# Probably dumb question about HDTV **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 25, 2006, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/probably-dumb-question-about-hdtv/374117 "2006-09-25T20:34:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2006, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/probably-dumb-question-about-hdtv/374117/1 "2006-09-25T20:34:07Z")
I have an HDTV LCD TV and a satellite box. The other day, the first free HDTV program was broadcast (Robbie Williams in concert), but I could not discern any difference. Then I figured that I was only using a SCART cable, which might have degraded the HDTV signal. What connection should I be using to hook the TV to the satellite box? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2006, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/probably-dumb-question-about-hdtv/374117/2 "2006-09-25T20:36:52Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] I have an HDTV LCD TV and a satellite box. The other day, the first free HDTV program was broadcast (Robbie Williams in concert), but I could not discern any difference. Then I figured that I was only using a SCART cable, which might have degraded the HDTV signal. What connection should I be using to hook the TV to the satellite box? [/QUOTE] I don’t know anything about your TV/Sat Box/Provider/cabel connections, but all of those have to be just right or you just get SD. Also you might have to put your TV on a different mode. What video input (cable) are you using on the TV. For HD it will have to be DVI, RGB or component. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2006, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/probably-dumb-question-about-hdtv/374117/3 "2006-09-25T20:43:15Z")
[QUOTE=Joey P] I don’t know anything about your TV/Sat Box/Provider/cabel connections, but all of those have to be just right or you just get SD. [/quote] It’s Sky, the UK’s largest satellite provider. Standard box. > [@](#): > > Also you might have to put your TV on a different mode. Checked, and no. > [@](#): > > What video input (cable) are you using on the TV. For HD it will have to be DVI, RGB or component. SCART. On further research, I suspect my Sky box is not compatible. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2006, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/probably-dumb-question-about-hdtv/374117/4 "2006-09-26T03:26:14Z")
[QUOTE=Joey P] I don’t know anything about your TV/Sat Box/Provider/cabel connections, but all of those have to be just right or you just get SD. Also you might have to put your TV on a different mode. What video input (cable) are you using on the TV. For HD it will have to be DVI, RGB or component. [/QUOTE] My Dish Network Vip622 receiver uses a HDMI cable. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2006, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/probably-dumb-question-about-hdtv/374117/5 "2006-09-26T04:06:38Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] On further research, I suspect my Sky box is not compatible. ☹ [/QUOTE] Quite possibly. To get HDTV via satellite you need a particular kind of satellite dish (multiple pickups…SDTV usually has one, HDTV dishes may have three or more in the US). You need an HDTV receiver (the box). You need an HDTV capable TV (seems you do). I am not sure if SCART can handle an HDTV signal. See [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCART) for more, albeit not totally clear for your question, info. ---
**Author:** ![shefDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@shefDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shefDave)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2006, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/probably-dumb-question-about-hdtv/374117/6 "2006-09-26T07:43:43Z")
Just to confirm what everyone else has been suggesting, if you don’t have a new Sky HD box ([Like this](http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/m2/apr2006/3/3/0005A97B-0317-1435-9C3C0C01AC1BF814.jpg)) then you won’t be able to receive any HD broadcasts from Sky. The box costs about £300 and adds another £10 on to your monthly subscription. If you did have a Sky HD box, you’d have to use an HDMI cable, a DVI cable or analogue component (YPbPr) as those are the only ways the Sky box outputs HD signals. A Scart lead wouldn’t do it. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2006, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/probably-dumb-question-about-hdtv/374117/7 "2006-09-26T13:54:15Z")
There are no dumb questions about HDTV. The whole thing is such a convoluted mess that no one understands what’s going on. But yeah, you probably need a specifically HD satellite receiver.