Bad Picture Quality W/ Directv and New LCD TV

Chris311 · 10-16-2005, 01:20 PM

Just got a new Philips 17" Flat Screen HDTV and was wondering why the picture is not clear even though I am using an S-Video connection with Directv. My previous 10 year old box TV make a clearer picture than this. While at Best Buy I noticed a number of the other TV's, brands varying, also had the same blotchy, grainy, look when not running a DVD or a pure HD signal. Was just wondering why the picture is not clear at all. The picture looks as if it is scretched and the pixels are smeered in a way. I have also tried different settings. I know TV does not broadcast 16:9 so I set the tv to standard 4:3 and the picture is the same smeered look. Reading reviews for my exact TV and all the ratings on the picture quality is very high with most people saying the picture is amazing. Is this just how these TV's look when running a standard Directv singal without HD?

**rbinck** · 10-16-2005, 01:49 PM

First, using a svideo connection will not be HD. You need component, DVI or HDMI for HD.

Second, read this: Poor SD On HDTVs
It is not that uncommon of a complaint.

Chris311 · 10-17-2005, 01:15 AM

Thanks I am aware of the S-Video not being HD quality. That TV has HDMI and HD inputs but I do not have a DTV HD reciever yet. Thank you very much for that article it answered every question.

holtzd · 10-17-2005, 10:52 AM

Since your TV is only a 17” it should still look pretty good with a S-Video connection. Have you tried a composite video cable just to see if it looks any different? Also try the RF connections from your receiver. You could also try connecting it to an antenna to see what OTA channels look like. Could be a bad TV.

Chris311 · 10-18-2005, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by holtzd

Since your TV is only a 17” it should still look pretty good with a S-Video connection. Have you tried a composite video cable just to see if it looks any different? Also try the RF connections from your receiver. You could also try connecting it to an antenna to see what OTA channels look like. Could be a bad TV.

Just tried the composite cables and the video came through, it looked clear but was grey in color and small circles made up the screen.

holtzd · 10-18-2005, 09:46 AM

I think you have a defective TV. I would take it back.

Chris311 · 10-18-2005, 10:04 PM

I used component cables that went from the compostie end of the DTV Reciever into the component end of my TV. Would that cause the grey scale?

wolfman730 · 10-19-2005, 04:41 PM

I have a cheap 19" hooked up on just the antenna input and the picture is great.

RSawdey · 10-20-2005, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris311

I used component cables that went from the compostie end of the DTV Reciever into the component end of my TV. Would that cause the grey scale?

You are connecting incompatible signal types! Composite only carries 480i, Component is 3 cables for Y/Pr/Pb that can carry HDTV. Plus 2 for analog audio, or an SPDIF digital connect.

Chris311 · 10-20-2005, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSawdey

You are connecting incompatible signal types! Composite only carries 480i, Component is 3 cables for Y/Pr/Pb that can carry HDTV. Plus 2 for analog audio, or an SPDIF digital connect.

thats explains it.

lizardhowson · 10-20-2005, 08:40 AM

Chris,

Did you try reading the manual for your new TV ??

RSawdey · 10-21-2005, 07:01 PM

You must have been plugged into the 'Y' input, which is 'Luminance' = B/W or brightness.

leevitalone · 10-24-2005, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbinck

First, using a svideo connection will not be HD. You need component, DVI or HDMI for HD.

Second, read this: Poor SD On HDTVs
It is not that uncommon of a complaint.

will you please explain compsite video, I see some that feel it will do 480i. s-video will, but how can comp.? thanks!

jackstraw · 10-25-2005, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbinck

First, using a svideo connection will not be HD. You need component, DVI or HDMI for HD.

Second, read this: Poor SD On HDTVs
It is not that uncommon of a complaint.

This is a nice article. One question on the suggestion of trying Composite or SVideo connections for SD programming... is the purpose just to guarantee 480i feed?

I can switch my Hughes HD Tivo to 480i output piped by component or HDMI. Shouldn't this be better than using SVideo?

