Entry-level Cable FAQ

Video:
From older, poorer to newer; better.

Coax (standard issue screw-on connectors) analog video and audio

Composite (yellow -video, red -right audio, white -left audio) analog

Component (red; blue; green -video, red -right audio, white -left audio) analog

DVI (Digital Video Interface) video only.

HDMI (Hi-Definition Multimedia Interface) digital video; Includes digital audio unless adapted from DVI.



Audio:

From older, poorer to newer better*.

Coax (screw-on connectors) -analog

Composite/Component -analog

Coax (usually orange RCA push-on connector) -digital

Optical -digital



*Note:
Some Audio/Videophiles insist analog is superior to digital, as digital is sampled.
This becomes less of a problem as sample rates increase.
-Most people cannot tell the difference.

comcast platinum remote issue

New remotes have surfaced for comcast subscribers.

These remotes are identical to the previous remotes, but are darker gray ‘platinum’ ones.

These remotes are designed to operate the newer motorola (black) 250GB DVRs and comcast branded motorola addressable (black, smaller) Hi-Def/Digital convertors.

To allow operation of the older equipment;
Press and release the ‘Cable’ button.
Press and hold ‘Setup’ until the cable light blinks twice.
Enter ‘9 8 2’ [the remote should blink four times].
Enter ‘0 1 3 7 6’.
The remote should now operate the older comcast boxes.
(They still operate the newer equipment BTW.)



To reset your remote to comcast defaults:
Press and release the ‘Cable’ button.

Press and hold ‘Setup’ until the cable light blinks twice.

Enter ‘9 8 0’ [the remote should blink four times].

The remote will be in the new comcast-issued state.

*** Please note, entering ‘9 8 1’ in the above instructions will perform a factory reset, erasing the comcast defaults. -not reversible. ***