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Modern TV Question
allen griggs
Member Posts: 35,682 ✭✭✭✭
I had a good old tv that I liked fine. I am on directv and get great reception and service from them.
Well the old tv started to go out on me. I went to Walmart and spent 400 bucks on a Samsung 4003 32 inch tv.
I was told that this tv wouldn't work with my old directv box and you needed a new box and new cables.
Well yesterday I hooked the tv up using the old existing cables. Also hooked up the old dvd.
It works great! It has a very good picture, better than the old tv ever had. Plus dvd works fine.
What is the deal with a new directv box and new cables?
Well the old tv started to go out on me. I went to Walmart and spent 400 bucks on a Samsung 4003 32 inch tv.
I was told that this tv wouldn't work with my old directv box and you needed a new box and new cables.
Well yesterday I hooked the tv up using the old existing cables. Also hooked up the old dvd.
It works great! It has a very good picture, better than the old tv ever had. Plus dvd works fine.
What is the deal with a new directv box and new cables?
Comments
They tell you it won't--it does.
They tell you it will---it doesn't
It's the new generation of Product knowledge.
Going to put it in the Man Cave.
Trinity +++
Odd, I bought the same T/V last night at a local Walmart, and only paid $278.[:0]
Going to put it in the Man Cave.
Trinity +++
Just because you bought it at the same chain doesn't mean there aren't price variations based on region.
Odd, I bought the same T/V last night at a local Walmart, and only paid $278.[:0]
Going to put it in the Man Cave.
Trinity +++
$278? Man did I get screwed!
I bought mine 3 weeks ago in Weaverville NC, near Asheville.
They had some pretty nice tvs that were on sale in the $300 range and I would have bought one of them.
But this Samsung was the only one in that size that was small enough to fit the cabinet, the others were about an inch too wide so I paid the extra hundred bucks.
We just went through the same thing with Dish. Here's the deal...
Your new TV is most likely 'HD' capable (most are these days). Your old cable box does not have an HDMI Out, and consequently you cannot connect an HDMI cable to the box from your TV. Likely your old box my have an 'S Video' Output (different cable), but likely your new TV doesn't have an 'S Video' input (so you can't connect it that way either).
In all likelyhood, what you have done is to connect your old box via the 'component video' connections to the old box. This works, but it's the lowest resolution available.
Your cable provider won't charge you anything to upgrade your old cable box to an HD capable box...and they'll likely even give you an HDMI cable to hook up to your TV too.
The difference in picture quality really is quite amazing. Even though your old box 'works', I'd still recommend getting the new one.
I don't see a hdmi jack on the directv box. Just coaxial and regular plug in jacks. Nothing that says hdmi. What does a hdmi jack look like?
To receive HD TV you need a different satellite dish, a different satellite receiver, HD cables and pay extra for HD service. Then you have to change the "input" to HDMI. For regular DirecTV channels it works just fine with what you have.
I don't like HD TV, so I have a hookup similar to what you describe.
I've never heard of what Zulu7 said, but I might give it a try. Again I'm guessing, but it could just be a better quality cable.
quote:Originally posted by allen griggs
quote:Originally posted by TrinityScrimshaw
Odd, I bought the same T/V last night at a local Walmart, and only paid $278.[:0]
Going to put it in the Man Cave.
Trinity +++
$278? Man did I get screwed!
I bought mine 3 weeks ago in Weaverville NC, near Asheville.
They had some pretty nice tvs that were on sale in the $300 range and I would have bought one of them.
But this Samsung was the only one in that size that was small enough to fit the cabinet, the others were about an inch too wide so I paid the extra hundred bucks.
My guess is whoever told you you needed a different satellite box and cables was talking about receiving HD TV. The TV is HD ready, but you don't have to use it for that.
To receive HD TV you need a different satellite dish, a different satellite receiver, HD cables and pay extra for HD service. Then you have to change the "input" to HDMI. For regular DirecTV channels it works just fine with what you have.
I don't like HD TV, so I have a hookup similar to what you describe.
I've never heard of what Zulu7 said, but I might give it a try. Again I'm guessing, but it could just be a better quality cable.
You sound like my mom James!
Bought her a big LG LCD a couple of years ago like I have.
Made both hook-ups,.......HDMI, and component video.
Guess what she watches? Yep, the non HD feed.
Says the HD is too sharp, and bothers her eyes.
I would call $100 quite a price variation and I don't think the region it was sold in has squat to do with it.
Trinity +++
Allen, check with Walmart I think they have a price match for a certian number of day after you have purchased a item. We bought a TV several years ago from them, the next week it was on sale, we took receipt to the service desk and they gave us the difference on a gift card.
It couldn't hurt to ask them. They went on sale Sunday.
Maybe I just haven't seen the right movie or program in HD yet, but it looks too glossy to me. For now I'll have to agree with your mom. She sounds like an intelligent young lady.
What does a hdmi jack look like?
Samsung
You could have bought a 32" HD Vizio for $268.00. Vizio is a darn good TV---we own 3 Vizios and 1 Samsung and I can't tell the difference.
Vizio
It was a half inch too wide for the cabinet so I had to go with the Samsung.
