This hobby can make a grown man cry.

[Davemcc]

Like a lot of people, I had pretty awful SD images on my HDTV. I had the cable company out to try to fix it, to no avail. I researched the issue and found a product that I thought would help with the compression artifacts that caused the awful images, the Algolith Flea-HDMI. It's not cheap, but as video processors go, it's affordable. Especially if it means I can watch SD broadcasts again, which I just can't do now, it's that bad.

So I get the Algolith yesterday and run HDMI from cablebox to Algolith to TV. Fix a couple of setup issues, check the HDMI menu in the cable box and get it running properly. It worked as well as I had hoped. I had what I would consider great SD images...for about an hour. After about an hour, the image disappeared. The Algolith indicated no source input. I checked the connections and all were fine.

I checked the cable box setup menu and the HDMI menu had disappeared...completely removed...a blank space where HDMI used to be. I called the cable company and all they could say is "we don't support the HDMI/DVI connection". I've been using HDMI/DVI for over a year on both HDTV cable boxes, but an hour after I finally get a really good SDTV signal going to my TV, it just up and disappears.

I'm ready to cancel my cable service and try some satellite service. I've got about $1,500 and hours upon hours of research over the last 8 months to correct the crappy images that they couldn't fix, over and above the cost of cable service and equipment rental. Then when I finally get a good picture, they remove it. I mean they removed it, because the DVI menu on my other box has also been removed even though that box was off and hooked up to component video, anyway. Now, if they don't fix my HDMI connection, I'm stuck with a $1,000 Flea that only works with HDMI and no HDMI to feed it.

Sorry to chew your ears off, but it's one step forward, two steps back with everything I touch.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I am crying right now!

 

[Davemcc]

I am crying right now!

With laughter?

 

[ParadigmDawg]

At the never ending cycle of this sport(hey if golf is a sport, this can be too) Now that I have the amp and room treatments ordered; I need that Velodyne thing, I need a bigger display, I need a new TV stand….

With laughter?

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I literally can't remember the last time I watched broadcast, cable, satellite, or anything other than DVD. What I do know is that my current HDTV has never had anything but DVDs shown on it (I do watch TV shows, but only on disc), and I have had it for over 6 years.
Maybe experiences like yours are part of the reason.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I swear; I am the only one that has decent SD. I mean mine doesnt look bad at all.

 

[majorloser]

I hate cable companies.

I've been with Dish Network for six years now with HDTV and I'll never go back to cable. They use HDMI for their HD video connections.

As far as I'm concerned, the only thing cable has to offer that could sway me is internet service. But for now I'll stay with DSL.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I literally can't remember the last time I watched broadcast, cable, satellite, or anything other than DVD. What I do know is that my current HDTV has never had anything but DVDs shown on it (I do watch TV shows, but only on disc), and I have had it for over 6 years.
Maybe experiences like yours are part of the reason.

Yeah, the only TV I watch are FREE HDTV programs---football mainly
I watch movies on blu-ray, hd dvd, or dvds too.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

At the never ending cycle of this sport(hey if golf is a sport, this can be too) Now that I have the amp and room treatments ordered; I need that Velodyne thing, I need a bigger display, I need a new TV stand….

By definition, I think SPORT means any kind of "competition".
Hey, we compete, don't we? Like----I have more amps than you? Or my amps can output more watts than yours? Or I can listen louder than you? Or I've bought more gears than you? Or I can program my remote faster than you? That's competition, right?

 

[Phil Taylor]

I have great looking SD too - on my good ole 32" Mitsubishi 4x3 tube TV I use for watching regular TV. I watch HD on my projector at 7' wide - like it's supposed to be To me it just makes more sense to keep an SD tube set and watch SD on the device for which it was intended - no side pillars, no fat people, no burn in, etc.... and saves lamp time on the projector. Then when we want to watch HD or DVDs we fire up the projector and "get the BIG picture".

To address Davemcc the OP's predicament -- Dave I would drop cable in a heartbeat and go with Dish Network or DirecTV. Use OTA for local HD (if you are within range of your local digital OTA signals) the signal looks better than even the LSD HD signals. Even OTA digital SD looks better than cable SD (and Dish SD as well).

All of the above is of course only "my humble and semi-educated opinion"

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

You should definitely dump cable if you have a clear view of your southern sky. My experience with Direct-TV SAT has been 1,000% better than it was with cable.

I'd have to think ANY SAT service is better than cable. At least with respect to service and reliability. I still use cable for my computer, but I wont let them touch my TV with a 10-foot pole!!

