I have a strange situation in my home where the wall that the TV has to be against is an island—you can walk completely around it. So, the big cable that comes out of the outside wall for my cable TV is problematic, as it has to run across the room. This problem was solved a few years ago when I found another cable made by Monster that was much, much thinner. I snaked it under the rug and the problem was 95% solved. I was concerned when I got digital cable, but everything works fined—Comcast movies on demand, etc.
The question I have is about me now wanting to get a HD Sony XBR: will this thinner cable be able to handle the HD signal. I know I’ll have to get a new HD box from Comcast, but before I but anything I’m trying to figure out if it’ll work. I went to the high-end video store around here and they didn’t know. Their suggestion was to get the new box from Comcast and then have them bring over a small HD TV for a test. That would be a big pain if it didn’t work, so I thought a Doper might know the answer. I should just make it clear that it is not an option to revert back to the standard thick cable. And since I rent, I’m very reluctant to start doing a lot of drilling and snaking, which I think will be a big job in itself.
By the way, you can check the HD reception without an HDTV. You just tell the cable box you have an SDTV and it will downconvert the signal. If there are problems with breakups due to the cable you’ll still be able to see them.
My experience with HDTV is that if the signal is weak you’ll see the picture break up - maybe every few seconds, maybe every few minutes, maybe even longer intervals if the signal is only barely marginally weak. I have a Motorola HD cable box connected to an SDTV right now and often watch HD channels on it. The box has a setting to downconvert HD to SD. I have my cable feed split umpteen ways and on this particular run it was further and was constantly breaking up, but only on the HD channels. I added a broadband amplifier upstream and this cleaned it up nicely.
I really don’t expect the thin cable you have will cause much problem other than to limit the distance you can run it without some loss. Thirty feet doesn’t sound like too much if you don’t have too many other splits. Even if you do see a problem, you can get an amplifier for less than $50 that will fix you up. I really wouldn’t worry too much about this.
Final question(s): I don’t think I;ll be able to switch things over in one day. I assume my old TV will work with a HD cable box (though not in HD obviously). Is that right? Also, if I get the Sony HD TV first, can I watch TV without the HD cable box?
The cable box is by the TV? And the cable you’re talking about brings the signal from outside to the cable box? Not the cable between the Comcast box and the TV?
Yes, your SDTV will be fine with the Comcast HD Box. Here in Denver, Comcast uses the lower channel numbers (2 through the 500s) for standard def TV. All the HD channels are numbered 650 and higher. So you can watch every channel, except those HD channels. Your local stations should be offered in both SD (like ch 9) and HD (like 659).
No info on the thin cable, but why don’t buy a white coax cable, and run it along your ceiling?
The info I provided was based on a Motorola cable box. Other manufacturers may do things differently about converting HD to SD.
If you get the Sony HDTV first you will likely be able to watch all the channels under 100 (these are the analog channels) using the cable input without a box. If the TV has an ATSC tuner (likely if it’s new), you should be able to watch certain HD channels (in HD!) over the cable without the box.
If you get the HD TV first, you will definitely be able to use it with the old SD box - they haven’t started manufacturing “HD only” sets yet.
If you get the HD box first, you should be able to see the HD channels with your old set - definitely if it’s a Motorola box, presumably so if it’s an SA box (I have no experience with those). What’s your current box -> TV connection - coax, S-video, or composite?
You probably should be a little concerned about the thin (I presume you mean flat) “coax” you’re using under the carpet - it may not have a high enough frequency response to handle the HD channels. If that’s the case, an amplifier may not help you, since it’s a different problem than a long, lots of splitters coax run as flex727 described. I’d suggest getting the HD box before the TV if that particular cable is a deal breaker for you.
I assume this - Monster Video Mini® - is the cable you have. Unfortunately, Monster does not provide any specifications on loss/foot; however, they do rate frequency response out to 1 Ghz, which is comparable to RG-6. So if your signal is fairly strong when it enters your home, and it’s not split too many times before it reaches the mini cable, you should be fine.