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View Full Version : Is RCA better than Coaxial?


TheGreatSatan
06-10-2009, 12:49 AM
My cable signal comes out of the wall and into my cable receiver. The back of the receiver has coax and RCA (Red, Yellow, White cable) outputs. Which would be a better signal to run to my HDTV?
LiTHiUM0XiD3
06-10-2009, 12:55 AM
component! lolz but im sure RCA is better than coax..
OvRiDe
06-10-2009, 01:18 AM
Well neither coax or RCA will be HD so it might not make much of a difference. Most cable companies do not out put HD signals to the TV via the coax. In my experience, sometimes the tuner can come into play, we had a TV that was just a little flakey on the tuner so the coax (channel 3) just didn't lock onto the signal well and the picture was just a hair fuzzy, but the RCA inputs don't use the tuner so they were just fine. I would just try both and see which one looks the best to you.
billygoat333
06-10-2009, 02:37 AM
I personally have always preferred rca because it seems like the coax makes things just a tad bit fuzzy. might just have been my tv, like overide said.
LiTHiUM0XiD3
06-10-2009, 03:33 AM
well ya gotta figure... coax puts everything thro 1 line... and then has to decode it.. (tuner) .... RCA inputs all three separately.. without a need for the decoding... RCA ftw..
crazybillybob
06-10-2009, 06:00 AM
Most cable boxes now also have S-Video (it's the one that looks like a PS/2 port) it will give you your best signal. It's noticeable clearer the either the coax or the "RCA" connection...but is not HD either.
You can pick these cables up at Radio shack (you don't need the "monster" sized ones..you normal $5 job will do fine) or online (Allelectronics) or check your parts bin, most video cards tat you've bought in the last 5 years have one included (till the release of hdmi... the manufactures seem to have stopped adding the svideo cable in favor of a DVI/HMI adapter).

If that's not available the "RCA" connection is your next best choice.

CHIMAERA's on the right path to why the difference (all signals super imposed on a single base carrier wave(injects noise into each signal).... limited bandwidth, cross talk, noise imposed in combination of the signals, then again more noise injected in the decoding of the signals, etc).


Good Luck,
CBB
nevermind1534
06-10-2009, 07:34 AM
As most of the others have already said, RCA will definitely give you a better signal. I have seen the difference firsthand, from multiple units, and there is a noticeable difference in quality. Less artifacting, etc.
Airbozo
06-10-2009, 02:03 PM
There is NO difference. Not on my TV anyway. RCA cables are almost the same as a COAX (depending on the manufacturer). You still have ONE signal line and ONE ground line.

I recently switched from COAX and RCA to dvi->hdmi and the difference is amazing. If you are running COAX or RCA and expect an HD signal, forget it. Paying for HD when you are using COAX or RCA is a waste of money.
nevermind1534
06-10-2009, 02:08 PM
There is NO difference. Not on my TV anyway. RCA cables are almost the same as a COAX (depending on the manufacturer). You still have ONE signal line and ONE ground line.

I recently switched from COAX and RCA to dvi->hdmi and the difference is amazing. If you are running COAX or RCA and expect an HD signal, forget it. Paying for HD when you are using COAX or RCA is a waste of money.

The res is no different, but you get less artifacting and bleeding, and can get better colors. How big the difference is also depends on the TV and output device you use.

HDMI would definitely be the best.
Luke122
06-10-2009, 04:49 PM
If the back of the cable box only has RCA and Coax outputs, I'd go with RCA to the tv. If it has Svideo or Components (Red/green/blue), use those instead.

Red/Yellow/White RCA's are split for red/white = audio, and yellow = video.
TheGreatSatan
06-10-2009, 06:32 PM
Yeah it's only RCA or Coax. I bought some new Auvio (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3588999) RCA cables from Radioshack
progbuddy
06-10-2009, 08:50 PM
Well neither coax or RCA will be HD so it might not make much of a difference. Most cable companies do not out put HD signals to the TV via the coax. In my experience, sometimes the tuner can come into play, we had a TV that was just a little flakey on the tuner so the coax (channel 3) just didn't lock onto the signal well and the picture was just a hair fuzzy, but the RCA inputs don't use the tuner so they were just fine. I would just try both and see which one looks the best to you.

Time Warner, Suddenlink, Cox, and many other cable services provide HD through coaxial. We get 1080p through a digital converter box, and 720p through the DVR.

The thick braid of coaxial helps.
mtekk
06-10-2009, 09:06 PM
Most cable boxes should have component and HDMI now days, even our cheap POS Pace box has HDMI. Sure the first one didn't have a working HDMI port, but I made the cable technician swap it out until we found one that the HDMI worked on. If the cable box does not have an HDMI port on the back I'd bug the cable company until they provide you with modern equipment, especially if you have a HD channel pack. I won't put up with anything less than component.
TheGreatSatan
06-10-2009, 11:46 PM
My cable box is less than a year old and no HDMI. I connected the cables a couple hours ago and so far RCA seems better than Coax did.
Luke122
06-11-2009, 12:09 PM
If I'm not mistaken, RCA will still only do 480p.
nevermind1534
06-11-2009, 06:27 PM
If I'm not mistaken, RCA will still only do 480p.

That is correct, but the overall quality of the picture will be better. Is is still the same res, though.
TheGreatSatan
06-11-2009, 06:32 PM
My TV is Hi-def, but I can't tell the difference anyway
nevermind1534
06-11-2009, 06:33 PM
My TV is Hi-def, but I can't tell the difference anyway

It's not getting a high-def signal, so it probably won't look much different from any other SDTV until you can get HDMI or component.
TheGreatSatan
06-11-2009, 09:26 PM
I didn't take this route for the HD signal. When it was on channel 3 running off a coaxial cable, my audio would constantly change from analog to stereo and every time that it did a box would appear in the upper right corner of the screen to tell me. The only way to get rid of this annoying message was to go to RCA and get off of channel 3.
OvRiDe
06-12-2009, 01:37 AM
I dunno how it works in your area but, here the cable companies charge extra for the HD content. Its not much more, 5 bucks or so, BUT if you are already paying that I would contact them right away. They may need to upgrade you a HD capable cable box!

As for seeing a difference, for the first 2 days I had my 42", I only had SD, when the HD services were added, it was most definitely noticeable.
TheGreatSatan
06-12-2009, 07:00 PM
Yeah, it's 5 bucks extra and NOT worth it to me
OvRiDe
06-12-2009, 10:21 PM
Gotcha, I just wanted to make sure that you were getting what you are paying for. I wouldn't put it past the cable company to take your money for HD service without checking that you have HD capable equipment!

As for not worth it, I had a similar stance before I got it. Its like if you take a video that is 320X240 and you maximize it on your computer vs taking say a DVD quality video and maximizing it on your PC.

Since your not using the Coax input on your TV now, you could check out some HD for extremely cheap by building one of these OTA antennas in your spare time.

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15857
TheGreatSatan
06-12-2009, 11:17 PM
Cool
Zeroignite
06-13-2009, 02:45 PM
As for not worth it, I had a similar stance before I got it. Its like if you take a video that is 320X240 and you maximize it on your computer vs taking say a DVD quality video and maximizing it on your PC.
Exactly. SD on a new, gigantic LCD may be nice and big, but the pixels are the size of legos. With a HD signal, the pixels are the size of pixels.