Large Scale Central

NT: Getting wired or getting hosed?

General Discussion
#1

We just got a mod-urn tv, even though our old Panasonic tube set is still going strong. As some of you may know, for best results when linking to a cable box, ya should use an HDMI cable. In researching the topic, I read an excellent blog, wherein the guy stated that “wire is wire” and you are throwing your money away spending more than a few bucks on any cables, including hi-fi audio.

Just to test the waters, I Googled HDMI cables and got one ad for a super-duper brand that cost $165 for a 3-foot length of cable.

Is the Brooklyn Bridge still for sale?

#2

DON’T DO IT!!!

Seriously, ‘analog’ cables are worth the money for a quality cable. HDMI cables are digital…The signal gets there or it doesn’t. A decent cable should run you no more than $30.00.

I got this straight from a video engineer at one of the local stations…I have a fair number of big screens, all using “cheap” HDMI cables, all work beautifully!

Oh, my cable company gives 'em away too!

#3

I have 2 flat’s with 3D, one plasma and one LED. The work fine in any mode with the lesser expensive HDMI cables.

#4

I bought a good HDMI cable. I got direct TV and found there was no HD type hookup for HDMI. You have to order a special box. I tried. The guy shows up and says no clear view of the satellite and I won’t get it to work so he won’t install it.

The next guy comes to fix the old analog box and says he should have installed it?
My new HDMI cable is being used from my old DVD player. Sadly, there aren’t any HD train movies that I have.

Moral: I didn’t need the stinkin’ cable.

#5

Joe, we’ve had regular, non HD DirecTV almost since its inception because my wife loves NFL football and they are the only ones, repeat, the only ones, carrying all the games (cable and others say they carry NFL football, but it is only one or two games at a time). Anyway, we’ve finally got an HD television and the new receiver will be installed next week. I don’t know if they’ll throw in an HDMI cable, but they cost less than$5 at Best Buy. BTW, we love Direct and are amused watching Time Warner lock horns with CBS over carrying the network’s programs. Granted, Direct has been down that path, but all is well for now. Oh, one more thing: satellite works great for us because in So Cal, especially down by the beach, there is no weather. So the signal doesn’t get messed up by heavy rain, hail, snow, tornados, etc, as some of the folks in the rest of the country experience. Do I sound like a shill for DirecTV? :slight_smile:

#6

Joe- You don’t need all those other football games. All you really need to watch are the Bills.

-Kevin.

#7

Mark V said:

DON’T DO IT!!!

Seriously, ‘analog’ cables are worth the money for a quality cable. HDMI cables are digital…The signal gets there or it doesn’t. A decent cable should run you no more than $30.00.

I got this straight from a video engineer at one of the local stations…I have a fair number of big screens, all using “cheap” HDMI cables, all work beautifully!

Oh, my cable company gives 'em away too!

I concur. Digital is ones and zeros - as Mark says, they either get there or they don’t. Use a cheap-ish one from a big box store.

#8

Cheap it is. A pleasant surprise, Bose included the optical sound cable, so one less thing to buy.

Kevin, oh, she’s already there. We got Bills stuff coming out our, er, ears. Among them: a flag she drapes over the door and a little football, which, when you smash it on a hard surface, alternately plays, “Let’s go Buffalo,” and “Shout,” our unofficial fight song.

Hate to hijack my own thread, but some years ago, I called the Bills office to request a media guide, and during the course of our conversation, the lady there noticed where I lived. At which point she said, “Oh, my husband used to be on the police force there.” Suffice to say, our common tie got us a lot of neat Bills stuff, including a miniature football autographed by Bruce Smith, my wife’s idol.

#9

I just hope they don’t stink as bad this year as they have the last few. But, like a true Bills fan, I watch the games I can get to the bitter end, no matter how bad it is.

The first games I went to were the old AFL team in the Crumble Dome - War Memorial Stadium. My Mom & Dad had season tickets for many years.

#10

Jon Radder said:

I just hope they don’t stink as bad this year as they have the last few. But, like a true Bills fan, I watch the games I can get to the bitter end, no matter how bad it is.

Yeap. It stinks when you have to give up mid way thru the season and walk away before the TV gets thrown out the window. Some times I think the fans care more than the players!! We should get paid!!

#11

Jon, Joe, my wife would stick with them if they drove off a cliff, but of late she has given me dispensation to leave the room when things go south.

Jon, I certainly remember War Memorial Stadium, or Civic Stadium as it was known when I was a kid. We lived on Best St about two miles away and my mother used to take me to see the midgets run there on a 1/4-mile paved track. That’s where I got hooked on cars and I’m glad I did. Automobiles been berry-berry good to me, since I ended up working in the car magazine business, the best job in the whole world. I never did see the Bills play at the Rockpile, though, as I left Buffalo about the time the team came on the scene. Been to The Ralph a couple of times. My best Buffalo buddy lives nearby–off Big Tree.

#12

I’d watched them faithfully on TV for umpteen years, then one day my brother-in-law gets some tickets to see them live and in person. “Want to go?” He says. “You bet!” Having never been to the stadium. So, my first time at the stadium turns out to be the biggest comeback in NFL history. The (then) Houston Oilers were killing us. By half time there was half a stadium left. Fans were leaving by the bus load. But, I figured “What the heck, never been to a Bills game. Might as well stick around to the bitter end.” Glad I did! Talk about an upset! Of course we went on to lose that year’s Superbowl and two more after that, but… well, guess you can’t have everything. Lets see if all the changes at 1 Bills Drive will make a difference (for the better) this season. BTW- training camp starts this week.

-Kevin.

#13

I got 2 3 foot, 2 4 foot and 2 6 foot hdmi cables with shipping all for $25 to my door.

A year after that I bought a LED 3D and used these cables.

However, a new computer video board needed the mini HDMI on one end and a standard HDMI on the other, again the INternet came through with a low cost cable that included shipping for under $20.

#14

Deal of the Day has HDMI cable specials from time to time. You can get either six 10’ cables or ten 6’ cables for $12.99 with free shipping. They performed flawlessly. They are still outrageously priced at Best Buy and others.
Bruce