HDTV Question

[mcdo15]

Hello...im intrested in buying a hdtv projecter....   seeing that the projector has only 1 output for hd, how do i hook up mutliple devices at one time....   say xbox360, hd cable box, etc...  do they make a/v recievers cable of handleing hd?   im a noob still with hd still don't yell at me...

[NY_in_TX]

I'm assuming you mean "one input for HD"

is it DVI or component? 

best way for component (and the way I do it)  is to get a an AV receiver with  component switching.  you run everything through the receiver audio and video.  most decent ones will have this.

DVI I'm not sure (don't use it for HD...old box)

[mcdo15]

thanks..i meant input..

it has 1 component, and 1 dvi.  this hdtv crap is getting more expensive if i need to buy a receiver...huh

[TOK]

Since you have DVI and Component, you can put the XBox on one and the HD cable box on the other. That's going to leave you with the compromise of using S-Video if you're hooking up a DVD player, but image quality won't suffer much since they're only 480P anyway.

[Santoro]

In the past I have successfully switched component HD/DVD video with one of those cheapie rat shack AV swichers.  You just hook up the 3 RCA component jacks ignoring the audio-video labels on the switch.

http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%5Fid=15-1983

Certainly not a videophile solution but it actually works.  You just lose the ability to switch sources from the couch.  bummer.

[rampy]

that's a neat hack santaro... there are modest component cable switchers out there (even saw one at walmart!)  some even are Ir controlled so you could hypothetically get your universal remote to handle the switching chores...

*shrug*

rampy

[JackTucky]

that's a neat hack santaro... there are modest component cable switchers out there (even saw one at walmart!)  some even are Ir controlled so you could hypothetically get your universal remote to handle the switching chores...
rampy

I'm pretty sure if you spend a few $ more, you'll get one that will switch to whichever source is active, so no manual switching necessary.

Art

[Santoro]

The cheapest one of those was ~70$us if I recall...  I was just buying time until I got my component-switching reciever.  Good for those on a strict budget.
 
Then again "HDTV owner on a strict budget" is sort of an oxymorn....

[MnMCaputo]

This should work great, its a little pricey but you wont have to get up to manually switch
http://www.copperbox.com/lite/popinfo.php?lc_code=1154A&uneek=54552276

[JoyMonkey]

Save your money and buy a mid-range receiver. The newer ones are pretty good and they cost about twice as much as that switch. I'm looking at buying a Sony STR-DE998, since it's got component up-conversion (it'll take your component, s-video and composite connections and output them all through one component output). You should be able to pick one up for around $350.
The DE998 only has two component inputs, but then my current receiver doesn't even have s-video 

Edit: Scratch that Sony. The Denon 1705 has more component inputs, is cheaper and the reviews sound great

[ChadTower]

Of course, none of which applies to a person with Satellite.  We would need an entirely different set of receivers.

[JoyMonkey]

Of course, none of which applies to a person with Satellite.  We would need an entirely different set of receivers.

I'm not familiar with modern satellite systems. What kind of output does your satellite box have? DVI?

[ChadTower]

S video at the highest, but it's not HD.  The difference would be that your satellite receiver would have to have the HD decoder built into the receiver, because it would have to decode the proprietary satellite signal into HD and then output it to the TV. 

[JoyMonkey]

S video at the highest, but it's not HD.  The difference would be that your satellite receiver would have to have the HD decoder built into the receiver, because it would have to decode the proprietary satellite signal into HD and then output it to the TV. 

Well yeah, same goes for digital cable receivers too. Thats why the surround sound receivers (like those I mentioned above) have inputs marked 'TV' for your satellite/cable receiver.

[ChadTower]

So you're saying that there is a specific HD receiver for every cable provider?  I guess that could make sense, but would you need a second one for OTA?

I actually use the CD input for satellite because the TV input doesn't have a digital input, only RCA.  My Dtivo outputs optical, which goes into CD on the receiver.  My receiver does a great job but it's far from high end.

[JoyMonkey]

So you're saying that there is a specific HD receiver for every cable provider?  I guess that could make sense, but would you need a second one for OTA?

AFAIK the only way of picking up OTA HD channels is to plug an antenna into a HDTV that supports OTA. I think it's a TV specific thing.

Edit: but then again, I don't have a HDTV and could well be talking through my arse.

[ChadTower]

AFAIK the only way of picking up OTA HD channels is to plug an antenna into a HDTV that supports OTA. I think it's a TV specific thing.

Edit: but then again, I don't have a HDTV and could well be talking through my arse.

No, it still requires an HD decoder, unless your TV had a decoder built in.  Many HDTVs do not have a native decoder in them.  I think many cable or Satellite decoders will do it for you, though, with an extra input you would connect to an antenna.

[JoyMonkey]

Hello...im intrested in buying a hdtv projecter....   seeing that the projector has only 1 output for hd, how do i hook up mutliple devices at one time....   say xbox360, hd cable box, etc...  do they make a/v recievers cable of handleing hd?   im a noob still with hd still don't yell at me...

Stepping back a few posts and going back to plain-old switches, if you don't want to splash out on a new receiver straight away, here's another alternative:
http://store.videogamecentral.com/pesyseprocwa.html
This will switch a bunch of component inputs and even digital optical inputs for $80. There's also a much cheaper one available ($30) that doesn't handle digital sound.

[zaphod]

Great site with loads of information related to your questions: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/

[ChadTower]

I have that Pelican switcher.  I use it for:

DVD
VCR
DirecTivo
N64
Dreamcast

Flawless on all of them.  There's one other game system I can't remember at the moment, too.  It even has one front input for temporary items like a video camera.  All inputs have up to Svideo, and either two or three inputs have component video and optical audio.  You will NOT get a better switcher at a better price.  It's a STEAL at $80.

[pointdablame]

I have that Pelican switcher.  I use it for:

DVD
VCR
DirecTivo
N64
Dreamcast

Flawless on all of them.  There's one other game system I can't remember at the moment, too.  It even has one front input for temporary items like a video camera.  All inputs have up to Svideo, and either two or three inputs have component video and optical audio.  You will NOT get a better switcher at a better price.  It's a STEAL at $80.

I've seen that switcher a few times now and hesitated on getting it.  It may just be worth it though I think.  My only problem is I don't have an HDTV, so the component inputs won't do as much good as it could, but oh well.... it's still better than composite or Svid

[ChadTower]

DVD players use component.  Mine does.

[pointdablame]

DVD players use component.  Mine does.

I meant that component won't be as nice if it's not feeding into a hi-def display.  I have 5 things in my bedroom that use component right now, and its a BETTER picture, but it would look nicer fed into an HDTV, which I don't have.

[ChadTower]

I have that Pelican switcher.