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HDTV question!
- Thread starter playajcc
- Start date
ok, im pretty much not happy... i got a splitter.... i tried that... didn't work...i have my tv connected to my tuner with all the cords... then i have a splitter with the cable and the antenna... that doesnt work... i tried having the cable be in the tv.... and then the antenna in the tuner... that didnt work... i want to be able to see the cable channels via the tuner, but only pick up local still... any ideas would be appreciated... i have a 32" lcd polaroid tv and am trying to use a sylvania atsc digital terrestrial tuner .... anything!!! thanks!
playajcc said:
Does your TV have a built in cable tv tuner? I'm pretty sure a digital terrestrial tuner will only be able to pull over the air broadcasts, so you won't be able to get cable through it. If you TV isn't "cable ready" then your looking at getting a box from your cable company. Can you post links to all the equipment you have so we have a rough idea of what your working with?
playajcc said:
Dude, im sorry, but you really have to translate that for me.
Lets start from the beginning. Get rid of the Tuner and the Antenna all together. Plug the cable into your TV. Do you get something? What type of cables are you using? Regular Coax cable cannot carry HD signal, you need at least Component.
Why are you using a splitter?
IDversusEGO
Supreme [H]ardness
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first, try complete sentances. I know I am having a hard time figuring out waht you are saying. lets try by answering some of these questions...
1) are you trying to get premium HD channels like HBO HD, ESPN HD, Discovery HD?
2) do you subscribe to HD programming from Cox?
3) is the cable TV cable going from the wall directly to the TV?
4) is the HD tuner from best buy or from Cox?
1) are you trying to get premium HD channels like HBO HD, ESPN HD, Discovery HD?
2) do you subscribe to HD programming from Cox?
3) is the cable TV cable going from the wall directly to the TV?
4) is the HD tuner from best buy or from Cox?
I am subscribed to basic cable, but i just want to be able to pick up the cable. I don't see any channels from cable, just my local channels. The cable from the wall goes into my tv. The hd tuner is connected into the tv and the antenna is connected to the hdtuner. The tuner is not from cox, but i was told it doesn't matter, i would still be able to get the cable channels, they just might not be in HD because i am using basic cable.
IDversusEGO
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You will not get premium HD channels without paying. and might not without having the Cox HD box.
to get the basic cable channels on your new tv follow these basic steps. steps that I must mention should be in your manual...
1) connect the cable from the wall to the antenna input (sounds like you have that done)
2) go into the setup of the TV and select "CATV" as the antenna format.
to get the free over the air HD channels, you will have to switch the TV over to the component inputs and tune the channel with you HD tuner.
to get the basic cable channels on your new tv follow these basic steps. steps that I must mention should be in your manual...
1) connect the cable from the wall to the antenna input (sounds like you have that done)
2) go into the setup of the TV and select "CATV" as the antenna format.
to get the free over the air HD channels, you will have to switch the TV over to the component inputs and tune the channel with you HD tuner.
IDversusEGO
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look on page 18 of your manual...
http://www.polaroid.com/service/userguides/ce/lcd_tvs/flm3201_ug.pdf
under channel memorization. On your TV they referr to Antenna as "TV" and cable as "Cable". All this will do is get you basic cable through the antenna input of your TV.
For HD, I already mentioned that. You will have to press the "input" button of your remote or TV and select "Y Pb Pr", which is also referred to as component. after you are ont he proper input, you will use the remot that came with the HD tuner to cahnge channels.
there might be a way to run your basic cable through the HD tuner box, but I honestly don't want to search through another manual to show you what is probably in there. Not trying to be rude, but most of these basic setup questions are in the manuals. You aren't trying to do anything that is crazy or out of the ordinary.
http://www.polaroid.com/service/userguides/ce/lcd_tvs/flm3201_ug.pdf
under channel memorization. On your TV they referr to Antenna as "TV" and cable as "Cable". All this will do is get you basic cable through the antenna input of your TV.
For HD, I already mentioned that. You will have to press the "input" button of your remote or TV and select "Y Pb Pr", which is also referred to as component. after you are ont he proper input, you will use the remot that came with the HD tuner to cahnge channels.
there might be a way to run your basic cable through the HD tuner box, but I honestly don't want to search through another manual to show you what is probably in there. Not trying to be rude, but most of these basic setup questions are in the manuals. You aren't trying to do anything that is crazy or out of the ordinary.
no thanks... ive been on the phone with the company and they were like "yeah, this unit only works for local channels" ... how f'ing ridiculous is that!!! so i have to go and buy another one... my local channels work on the hdtv tuner... the input is not my problem.... thanks again... its just a company making a stupid piece of equipment that is useless
Sounds more like a case of a moron not researching what he is buying. I am sorry but the fact that you didn't bother to look far enough into a product you were thinking about purchasing before buying it means your the moron not the company. There are plenty of reasons to have an OTA only tuner.
you won't get anything other than local channels in HD if you only pay for basic cable
When you pay for HD channels, you get a few more HD channels in addition to the HD local channels
There's only a few cable channels that are broadcasted in HD, anyway.
