Digital Out From Cable?

[Skymeat]

So my cable company gave me an old cable box with only LR analog outs on it.
Does anyone have a DIY project to get the digital source to the spdif in on the receiver?



Thanks,
Skymeat

 

[adwilk]

I dont see how you can take the analog outs and "make" them digital. Just use the analog outs to an analog in. Even if you could get the digital in to recognize a signal, your receiver wont ouput in a digital format (ie, Dolby Digital) Just use the analogs and use a DSP mode on your receiver (pro logic II or Neo6 or something like that.

Better yet, call your cable company and get a new box if you want digital formats.

 

[tomd51]

I'm afraid adwilk's right, it's just simply not possible to create a digital signal from an analog signal, two different signals altogether. Well, not so that you'd be able to construct a Dolby Digital bitstream from an analog stream, which is what I think you're looking for.

The only way you'd be able to get your digital signal from your cable STB (Set Top Box) would be if it has a S/PDIF digital audio connection like an optical audio TOSLINK out or digital coaxial audio out. Swapping out the box like adwilk suggested would be the only way to get digital audio...

 

[Skymeat]

what I mean is...I'm getting a digital cable signal going into the box, could I attatch a splitter before the box and have one cable go to the cable box, and the other to the receiver?

 

[Skymeat]

So I couldn't figure out how to edit a post...

Well I called the cable company. Comcast sucks.

There is a cable box that has a digital out, but they don't have but a few because they are pushing the DVR which is 15$ a month.

And yes I could have phrased my initial question better, I was working at the time

So do you guys know what I trying to do now? I guess another 150$ a year for cable isn't that bad...


Thanks,

 

[tomd51]

You can only edit a post for a short period (5-10 minutes, maybe?), so it's not just you.

Yep, I think we had a pretty clear idea as to what you're trying to do. In order to receive the digital audio, you'd need to connect the incoming coaxial cable to some sort of STB with a digital audio out or have a TV with a Cablecard built-in and a digital audio out, there's really no way to do it with what you have.

15$/mo. is kind of a suck, but once you get DVR functionality, you'll wonder how you watched TV without it. I have trouble in real life now w/out pause and rewind functionality... -TD

 

[Skymeat]

So there it is.

I'm signing up for the dvr tomorrow.

Thanks for all the help guys. I hope I can have something to offer in the future.

My Grandpa always said "Some days you stand and deliver. Some days you bend and receive."

So I'm going to pony up and let Comcast do it's thing. After the initial shock I think I might like it too. I've been curious.


Thanks All,
Skymeat

 

[Haoleb]

What you really need to do is just tell comcast you need a box with digital audio output and that your not going to pay for DVR. Your the customer, You shouldnt have to bend over and recieve...

 

[markw]

It may not be that simple. I don't think Comcast offers too many choices.

What you really need to do is just tell comcast you need a box with digital audio output and that your not going to pay for DVR. Your the customer, You shouldnt have to bend over and recieve...

Around here, the "basic" book-sized digital cable boxes come with composite video and yer basic red/white analog audio. Within those parameters, they are pretty decent performers.

It may be that he'll have to go for either that DVD recorder or an HD box to get the benefit of digital audio. As the old song goes, you don't get no bread with one meat ball.

Of course, there's always the satellites and perhaps Fios, but they might wind up costing even more.

 

[tomd51]

I think Mark's right. We have Dish for our main viewing, but b/c I went with our local cable provider Charter (which explains why we don't use them for general viewing) for high-speed internet, we pay another $10 and get basic expanded cable and use that in our bedroom. The box they provided is a Motorola that's easily over 10 years old that doesn't even have an s-video connection, nevermind digital audio.

Sometimes you eat the bear, sometimes the bear eats you... -TD

 

[Haoleb]

I have time warner here, and they suck majorly... But they do seem to have many of the Scientific Atlanta line. At one install I did the guy gave us all HD boxes but just did not activate the HD channels on the boxes that did not need the HD service. I dont see why they cant do that.

The installer did say that we would get HD channels on all of the boxes anyway as there was some loophole but turns out he was wrong.

 

[Skymeat]

HI,
So I got my DVR. Comcast was real nice about it. Only trouble is I can't find any show that is actually in 5.1 DD. Every single channel is only stereo. leave it to them.....If I tune to the HD channels I get 5.1 audio, but no picture cause I have a standard DVR not the HD version, also no HD monitor.

Thanks for giving it to me again Comcast.

 

[Haoleb]

Unfortunately only HD content will have 5.1 sound, And not all of it.

Its weird that you get the HD audio but no picture. You can still watch the HD channels without having an HDtv, which means you could get the 5.1 but of course your picture wont quite be up to spec.

 

[Skymeat]

So it's weeks later....Comcast finally has the right number of channels I order. So I called customer service and told them that I don't' get 5.1 surround from any channel. The tech assured me that I should get 5.1 from many channels. I emphasized that I have a standard dvr, not HD, and don't subscribe to HD programing. He still said that I should be getting 5.1 from many channels. They are sending a tech out to replace the dvr...we'll see. Perhaps this is a new deal, sense they have much more bandwidth available now that they limit their unlimited connection.....