HDmi cables

[Lona]

I've just had HD box installed by Sky and the HDmi cable they used looks like cheap rubbish.

Is it worth buying gold plated leads and would it enhance the quality of the video.?

[Steve]

No Its a digital signal not analogue so an expensive cable is waste of money.

[Lona]

Thanks Steve.  I also want to run a 20m cable from TV to PC and there are so many choices out there and ranges of price that I'm not sure what I should be buying.

[Simon]

The only thing with very cheap cables is the build quality.  The connection may not be as secure as it could be, but digital is digital, so the signal shouldn't be affected.  Bear with me, and I'll see what I can find, Lona.

[Den]

On a short length then a cheap cable would be fine but on a long length you should pay for a better quality cable. We have run cables in a new house (while we running the CCTV cables) for both sound and TVs and the audio firm insisted on high quality cables on the long runs for the TVs.

[Simon]

Hmm... 20m HDMI cables seem hard to find, and one I came across was over £60.  I did find one on Amazon, and there are others on there, higher or lower quality.  As Den said, I wouldn't go for the cheapest one.

[Den]

The 15mtr ones we ran were £90 each (2 off) and £60 for a 10mtr one. 

[Simon]

 

[Ted]

Quite a few on Ebay £20 to £200

[Lona]

Yes, Ted, been watching a few of those. This is the one I'm watching at the moment

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150379860216&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

[Lona]

On the subject of HD, I must be like the little boy in the story of the Kings new clothes story, as I don't really see much difference.  A little clearer on the snooker but not worth £10 extra a month from Sky.

[Simon]

Yes, Ted, been watching a few of those. This is the one I'm watching at the moment

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150379860216&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

IXOS are a good brand, Lona.  I also agree with you.  There is some improvement, but HD isn't the be all and end all it's hyped up to be.

[john]

CPC have them varying in price from around £30 to £200, link here.

[mrapoc]

i think sky hd isnt more for "ohhh thats a nice picture" but more for those with hd tvs, where the normal sky picture is cr*p (well..it is) so the "hd ness" is to make it more bearable

such as the footy

[Lona]

I had a normal 36" crt panasonic and my sky picture was great

[Gary]

On the subject of HD, I must be like the little boy in the story of the Kings new clothes story, as I don't really see much difference.  A little clearer on the snooker but not worth £10 extra a month from Sky.

Then you have not got the picture set up right or you need glasses  , the difference is pronounced once you change the default settings of the TV, don't use Vivid, use standard, take backlight down to about 3-4 turn off the screen dimmer, drop the colour back to 39-40 ish on that set, sharpness down to one, brightness 50, contrast about 49, if you leave it as it came its over saturates everything, they are designed for shop usage, you need to calibrate it. Also depends on what HD material you watch, some is just old films upscaled but true HG looks great, but a bluray player and watching in full 1080P is amazing. Look at something that's filmed in HD (national geographic is a good example) you will be amazed at the detail, but calibrate your set. Also a run that long may well have issues with 1080 I used IXOS cables for long runs, they have circuitry built into the actual ends to help deal with the possible degradation of signal over that length.

[Lona]

Thanks Gary.  I will have to print off those instructions as I've forgotten already all the details.

[Gary]

Thanks Gary.  I will have to print off those instructions as I've forgotten already all the details.

Have a google for settings for your TV some people turn of all the extra processing as well but leave that, DO turn off MPEG noise reduction as well that, really makes the picture soft and use the low power setting if you have dim lights for viewing, it creates better blacks on that set. If you need settings give me a PM 

[Lona]

I'm out my depth with this TV.  Will have to PM you Gary.  Having problems setting up Picture in Picture as well.

[Gary]

I'm out my depth with this TV.  Will have to PM you Gary.  Having problems setting up Picture in Picture as well.

OK, no problem 

[Lona]

Will follow the instructions you gave me then PM you if I have problems.