HD Programming picture quality & performance question

zero7404 · 09-03-2008, 05:33 PM

new on this forum.

i am choosing between a few providers in my area: FIOS, Optimum, Dish and DirectTV.

I'm interested in receiving internet and TV with the same company, but i'm willing to go with seperate companies if it's going to lead to excellent tv/lousy internet and vice versa.

what i am primarily concerned with is the HD signal quality as it is provided by the service provider.

for example, i have heard of companies squeezing the pipelines or compressing the signals to get more and more channels/bandwidth with existing lines, i'm concerned this may lead to "not as advertised" speeds/signal quality.

i have not yet purchased an HDTV, but I will and it will be capable of 1080p (either plasma or LCD).

i know that 1080p resolution is best viewed on larger than 50" televisions, but at the moment i am only concerned with the overall picture quality and whether it is as-advertised, or whether i should look out for companies saying one thing but delivering another.

if anyone has experience with this, please post your thoughts based on services you've used or seen.

**rbinck** · 09-03-2008, 06:01 PM

Check out FiOS. It should be available at minimum cost and you should be able to cancel if it don't work out for you. Next in line, imo, would be cable and the same low install cost and the ability to cancel if necessary.

Dish will be lower install cost than Directv and both satellite services require long term contracts. Directv will require 2 years for DVR service as an example.

As far as quality I'd give the nod to FiOS in most areas. How much HD is available will depend on your provider, so be sure to compare that as well.

zero7404 · 09-04-2008, 09:38 AM

thanks for posting. i'm primarily focused on the signal quality and whether it's as-advertised. looking to root out the bad apples in the industry before i choose one......

also been reading up on DVRs and services like TiVo....when it comes to modern-day TV programming and recording, i'm still stuck back in the days of the VCR. Isn't a DVR the modern-day equivalent of a VCR ?
if so, then what are the services that TiVo is charging for ?

with regard to digital rights management, do DVRs try to protect the content that is recorded so that I cannot transfer it to my computer for watching whenever I want or to save the recording indefinitely for revisiting in the future ?

sorry...i am pretty oblivious with regard to DVR and modern day HD tech since I have not been following it very closely.....

zero7404 · 09-04-2008, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbinck

Check out FiOS.

i don't like verizon as a company overall, i listed them as a last resort...

**rbinck** · 09-04-2008, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zero7404

thanks for posting. i'm primarily focused on the signal quality and whether it's as-advertised. looking to root out the bad apples in the industry before i choose one......

also been reading up on DVRs and services like TiVo....when it comes to modern-day TV programming and recording, i'm still stuck back in the days of the VCR. Isn't a DVR the modern-day equivalent of a VCR ?
if so, then what are the services that TiVo is charging for ?

with regard to digital rights management, do DVRs try to protect the content that is recorded so that I cannot transfer it to my computer for watching whenever I want or to save the recording indefinitely for revisiting in the future ?

sorry...i am pretty oblivious with regard to DVR and modern day HD tech since I have not been following it very closely.....

The TiVo is somewhat the equivalent to a VCR, but on steroids, so to speak, as are all of the DVRs. The difference with the DVRs is you can view a complete guide on your TV, schedule series recording that will record a given program every time it is broadcast and several other improvements over a VCR. One that is used the most is the time shifting feature where you can pause live TV or even rewind. Many people will use this feature to start viewing a program in the middle, rewind to the beginning and use the fast forward to skip commercials. TiVo charges for the service of loading the DVR with the data to allow these features.

DRM is built into all DVRs except some of those computer based, Media Centers excepted. There is a new device that will allow you to record material from your Satellite or cable DVRs into a computer and more information is available here: Recording HD from Satellite Or Cable - No Problem Anymore!

Computers can also be converted to DVRs for OTA antenna HD programming or cable QAM that is in the clear (not scrambled) and some more info on those is located here: MyHTPC

Sounds like looking through the articles I have posted on my blog would fill you in on many things regarding HDTV.

zero7404 · 09-04-2008, 09:00 PM

thanks again for all your help...

i'm really not a fan of DRM and was curious about that with respect to DVRs, which is why i asked.

don't steal music or movies or the like, but i like to know that when i pay for something to be mine, that it is not locked by DRM so that I can transport it from my living room to my PC if i so chose.

looks like my alternative to a DVR box would be a media center pc.

**rbinck** · 09-05-2008, 04:32 PM

Media Center PC will add DRM to all of their recordings, at least mine does. My other HTPCs that I used the MyHD cards are DRM free.

