Roger wrote: > One thing that i have noticed is that that the digital > decoder box is more sensitive to a loss of voltage by using a longer > cable, or incorrect RG cable (thinner cable). > > think about it. running a cable 100miles, you're bound to see some > voltage loss. ...but if we are talking about *digital* cable, the voltage loss is meaningless to picture quality. As long as what goes down the cable as a 1 or a 0 comes out the other end as a 1 or a 0, the image will look the same. Obviously when we are talking cable with hundreds of signals on it on different carriers, it's hard to talk about a single bit going down the cable as a voltage, but the point is there. There is no "gradual loss" in a digital signal, it's either exactly as it was sent or it's horribly mutated. As for the "recommended" RG cable, for signal purposes it doesn't matter much. The recommended grades of "satellite cable" mostly specifies the weatherproofing characteristics of the cable not really it's signal carrying abilities. The "picture" signal on the cable isn't that absurdly high, and the only other requirement of the cable is that it can carry an amp or so @13/18V to power the LNB and switch polarities. > i've been all over the US with the same equipement i'm using now. The > only difference is the source of my cable signal (using digital > satillite service Dishnetwork now and was on COX digital cable in > another city). If you found a digital cable service that was worse than dish network, "I pity the fool". Every since the must carry laws came into effect, Dish network picture quality has been pretty much unbearable. > also, i've been on both dishnetwork and directv. i have yet to > experience HDTV. Too rich for my blood & the cost to solution ratio is > just too much. That's another area where satellite companies suffer, generally they make you buy HD equipment so the start up fee is really expensive. ($500+) With digital cable a lot of companies rent the boxes; in my case I just started paying $20cdn/month and the box arrived at my door, $0 up front. -- Trevor Boicey, P. Eng. Ottawa, Canada, tboicey@xxxxxxx ICQ #17432933 http://www.brit.ca/~tboicey/ Betting Finished!
