A Discussion On Poor SD On HDTVs

random person · 12-07-2005, 04:08 PM

Well I had my Panny installed yesterday using the Component cables and I found the PQ simply amazing! In HD it's mind-blowing, and the SD quality is very good also -- surprisingly good! So I never did try to do the S-video A/B test to see if the SD quality would improve. It's already wonderful with the component connection.

My only problem appears to be that I can't change the aspect ratio when viewing SD content. I know you're not supposed to be able to do that when viewing HD but for SD you should be able to and it appears I am locked into what is probably called "Just." Just is actually quite wonderful, but I'd still like to be able to switch aspect modes. Any idea what the problem could be? (My apologies, but I've also posted separately on this in the Plasma forum as I wonder if it is a known wierdness of Panasonic, and other Panny owners might be able to help me out.)

BTW it is hooked up to a Comcast box, with output set at 1080i, aspect ratio at 16:9, and 4:3 override set at 480i.

random person · 12-07-2005, 06:23 PM

Managed to get my remote fixed by finally getting through to Panny tech support and via various mysterious maneuvers the remote was successfully "unlocked" and all my aspect ratios restored -- so problem solved.

It's an absolutely wonderful setup -- even with SD!

david4455 · 12-11-2005, 10:32 AM

Great Thread... at least I know I am not alone!

I have a new Sony KD-34XBR960....

I have a non-hd dish receiver that only allows me to run a S-video cable to the TV.

So I have an OTA antenna coming directly into the TV for my HD locals and the S-video coming into input 1 from the dish receiver to get my SD channels....I do get an ok PQ with the dish receiver but would certainly like to improve it if you can think of any other way to play around with the connections.....

thanks

Insignia05 · 12-11-2005, 03:00 PM

is this saying there isn't much i can do with an 811 dish reciever? because that is what i have and the sd is so bad, it almost gives me a headache. the hd is almost like a dvd but not quite.
I have an old tv set with the 625 reciever and the sd is better than on my hd set.

i don't know much about tv hookup, so if there is a way i can do that splitting thing, im going to need it in Lame Mans terms.lol.

RSawdey · 12-11-2005, 07:32 PM

hahahaha "Lame Man's Terms"... good one! hahahaha

augustwest · 12-22-2005, 02:42 PM

"What does NTSC tuner stand for?"

I though it meant - Never The Same Color Twice?

- augustwest

Tachyon · 01-06-2006, 02:53 PM

I just hooked up a new Hitachi 55VG825 HD LCD. I have a standard Directv box with s-video and OTA for local channels. The satellite SD is fair and the OTA hd channels are excellent but I noticed a problem with audio. Many times the OTA HD stations produce an audio signal way out of sync. Is this my setup or is it the source transmission???????????? It happens on my smaller 34" HD Sony also.

Thanks in advance, TACH

bru87tr · 01-07-2006, 09:42 AM

no doubt signal is a big issue if you have poor SD image.

when I got my first HDTV I thought it was terrible looking. after running all new RG6 and adding quality new connectors and also adding a electroline signal amp my picture was 200 times better on SD channels.

RSawdey · 01-07-2006, 05:15 PM

You really need to upgrade to an HD setup... it takes an HD signal to show what an HDTV can do...

magjammer · 01-09-2006, 03:16 PM

I recently switched from Dish Network to Time Warner. Using my receiver's (Explorer 3250HD) "auto" scaling / conversion capabilities there is an obvious and bothersome flicker. This did not occur with Dish Network's 811 receiver or if I choose not to use the 3250 upconversion-1 feature; opting to manually adjust the scaling between HD and non-HD signals. Will this flickering damage my Hitachi rear projection TV?

BTW, I activated all the possible viewing formats via the advanced HD wizard setup on the 3250hd receiver since all the formats were "viewable". If I'm allowed 2 questions then; would selecting a subset eliminate this flicker?

This forum rocks,
-Mike

1080PsF · 01-21-2006, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by augustwest

"What does NTSC tuner stand for?"

I though it meant - Never The Same Color Twice?

- augustwest

BTY - It's Never Twice Same Color

westcott · 01-26-2006, 02:30 PM

Do what most of us who have had front projection have known for a long time. Use a small CRT for SD programming and use DVD's and HD programming for larger screens.

Compression has gotten so bad on SD programming, even on a good 27" CRT display but blow it up and no amount of processing, cabling, hardware, or vodoo is going to make it better.

