This site is closed to new comments and posts.

Notice: This site uses cookies to function.
If you are not comfortable with cookies then please don't browse this website.

Another TWC question- getting an HD box? — Brooklynian

Another TWC question- getting an HD box?

carmen
carmen
edited November -1 in Park Slope
I just got cable a little over a week ago and they brought my a cablebox for an old, regular tube (non-hd) tv. I'm receiving my HDtv today and know I will need a new box (from what I understand this box won't even be operational on my new tv.) How do I go about getting a new box? The guy who installed my cable mumbled something about there being a TWC store in sunset park in the 30s somewhere where I could just walk in and exchange the box, but I can't find anything about it online via google or the twc website. I've tried calling twc all weekend but sat on hold at least 20 minutes each time before hanging up since I figured someone on here might know the answer...


so, in short, how do I get my HD box?! And am I correct in assuming this box won't work on my new tv?

Comments

  • opossumqueen
    opossumqueen
    769 5th Ave. (at 27th St.)

    Hours of Operation: Mon–Fri: 8am–7pm; Sat: 9am–5pm

    I don't know if this old box will or won't work. I'd guess that you can use it for regular channels but HD channels either won't come through or won't be in HD. When we got an HD tv all I did was take in the old box to this location and get the appropriate one. It was pretty easy.
  • be nice
    be nice
    Time warner store locations are here.
    http://www.timewarnercable.com/nynj/customer/locations.html

    you go to the store.. take a number and wait. they move pretty quickly so dont get too scared when you see the number of people waiting.
  • opossumqueen
    opossumqueen
    The 5th Ave bus goes a block or so away. Also, they have a small parking lot and I found something to chain my bike to near the door when I've gone, fwiw.
  • be nice
    be nice
    Time warner store locations are here.
    http://www.timewarnercable.com/nynj/customer/locations.html

    you go to the store.. take a number and wait. they move pretty quickly so dont get too scared when you see the number of people waiting.
  • carmen
    carmen
    wow I feel like an idiot, i really did look on their site. It must have been some sort of mental block...
    At any rate, thanks so much everyone :) I'll be going tomorrow!
  • unwiredben
    unwiredben
    The current box will work fine with your HDTV, but you won't get HD channels or see content in widescreen. When you get the HD box, you'll need to hook it up using component (3 video connections and R/L audio) or HDMI (one flat connector cable that carries both video and audio) to get the full high definition picture.
  • carmen
    carmen
    I thought for some reason that my new TV wouldnt have a regular cable input (a techy friend told me this...) By regular cable I mean one of those round standard cable cords. He said that most new HDTVs only have those HDMI and 3-component cords and not regular cable inputs...is that wrong? it seemed off to me that the tv wouldn't be regular cable ready.. (as a sidenote, I bought this TV online and though I did view it in a store beforehand I didn't think to check for the cable inputs since I'm new to all this...)
  • dawnc
    dawnc

    Subject: ....Or have TW do it for you!

    I had the same experience myself recently. Yes you can go to a store and do an exchange if you don't want to wait, but alternatively just call TW and make an appointment for them to come to your home. They'll bring a new box and set it up fpr you and show you how to use it. It won't cost you anything. Thats what I did. i don't think I could have made sense of all the cables!
  • carmen
    carmen

    Subject: Re: ....Or have TW do it for you!

    dawnc wrote: I had the same experience myself recently. Yes you can go to a store and do an exchange if you don't want to wait, but alternatively just call TW and make an appointment for them to come to your home. They'll bring a new box and set it up fpr you and show you how to use it. It won't cost you anything. Thats what I did. i don't think I could have made sense of all the cables!

    Sweet, i might do that. I think I can probably set up the cables fine but I'm always nervous about programming remotes! I have a phobia I think... I bet they can come out within the week.
  • opossumqueen
    opossumqueen
    Go HDMI. We had problems with a few things until we switched from component to HDMI, mainly the sound had this horrible whine on component cables that HDMI corrected.
  • vidro3
    vidro3
    HDMI is easier, requires fewer wires and I think results in slightly better picture quality.
  • comfortably smug
    comfortably smug
    You should go HDMI. Purchase it from monoprice.com. Retail stores will try to sell you a gold plated magic unicorn anti distortion cable for 99.99 when you can get the same cable from monoprice.com for about 5 dollars. Their cable listed as "Product ID 4026" should get the job done for 5 bucks.
  • hitokiri
    hitokiri
    what TV did you get?
  • carmen
    carmen
    Its an LG
  • southslopesuit
    southslopesuit
    Re. people's recommendation for HDMI - your mileage may vary.

    With one of my HDTVs, HDMI results in sound drop-outs after some time; random silent 'glitches'. Component is flawless.
    With my other set, HDMI worked perfectly - but after an automatic update on the cable box, it also suddenly resulted in 'fat-head' stretched video, which would not be bypassed despite hundreds of setting on TV and cable box. So again, I switched to component, with slightly worse picture quality but at least no fat heads.

    In both cases, problem is the HDMI implementation of the devices; the cable itself is innocent.

    HDMI is a fancy technology that is prone to hand-shake and compatibility issues between devices - in theory (and perhaps mostly) it's great, but there's also plenty of room for weird compatibility problems, and you could get unlucky and end up with issues. Component is almost as good, and is a completely 'dumb' technology - thus immune to compatibility issues.

    Get the HDMI at monopice(dot)com - hopefully it will work OK. Time Warner will provide you with a nice set of component cables for free, so you'll have those for fall-back if you need them.
  • carmen
    carmen
    Oh and in case anyone cares, my mind is already blown without even having an HD box. Intervention viewing parties at my crib! I can't believe I survived with a 10inch tube tv for the last 3 years.