When you pay for HD channels, you get a few more HD channels in addition to the HD local channels
There's only a few cable channels that are broadcasted in HD, anyway.
playajcc said:
Why do you want to run your cable through the tuner?
Do you have digital or analog cable (simpler: do you have a cable box, or just a cable coming out of the wall?)
If you have analog cable (just a coax coming out of the wall) just hook it to the back of the TV, and you will get your channels, but you will have to use your remote to switch between inputs on the TV vs. ATSC tuner on the component.
If you have digital cable (non HD) run from the cable box an S-video hook up and some audio jacks to your TV, again, you will need to switch inputs between the tuner and the TV.
If you can get digital HD cable: ditch the ATSC tuner and subscribe to the HD cable service, you will get more reliable HD signals, all of your local channels, everything over one seamless connection, plus things like Discovery HD, ESPN HD, INHD, and the option for HBO HD and Showtime HD if you are into that. It costs like an extra $5 or $10 a month, but that isn't a big deal.
The TV isn't a piece of crap (well, it is, Polaroid LCDs are junk, but that is just the panel, not the functionality of the unit). Any TV is going to have the same limitations, and you could get what you want to work working easily on your current hardware as long as you are willing to press a button on the remote to switch inputs.
nigerian_businessman
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Why don't you just do the obvious and call your friggin cable company? They have people available to answer your question, I'm sure.
IDversusEGO
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or seperate inputs. it's not that big of a deal, but for the price of that HD tuner I can see his frustration. I would return it too. OP, go take a look at this HD tuner...
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2104191&cp=&kw=hd+tuner&parentPage=search
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2104191&cp=&kw=hd+tuner&parentPage=search
NulloModo, thanks for actually understanding what im saying... but the tv didn't even work with cable going sirectly into it from the wall. It was ALL snowy stuff on the screen... so I brought it back and I'm just gonna get another one later..... not a biggie! I'm just gonna wait and buy one with the tuner built in lol, hen I don't have to deal with it!
SJetski71
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Still available in most stores though, that's if you have a radio shack within driving distance.valve1138 said:It's discontinued
I'd but one right now if I could find one.
Off to ebay....
Punch your zip code right in here to find out: http://www.radioshack.com/product/inStoreAvail.jsp?productId=2104191
IDversusEGO
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the HD tuner will not improve the basic cable even if it will run it through there. to improve your picture, get a dish. They have much better quality from my experience.
Actually the only thing that might work for you that I know of off the top of my head is to find a Samsung TS-160/TS-360 DirecTV HDTV reciever. It can tune sat, analog and OTA digital/hd. You do not have to use DirecTV service for this just tell the unit you have no dish during setup. That unit plus ones like the older Sony HD-200, LG LS3200A and a few others all were based off the same unit and all could do sat, analog cable and ota.
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If you want a clearer picture without going to HD, just subscribe to Digital Cable, hook up the Digital Cable Box (that your cable company supplies) to your TV and you are good to go.
OK, so here we go.
Here are the available ways to get HD on a TV, sorry if some of this has already been covered.
From the cable company, you have three options.
You hook up the cable running out of the wall, and get analog channels. Thats it. Unless you have Digital +HD service available through your cable company, and you have a CableCard compatible TV and an activated cablecard which has to be done by an installer.
The other option is that you have to have a cable box with HD capabilities. That also requires a subscription.
With an HD Tuner box, you can have Antenna tuners, known as OTA (over the Air) and an analog cable tuner. There are other variations, but those are the standard options.
You say you have an HD tuner, what model and make is it, that would help us out. Just so you know, as has already been stated, hooking up digital cable or regular cable through an HD Tuner is not going to improve the picture, unless you are receiving an HD signal. Analog signals are going to look the same regardless of what you pass it through.
Digital cable in and of itself is a mixed bag for visual quality, as the compression schemes they use can make the picture worse.
Do you have an OTA tuner in that box? Do you have an antenna? Go to www.antennaweb.org and/or www.titantv.com to see what HD local feeds are available in your area. If you are in a large market, you might be able to receive local HD channels for free.
If you have any more questions, or need more detailed answers PM me.
Here are the available ways to get HD on a TV, sorry if some of this has already been covered.
From the cable company, you have three options.
You hook up the cable running out of the wall, and get analog channels. Thats it. Unless you have Digital +HD service available through your cable company, and you have a CableCard compatible TV and an activated cablecard which has to be done by an installer.
The other option is that you have to have a cable box with HD capabilities. That also requires a subscription.
With an HD Tuner box, you can have Antenna tuners, known as OTA (over the Air) and an analog cable tuner. There are other variations, but those are the standard options.
You say you have an HD tuner, what model and make is it, that would help us out. Just so you know, as has already been stated, hooking up digital cable or regular cable through an HD Tuner is not going to improve the picture, unless you are receiving an HD signal. Analog signals are going to look the same regardless of what you pass it through.
Digital cable in and of itself is a mixed bag for visual quality, as the compression schemes they use can make the picture worse.
Do you have an OTA tuner in that box? Do you have an antenna? Go to www.antennaweb.org and/or www.titantv.com to see what HD local feeds are available in your area. If you are in a large market, you might be able to receive local HD channels for free.
If you have any more questions, or need more detailed answers PM me.