Ask dumb questions here!

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Which is the best cable to hook your components to your receiver? Optical? S-Video? Coaxial? That other one?

It depends which component, whether you're talking about audio or video, and what technology is available on the component's output and the receiver's input.

[Diomedes]

It depends which component, whether you're talking about audio or video, and what technology is available on the component's output and the receiver's input.

I love this thread.  Ask a dumb question, get a dumb answer. 

[Geowhizzer]

It depends which component, whether you're talking about audio or video, and what technology is available on the component's output and the receiver's input.

I love this thread.  Ask a dumb question, get a dumb answer. 

[Tomahawk]

Which is the best cable to hook your components to your receiver? Optical? S-Video? Coaxial? That other one?

It depends which component, whether you're talking about audio or video, and what technology is available on the component's output and the receiver's input.

All inputs are available on the receiver, assume outputs all are available on the component, and it's for audio and video.

[4and26]

Which is the best cable to hook your components to your receiver? Optical? S-Video? Coaxial? That other one?

It depends which component, whether you're talking about audio or video, and what technology is available on the component's output and the receiver's input.

All inputs are available on the receiver, assume outputs all are available on the component, and it's for audio and video.

I have  a little experience here as over the past year I've been upgrading all video and audio in our house.......

If your hooking up audio and video into from your receiver into you dvd player/tv use good quality cables (as you'll note one is for video and two for audio.

Note:  if your going high end TV make sure you have a digial box from your cable supplier and again use good cables or you've wasted your money on that TV.

[Cerevant]

Which is the best cable to hook your components to your receiver? Optical? S-Video? Coaxial? That other one?

It depends which component, whether you're talking about audio or video, and what technology is available on the component's output and the receiver's input.

All inputs are available on the receiver, assume outputs all are available on the component, and it's for audio and video.

Audio:  optical and digital coax (RCA) are equivalent and are your best choice.  It is a digital signal, so frequency response doesn't matter - digital either is perfect, or doesn't work at all.  For optical, get the cheapest cable you can find, for coax, a RCA cable of stereo grade will work fine (I've actually used pretty thin cable for coax and it still worked.

For analog audio cables (RCA or speaker wire), get cables that are about the thickness of, or a little thicker than a lamp cord.  In general, I find that most cables shipped with the unit are just fine.  More than that and it is a waste unless you have extremely expensive equipment and like high-frequency response (most people these days like to pound the crap out of bass and ignore high frequencies). 

For video, DVI/HDMI connections are digital, and therefore best.  Standard cables for these standards are fine.

Next is component video.  Get standard component video cables, which are thicker than audio cable.  You may have trouble with cheaper component cables.

Finally, s-video is a bit better than composite (single RCA). 

Don't waste time with RF (cable TV cable) for connecting between AV components.   While I'm on the subject, when using cable TV coax, don't ever ever use the friction-fit crap cables that come with VCRs, etc. these days.  Always use threaded RG6 coax (not RG58, read the package) and finger tighten, then give a 1/8 to 1/4 turn with a pair of pliers.  If you have to use splitters, fewer splitters with more connections work best, because the signal power splits evenly between the outputs.  4-way splitter = 1/4 signal to all.  3 2-way splitters, 1/2 signal to 1st TV, 1/4 signal to 2nd, 1/8 signal to 3rd and 4th.

Rule of thumb - if you are paying more than half of what Monster cables cost, you are paying too much.  If you are professional musician listening to classical music in an acoustic studio, Monster might not be overkill.  Monster exists to make the AV retailers money when they are making a pretty slim margin (due to local and internet competition) on the actual AV hardware.

[Wingspan]

If you have to use splitters, fewer splitters with more connections work best, because the signal power splits evenly between the outputs.  4-way splitter = 1/4 signal to all.  3 2-way splitters, 1/2 signal to 1st TV, 1/4 signal to 2nd, 1/8 signal to 3rd and 4th.

you can get a powered splitter and not have the division of power. i just installed on in my basement to go to the 3 television, and it helps tremendously.

