HDTV Hook up?
Question:
Do I need additional hook ups to get the signal to display across the entire screen? I've had a Samsung for a few years and it works great...although it is only HDTV compatable.
Thanks!
Answer:
Depending on your cable box you will have one of three different HD outputs, and depending on what your television has you will need to match them up. Now if your TV is a few years old like you mentioned you can eliminate the need for HDMI, as Samsung sets that are a few years old didn't offer this connection. However for your new Sony Bravia the HDMI will be the best connection.
#1 - HDMI. This is a new format for HD transmission that sends uncompressed video and audio from your cable box to surround receivers and televisions. Your new Sony Bravia will have this connection and will be the preferred connection for this set. Just mentioned this so you know about it, but your Samsung TV probably doesn't have this connection (so component video would work here). The weird thing about the cable boxes with HDMI though you need to know about is that the HDMI output is not activated on most of these boxes, you will need to activate it first before connecting it, otherwise you will not get a picture. Before you disconnect the box from the way it is connected now, go into the menu and activate the HDMI output.
#2 - most compatible. Component Video (Red Green Blue). This connection should be on the back of the cable box, and will most definitely be on the back of your television. You can pick up this cable from as low as $15 to as high as $300. Take a look at a Monster Cable 400 series to 1000 series component video cable, as they are the highest rated and will give you the best performance. Once you have the cable connected you will just need to switch inputs on your television for it to come through. You will also need to connect an analog audio cable (white and red) to the TV for sound, as component video only transmits picture.
#3 - DVI. Some boxes have this, as did a bunch of Samsung sets. Picture quality is similar to that of component video, some think it is higher. Only drawback is that it is quite a bit more expensive than component video, and personally I would never use it. You also need to connect an analog audio cable for sound.
I hope this helped. I don't know if you still have the Samsung or not, but figured I'd help you there as well.
DUDE. FIRST OF ALL IF U WANT THE LOCAL HD CHANNELS U DON'T EVEN NEED TO SUBSCRIBE THEIR FREE. ALL U NEED IS YOUR TV TO HAVE A BUILT IN TUNER AND AN ANTENNA , THE HD CHANNELS WILL SHOW EITHER CRYSTAL CLEAR OR NOT AT ALL THAT WHAT AN HD ANTENNA DOES A HAVE ONE THAT I GO T FOR 10 DOLLARS AND I GET 25 FREE HD CHANNELS.
HEY FOR YOUR QUESTION. ON DIRECT TV THE SHOWS ARE BEING UNCONVERTED SOME ARE TRUE HD AND SOME ARE NOT MOST CHANNELS WILL LOOK GOOD BUT YOU WILL SEE BLACK BARS ON THE SIDE OR ON THE TOP SOMETIMES BOTH. NOT ALL PROGRAMS ARE IN HD YET SO JUST WAIT. AND ALSO NOT ALL SHOW ARE IN WIDE SCREEN.
You want to use the HDMI connection from your HD receiver to your TV. The HD is only going to be on the HD Channels (example: ESPN-D) HDMI Cables run about $100 - 150 per cable. It carries audio and video. You will see a BBBBIIIIGGGG difference. If you don't have HDMI on the receiver or the TV, then you are not really doing HD! As far as filling the screen...use the menus on the TV and set it up to stretch to fill screen for box format shows.
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