I will look into getting a refund/rebate but, if I can't, no big deal, I am very happy with this Samsung, great picture and nice remote, easy to use, it is worth $400.
Thanks for that pic Kev, my box does not have the hdmi jack.
dropped my monthly fee
gave me 6 months "free" for Starz channels and 1 year "free" for Encore.
Be sure an ask for the Retention Dept.---they can do things for customers they those idiots in Customer Service are not allowed to do.
What no one here bitchin that he didn't buy an American TV.
There ain't no made in USA "American" TV. The last one is sitting in my basement and it's broke. You could pull it out of the dumpster in a few days.
i actually have a bunch of converters around from a previous project if you can determine what you need to go to and from, if i have it its yours.
quote:Originally posted by armilite
What no one here bitchin that he didn't buy an American TV.
There ain't no made in USA "American" TV. The last one is sitting in my basement and it's broke. You could pull it out of the dumpster in a few days.
That was my point.[;)]
kev would it do any good to convert the coaxial cable going out of the directv box into a hdmi cable?
that i dont think you can convert. sorry, i should have limited that statement a little more.
what i meant was you can convert the various hi def cable types to each other. dvi, hdmi, component etc.
im pretty sure you cant go from hdmi to coax and truthfully, i cant imagine why youd want to. youd gain nothing and very well might lose signal quality.
Talking to your provider sounds like a good idea if it means you may save money and/or get to try some HD content. Make sure you are wearing diapers when you first look at it as it will make you piss yourself and hate all TVs that came before it.
The downside is that the detail is so high that it tends to ruin movies as every little camera setup error, or bad acting will stand out very clearly. I have a 60" TV and that is probably part of the problem but I am watching it from about 20 feet away and HDTV makes it seem sharper than what a movie theater seems like.
I can only pick up 3 stations on the rabbit ears.
Zulu,
I would call $100 quite a price variation and I don't think the region it was sold in has squat to do with it.
Trinity +++
Don't question him, he's wise beyond his years... At least that's what he told us[:D]
quote:Originally posted by JamesRK
quote:Originally posted by armilite
What no one here bitchin that he didn't buy an American TV.
There ain't no made in USA "American" TV. The last one is sitting in my basement and it's broke. You could pull it out of the dumpster in a few days.
That was my point.[;)]
Right now... VIZIO is about as close as you can get...
American company "Assembled" in the USA but uses foreign components for the most part...
Enough so, that greater than 51% is not USA components... And can't be classed as USA Made...
Real shame the US lost this market...
I've checked and only a very small, specialized, subset of electronics are actually made in the USA.
Not a single electronic "consumer product" is still made in the USA... Damn Shame it is too. [V]
I am, indeed, way out in the sticks.
I can only pick up 3 stations on the rabbit ears.
There was a day that Three Stations was good... Even uptown Charlotte.
Then came UHF and we got two more... Total of FIVE BIG Stations...
Then came cable... WOW... You mean we could get a whole dozen and one of 'em is HBO???
Times have changed... [;)]
Now I can't sort out ALL of the 150 plus stations on Basic Cable... Corn-Fuses a guy severely... [B)]
quote:Originally posted by allen griggs
I am, indeed, way out in the sticks.
I can only pick up 3 stations on the rabbit ears.
There was a day that Three Stations was good... Even uptown Charlotte.
Then came UHF and we got two more... Total of FIVE BIG Stations...
Then came cable... WOW... You mean we could get a whole dozen and one of 'em is HBO???
Times have changed... [;)]
Now I can't sort out ALL of the 150 plus stations on Basic Cable... Corn-Fuses a guy severely... [B)]
I don't see that much difference. Used to have one, then two channels and nothing on I wanted to watch. Now it's 150+ but still nothing on I want to watch.
quote:Originally posted by retroxler58
quote:Originally posted by allen griggs
I am, indeed, way out in the sticks.
I can only pick up 3 stations on the rabbit ears.
There was a day that Three Stations was good... Even uptown Charlotte.
Then came UHF and we got two more... Total of FIVE BIG Stations...
Then came cable... WOW... You mean we could get a whole dozen and one of 'em is HBO???
Times have changed... [;)]
Now I can't sort out ALL of the 150 plus stations on Basic Cable... Corn-Fuses a guy severely... [B)]
I don't see that much difference. Used to have one, then two channels and nothing on I wanted to watch. Now it's 150+ but still nothing on I want to watch.
Same here James...
Many times there are three to five channels with the same show on...
One or two are high-def the others are either digital or analog signals...
And still to me... NOT a lot of difference... [V]
I had a good old tv that I liked fine. I am on directv and get great reception and service from them.
Well the old tv started to go out on me. I went to Walmart and spent 400 bucks on a Samsung 4003 32 inch tv.
I was told that this tv wouldn't work with my old directv box and you needed a new box and new cables.
Well yesterday I hooked the tv up using the old existing cables. Also hooked up the old dvd.
It works great! It has a very good picture, better than the old tv ever had. Plus dvd works fine.
What is the deal with a new directv box and new cables?
that's just you listening to wal mart employees. As if you didn't know they are dumb as rocks? [:D]