OK, nothing to do with a Verizon issue. But is an HDMI cable box really worthwhile?

[questioning_old]

I'm only asking because the sales associate at Best Buy who sold me my new TV was trying to push that on me and I politely refused it.  If I were to buy it, I would definitely get it cheaper somewhere else because Best Buy wants 60 bucks just for that thing, which I think is nutty.  The associate was bragging about how I would get the "best" HD quality out of that and giving me this silly speech about how he knows nothing about Verizon Fios and whether or not the STB is HD ready.  I thought that was a cheap sales pitch to try to make more commission.  lol

So far, I've been very satisfied with the quality of the picture on my new flatscreen.  But I was just wondering if the HDMI really makes that much of a difference?  My sister has it and says it makes the picture brighter but she needed it because I think her TV is smaller than mine and the picture from her DVDs wasn't showing up as well without the HDMI.  I tested out my DVDs and they play just fine with a very good picture.  I suppose I could try it but I just wanted to know what other people's experiences have been with this.

I'm usually not too keen about purchasing extra gadgets. 

[Justin46]

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@questioning wrote:

I'm only asking because the sales associate at Best Buy who sold me my new TV was trying to push that on me and I politely refused it.  If I were to buy it, I would definitely get it cheaper somewhere else because Best Buy wants 60 bucks just for that thing, which I think is nutty.  The associate was bragging about how I would get the "best" HD quality out of that and giving me this silly speech about how he knows nothing about Verizon Fios and whether or not the STB is HD ready.  I thought that was a cheap sales pitch to try to make more commission.  lol

So far, I've been very satisfied with the quality of the picture on my new flatscreen.  But I was just wondering if the HDMI really makes that much of a difference?  My sister has it and says it makes the picture brighter but she needed it because I think her TV is smaller than mine and the picture from her DVDs wasn't showing up as well without the HDMI.  I tested out my DVDs and they play just fine with a very good picture.  I suppose I could try it but I just wanted to know what other people's experiences have been with this.

I'm usually not too keen about purchasing extra gadgets.   

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Why would you buy a "cable box"? I am guessing he was trying to sell you one of those digital adapters that are needed for analog TVs to receive the digital over-the-air signals. You have no use for that, even if you have an antenna in addition to FiOS, your new TV is digital.

You already have FiOS; all of the Verizon HD STBs, even the old ones, have HDMI output. As long as your new TV has an HDMI input, just buy an HDMI cable from a web vendor like Monoprice, very inexpensive and excellent quality (I have bought from them). Or if you happen to see a Verizon FiOS installer in your neighborhood, ask him for a cable, he would probably just give you one. Whatever you do, don't buy one of the way, way overpriced Monster HDMI cables IMHO of course....

I have been using HDMI for 6 years now, very satisfied. The alternative is to use component, which I have never used, but most experts seem to feel both options can provide the same quality picture. Some times it takes some adjusting of the TV to get the equivalent picture when you switch from one to the other.

I guess my take is, if you are happy now, why change?

__________________________________
Justin
FiOS TV, Internet, and phone user
QIP7232, QIP7100-P2, IMG 1.9A
Keller, TX 76248

[questioning_old]

"Why would you buy a "cable box"? I am guessing he was trying to sell you one of those digital adapters that are needed for analog TVs to receive the digital over-the-air signals. You have no use for that, even if you have an antenna in addition to FiOS, your new TV is digital."  Then I guess it's called an "adapter".  I swear, he was calling it an HDMI cable box and something about what he said didn't sound right.  Of course, I have the STB which is Verizon's version of a cable box.  To be very honest, he was confusing me.  I was there at night during the week after work and I honestly had no idea what he was talking about.  I get the feeling he was just trying to push an extra expensive gadget that I really don't need. 

"I am guessing he was trying to sell you one of those digital adapters that are needed for analog TVs to receive the digital over-the-air signals."  Oh no, it definitely wasn't that.  You're referring to those converter boxes that were made available with that government issued $40 coupon so that people could watch the digital TV stations on their analog TVs.  This was HDMI and he already knew that I was replacing my old analog TV.  I think he definitely was just looking to earn his commission off of me by selling me an extra unnecessary gadget, the more I think about it now. 

