Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Technical Questions DVI...Cable Box to TV?

Hi...My cable box is a Pace with DVI output. My TV has DVI input. When the cable company hooked me up they used component video cables to hook the cable box to the TV. I was wondering how much video quality improvement I would see if I used the DVI thingy instead? My TV seems to be rec'ing broadcasts at 480i, but I know it can go all the way up to 1080i. Would DVI only impact my HiDef channels, or would it also improve just the regular digital channels that I get, which video wise are not that great...this stuff is confusing. Appreciate any advice you may have...Thx ( Just something else to work out while I save for my Epic 60's)

I have the Dish Net HD package. It’s strange because The HD signal will take advantage of the DVI but for regular programming (non HD) it goes through the svideo connection.
It sure would be easier if everything could just go out one connection.
I don't know about your cable box though. I'm willing to bet that your box is doing something similar.

billys - I have my cable box (a Motorola unit from Comcast) connected to my Samsung TV (HLN4067W) through DVI as well as coaxial and S-Video. I'm not sure how DVI would compare to component video quality, but I might be able to do some switching around of cables and get back to you.

As far as DVI performance is concerned I've been very impressed. Keep in mind that the DVI cable only carries the video signal, so you must also use audio cables to connect from the cable box to the TV and/or to your receiver.

When I try to view regular broadcast stations through the DVI connection I see some video artifacts at the top of my screen. Although the picture is otherwise sharp, the artifacts are so distracting that I just can't watch it this way.

Digital broadcast stations on Comcast (three digit stations) don't have this artifact problem and they do look a little sharper than if I used my S-video connection. Not sure how it would compare to component video but, as I mentioned, I will check it out.

If in the end you decide to try out DVI and are in need of a cable, then you should check out some of the online cable suppliers rather than going with what you might find in a BestBuy or CircuitCity (typically Monster). I've had good experience with Blue Jeans Cable. They've recently introduced a line of DVI cables for what appears to be a reasonable price. In any event, do some shopping around for the cable.

Billy, the first thing to do is check with your cable company to see if the DVI output is active. There are many Cable companies who use cable boxes with a DVI output, but they aren't activated. If it is active, unless you've got a really long run to the HDTV, I'd spend the dough to get a DVI cable and try it out. I think you'll like it.

Thanks Guys...I checked at my local Ratshack and they want 90.00 for a 2 meter Monster cable...I'm gonna see if my IT guy here at work has anything laying around I can take home for the weekend and try out...Thanks for the Blue Jeans link, and the advice to call my cable company to see if the port is active...I will give them a shout!

try this.
https://secure.libertycable.com/ordercenter/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=172&osCsid=ab6855d2f56aa538906fba38819e7a82

I picked up a 6 meter for $30.00

My IT guy did not have a cable I could borrow, but said if I was happy with the few HiDef channels i DO get that the DVI would not improve just my regular digital acble stations. HD looks good so maybe I'll just save that port for an upgraded DVD later on...still interested in any opinions here though...

Don't pay anything like $90 for a 2 meter DVI cable, Billy. Here are good DVI cables that are $22 for a 2 meter DVD-D Single link cable, or $23 for a DVI-D Dual link cable.

This article may help explain
http://www.projectorpeople.com/tutorials/HDCP_DVI.asp

DVI vs component can depend a lot on your display and how it treats the source material. I have a 42" ED plasma w/ component and DVI. It's fed by an HD D*Tivo via DVI. On some dark HD shows, like 6' under or some Thu nite shows on CBS, the dark areas show up as "blotchy". (Bear in mind that I've calibrated my set on my own Avia and an HDNet HD Test pattern.) When I watch via component, this goes away. DVI is slightly sharper, but the color issues are there and go away via component. Now on bright shows like the Olymipcs, this doesn't happen. It really depends on your STB and the shows you watch. The type of display also comes into play. I'm guessing here, but I think a CRT w/ DVI may not show the blotchiness I'm seeing.