Comcast is only 1080i?

[lipskidder]

Unless you get their DVR box you won't get an HDMI port. I didn't know that. We just got the box set up yesterday. I saw somewhere they have a free DVR special for a year. I think I will try calling them and see what that is all about. Those component cables are HUGE!

[blusubaru]

1080p takes too much bandwidth. 1080i is the highest they go. Unless you have an extremely large set and are sitting within a few feet of the screen you won't notice the difference between 1080i and 1080p. Yes, you have to specifically ask for the HD box.

EDIT: clarification - like Mikebw said, you can get HD through a variety of sources with various cables, but to use HDMI with Comcast, you need the Motorola DVR box.

[mikebw]

"only" huh? every HD broadcast or cable channel is 1080i or less. There is not enough bandwidth for 1080p OTA.

You can get HD signals through HDMI, DVI, VGA or component, so you don't need their DVR box to do that.

[M A V I C]

From what I've seen, it's super-compressed. I may be 1080i, but it's like taking a 1920x1080 photo and saving it with 10% compression in Photoshop.

[lipskidder]

yeah, I know it came out a little pompous with "only". I was just trying to get the best I could and Comcast is currently boasting the best quality (I know, I know) and I thought the best was 1080p. Can you only get 1080p OTA for channels then? Or does the dish companies put out 1080p?

[mikebw]

nobody does 1080p. The only way to get that is from HD-DVD or Blu-Ray discs.

OTA 1080i will look better than cable because it is not compressed.

[MGS_forgot_password]

Nobody does 1080p. You'll only get that from HD-DVD, Blu-Ray, and I think some PS3 games.

[lipskidder]

Damn this hrts the brain but I think I am getting it. Thanks, mikebw.

[mikebw]

Yeah, at first you think HD is universally good and the same, but after a while you will learn more about it.

As I understand it, Comcast and the other cable companies are pretty much forced to compress the HD channels because they are using all of the available bandwidth on the coax for the "analog" channels. These take up more bandwidth per channel than digital, and so they are trying to get everyone to switch to digital, presumably so they can offer more HD channels (with compression no doubt).

I know for sure that Verizon's FiOS has more bandwidth to use up for HD signals, but I don't know how much they have elected to compress them vs. Comcast.

[Seacrest]

This explains everything.