All I can say is that this gadget sure looked like a box with 4 cable wires, two on each side...or maybe it was just two of them.  I looked at him like he had 3 heads.  lol   I don't really understand it myself.  It's weird.  I thought it looked ridiculous for my needs and the floor samples of the TVs playing without it looked just fine to me.  I could only think to myself, "60 bucks for that little thing?  Is he kidding me?  And for what?"  lol...That's what I would expect to spend on a new vacuum cleaner or telephone set. 

"You already have FiOS; all of the Verizon HD STBs, even the old ones, have HDMI output."  You're right about that.  My STB says HDMI on the front which I didn't even realize until you pointed that out.  I agree with what you're saying, that if I'm happy now, why change?  I don't think it's really worth it.  I just wanted to know what other people think about this, that's all and to try to get some clarification about what this gadget really is. 

The other thing too is that my family has Cablevision, so I don't know what the specifics are with Cablevision's cable box.  It may not have the same capabilities as the Verizon STB. 

Thanks for your feedback on this.  I'm definitely not buying anything extra for this. 

[GaryDoug]

For about a year, I used both the HDMI and component connections. I had two DVR's on splitters hooked up to the same TV and could switch back and forth between the HDMI and component cables by just using the remote. I could see no difference at all between them, even when I looked at the screen just a few inches away.

[questioning_old]

"For about a year, I used both the HDMI and component connections. I had two DVR's on splitters hooked up to the same TV and could switch back and forth between the HDMI and component cables by just using the remote. I could see no difference at all between them, even when I looked at the screen just a few inches away."

Figures.  Thanks for sharing that.

[tns · Accepted solution]

For the newer sets there is no question that HDMI is better than Component.

OP.  All digital sets for quite awhile were required to have a ATSC tuner, so no adapter was needed for OTA.  And for FIOS service your Verizon STB is your equivalent of a "cable"  box.

[questioning_old]

I think what this sales associate was trying to push was a component connection.  It wasn't a cable box and yes, I already understand that Verizon's STB is Verizon's version of the typical cable box.  It just looked like these cable wires attached to some kind of box.  There is no way I'm going to pay 60 bucks for that because that's a ripoff.  And the Verizon STB already has the HDMI from what I have gathered.  I don't know why this sales associate was calling this thing an HDMI Cable Box.  I think he was just looking for an excuse to earn more commission, even though I don't think he knew what he was talking about.  lol

Or am I still not understanding this right?  If I don't know what I'm talking about, let me know.  My whole understanding from this now is that I already have the HDMI.   (I am poor with navigating this stuff.  I think it's confusing.)

[retiredme]

When I first read the original post  I was not at all sure what additional cable box the poster might have been referring to. I first thought some sort of STB, which he wouldn't need because of the FIOS-suplied STB's. Now I believe the salesperson was pushing an adapter for the older cabling of component and composite. Although the original poster doesn't specify what brand and model of TV has been purchased, I can say without doubt that some newer models are being built without all the usual connections. Manufacturers are focusing on HDMI, ethernet, and USB, and they will usually supply a "dongle" adapter for the legacy hardware of component and composite. The Sony Bravia XBR xxHX929 is such an example.  I suspect that some manufacturers do not supply the dongle and it must be purchased separately for the legacy hardware.

[tns]

Perhaps he was pushin this

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Monster+-+3-Way+HDMI+Switcher/2902507.p?id=1218361855213&skuId=2902507&s...

A overpriced HDMI switch.

[questioning_old]

"Perhaps he was pushin this

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Monster+-+3-Way+HDMI+Switcher/2902507.p?id=1218361855213&skuId=2902507&s...

A overpriced HDMI switch."

I think that may have been it but I thought it had these cables hanging out.  HDMI cables can be purchased a lot cheaper at other stores.  But yes, I think it was some monster thing like that.

[questioning_old]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Monster+-+3-Way+HDMI+Switcher/2902507.p?id=1218361855213&skuId=2902507&s...

A overpriced HDMI switch."

I think that may have been it but I thought it had these cables hanging out.  HDMI cables can be purchased a lot cheaper at other stores.  But yes, I think it was some monster thing like that.