How do I use a HDMI cable properly?

[flobadob]

I got a HDMI cable recently and set it up to my tv and changed the output of my dvd player to HDMI from RGB but I notice no difference between the picture from using a scart lead or using the HDMI cable. Am I missing something here? Probably.

[rojash]

You'll only notice a difference if everything in the chain is HD. So playing a blu ray DVD the difference should be clear, but for an ordinary DVD, undetectable. Don't forget also, that the primary reason behind development of the HDMI, was not to improve the customer experience per se (thats just how they sell it), but to enforce DRM.

[deggers316]

if your just upscaling from scart to hdmi output from a normal dvd player (not blue ray) there's very little difference

[wideboy]

Hi, flobadob. Silly question (from that is!) - have you specifically chosen HDMI input on your TV? Is the SCART still connected? (some DVD players need it connected so as to switch to HDMI output eg. the Sumvision). If the SCART is still connected, the TV will usually take this as the input. However, as the others have said, you might not notice much difference even with upscaling - you would need a Blu-Ray player or Freesat HD box to see the benefit. I was lucky to get a Humax Freesat HD recorder at Christmas and it is fantastic.

[wideboy]

Oops, that was meant to say (from ME that is!).

[deggers316]

wideboy
i was after thr humax freesat hd recorder but when i enquired at currys they said they had all been recalled( this was before xmas)
due to some tech error,
so yours ok and u recommend it?

[wideboy]

Deggers316, working fine - go for it! A friend has even bought a second one, he's so pleased with it. There were some problems with HDMI synching or something b ut they are probably solved with a firmware update.

NB. If you want to be able to record two channels and watch a third, you need two satellite cables from a twin (or four or 8-way LNB on the dish). If you only have a single cable (like me just now) you can buy a loop-through cable from a local TV shop which then allows you to watch one channel and record another (with some limitations). Pity Humax don't supply this cheap cable - they include a SCART cable (which I didn't need) and a HDMI cable (which I also didn't need but it's handy to have a spare one for the likes of connecting a PS3).

Only problem is that they are in short supply see here:-

http://www.humaxfoxsat.co.uk/

and

http://www.joinfreesat.co.uk/index.php/digital -boxes/humax-foxsat-hdr

As well as the 'big boys' like Comet and Currys, consider Martin Dawes (friend got second on from them):-

http://www.martindawes.net/ProductDetails.aspx ?pid=FOXFSHDR&cid=freeview_boxes&pcidl=freevie w_boxes&language=en-GB&affiliate=0c5dab7391659 2439061459ea142920f