We wouldn't hardly need DVD's if we really receiver a true 480i signal on SD programming. As it is, SD programming is almost unwatchable and I have found that OTA broadcasts seem to have more bandwidth than satellite.

EddieDZ · 01-29-2006, 10:35 PM

didnt get to read through this entire thread(kinda in a hurry but will when i have time).. i only have one question and its regarding HDTV LCD's (especially a 32" sharp)

how does the non-hd channels look on a LCD HDTV?...good, decent? bad?

Zaphod · 03-06-2006, 08:25 PM

Maybe I'm a tough sell, but why should I buy a TV that gets bad SD? But then again, I was a holdout for large screen TV's. When the large screens came out, they were OK but if you viewed from the side, the picture quality suffered. So you had to take what was available and settle for a trade-off... several years later they got a whole lot better and the trade-offs were less and less.

I'm conceptually running into the same quandry with the current HD technologies. Great HD picture but so so SD. Rainbows, screen doors, artifacts etc.. many of the issues are not the fault of the technology, but are limits of the signal provider. Video technology has grown faster than the technology of the signal providers so you are limited in what you view at HD thus; there is a compomise in all of your other viewing.

When I spend another $3,000 for a TV it will have to be without too many compromises. As more stations switch to HD and bandwidth isssues with signal providers are resolved, most of the problems of dealing with SD will go away, as SD will go away. Until then, what your viewing habits are will determine how much of the HD you will enjoy.

westcott · 03-07-2006, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tachyon

I just hooked up a new Hitachi 55VG825 HD LCD. I have a standard Directv box with s-video and OTA for local channels. The satellite SD is fair and the OTA hd channels are excellent but I noticed a problem with audio. Many times the OTA HD stations produce an audio signal way out of sync. Is this my setup or is it the source transmission???????????? It happens on my smaller 34" HD Sony also.

Thanks in advance, TACH

Lip Sync is an international problem and is another hurdle the content providers are going to have to hurdle. The best advice I can offer is to get a receiver with lip sync delay features.

http://www.tvtechnology.com/features.../Hoffner.shtml

At least you know it is not your equipment.

12-11-2005, 10:32 AM	#63
david4455 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 91	Any thoughts on improving this DN S-video set-up? Great Thread... at least I know I am not alone! I have a new Sony KD-34XBR960.... I have a non-hd dish receiver that only allows me to run a S-video cable to the TV. So I have an OTA antenna coming directly into the TV for my HD locals and the S-video coming into input 1 from the dish receiver to get my SD channels....I do get an ok PQ with the dish receiver but would certainly like to improve it if you can think of any other way to play around with the connections..... thanks

12-11-2005, 03:00 PM	#64
Insignia05 My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 6	ok so if you have 811 is this saying there isn't much i can do with an 811 dish reciever? because that is what i have and the sd is so bad, it almost gives me a headache. the hd is almost like a dvd but not quite. I have an old tv set with the 625 reciever and the sd is better than on my hd set. i don't know much about tv hookup, so if there is a way i can do that splitting thing, im going to need it in Lame Mans terms.lol.

01-06-2006, 02:53 PM	#67
Tachyon What is HD? Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2	Picture/Audio Sync I just hooked up a new Hitachi 55VG825 HD LCD. I have a standard Directv box with s-video and OTA for local channels. The satellite SD is fair and the OTA hd channels are excellent but I noticed a problem with audio. Many times the OTA HD stations produce an audio signal way out of sync. Is this my setup or is it the source transmission???????????? It happens on my smaller 34" HD Sony also. Thanks in advance, TACH

01-07-2006, 09:42 AM	#68
bru87tr High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 37	no doubt signal is a big issue if you have poor SD image. when I got my first HDTV I thought it was terrible looking. after running all new RG6 and adding quality new connectors and also adding a electroline signal amp my picture was 200 times better on SD channels. __________________ Infocus SP4805 Projector - Da-Lite Silver Vision Screen - Compaq HTPC - Pioneer DV-563A SACD/DVD-A Player - LG LST-4200A HDTV Receiver/QAM Cable Tuner - Aura Pro Bass Shakers/150W Amp - Onkyo TX-SR602 Receiver - Paradigm Monitor 7 V.3 - Paradigm CC-370 V.3 - Sapphire SS Dipole - Wharfedale WH-2 Bipole - SVS 25_31 PC+ 525W Sub ___________________________________ Sony Wega 36XBR800 HDTV - Panasonic CT-26WX15 HDTV - Sony DVP-NS975V SACD/1080i DVD Player - Motorola DCT6200

