upconverting receivers and cable TV

[FNG212]

Do receivers that upconvert to 1080 also upconvert cable TV signals?

Do I need to buy HD cable from Charter or will an upconverting receiver do it for me? I ask because the tech I talked to basically said all Charter's HD box (that they come and install) does is upconvert the signal.

 

[Lordoftherings]

Of course they do.

And NO to your second question.

 

[bandphan]

Do receivers that upconvert to 1080 also upconvert cable TV signals?

Do I need to buy HD cable from Charter or will an upconverting receiver do it for me? I ask because the tech I talked to basically said all Charter's HD box (that they come and install) does is upconvert the signal.

ERRRR. Ok no avr under 4k is going to make your "video" magically better and then no. Get the best display you can if you want good video quality, then work around that.

 

[markw]

You need to get HDTV service from your supplier.

Either your cable guy is an idiot or you misunderstood his answer. Maybe you were asking him about SD programming?

To get a "high definition" picture you need a "high definition" source to begin with. I doubt your cable provider will give you HD without ordering HD service and renting a HD box.

Your receiver will upconvert whatever signal you feed into your receiver into 1080, but it won't be "High Definition". It'll do the same thing for a composive VCR signal but again, don't expect a "high definition" picture.

 

[allargon]

The cable box will upconvert SD programming if you tell it to. It just won't do it as well as a most receivers or most displays.

Some receivers (those w/ HQV or Marvell processing) upconvert better than others (those w/ Faroudja processing). Displays vary wildy from the great (Pioneer) to the absolute garbage upconverting (Mitsubishi). However, most of those still do a better job than the typical cable or satellite set top box.

To set up one's receiver or display to upconvert, simply tell the cable box (or DirectTV receiver) to output in native mode. 720p programs will output to your receiver/display in 720p. 1080i programs will output in 1080i, and 480i (standard definition) programs will output in 480i. Your receiver or display will upconvert 720p and 480i to 1080p and de-interlace the 1080i to 1080p.

As, markw said it won't look like high definition. But, that's not the goal w/ video processing. It's just to make it look as good as possible.

 

[lsiberian]

Do receivers that upconvert to 1080 also upconvert cable TV signals?

Do I need to buy HD cable from Charter or will an upconverting receiver do it for me? I ask because the tech I talked to basically said all Charter's HD box (that they come and install) does is upconvert the signal.

I will only tell you this once so listen up. I have firsthand experience with Charter cable and so-called charter HD. I'm willing to bet the guy isn't bsing based on what i've seen. Don't ever get charter period! They work hard to have the least value for the greatest price. If it's a choice between that and antenna go antenna. I had cable before and moved to a charter area. Now I don't have cable anymore. I love tv, but I won't tolerate their BS for a second.

I'm not normally one to get upset, but Charter and Green Mountain Energy are 2 companies that get my blood boiling.