**rbinck** · 10-25-2005, 03:14 PM

See the thing is that every digital to analog converter is not necessarily the same. Using the HDMI or component to convey 480i material requires the upconversion of the 480i material to 1080i or 720p before sending it to the TV. Upscaling in the digital realm can, and often does, amplify the artifacts associated with blowing up the picture to a larger resolution. Sometimes just using the analog output of the STB will be free of these resolution conversion artifacts and will result in a smoother picture. This is of course dependant on the way the TV upscales the SD inputs. I didn't mean to say that these connections would always give better results, but rather may give better results. It will depend on the individual equipment involved.

Composite video is fed over a single cable whereas s-video is fed over two cables. Both are 480i. For a explanation of the differences between composite video and s-video see: http://lyberty.com/encyc/articles/svideo.html

10-16-2005, 01:20 PM	#1
Chris311 My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 7	Bad Picture Quality W/ Directv and New LCD TV Just got a new Philips 17" Flat Screen HDTV and was wondering why the picture is not clear even though I am using an S-Video connection with Directv. My previous 10 year old box TV make a clearer picture than this. While at Best Buy I noticed a number of the other TV's, brands varying, also had the same blotchy, grainy, look when not running a DVD or a pure HD signal. Was just wondering why the picture is not clear at all. The picture looks as if it is scretched and the pixels are smeered in a way. I have also tried different settings. I know TV does not broadcast 16:9 so I set the tv to standard 4:3 and the picture is the same smeered look. Reading reviews for my exact TV and all the ratings on the picture quality is very high with most people saying the picture is amazing. Is this just how these TV's look when running a standard Directv singal without HD?

10-16-2005, 01:49 PM	#2
rbinck Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Katy, Texas Posts: 12,338	First, using a svideo connection will not be HD. You need component, DVI or HDMI for HD. Second, read this: Poor SD On HDTVs It is not that uncommon of a complaint. __________________ www.highdefinitionblog.com www.BlogOfHawaii.com

10-20-2005, 08:40 AM	#11
lizardhowson Go Steelers ! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 511	RTF Manual Chris, Did you try reading the manual for your new TV ??

10-25-2005, 03:14 PM	#15
rbinck Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Katy, Texas Posts: 12,338	See the thing is that every digital to analog converter is not necessarily the same. Using the HDMI or component to convey 480i material requires the upconversion of the 480i material to 1080i or 720p before sending it to the TV. Upscaling in the digital realm can, and often does, amplify the artifacts associated with blowing up the picture to a larger resolution. Sometimes just using the analog output of the STB will be free of these resolution conversion artifacts and will result in a smoother picture. This is of course dependant on the way the TV upscales the SD inputs. I didn't mean to say that these connections would always give better results, but rather may give better results. It will depend on the individual equipment involved. Composite video is fed over a single cable whereas s-video is fed over two cables. Both are 480i. For a explanation of the differences between composite video and s-video see: http://lyberty.com/encyc/articles/svideo.html __________________ www.highdefinitionblog.com www.BlogOfHawaii.com Last edited by rbinck; 10-25-2005 at 03:17 PM.

10-17-2005, 01:15 AM	#3
Chris311 My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 7	Thanks I am aware of the S-Video not being HD quality. That TV has HDMI and HD inputs but I do not have a DTV HD reciever yet. Thank you very much for that article it answered every question.

10-17-2005, 10:52 AM	#4
holtzd High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 286	Since your TV is only a 17” it should still look pretty good with a S-Video connection. Have you tried a composite video cable just to see if it looks any different? Also try the RF connections from your receiver. You could also try connecting it to an antenna to see what OTA channels look like. Could be a bad TV.

10-18-2005, 09:46 AM	#6
holtzd High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 286	I think you have a defective TV. I would take it back.

10-18-2005, 10:04 PM	#7
Chris311 My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 7	I used component cables that went from the compostie end of the DTV Reciever into the component end of my TV. Would that cause the grey scale?

10-19-2005, 04:41 PM	#8
wolfman730 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 327	I have a cheap 19" hooked up on just the antenna input and the picture is great.

10-21-2005, 07:01 PM	#12
RSawdey Mr. Wizard Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ferndale, Michigan Age: 61 Posts: 5,981	You must have been plugged into the 'Y' input, which is 'Luminance' = B/W or brightness.