01-09-2006, 03:16 PM	#70
magjammer What is HD? Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1	upconversion flicker I recently switched from Dish Network to Time Warner. Using my receiver's (Explorer 3250HD) "auto" scaling / conversion capabilities there is an obvious and bothersome flicker. This did not occur with Dish Network's 811 receiver or if I choose not to use the 3250 upconversion-1 feature; opting to manually adjust the scaling between HD and non-HD signals. Will this flickering damage my Hitachi rear projection TV? BTW, I activated all the possible viewing formats via the advanced HD wizard setup on the 3250hd receiver since all the formats were "viewable". If I'm allowed 2 questions then; would selecting a subset eliminate this flicker? This forum rocks, -Mike

12-07-2005, 04:08 PM	#61
random person How can anyone watch standard def? Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 20	Well I had my Panny installed yesterday using the Component cables and I found the PQ simply amazing! In HD it's mind-blowing, and the SD quality is very good also -- surprisingly good! So I never did try to do the S-video A/B test to see if the SD quality would improve. It's already wonderful with the component connection. My only problem appears to be that I can't change the aspect ratio when viewing SD content. I know you're not supposed to be able to do that when viewing HD but for SD you should be able to and it appears I am locked into what is probably called "Just." Just is actually quite wonderful, but I'd still like to be able to switch aspect modes. Any idea what the problem could be? (My apologies, but I've also posted separately on this in the Plasma forum as I wonder if it is a known wierdness of Panasonic, and other Panny owners might be able to help me out.) BTW it is hooked up to a Comcast box, with output set at 1080i, aspect ratio at 16:9, and 4:3 override set at 480i.

12-07-2005, 06:23 PM	#62
random person How can anyone watch standard def? Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 20	Managed to get my remote fixed by finally getting through to Panny tech support and via various mysterious maneuvers the remote was successfully "unlocked" and all my aspect ratios restored -- so problem solved. It's an absolutely wonderful setup -- even with SD!

12-11-2005, 07:32 PM	#65
RSawdey Mr. Wizard Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ferndale, Michigan Age: 60 Posts: 5,981	hahahaha "Lame Man's Terms"... good one! hahahaha

12-22-2005, 02:42 PM	#66
augustwest What is HD? Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1	"What does NTSC tuner stand for?" I though it meant - Never The Same Color Twice? - augustwest

01-07-2006, 05:15 PM	#69
RSawdey Mr. Wizard Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ferndale, Michigan Age: 60 Posts: 5,981	You really need to upgrade to an HD setup... it takes an HD signal to show what an HDTV can do...

01-26-2006, 02:30 PM	#72
westcott His and Her Room! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Clear Lake, Texas Posts: 121	Do what most of us who have had front projection have known for a long time. Use a small CRT for SD programming and use DVD's and HD programming for larger screens. Compression has gotten so bad on SD programming, even on a good 27" CRT display but blow it up and no amount of processing, cabling, hardware, or vodoo is going to make it better. We wouldn't hardly need DVD's if we really receiver a true 480i signal on SD programming. As it is, SD programming is almost unwatchable and I have found that OTA broadcasts seem to have more bandwidth than satellite.

01-29-2006, 10:35 PM	#73
EddieDZ The Taker of Balance Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Saint John, NB Canada Posts: 3,610	didnt get to read through this entire thread(kinda in a hurry but will when i have time).. i only have one question and its regarding HDTV LCD's (especially a 32" sharp) how does the non-hd channels look on a LCD HDTV?...good, decent? bad?

03-06-2006, 08:25 PM	#74
Zaphod My Resolution is Definite Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 68	Maybe I'm a tough sell, but why should I buy a TV that gets bad SD? But then again, I was a holdout for large screen TV's. When the large screens came out, they were OK but if you viewed from the side, the picture quality suffered. So you had to take what was available and settle for a trade-off... several years later they got a whole lot better and the trade-offs were less and less. I'm conceptually running into the same quandry with the current HD technologies. Great HD picture but so so SD. Rainbows, screen doors, artifacts etc.. many of the issues are not the fault of the technology, but are limits of the signal provider. Video technology has grown faster than the technology of the signal providers so you are limited in what you view at HD thus; there is a compomise in all of your other viewing. When I spend another $3,000 for a TV it will have to be without too many compromises. As more stations switch to HD and bandwidth isssues with signal providers are resolved, most of the problems of dealing with SD will go away, as SD will go away. Until then, what your viewing habits are will determine how much of the HD you will enjoy.

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