HDTV and HD Tuner gives fuzzy picture

[littleribbit]

I am a total newb to HDTV so I'll put that out there up front.

What I'm wanting to do is run the cable from the wall into my MCE 2005 system using the Pinnacle PCTV HD Pro Stick, routed to the TV using the Media Center Extension of the XBOX 360 (using component connection) to the TV getting the best picture quality possible.

I recently bought the Olevia 232v from CC (and apparently many others did too as it is all I can find regarding this box on Google is the Black Friday info). I am getting fuzzy reception connecting directly from the wall to the TV. I purchased a new coax thinking that it may be signal strength (I'll explain why below that I think this), however this didn't solve the issue.

Currently, I have a splitter seperating the CATV and my cable modem. I removed the splitter seeing if that improved quality and it didn't. I get the same fuzzy quality when connecting the wall outlet to the Tuner, however for some reason, Pinnacles software doesn't tell me signal strength.

Am I totally lost, or on the right track? Any suggestions of what to do? Again, the picture is there and is viewable but by no means is it "HD" quality. It is really...fuzzy is the best way to describe it. The XBOX 360 looks great at 720p so I'm doubting it's the TV.

If this is the wrong thread, I apologize but it is what made the logical sense to me. If I'm a total moron, tell me but please offer the solution while telling me I'm a moron. If I missed the solution in my Google search, let me know what I should have searched for. But in any case, thank you for taking the time to read through this.

[Krispy Kritter]

In order to receive HD content, you will need a Smart card from the cable company (if you TV supports those) or an HD cable box. Otherwise, you are just receiving the SD broadcasts.

[jman98]

Your TV doesn't support "cable card" (this is what Krispy Kritter calls "smart card") so your only option is to either plug in an antenna and get your HD over the air (I don't recommend this as it won't work well unless you live 12 miles or closer to the broadcast towers) or get an HD cable box from your cable company.

[littleribbit]

Ok, so I'm still a little confused.

If one needs a cable box, then what is the ATSC tuner for in the TV? Doesn't that make all HDTV's then "HDTV-ready"?

Going a little more in-depth, my home owners association provides "free" (included in homeowner association cost) cable in the houseing development. Therefore, we don't get a cable box but the cable from the wall has all the "basic plus" channels. The TV is picking up digital signals when scanning, but most of the channels are showing fuzzy. It is (from my understanding) getting the HD channels as it is picking up the ".1" ect channels (ie channel 10 and channel 10.1).

[MysticE]

Your TV doesn't support "cable card" (this is what Krispy Kritter calls "smart card") so your only option is to either plug in an antenna and get your HD over the air (I don't recommend this as it won't work well unless you live 12 miles or closer to the broadcast towers) or get an HD cable box from your cable company.

I set up an over the air HDTV tuner that is approximately 26 miles from Chicago, great reception, on 27 HD channels. Although the antenna is high, it's of medium size and is over 10 years old.

[jagabo]

If one needs a cable box, then what is the ATSC tuner for in the TV? Doesn't that make all HDTV's then "HDTV-ready"?

ATSC is used for over-the-air broadcast only. Cable companies usually use QAM. Even with a QAM tuner you'll only get unencrypted channels.

[zzyzzx]

Try connecting the TV to an antenna and report back.