HD Satelite versus cable

amjh · 01-10-2008, 11:35 AM

In Ontario, Canada we have three HD providers, Bell and Star Choice for satelite and Rogers for Cable.
Star Choice just informed me that they provide the best HG signal or picture.
Other providers compress signals.
Is there a difference and which do you recommend.
Thank you.
AMJH

Emil · 01-10-2008, 11:59 AM

I suggest you ask all three if they always provide a 1080 x 1920 picture from a 1080 source. Satellite typically compresses the signal to 1080 x 1440 or 1080 x 1280 and call it better. Don't accept a vague subjective answer like "better" or "clearer", get very specific, get numbers.

amjh · 01-10-2008, 05:17 PM

Thank you for your reply.
First time user to this service.
Very good

TheDarkKnight · 01-10-2008, 07:46 PM

I'm not sure about Canada, but here in the Colonies the satellite providers offer so many more HD channels, I would never even consider cable.

My brother in law had Comcast Cable until he saw how much bigger my Dish Network selection was. Then he switched. The picture quality was comparable, I think

splashdown · 01-13-2008, 01:40 PM

My father in law is a high def TV junkie who has had three sets with no provider until recently. He went out and bought the Star Choice receiver and the first thing was DVI out but no HDMI. With that resolved he hooked it up and we found mediokre performance and a terrible assortment of channels on a typical - but not full-meal - package. In an attempt to get better picture a new Aquos 1080p was added to the house. it came with a free Rogers rental which came to my house.

The answer:

Rogers picture quality, ease of set up and channel lineup blew the Star Choice out of the water!

Somewhere not too far from me now is another new cable customer.

No news for Bell, but anything has to be better than the unfortunate quality and lineup issue from Star Choice.

Flirtn/w/distr · 01-24-2008, 06:45 PM

Definately Satelite is hands down over Rogers, I chose ExpressVu for ease of installation (free) - Less confusion of what channels i receive. and PRICE - More bang for your buck that's for sure. I'm sorry but i do not need to have 2 Omni channels in HD.
Down fall? an ugly

dish hanging on my house BUT i was fortunate enough that its not too visible

gmd · 01-28-2008, 08:25 AM

There must have been something with the SC setup. Did you go DVI to HDMI with connecting it? (!!!). There is no difference between DVI and non-1.3 HDMI.

Bell converts everything to 720p, and puts 3 channels on the same transponder instead of 2 (using QPSK).

Read Canadian sites before making your decision. Look at this thread:

Enough Compression Already
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=72525

Bell has been known to play with 1280x1080i, too.

-gmd

neilrieck · 03-10-2008, 06:17 AM

Check out this 6-company comparision at Futureshop.

futureshop.ca/marketing/hdtv/EN/channel_guide.asp?menu_level=choose_source&logon=& langid=EN

01-10-2008, 11:35 AM	#1
amjh What is HD? Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2	HD Satelite versus cable In Ontario, Canada we have three HD providers, Bell and Star Choice for satelite and Rogers for Cable. Star Choice just informed me that they provide the best HG signal or picture. Other providers compress signals. Is there a difference and which do you recommend. Thank you. AMJH

01-10-2008, 11:59 AM	#2
Emil High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Barrington, Il. Age: 57 Posts: 1,225	I suggest you ask all three if they always provide a 1080 x 1920 picture from a 1080 source. Satellite typically compresses the signal to 1080 x 1440 or 1080 x 1280 and call it better. Don't accept a vague subjective answer like "better" or "clearer", get very specific, get numbers. __________________ 60A2000 SXRD Klipsch PS3 DirecTV

01-10-2008, 07:46 PM	#4
TheDarkKnight (fairly) New to HD Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 12	I'm not sure about Canada, but here in the Colonies the satellite providers offer so many more HD channels, I would never even consider cable. My brother in law had Comcast Cable until he saw how much bigger my Dish Network selection was. Then he switched. The picture quality was comparable, I think __________________ Aqua Teen Hunger Force. #1 in the hood, G! The Dark Knight--July18---Can I wait that long? Go Penguins!!!!

01-13-2008, 01:40 PM	#5
splashdown Visionary looking forth! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Newmarket, Canada Posts: 3	two thirds of the answer My father in law is a high def TV junkie who has had three sets with no provider until recently. He went out and bought the Star Choice receiver and the first thing was DVI out but no HDMI. With that resolved he hooked it up and we found mediokre performance and a terrible assortment of channels on a typical - but not full-meal - package. In an attempt to get better picture a new Aquos 1080p was added to the house. it came with a free Rogers rental which came to my house. The answer: Rogers picture quality, ease of set up and channel lineup blew the Star Choice out of the water! Somewhere not too far from me now is another new cable customer. No news for Bell, but anything has to be better than the unfortunate quality and lineup issue from Star Choice.

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01-10-2008, 05:17 PM	#3
amjh What is HD? Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2	Thank you for your reply. First time user to this service. Very good

01-24-2008, 06:45 PM	#6
Flirtn/w/distr What is HD? Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Cambridge, Ontario Posts: 2	Definately Satelite is hands down over Rogers, I chose ExpressVu for ease of installation (free) - Less confusion of what channels i receive. and PRICE - More bang for your buck that's for sure. I'm sorry but i do not need to have 2 Omni channels in HD. Down fall? an ugly dish hanging on my house BUT i was fortunate enough that its not too visible

01-28-2008, 08:25 AM	#7
gmd How can anyone watch standard def? Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 15	There must have been something with the SC setup. Did you go DVI to HDMI with connecting it? (!!!). There is no difference between DVI and non-1.3 HDMI. Bell converts everything to 720p, and puts 3 channels on the same transponder instead of 2 (using QPSK). Read Canadian sites before making your decision. Look at this thread: Enough Compression Already http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=72525 Bell has been known to play with 1280x1080i, too. -gmd

03-10-2008, 06:17 AM	#8
neilrieck What is HD? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1	Check out this 6-company comparision at Futureshop. futureshop.ca/marketing/hdtv/EN/channel_guide.asp?menu_level=choose_source&logon=& langid=EN