HDTV to RGBHV???

[resiemon]

I have a Panasonic TH-42PHW5 plasma display. How can I get HDTV to it? The store clerks seem to be positive I need a monitor that accepts DVI or HDMI connectors, which it doesn't have. Are there TV tuners that put out signals to the five cables I have?
We have a cable box from Charter Cable that is supposed to be HDTV, but while it has a DVI cable output that I can't test, it only gives the three component output signals without the H or V signal, AND it looks like the same old low-resolution picture to me even though it I had expected it to be high definition. Any suggestions?

 

[BMXTRIX]

1. High Definition only occurs on specific channels designated as HD channels and ONLY when they are actually broadcasting HD programming. Otherwise, it is regular TV... sometimes converted to HD - but not originally HD so it doesn't look better.

2. If your display has 5 connection points, odds are good that somewhere in your setup menu you can set that input for RGBHV or Y/Pb/Pr on that input. The one with the 3 letter combinations is COMPONENT which is what your cable box outputs and is what should be connected to your display.

3. There are also DVI to RGBHV converters out there, but there is a chance your cable box doesn't even have the DVI connector activated on the box, and you really don't need to do that if your TV accepts component.

I don't see a place to download the manual for your display on Panasonic's website, so I can't be of a lot more help to you, but I would be surprised if that TV doesn't accept component on the RGBHV input.

 

[BruZZi]

2. If your display has 5 connection points, odds are good that somewhere in your setup menu you can set that input for RGBHV or Y/Pb/Pr on that input. The one with the 3 letter combinations is COMPONENT which is what your cable box outputs and is what should be connected to your display.

The RGBHV input on the Panasonic Plasmas accepts Component Signals. Simply connect the last three Pr/Pb/Y
and go to "SETUP" menu and change the "COMPONENT/RGB-IN SELECT" option to Component (RGBHV is default).

 

[resiemon]

Thanks, but still wondering

OK BMXTRIx and BruZZi; thank you. I understand that HDTV is only on certain channels at certain times. Its just that I don't see a "qualitative leap" like it appears in stores when side-by-side comparisons are showing. I will double check the setup menus. I guess what you are saying is that if high-resolution digital is coming into the cable box, and if it is working, then I should have a high-resolution picture on my screen from the component signals. The component signals are analog right? But what is the purpose of the H and V signal if it isn't connected? What is DVI anyway, analog or digital? Groan.

 

[BMXTRIX]

H and V are horizontal and vertical frequency signals. The potential exists to have a slightly cleaner signal by separating out H & V from RGB. But, this really hasn't caught on as a standard for HDTV broadcasting and manufacturers haven't been making many boxes with RGBHV outputs.

Your PC (laptop) with the 15 pin connector on the back can be changed to a RGBHV connection and hooked up to your TV directly. It is NATIVE RGBHV, not component, so your TV is ready to accept your PC into those connection points directly.

You are correct that component is analog. Composite, S-Video, Component, and RGBHV are all analog signals. DVI-D is digital. I believe that DVI-I is not... not sure on that one, I get a little confused around the different DVI cables/formats, but one is digital, one is not. Most DVI is used in the digital domain though in an attempt to improve image quality.

 

[resiemon]

Thanks / I'm up and running

Comments by you all were very helpful. Thanks!! I also read other stuff on this site and began to get the picture (note pun please ). The extra thing I needed to know was that HDTV on cable comes on a different channel (7xx range for Charter in Reno, NV). Once I began using the channels in that range, the picture was FINALLY HD and georgeous. And as pointed out by others, the H and V sych signals are usually on the Y channel of component signals, so none of my gadgets involve anything but the three component signals.