I posted this same question in an earlier thread but wanted to repost on main board...I am really confused...I was under the impression that satellite picture quality (aside from HD) was in general better than digital cable. Is this correct?

I am torn as to whether to discontinue my cable service for satellite or to just keep cable and wait for HD cable.

It is my experience that satellite has better picture quality than digital cable except for the lower network channels. Of course I must say this experience is from SF Bay area to upstate NY. I had regular analog cable in CA and I switched to satellite in NY. Mayber there are differences between cable companies, but all in all I am happier with satellite.

Richard, what is your take on this? I never had the digital cable box...would that be comparable to satellite picture quality? Which is 'technically' a better picture?

It's a toss-up. It all depends on your service provider and what they do to the signal. For most cable companies all of you channels below 100 in number will be exactly like they are now, since those are usually sent sent analog. The upper digital channels are subject to whatever compression your cable company decides to put on them. So far the digital channels I have seen on Cox Cable in New Orleans were far worse in PQ than what I had been able to get off of DirecTV on similar channels. It might be different in your area, though. It's hard to say unless you have someone locally with a larger screen TV who can let you know the differences.

Thanks Anthony and Lenny. According to salesmen at Tweeter the satellite PQ will far exceed the digital cable PQ....but they also sell the boxes and satellite systems...a little skeptical on their advise.

I live in Portsmouth, NH and my digital cable provider is AT&T Broadband. They offer no HD channels and their STB only have Coax and Composite outputs. Which is better to use? Knowing my cable provider, will there be a big difference in PQ from satellite?

I was in the same boat as you, I had digital cable, and wondered if Satelite was any better or not. Well, I decided to give it a shot, since the equip was free (New User) if I signed up for a year and I gotta tell you, the picture is quite a bit better on 95% of the channels. Some are about the same quality, but those are few and far between. I'm glad I made the switch, and would do it again. This experiance was in the Phoenix Area with Cox Communications vs DirecTV

John H

I went back and read some old threads and came acroos one that suggested to run two lines of my digital cable...one going directly into the TV for the non-digital channels and one going through the STB and then into the TV for channels above 100. So...coming from the wall, split the Coax into two and run one coax into tv and the other coax into STB, then run composite from STB to tv. Will this make a difference or just be a pain in the ass switching antennas all the time in normal tv watching? I have mitz 909 series WS HDTV. What do you guys think?

Also, would an external line doubler like the iScan Ultra help with PQ on digital cable so that it compares to satellite? Will it even enhance satellite PQ? Again I have Mitz 909 series HDTV.

I want to get setup right to minimize switching back and forth...I live in a condo now but have plans of buying house in one year...do not want to get setup with satellite only having to take down and reinstall if PQ is not worth it...ya know?...

Don't get confused by Directv and Dish Net digital compressed "satellite" to TRUE satellite feeds directly from C-Band. That IS the Best source available.
Directv and Dish Net and Cable TV people re-broadcast most of the C-Band signals at their digital compressed levels.

>>Richard, what is your take on this?

Mini dish satellite quality is consistently bad but it is consistent and "clean". Cable is an unknown - could be better, same or worse. Bear in mind that if all you care about is RF noise and some ghosting then cable just may not cut it for you.

Richard F. Fisher
Mastertech Repair Corporation, Lawrenceville, GA
770-513-3987 E-Mail - help@mastertechtv.com
Have you been calibrated? ISF and HAA Certified
Factory Authorized
Mitsubishi, Hitachi, Toshiba, Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, NAD

Richard, would the iScan help with cable and/or satellite? Would it help PQ in one more than the other?