HDTV questions

I just got Comcast HDTV in Atlanta. They replaced my existing standard box with the Motorola 5100. I use an RGB component video cable to connect to my HDTV "ready" Sony Wega. S-video cannot carry an HD or progressive scan signal. I get all my previous channels plus 5 HD channels (more to come later). The box also has digital audio out which sends a 5.1 digital audio stream to your processor. Since I do not have a processor, I use the standard analog audio out jacks to send the R and L to my preamp.

My premium channels, and the audio, are better than my previous box. The HD channels are incredible... DVD quality or better. Most of the standard channels are a bit grainier than before. There is an HDTV forum where someone posted that they resort back to S-video, or a standard RCA cable, to improve their basic channels. Thus they use 2 video inputs to their TV. Since I did not get HDTV to watch the shopping channels, I can live without using 2 separate video inputs.

Thedautch, I view all channels through the 1080i input on the back of my set. The 5100 sends all channels through the RGB output. He may have set you up this way because he knows that the basic channels are a bit grainy when viewed through RGB. Try running your cable directly to the 5100, and use only the RGB. If you can live with it, as I can, you only need one video input setting on your TV. If you cannot, use the 5100's S-video out, or RCA video out, for your basic channels. You will still have to use 2 video inputs, but you will eliminate using your TV's tuner for the F-pin input.

Note 1, my Sony Wega is not a true HDTV set, it is "HDTV ready". Note 2, S-video, and RCA video, cannot carry an HD signal. Note 3, I bought the best RGB cable I could find, Tara Labs RSC... expensive, but worth every penny.