Re: Digital Cable STB - analog picture quality?

From: Luis A. Burgos [MCE MVP] (luis_at_net)
Date: 02/05/04 

Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2004 16:09:47 -0500

Peter,

I'm in the same boat. Same problem of want versus need.

It seems that women are more fiscally conservative than men ;-)

regards,

Luis

"Peter Near" <peter@thenears.com> wrote in message
news:%23LEoJgA7DHA.1504@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> 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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