A Thread To Ask Dumb Questions

Suicane75 · 10-09-2016, 02:01 PM

Do I need an HDMI cable from my cable box to TV to get HD or will a coaxial cable suffice?

CU Tiger · 10-10-2016, 10:04 AM

Coax cant through pass true HD.

Deliver quality, TV quality and a ton of other factors will determine how visible it is to the naked eye, but Coax can not through pass true HD.

SackAttack · 10-10-2016, 01:03 PM

Nah. It's not about video quality. It's about copy protection. The signal sent to your cable box uses HDCP to encrypt the HD signal. If you're connecting with coax or component cables, the box is going to detect that and step down your resolution.

HDMI cables are needed for the 'handshake' with the HDCP protocol. It's not that coax "can't" handle HD resolutions, it's that the copy protection doesn't allow it.

If you look at OTA broadcasts, for example, you can plug an antenna in to your TV via coax and get HD channels. You probably won't see anything in 1080p, true, but that's because hardly anybody is broadcasting in 1080p yet.

It's not about picture quality, it's about copy protection.

CU Tiger · 10-10-2016, 01:55 PM

The simple answer is coax wont suffice.
We can debate the specifics, but it isnt what he asked.

Im not disputing your post, but Coax cant pass the the baud rate (speed or density) required period.

Your HD antenna analogy is a fair point, but...you wont get 1080p much less 4k even when they are broadcasting it.

10-10-2016, 01:03 PM	#3
SackAttack Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Green Bay, WI	Nah. It's not about video quality. It's about copy protection. The signal sent to your cable box uses HDCP to encrypt the HD signal. If you're connecting with coax or component cables, the box is going to detect that and step down your resolution. HDMI cables are needed for the 'handshake' with the HDCP protocol. It's not that coax "can't" handle HD resolutions, it's that the copy protection doesn't allow it. If you look at OTA broadcasts, for example, you can plug an antenna in to your TV via coax and get HD channels. You probably won't see anything in 1080p, true, but that's because hardly anybody is broadcasting in 1080p yet. It's not about picture quality, it's about copy protection. Last edited by SackAttack : 10-10-2016 at 01:03 PM.

10-10-2016, 10:04 AM	#2
CU Tiger Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Backwoods, SC	Coax cant through pass true HD. Deliver quality, TV quality and a ton of other factors will determine how visible it is to the naked eye, but Coax can not through pass true HD.

10-10-2016, 01:55 PM	#4
CU Tiger Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Backwoods, SC	The simple answer is coax wont suffice. We can debate the specifics, but it isnt what he asked. Im not disputing your post, but Coax cant pass the the baud rate (speed or density) required period. Your HD antenna analogy is a fair point, but...you wont get 1080p much less 4k even when they are broadcasting it.

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