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Do I need an HD cable? |
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#1 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: up north
Posts: 1,586
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Do I need an HD cable?
I got a new Samsung UE32EH5000 HD TV yesterday. Previously I had an 11 year old low definition set.
I subscribe to Sky but not their HD service. With the free HD channels I'm not noticing any difference in picture quality from the non HD channels. Supposedly Satellite Freeview is built in to the TV but I haven't come across it in the TV menu. So, do I need a HD cable running from my Sky box to the TV to get the HD picture? Or does the fact I'm getting a picture on the free HD channels mean that that is as good as the picture is going to get? |
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#2 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Utopia
Posts: 10,192
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Yes you will need an HDMI cable, to get the picture in HD.
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#3 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 151
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To get HD you will need to use an HDMI cable. If you are using scart or composite video it will not be HD.
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#4 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 6,462
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Yes, the HD picture from the Sky box needs a HDMI cable connection between your Sky+HD box and the TV. This is an alternative connection to the SCART cable you are probably using right now.
Once you have your HDMI cable installed then you'll need to switch to a different AV channel to watch Sky. One thing about HDMI; it doesn't switch over the TV automatically like you might have been used to with SCART. So remember to disconnect the SCART cable which is now redundant and then press the AV or source button on your remote to select the input where the HDMI cable is attached. Your TV having Freesat built in is something entirely different. Freesat uses a different TV tuner. The TV needs another connection, but this time it's a wire from the satellite dish to the TV. It has to be a direct connection. You can't split one of the existing satellite feeds going to the Sky box. I would suggest though, that if you are watching via Sky then this extra connection is probably redundant because there's very little if anything extra via Freesat that you aren't already getting via Sky. Ebay and online retailers sell low cost HDMI cables. As long as the spec' states something along the lines of HDMI 1.4, or High Speed (either with or without Ethernet) then you'll be fine. Expect to pay no more that £5. |
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#5 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: up north
Posts: 1,586
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Thanks for the answers. I'll get the cable then.
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#6 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 6,572
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Whatever you do don't pay too much for one......A cheap one works the same as an expensive one...A cheap supermarket branded one is good enough if you can't wait and order one from Amazon for a couple of quid.
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#7 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 2,270
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I'll just repeat the advice you have already received. When you connect your new HDMI cable, disconnect the scart lead and throw it in the bin - or it will take precedence over the HDMI cable and you still won't see HD.
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#8 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,127
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Quote:
Whatever you do don't pay too much for one......A cheap one works the same as an expensive one...A cheap supermarket branded one is good enough if you can't wait and order one from Amazon for a couple of quid.
you can get a HDMI cable from poundland will give the same picture quality as a £50 one from Currys |
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#9 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: S.West England.
Posts: 18,037
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as well a unplugging the scart cord, once the hdmi is in place and you are viewing the sky picture through it, make sure the Sky box is configured to output HD pictures - eg 1080i mode. If your using it on scart now, chances are the box is only sending out 576SD pictures.
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#10 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: up north
Posts: 1,586
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Quote:
as well a unplugging the scart cord, once the hdmi is in place and you are viewing the sky picture through it, make sure the Sky box is configured to output HD pictures - eg 1080i mode. If your using it on scart now, chances are the box is only sending out 576SD pictures.
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#11 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Redditch Worcs
Posts: 17,295
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Quote:
Thanks. I hadn't done that configuring but it turned out it was already at 1080i. Where it says Scart Control should I have that at off? And what about Scart Video Output? Does it matter now about that?
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#12 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 37
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To see any difference between SD and HD depends largely on the distance at which you are viewing the TV, even with the correct cables and set up. See the thread I started on this subject at Digital Entertainment Services/Satellite/Freesat+ Recorders/HD v SD
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#13 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: North Derbyshire
Posts: 41,794
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Quote:
To see any difference between SD and HD depends largely on the distance at which you are viewing the TV, even with the correct cables and set up. See the thread I started on this subject at Digital Entertainment Services/Satellite/Freesat+ Recorders/HD v SD
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#14 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Scottish Borders
Posts: 11,995
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Just to point out, the OP's telly does not have a Freesat tuner.
It has a Freeview HD tuner, and to watch that they will need to connect it to a terrestrial aerial. |
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#15 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: colchester
Posts: 15,352
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Have to say I am very disappointed by the advice given to the OP, I thought there were people here who knew their onions.
Anyway, OP you need this HDMI cable and you need to replace your power lead. |
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#16 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: West Yorks
Posts: 6,180
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Quote:
Have to say I am very disappointed by the advice given to the OP, I thought there were people here who knew their onions.
Anyway, OP you need this HDMI cable and you need to replace your power lead.
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#17 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: colchester
Posts: 15,352
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Quote:
Am glad you are here to point the op in the right direction
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#18 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: North Derbyshire
Posts: 41,794
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Has no one thought that he will already have an HDMI lead?, assuming he has a Sky HD box? - one comes with it.
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#19 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,708
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Quote:
Anyway, OP you need this HDMI cable and you need to replace your power lead.
Are those honestly genuine items, or just a spoof for the benefit of techies?
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#20 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: colchester
Posts: 15,352
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Quote:
Are those honestly genuine items, or just a spoof for the benefit of techies?There was some guy who posted in GD last year who claimed to have a PhD and was involved in making some of the russ andrews products. Certainly these items have been referred to before by the knowledgeable posters who frequent this forum. |
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#21 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,008
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Quote:
I'll just repeat the advice you have already received. When you connect your new HDMI cable, disconnect the scart lead and throw it in the bin - or it will take precedence over the HDMI cable and you still won't see HD.
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#22 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 136
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Further to this, I replaced my scart with a HDMI lead and picture quality on the none-HD channels was also significantly better.
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#23 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: South
Posts: 10,863
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Quote:
Further to this, I replaced my scart with a HDMI lead and picture quality on the none-HD channels was also significantly better.
Those £2k HDMI cables are worth every penny. Just make sure you also spend at least £1k on a remote control as that will improve the picture even more
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#24 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Reading
Posts: 27,920
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Quote:
Good stuff.
Those £2k HDMI cables are worth every penny. Just make sure you also spend at least £1k on a remote control as that will improve the picture even more ![]() http://www.russandrews.com/product.a...GBP&pf_id=4056 Bet you can get the same effect from a couple of quid off cut at B&Q
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#25 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 136
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Quote:
Good stuff.
Those £2k HDMI cables are worth every penny. Just make sure you also spend at least £1k on a remote control as that will improve the picture even more ![]() |
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Are those honestly genuine items, or just a spoof for the benefit of techies?