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OK, there appears to be some question here in this thread with HD viewing methods. Here's the deal: First, there are two different connections that we're referring to: 1. The connection from the RG to the STB. This connection can be either coax or Cat5e. This is not relevant to the discussion, so forget about this connection for the moment. 2. The connection from the STB to the TV. This is the connection that impacts HD viewing. There are 5 ways to connect the STB to the TV: 1. Coax. This is SD only (480i). 2. Composite. This is the single yellow RCA connector. It is also SD only (480i). 3. S-Video. This is the 5-pin black connector. It is also SD only (480i). 4. Component. This is the 3 RCA connectors labeled Y-Pb-Pr (Red/Green/Blue). This can carry an SD or HD signal (480i, 720p, 1080i). 5. HDMI. This is the rectangular 19-pin connector. This can carry an SD or HD signal (480i, 720p, 1080i). The U-Verse STB will allow you to change to any channel (SD or HD) and will scale the picture so that the output works. Thus, if you have changed to an HD channel (720p or 1080i), but you have a TV connected on #1, #2, or #3, the U-Verse STB will downscale the picture to 480i SD so that it can be sent out those connections. This gives rise to 2 situations which are not optimal: 1. If you have an HD-capable TV, but you have this TV connected to the U-Verse STB via connection #1, #2, or #3, then you can watch any HD channel, but you will not be watching in high definition. You will see the downscaled SD 480i picture instead. This obviously takes away from the high definition experience. For viewing high definition pictures, you need to use connection method #4 or #5. 2. If you have only an SD-capable TV, then you will never be able to view the HD channels in high definition. You will always only be able to see the downscaled 480i SD picture. The HD preview that is upcoming will not sell very many HD packages for people who fall into these categories. They will tune to an HD channel and not see anything much different than what they've already been seeing on SD channels. The only people who will really benefit from the HD preview are those people who have an HD-capable TV, have it hooked up through connection method #4 or #5, and who do not subscribe to the HD service. I would think this would not be too many people, thus I question the sales benefit of this HD preview. Now, someone also said that you can view HD programming via a coax connection to the TV. In other systems, specifically some cable systems, and with an over-the-air (OTA) antenna, this is true. However, U-Verse does not work like that, and you cannot get any HD signals via the coax (#1) connection. Message Edited by SomeJoe7777 on 01-09-2009 10:51 AM
- SomeJoe7777
What's your art?
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You said exactly what I was trying to convey. Not very many people that don't already have the HD package will get any benefit from this free preview. If they do have a HD TV and do not have the HD package I don't think they will be running to by an HDMI cable for the preview.
