Just came across this today:
"Our initial research indicates that for each display type viewing quality improves with bit rate.
{Bit rate is affected by signal strength and quality. Highdef Jeff} And the rate of improvement grows for more advanced displays and larger screens," Bocko said. In repeated testing, a "just-noticeable difference" in viewing quality, measured in "luma" (a representation of a video image signal brightness) increases as the data transmission rate increases, he added."
{Data transmission rate is also influenced by signal strength/quality. Slow data causes can be as simple as a poorly installed cable connector with a braid strand touching or near the needle. Highdef Jeff} http://www.videsignline.com/showArti...59&cid=NL_vidl
In a world where an estimated 18% (7.2 million) HDTV owners "think" they are watching HDTV (when in reality they are watching SDTV unaware) we have barely seen the tip of the iceberg of confusion and picture quality.
http://www.leichtmanresearch.com/pre...08release.html
When over seven million households haven't even grasped that they aren't watching HDTV, discussions of picture quality are in their infancy. They are heavily leaning to connections, providers, settings, and calibration. Any one of these mentioned items can/will produce a higher quality picture and satisfy the average user.
But some of those with a discerning eye who are watching HDTV know what they are looking for and aren't seeing it. They want to know why their HDTV doesn't have the clarity that they expect even after doing their research. They are using the right cables, the appropriate settings on their TVs and receivers, calibrating their TVs and when all is said and done, they wonder why there still isn't the clarity they were seeking.
Many posters who know little or nothing of this new technology, come to the conclusion that the only thing lacking in their system is signal strength. When they ask about it, they are shot down by nearly everyone, especially by anyone in the satellite industry. We've believed the broad generalization of the digital picture "all-or-nothing" (which is mostly true) as LAW instead of a general overview "sold" to the public to expound the greatness of digital systems.
Because of the greatest digital myth, "Digital picture is all-or-nothing" and "Digital picture is perfect and doesn't vary" the picture quality discussions move to the subject of compression. Compression does make some variations in content, but it is mistakenly blamed for poor picture quality because there seems nothing else to blame. At a loss to explain a still compromised digital picture, compression is cursed as the "bad guy" and thrown around as the catch-all for anyone still not satisfied by their picture quality. Unfortunately, taking frustrations out on providers because of their compression rates, may give you a direction to vent, but does nothing for your picture.
The bottom line is this:
If you've done everything else and your picture still looks poor, maximize the signal. If the signal IS maximized according to the point of the dish, check connections and cables for breaks, damage, tightness, and make sure that your system is grounded CORRECTLY.