[Cerevant]

If you have to use splitters, fewer splitters with more connections work best, because the signal power splits evenly between the outputs.  4-way splitter = 1/4 signal to all.  3 2-way splitters, 1/2 signal to 1st TV, 1/4 signal to 2nd, 1/8 signal to 3rd and 4th.

you can get a powered splitter and not have the division of power. i just installed on in my basement to go to the 3 television, and it helps tremendously.

They also make unbalanced Splitters (-3dB Tap, -0dB through) but they are really hard to find.  The one problem I've found with powered splitters/amplifiers is that if you start having problems with the video, it is probably the amp that went bad.  Not a big deal, but not cheap to fix.

[Tomahawk]

Which is the best cable to hook your components to your receiver? Optical? S-Video? Coaxial? That other one?

It depends which component, whether you're talking about audio or video, and what technology is available on the component's output and the receiver's input.

All inputs are available on the receiver, assume outputs all are available on the component, and it's for audio and video.

Audio:  optical and digital coax (RCA) are equivalent and are your best choice.  It is a digital signal, so frequency response doesn't matter - digital either is perfect, or doesn't work at all.  For optical, get the cheapest cable you can find, for coax, a RCA cable of stereo grade will work fine (I've actually used pretty thin cable for coax and it still worked.

For analog audio cables (RCA or speaker wire), get cables that are about the thickness of, or a little thicker than a lamp cord.  In general, I find that most cables shipped with the unit are just fine.  More than that and it is a waste unless you have extremely expensive equipment and like high-frequency response (most people these days like to pound the crap out of bass and ignore high frequencies). 

For video, DVI/HDMI connections are digital, and therefore best.  Standard cables for these standards are fine.

Next is component video.  Get standard component video cables, which are thicker than audio cable.  You may have trouble with cheaper component cables.

Finally, s-video is a bit better than composite (single RCA). 

Don't waste time with RF (cable TV cable) for connecting between AV components.   While I'm on the subject, when using cable TV coax, don't ever ever use the friction-fit crap cables that come with VCRs, etc. these days.  Always use threaded RG6 coax (not RG58, read the package) and finger tighten, then give a 1/8 to 1/4 turn with a pair of pliers.  If you have to use splitters, fewer splitters with more connections work best, because the signal power splits evenly between the outputs.  4-way splitter = 1/4 signal to all.  3 2-way splitters, 1/2 signal to 1st TV, 1/4 signal to 2nd, 1/8 signal to 3rd and 4th.

Rule of thumb - if you are paying more than half of what Monster cables cost, you are paying too much.  If you are professional musician listening to classical music in an acoustic studio, Monster might not be overkill.  Monster exists to make the AV retailers money when they are making a pretty slim margin (due to local and internet competition) on the actual AV hardware.

Thanks. I couldn't have asked for a better answer.

[MDS]

Are Ayds Good?

[Diomedes]

What happens to my 401k after I quit?  I'm already vested, so all the $$ the company matched is mine...but what happens to it? 

Do I have to turn it into an IRA? 

[PhillyPhreak54]

I believe you have a few options.

You can roll it into an IRA without penalty. You can transfer it to another retirement fund. Or you can withdraw it and do with it as you please. I know you'll get penalized if you withdraw it though. Or at least I'm pretty sure. I had a 457b plan and when I left my last job I had those three options. The only one where I would have been taxed was the withdrawal option.

[Wingspan]

What happens to my 401k after I quit?  I'm already vested, so all the $$ the company matched is mine...but what happens to it? 

Do I have to turn it into an IRA? 

5 choices

1- Let it sit there (it still earns $, just no more depositing into it)
2- Roll it into your new jobs 401k - or 403b if you work for a non-profit, or similar employer retirement plan)
3- Roll it into a Tradional IRA
4- Take a lump sum distibution, minus 30% (20% tax, 10% penalty unless you are 59 years old or older)
5- Any combination of 2 & 4, or 2 & 3, or 3 & 4.

[MURP]

What is the procedure for Policeman to fill up their police cars with gas? 

- Do they pay at the pump and then get reimbursed?
- Do they have a police issued credit card by the county and pay at the pump?
- Do they get a cash per diem every day for Gas ?
- Do they have their own gas pumps at the station and just fill up there every morning?

[Father Demon]

What happens to my 401k when I quit?