HDTV question

[Stonecutter]

Originally Posted by Jason1

Okay on Wednesday we are getting HDTV installed from the cable company. Problem is im allready using the two Component inputs on the back of my TV for the dvd player and Gamecube respectivly. I did notice that we have one of the white connectors such as the one seen in the following picture.(note that isnt the back of my TV, but thats the only picture I could find with that type of connnector.) Im not sure if the HDTV box could output to that, in fact im not even sure what the heck that white connector is. So im asking what that white connector is, and could the HDTV box that we will be getting use it? Also, if the answer is no, is there some sort of component switch type thing that would turn one component input into two, so I wouldnt have to constantly switch the gamecube and the DVD player when I want to use them?(Im hoping I dont have to do this) Can anybody shed any light on this subject?

The white connector is a DVI port. You may or may not be able to output to it. It's going to depend on your box.

Unfortunately there are many, HD providers (Comcast is one of them, I believe Charter is another) that do not allow the boxes to output from their DVI port. This is done to prevent you from copying HDTV to DVD. I'm not exactly sure how that works, it seems like a load of **** to me cause the best you could hope for would be 480p but regardless, my Comcast box HAS a dvi port, but will not output from it, it is disabled.

If you want perfect picture quality, you're going to have to spend about 300-400 on a component switcher box. I went the cheap route and got a pelican box from wal mart for about 100. There is a very slight loss in picture quality that I'm willing to live with to save the money.