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Cable TV High Definition converter

My brother in law told me today (I am a newbie to home theater) that if I have cable (Comcast) the HDTV signal being sent over the cable is being compressed and that there is a box I can buy that decompresses it so that I get true (or at least better) HDTV. Is this true? If so, what is this box called? What brands are there? Is any one of them better than another?

Thanks
jaw11
oldears
386 posts
 
I am a novice at HDTV, but I understand that the FCC has only recently set the final standards for cable and satelite transmission interfaces and the industry is only now starting to get their act together. I would be cautious until this fall.
blueswan
211 posts
 
I have had the Motorola 5100 for 6 months now. I have not noticed the need to add additional processing to the HD signal. It is excellent. The HD signal might be compressed, but movies on HBO in HD are equal to, or better than, viewing them on DVD. I would get the 5100 and judge for yourself.
quicke
35 posts
 
Equal to or better than DVD? They better be better than DVD, 1080 vs 480 lines!
avguygeorge
2,300 posts
 
I have the Arcam 27 as a dvd player and you bet; some HBO /SHO movies have less pq. This applies to much of the local ota content as well.(i.e. the Rose Bowl game). Still much "hd" content is shown in 4.3. However "good-hd" content is no match for the best dvd. AND, the reverse is true for the audio.
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