Digital Cable/HDTV
 

i think this is the best forum for this question...

my father gave me a call the other day and said he was getting digital cable. he's got a 47" widescreen HD-ready TV, which i gather means it doesnt have the circuitry that decodes an HD signal. now, is an external decoder box needed to decode an HD broadcast (i know this was the case a year or two ago) or are the new Comcast boxes able to decode the HD signal? experience, hearsay, and guesses are welcome.

Comcast has a digital cable service, which doesn't include any HD channels (and the box doesn't decode them as well). They also have a new HD service, which you get a new box for and which lets you watch some HD programming. I'm not sure about your area, but where I live, there are only about ten channels or so that actually broadcast in HD, so I'm waiting for more channels before I spend more money on the HD programming. If your dad has the money to blow, though, by all means tell him to get one. Especially if he likes the Discovery channel. That channel ROCKS in HD.

I know in Ontario Canada with Rogers Cable you need a special box to view the 10 or so HDTV channels.

Be sure not to confuse Digital Cable with HD.

sorry, i wasn't too clear... i know comcast has a digital and digital/HD service. i was wondering if the digital/HD service costs more and if extra hardware is needed apart from the box. looks like the box has it all, though. thanks for the responses.

Yeah, it does cost more on almost all services. Like it's been already said though, there is only about 10 channels that broadcast in HDTV right now.

HDTV ready usually means that it's capable of recieving an HD signal. However, cable companies have to provide HD users with a particular cable box that includes and HD reciever. Otherwise, you'd have to buy an HD reciever and the basic cable box. I use Time Warner here in Houston with my 36" HDTV. I have a different digital cable box than my parents, because mine includes the HD reciever (small attachment on the back of the box) so I can pickup the 10 HD channels the company offers. I personally think it's well worth the money. My digital cable package is the same as any other, I only pay an addition $5 a month to rent the HD cable reciever. Even though it's only 10 channels, the quality is so much better than typical broadcast that I can't go back. I have to watch the HD channels.