[ibupronec]

Well I just back back from Comcast today. Turned in the old HD box (component output) to the newer and better HDMI output cable box. The thing is freaking awesome. Lets me choose 480p/720p/1080i manually. Have a 1080p set, and wish that I could use 1080p but oh well. Even converts SD channels to the HD setting that I have it on so that is pretty neat.
Main reason why I got it though was to trash the component cables (actually put them on the progressive scan dvd player) and use HDMI.


Now, this thing has like 3 USB ports with 1 of them in the front and 2 Firewire ports a long with an ethernet port! Now, when I got this box, it came with no manual. So anyone with an advanced cable box, what the hell are these for!

Can I hook up external HDD's? Can I have it tap into my network so that I can stream stuff? My only HD box had I think just one USB port, but I think that it was just a service port as I couldn't use it.

I have searched everywhere in this cable boxes menu but don't see anything for accessories plugged in via usb/firewire or ethernet.

[KellyMP]

You just took your old box in and they gave you a new one? Oh yeah and is HDMI that much better than the Component Cables?

[ibupronec]

You just took your old box in and they gave you a new one? Oh yeah and is HDMI that much better than the Component Cables?

Yep.

They have 3 HD boxes.
1 = Component only
1 = HDMI + Component
1 = HDMI + Component + DVR

I was reading in the paper that there is a pretty big shortage of HDMI + Component boxes, so I guess I was pretty lucky to get one. When Comcast comes to install your HD package, if your TV doesn't have HDMI, they give you a Component only box.
Oh, the Component box and the HDMI + Component box cost the same per month

HDMI quality I haven't noticed anything at all over the Component cables. Sort of pissed me off to notice that it has HDMI, but no 1080p support. After all, is that the main reason behind HDMI is for 1080p!? Though, I do like this box more because it upscales your SD channels (doesn't do anything to degrade or increase quality) and it lets you manually choose between 1080i/720p/480p. Also, having just 1 small cable for your sound and video is quiet nice. With the Component cables, they are thicker then the HDMI cable, and their are 5 of them, so it is quiet a mess. Also looks a hell of a lot nicer and a lot more modern.

Oh, the Component box and the HDMI + Component box cost the same per month, so might as well upgrade to the better one even though it doesn't offer that much more then the old box.


Though it might be a huge bonus if I can ever figure out if these extra ports do anything. Maybe later tonight I will find some products to plug into these ports and see if anything happens.

[Alex Photographer]

reddog, check over at AVS forums. They should have an entire thread devoted to that new HDMI comcast box.

I've got the Directv HD Dvr with HDMI, ethernet, and sata ports. It's pretty awesome. I'm even hooked up to the beta on demand which is pretty cool too.