 

[Davemcc]

My legal Canadian satellite options are limited to Starchoice or Bell Expressview. I can get all the OTA broadcasts from Detroit, MI but I've never looked into it before. It would mean a whole new steep learning curve and I suspect more new equipment. I've never had an antenna on my TV to see what it would receive.

In the meantime, I still have to build my bass traps, mount my surrounds and hide the wires, buy the SMS-1 and tune the subs, find a replacement laptop, built my desktop into a HTPC, tidy up the wiring in the bedroom system, write reviews for this site for my new toys (Era D3, AEGO-M and Algolith Flea) and find the best <$800 HT system for a neighbor. What the hell kind of hobby is this, anyway?

In case I never get to the reviews, the AEGO-M is one of the most satisfying purchases I've made.

 

[Davemcc]

Update - I just ordered the Bell HD satellite w/ dual tuner PVR and full HDMI support. The cable company informed me that I will not get HDMI connectivity back.

Using analog connections to the TV from a completely digital HD signal is like buying a new car with all the electronics disabled and being forced to use a manual choke. It's archaic.

 

[stratman]

Like a lot of people, I had pretty awful SD images on my HDTV. I had the cable company out to try to fix it, to no avail. I researched the issue and found a product that I thought would help with the compression artifacts that caused the awful images, the Algolith Flea-HDMI. It's not cheap, but as video processors go, it's affordable. Especially if it means I can watch SD broadcasts again, which I just can't do now, it's that bad.

So I get the Algolith yesterday and run HDMI from cablebox to Algolith to TV. Fix a couple of setup issues, check the HDMI menu in the cable box and get it running properly. It worked as well as I had hoped. I had what I would consider great SD images...for about an hour. After about an hour, the image disappeared. The Algolith indicated no source input. I checked the connections and all were fine.

I checked the cable box setup menu and the HDMI menu had disappeared...completely removed...a blank space where HDMI used to be. I called the cable company and all they could say is "we don't support the HDMI/DVI connection". I've been using HDMI/DVI for over a year on both HDTV cable boxes, but an hour after I finally get a really good SDTV signal going to my TV, it just up and disappears.

I'm ready to cancel my cable service and try some satellite service. I've got about $1,500 and hours upon hours of research over the last 8 months to correct the crappy images that they couldn't fix, over and above the cost of cable service and equipment rental. Then when I finally get a good picture, they remove it. I mean they removed it, because the DVI menu on my other box has also been removed even though that box was off and hooked up to component video, anyway. Now, if they don't fix my HDMI connection, I'm stuck with a $1,000 Flea that only works with HDMI and no HDMI to feed it.

Sorry to chew your ears off, but it's one step forward, two steps back with everything I touch.

Hey Dave,

Sorry about your troubles. Threaten them, tell them you're switching to Direct TV, that'll rattle their cage, there's nothing they hate more than satellite tv. Good luck, hope it works out.

 

[Davemcc]

Already done, my friend. It's already done.

My cable company will only support technology that your people invented right after fire and the wheel, i.e. component video for HDTV.

 

[stratman]

Already done, my friend. It's already done.

My cable company will only support technology that your people invented right after fire and the wheel, i.e. component video for HDTV.

Yes our tribe sold them this magical technology. We want back, trade for fire.

 

[dem beats]

Yes our tribe sold them this magical technology. We want back, trade for fire.

I have had a crap week and this made me laugh so hard!

I would be willing to negotiate this fancy 20 ton wheele made of rock as currancy for a new car as mine is crapping out.

 

[stratman]

I have had a crap week and this made me laugh so hard!

I would be willing to negotiate this fancy 20 ton wheele made of rock as currancy for a new car as mine is crapping out.

Granite rock? hmmmm. No marble, weak currency.

 

[Tomorrow]

I grok your misery, Dave. I dumped cable a couple of years ago and eagerly enjoy my Dish Network service. BUT...you may have the same issues with watching SD programming on your HD set even with sat service. Perhaps I don't understand the HDMI issues or the intricate nature of upscaling...perhaps the technology has changed...but when I tried HD with DishNet, the compression (or upscaling) artifacts ruined the SD programming so as to make it unwatchable. I had to change the resolution of the set for every switch between SD and HD programming in order to be a happy viewer.

But then I'm a video dope. I don't know much about this end of the hobby a/v hobby. Come to think of it...I don't much about any of the hobby. I just like it.

 

[ducker]

I hope it turns out well for you. I was using a tivo with analoge cable service for quite some time... I'm soon to making the HDTV switch, but I'm not looking to ugprade the monthly fees I have so I planned on sticking with SD tv for a while longer... I flipped to DirecTV knowing that the image quality of that will be superior to that of analog cable.