <DrFlick@online.InteractiveHomesInc.com> wrote in
message news:OAkvmYA7DHA.2404@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> We have found that front-ending MCE with a digital STB provides a much
> better picture than running analog into the PCI card. We recommend using
> S-Video just because, especially if you a finicky about trying to get the
> best quality (what's another $50 if it helps). We also use high-grade
> S-Video cables and can extend the distance to the STB if needed this way.
> We also recommend subscribing to the additional HDTV channels from the
cable
> provider if they are available (what's another few bucks a month if it
> helps, right?), although we have not found a good way to schedule the
> recordings from the guide. You can do it manually if you have added those
> channels to the guide, you just need another guide of some kind to find
out
> what is being shown when (or you can use the built-in guide from the STB
> through the standard remote that came with it). It is not the best
> solution, but it is about as good as it gets for us right now, at least in
> The States.
>
> Regards,
>
> =D-
>
> Derek R. Flickinger
> Interactive Homes, Inc.
>
> "Peter Near" <peter@thenears.com> wrote in message
> news:evBNK6$6DHA.2404@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> > I'm contemplating digital cable. As we all know, the majority of the
> > channels that you get with digital cable are still actually analog.
Since
> > I'll now be forced to use the STB for *all* channels, analog or digital,
I
> > wonder what that will mean for signal quality.
> >
> > 1. The PCI tuners (I'm currently using the Emuzed) tend to bring in a
> > grainier picture than my embedded tuner in the televisions. If I'm now
> > using a digital STB, fed into the MCE for encoding, should I expect
> > better,
> > worse, or about the same analog picture quality?
> >
> > 2. This digital tuner would be essentially located in the basement for
the
> > sole purpose of being a time-shifting tuner on the MCE. So digital
sound
> > and front-panel controls are not important to me. The only concern I
have
> > is regarding the video output. The basic tuner has COAX and RCA output.
> > For $50 more I can get the SVideo output. Has anyone noticed any major
> > difference in the encoded picture quality? I can't imagine much
> > difference,
> > since the encoder is going to degrade the picture somewhat anyways.
> >
> > 3. I think I know the answer to this. My analog cable quality is not
> > that
> > great to begin with. They're working on the issue. However, can anyone
> > think of a way that I can direct MCE to prefer the digital channels when
> > scheduling recordings? I could I guess remove the analog networks from
my
> > guide, but then I'd lose the timeshifting that I was trying to get.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Pete
> >
> >
>
>

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