OK folks, i know i am really clueless on the hd stuff but we just got a new hdtv and am wondering what i need to do about our DVR with TWC. Do i need to upgrade, are there gonna be extra charges, etc. Anyone dealt with this lately and have a bit of advice?
you will need to upgrade to a hi-def cable box and im not sure about extra charges since everything will be broadcast in hd next year( just make sure you get a really good HDMI cable to run from reciever to tv!)
Congrats! Congrats! If you already have digital cable, then it's a "free" upgrade... Just give TWC a call and they'll switch out their box. I'm not sure what the upgrade is from analog to digital costs... but since you mentioned DVR, I assume you already have digital cable. Just give em a call and they'll hoook ya up.
thanks folks, yeah, i do already have a dvr, so that means i already have digital cable? (told ya i am so clueless). What if i want to keep the dvr i have and move it to a new tv and what is the difference in an hd dvr and the one i have had for the past 4 years?
On a side note. Unless they have just started releasing them TWC does not offer cable boxes with HDMI outputs. What they do offer is a DVI output, which you can purchase a DVi to HDMI cable, however I have personally experienced as well as know others that have the same issue. That the DVi to HDMI conversion from the TWC boxes does not work. Also as a note everything will be broadcast in digital, which does not mean that eveything will be in HD, although they might as well as it really wouldn't cost much if any more. Craig
We went through the same thing with TWC a while back. We just bought a new HDTV a few weeks ago and it cost me $150 to upgrade with Dish Network from my current DVR to an HD. They are so backed up that they can't get to us until March 2! In the meantime, hubby went and bought an indoor antenna (rabbit ears) and hooked it up and we can get several channels in high def now. It's so cool! Can't wait for Dish Network to get the real thing hooked up (and get those ugly rabbit ears out of my living room).
I disagree. You can get just as good a quality cable from monocable for 1/10th of the price of the high end ones from Best Buy. Now if you're talking about going from s-video to component, I agree :mrgreen: BTW, picture quality wise, component is as good as HDMI and more dependable.
Girl, we just upgraded last week. We just bought a 52 inch hdtv plasma and just had our regular TWC digital cable dvr box switched to the HDTV cable dvr box, huge difference. It's really unbelievable the difference in the picture once we switched the box. No extra cost.
I've used these folks and have been very satisfied with the quality of the cables. I actually bought one from Best Buy, returned it because it gave me problems (and was $$$$) and this cable from bluejeans cable worked better for alot less $$. http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/hdmi-cables/index.htm
HDMI cables are great, but one thing you need to understand that because it is a digital signal, it is going to be the same no matter what cable you use. Best Buy wants to the push the Monster brand HDMI cables for $$$ because there are HUGE mark-ups on these cables. The monster brand is NO better than any unbranded HDMI cable as long as the cable meets the HDMI standards. I believe the quality from HDMI is better than component, and HDMI does sound and picture in one cable, a definite plus over component. Moral - NEVER buy Monster HDMI cables. Find a good cable on the internet or in a local computer/AV shop that is unbranded.
OK, here's my question: I currently have DirecTV in my house, and I also have (in my personal name) DishNetwork at my cabin in the mountains. My hubby wants all new HD boxes and I want tivo/dvr, something like that. Our DirecTV boxes are very old, and they told me they don't even use them anymore. For us to upgrade though, it's like $100/box, and we need 3. We thought about going to DishNetwork, they seem to have better deals right now, but because I'm already a customer, I can't get their deals, they're for "new customers" only. Even though it's at a different location. So my questions are: 1. do you think my hubby could do it through Dish, or is it per household, not per person? 2. Is there a better way for me to upgrade to HD without spending so much on boxes? 3. Will it even matter if I get HD when next January comes? Or will I need it by then anyway? 4. What's the difference between DVR and Tivo? By the way, I DO NOT want TWC, so don't try to persuade me that way! I had them before and didn't like them at all.
Ask them for their best price, and let them know you're talking with their competitor as well. When you don't get what you want (and you won't), tell them you're ready to disconnect. They'll send you to customer retention, which can offer much better deals (you'll probably get what you what from this dept.). See answer #1, but this may work too. Not really. You can try Ebay, Craigslist, but how will you know if they owe any money on it? Their prices won't be much better anyway, and you really need to know what you're buying. You don't want to pay good money for a DTV receiver that doesn't get MPEG-4, which is just about useless right now. You only have to have an HD ready tv. They are the same. Tivo is a DVR, it's just a brand name.
Actually you are going to need a digital receiver, but not really a HD ready tv. As the change is from analog to digital broadcasts, and not from SD to HD broadcasts. There is a difference between the two. And while a standard digital boradcast is better than today's analog sd (standard definition) broadcast it is still not up to the HD standard. What will be requried is either a set-top box, or a set that has a built in digital tuner which in and of itself does not make the TV hd ready. Craig