    And I appreciate everyone's advice about the HDMI and whatnot- I think I am going to make an appt with TWC so they'll supply and hook up all that crap and buy extra cables on amazon or monoprice (never heard of that site, good reference!)
  • hitokiri
    hitokiri
    Carmen wrote: Its an LG
    Nice TV.


    Bought my father a 42 inch LG. That brand has some of the best speakers on it.

    All you need for it is the HDMI cable and you are good to go (granted you dont have a huge stereo system attached)
  • hollyhock
    hollyhock
    Carmen wrote: And I appreciate everyone's advice about the HDMI and whatnot- I think I am going to make an appt with TWC so they'll supply and hook up all that crap and buy extra cables on amazon or monoprice (never heard of that site, good reference!)
    In my experience the HDMI isn't worth it with Time Warner Cable around here. I've gotten the runaround trying to get that hooked up... one rep says it's my cable box... tech they sent says TWC doesn't support HDMI on their boxes. I can't seem to get a straight answer.

    Unless you're an HD-phile (or whatever you want to call that) you probably won't notice a difference between that and the component cables. And don't let anyone talk you into those $100 HDMI cables.

    Easiest just to go pick up a box and plug it in. As long as they enter it into your account right that you should receive HD it shouldn't be a problem to just come home and plug it all in. That's what I did. Not worth the waste of your time that the "we'll be there between 8am and noon but really we just won't show up or come 3 hours late" stuff they'll put you through.

    Just my two cents...

    Good luck!
    Holly

    [[slight edit for bad spelling]]
  • the_dude
    the_dude
    Agreed on the HDMI...it can be beautiful, or it can be problematic. Considering since it's come out, they've gone through HDMI 1.1, 1.2, 1.2a, 1.3, 1.3a, etc etc, there's clearly been some bumps along the way trying to implement it mainstream. It's really what works best in your situation as one is not automatically better than the other:

    http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/34579/122868.html

    As an aside, I have a ground loop in my cable resulting in scrolling vertical lines that I'll be getting an isolator for. While troubleshooting, I unplugged my component connection and plugged in HDMI to connect my cable. The result was that HDMI didn't seem as good; there was a lag when changing channels that isn't present with component. So, i hooked component back up and haven't looked back. Just illustrating again what I said above; it's really just going to depend on what works best for you. Good luck with the new tv.
  • booklaw
    booklaw
    fwiw, we have a TW cable box connected by HDMI to our flat screen tv, and the picture is utterly beautiful. As I mentioned above, we occasionally have audio outages, which are relatively easily cured.
  • comfortably smug
    comfortably smug
    Look, if you wanted dependable technology, you wouldn't have gone with Time Warner in the first place.

    What do you mean hollyhock that HDMI wasn't worth it? 5 dollars isn't worth it? Are your reading comprehension skills that poor or is it just the innate stupidity present whenever a woman tries to weigh in on a technical issue?

    With HDMI if nothing else you are getting a solution that streamlines the installation process into one cord to plug in. It's neater and more organized. It delivers great picture quality and sound if you take the roughly 6 to 8 seconds to set the cable box to transmit via HDMI.

    I don't know what is more irritating, stupid people, or their attempts to discuss subjects in which they are numbingly ignorant. These people, and such activities seem to be disproportionately present in Park Slope.
  • modsquad
    modsquad
    Comfortably Smug wrote: I don't know what is more irritating, stupid people, or their attempts to discuss subjects in which they are numbingly ignorant. These people, and such activities seem to be disproportionately present in Park Slope.
    I like you Smug. You put a little snap in the flag of under achievement that flies over PS.
  • carmen
    carmen
    Comfortably Smug wrote: Look, if you wanted dependable technology, you wouldn't have gone with Time Warner in the first place.

    What do you mean hollyhock that HDMI wasn't worth it? 5 dollars isn't worth it? Are your reading comprehension skills that poor or is it just the innate stupidity present whenever a woman tries to weigh in on a technical issue?

    With HDMI if nothing else you are getting a solution that streamlines the installation process into one cord to plug in. It's neater and more organized. It delivers great picture quality and sound if you take the roughly 6 to 8 seconds to set the cable box to transmit via HDMI.

    I don't know what is more irritating, stupid people, or their attempts to discuss subjects in which they are numbingly ignorant. These people, and such activities seem to be disproportionately present in Park Slope.

    You're getting awfully riled up over my cable situation. And, although I cannot speak to this specific issue as I'm not well versed in home entertainment, I resent the comment about women being innately stupid about technical issues. I make my living by NOT being innately stupid about some technical issues. Just because I (or anyone) hasn't had the luxury of purchasing and installing a giant tv until now doesn't mean he or she is "innately stupid"....
  • comfortably smug
    comfortably smug
    I'm sorry if I offended you, but guys are innately stupid about things like nail polish and purses, each has their own strengths.

    Besides, it was hollyhock's idiocy I was speaking of. The visual difference between component and hdmi is like the jump to component from s video. Maybe you should clean your glasses.

    DVI to HDMI is not so much of a jump, but the convenience of having audio and video in one cable is fantastic, especially when it just snaps into place unlike coax which has to be screwed into place (much like a woman overconfident of her supposed technical prowess)
  • comfortably smug
    comfortably smug
    Comfortably Smug wrote:

    DVI to HDMI is not so much of a jump, but the convenience of having audio and video in one cable is fantastic, especially when it just snaps into place unlike coax which has to be screwed into place (much like a woman overconfident of her supposed technical prowess)

    Post of the year.
Sign In or Register to comment.

Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!

Sign In

Categories