View Full Version : Unsure about the HD picture (Dell W1900)
gartht799
05-23-2005, 12:06 PM
Hello,
I waited a few years to let the cost of the HDTVs to come down and finally purchased a small set for the bedroom. It is a DellW1900 LCD. I live in Fairfax VA, have cox digital cable and just leased the HDDVR 8300. I hooked it up to my tv and I really wasn't impressed with the picture. Kind of like a kid who waited for months for x-mas to come and then finds out he didn't get any presents. :( Everyone kept saying how great the picture was and I admit it did look good when you go into the stores such as Best Buy and Circuit City.
I'll admit the Dell TV isn't top of the line when it comes to flat screen HDTVs but the HD channels don't look much different then the analog. I called Cox and they had me reboot the DVR a few times and they said that my signal was strong on their end. They recommend that I return the DVR and I have to do that anyway because the pause, rewind and ff features don't work to well. Another item I noticed on my box was no DVI output. There is a HDMI but my TV only has a DVI and component inputs. Could that be the reason why my pic isn't :drool11: I'm just curious what other people think that have Cox and the DVRHD? Was all the talk about HD overrated? I hate to give up on HD so early.
Ratman
05-23-2005, 12:30 PM
Perhaps your 8300 is not setup/configured properly. Check the FAQ's for setup tips:
http://www.hdtvoice.com/voice/showthread.php?t=8721
You can get DVI to HDMI conversion cables:
http://www.hdtvsupply.com/dvca.html
Even with component cables, HD should look much better than analog channels/programs.
spikevu
05-23-2005, 12:40 PM
Are you sure you are watching a show that is broadcasted in HD? A lot of the shows on network stations are not HD. True HD programs should fill up your wide screen. Did you watched any programs on INHD or DiscoveryHD? Trust me, when you see true HD you will see a difference.
oman321
05-23-2005, 01:06 PM
"There is a HDMI but my TV only has a DVI and component inputs."
Think of HDMI as next generation DVI, it carries video as well audio where as DVI only carries video. Like Rat said just need a conversion cable.
gartht799
05-23-2005, 01:28 PM
I'm going to get a new box tonight to get the pause, rewind, etc working and then I will try to go into the setup and see what I can do. I've been hearing that 720p working better for LCDs then 1080i. I know the light on the front of my DVR says 1080i so myabe switching to 720p may work.
I noticed that when viewing "NBCHD" it doesn't fill my whole screen unless I hit the stretch or zoom key. Does this mean that even though the channel says NBCHD it isn't in HD? If that is the case, that really stinks.
I'm going to check into getting a DVI to HDMI convertor too. I just hate to keep pouring money into something and still be disapointed. Thanks for the advice. I'll let you know more when I get the new box tonight and play around with it.
Does this mean that even though the channel says NBCHD it isn't in HD? If that is the case, that really stinks.
I find it fascinating that people buy HDTVs and know little about HDTV. Only some of the programming on the HD channels is true HD. As mentioned previously, true HD is 16:9. If you see a 4:3 image, it's upconverted SD.
See the HDTV FAQ "What's on in HD".
Also, you've got a 19" HDTV. This is probably too small to see the benefit of HD signals. HD really shines in the larger sizes - 30"+
gartht799
05-23-2005, 03:30 PM
I know the basics about HD and thought that all HD was 16:9 but one would think that if Cox had listing for NBC, ABC etc and then NBCHD, ABCHD etc would be all HD. I guess that was my fault.
I also heard that the larger the set, the better the picture and have been thinking of getting a 42" later on. I figured I would make my mistakes with a less expensive set. Do you think I would be wasting my time and money getting a DVI to HDMI converter with the set only being 19"? Thanks for your expertise.
oman321
05-23-2005, 03:42 PM
You might or might not notice a difference in Picture Quality. Wait till you see an HD station broadcasting actual HD (mostly primetime) and see if you wanna spend the money for a cable. You should still see a difference between SD and HD stations.
The component video connection should be fine for your application. If you want to test a digital video connector, get one from someplace that will allow returns.
gartht799
05-24-2005, 07:54 AM
Well I got the new DVR box and it seems to work a lot better. The pause, rewind and all that stuff works good. The DiscHD channel looks pretty crisp. With the connection being component and the screen being small I think its about as good as it gets. I am pretty happy with it. Most of the channels on my cable lineup are 4:3 with the exception of the discovery and a few others. I hope they start rolling more channels out. I can see why people don't want to shell out 3 grand or more to buy a nice tv and only be able to watch two or three channels. I was thinking about getting a 42" tv for x-mas but maybe I will wait until next summer so I can watch four channels in HD :) I think that's the problem. No one wants to buy the tvs until more channels come out but the networks don't want to add HD until more people buy the tvs. I think its going to take a few more years before people can actually get enough channels to be happy with the intial investment.
Your area may be low in terms of the number of channels available. Many service providers have significantly more than 4 HD channels. Rogers have more than 20 for example. Many people receiving OTA or cable in cities, or satellite also have access to many channels...
oman321
05-24-2005, 08:37 AM
Might want to consider satellite alternatives.
gartht799
05-24-2005, 09:52 AM
Yea, I would like to go back to the dish but my apartment faces north and I have no direct path to the southern sky:( . One would think that living in the outskirts of DC would enable you to get decent technology but maybe too many politicians have their hands in it, as usual :). You can only work with what they give you I guess.
