new tv with a few questions

[Dale8]

I am planing on buying a new tv. Im looking at the 42" plasma in particular.I currently have digital cable,and already know I need to upgrade to a HD cable box.MY question is,do i need to upgrade the white coaxial cable from the wall to cable box, to a digital cable?What pixel resolution should I look for in the new tv?Finally, how does the HD box work? Is the signal already in the line,and the box proccesses it,or when i call for the new box,the signal is sent through the line?Any other comments on plasa tv's would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[mytzen]

You can use normal coaxial cable from the wall outlet to your HD Box. Then use either component or HDMI from your box to your TV.
My cable company gave me component cables for free when they installed the box so ask when yours is done.

 

[rgriffin25]

Most of the time the signal is already there. Your current digital box doesn't know what to do with it. If you sign up for premium channels such as HBO you may have to call the cable company to have them give your new HD box permission to view those channels.

 

[BMXTRIX]

do i need to upgrade the white coaxial cable from the wall to cable box, to a digital cable?

No upgrade of coaxial cable from the wall to the box should be necessary. You can bet that any cable you see listed as a 'DIGITAL' cable, is likely overpriced and trying to scam you out of money. So, don't touch a thing!

What pixel resolution should I look for in the new tv?

Depends on how far you are sitting from the display. I would seriously look at some of the newer less expensive 50" plasmas which are 1365x768 resolution and cost well under $3K. It is about $500 - $700 less for the 42" models of similar quality.

Finally, how does the HD box work?

Just like your digital cable box. You use the cable box remote, and change channels. Quite often, it is the SAME remote you have already been using! You, or the cable company, simply connects the new box to the existing cable line in place of the old box, then you connect (as said above) to your television using either HDMI or component video cables. You may also need to go through the setup options of the cable box which should be on instructions included with it. If it is installed for you, make sure you follow along!

Is the signal already in the line,and the box proccesses it,or when i call for the new box,the signal is sent through the line?

The signal is there. Kind of like how digital internet is already on the cable line. Some companies offer phone service over the cable line as well. It's all already there. You do nothing.

 

[Dale8]

Thanks for the replies and info.I am only sitting about 15 feet away.I think the 50" might be to big. idk.I am having a hard enough time with the wife getting the 42", nevermind the 50.

 

[BMXTRIX]

15' = 60" minimum. 42" is what I might consider at 8-12 feet, but that's about it. I run a 50" plasma at about a 12' viewing distance and from that SAME viewing distance I also have a 106" diagonal projection screen drop in front of the plasma. For movies - it is cool, and definitely NOT to big.

The WAF issue is a big one, but no professional will tell you that 42" is the appropriate size at that distance for almost any type of viewing. It is a bit to small and you will be far better served with a 50" model.

I recently had some clients who rejected the 50" plasma I recommended at 10 feet and fought the 42" plasma... They settled on the 42" model after some convincing from me. Two weeks after they got it they said "Yeah, I think we could have gone with the 50" model." The day I put it in they thought it was huge, but just two weeks later they were fine with it, and even thinking it was small.

I would definitely not go under 50" or recommend it at 15' viewing distance.