TL1000RSquid · 09-05-2008, 05:31 PM

IMO Optimum online is much better then Verizon, better speeds. Fios does offer more HD channel's though. I'm using Optimum cause its the better deal with the cable,inet,phone package. Not sure if Fios offers their own DVR services, Optimum is an extra $9.99 a month to have there DVR cable box.

zero7404 · 09-07-2008, 04:18 PM

i've been an optimum customer before and they are top-knotch on quality of service and delivery of what they promise.
i asked the cable guy the other day about io tv and he said the DVRs will store the recordings i make until they are deleted....i.e., i can keep the shows on the DVR for as long as i want.

only thing i'd want to do if i got a DVR is to step up the HDD size to something that i wouldn't need to worry about saving only 20 or so hrs of HD.

also asked if they partake in the practice of compressing their signals and mentioned if the 1080p they deliver is true 1080p. he answered no to compression and yes to true signal quality delivered.

all i hear about verizon is horror stories from all angles (wireless, fios, etc.), this is why i would sacrifice additional features for piece of mind.

zero7404 · 10-23-2008, 01:23 PM

another question

can an hdmi connection be used to transmit only video and not audio ?
i have an older av receiver which does not have hdmi connections (even if it did, i would not want to use them because it could degrade the signal)...

i would like to use hdmi to connect a cable box and a blu-ray player directly to the tv, but for audio, i want to connect these boxes to my av reciever and defeat the tv's audio output.

the tv in question will be the sony kdl-46z4100, and the av receiver is a yamaha r-v703.

GymBrat98 · 10-23-2008, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zero7404

another question

can an hdmi connection be used to transmit only video and not audio ?
i have an older av receiver which does not have hdmi connections (even if it did, i would not want to use them because it could degrade the signal)...

i would like to use hdmi to connect a cable box and a blu-ray player directly to the tv, but for audio, i want to connect these boxes to my av reciever and defeat the tv's audio output.

the tv in question will be the sony kdl-46z4100, and the av receiver is a yamaha r-v703.

I have Fios triple play, and I love it. I have internet 20/5
Home phone with long distance, and to some other countries as well. I have every movie station there is for 130.00 a month 146.00 with taxes, and fees.

My Yamaha has no HDMI, so I just hook the rca audios to my DVR, and then into my Yammy. The HDMI goes from my DVR to my TV. Yes HDMI carries both video, and audio.

Hope this helps

BTW when I had cable my picture had become so degraded that I got overscan on almost all of my channels. I don't have that problem anymore since I switched to Fios.

zero7404 · 10-24-2008, 09:17 PM

GymBrat98, i'm no fan of verizon as a company. i also don't see much expertise in what you are telling me.

come back with some specs of your services/advice and i'll take you seriously....

zero7404 · 10-24-2008, 09:19 PM

with regard to my question, i found that my receiver doesn't even have optical input, so i'm best off buying a new receiver. anyone have any experience with the Denon 2808CI ?

GymBrat98 · 10-24-2008, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zero7404

new on this forum.

i am choosing between a few providers in my area: FIOS, Optimum, Dish and DirectTV.

I'm interested in receiving internet and TV with the same company, but i'm willing to go with seperate companies if it's going to lead to excellent tv/lousy internet and vice versa.

what i am primarily concerned with is the HD signal quality as it is provided by the service provider.

for example, i have heard of companies squeezing the pipelines or compressing the signals to get more and more channels/bandwidth with existing lines, i'm concerned this may lead to "not as advertised" speeds/signal quality.

i have not yet purchased an HDTV, but I will and it will be capable of 1080p (either plasma or LCD).

i know that 1080p resolution is best viewed on larger than 50" televisions, but at the moment i am only concerned with the overall picture quality and whether it is as-advertised, or whether i should look out for companies saying one thing but delivering another.

if anyone has experience with this, please post your thoughts based on services you've used or seen.

My bad? You asked I told DUH!! Now you're on ignore ya jerk!
The name says it all.

PFC5 · 10-25-2008, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zero7404

GymBrat98, i'm no fan of verizon as a company. i also don't see much expertise in what you are telling me.

come back with some specs of your services/advice and i'll take you seriously....

GymBrat98 was replying to exactly what you asked for in your original post & the quoted follow up post, and THIS is how you respond to someone trying to help you?

Do you expect people to continue to try to help you with this kind of response? When people post help they do it to be nice and they deserve that to be considered in the response or no one will help you in the future, because no one wants to be treated badly for trying to help.

You might want to re-think your approach to people who offer to help instead of putting down what they posted because you don't like the company they recommend. If you don't, you might find that no one offers any help in the future.

09-03-2008, 05:33 PM	#1
zero7404 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 43	HD Programming picture quality & performance question new on this forum. i am choosing between a few providers in my area: FIOS, Optimum, Dish and DirectTV. I'm interested in receiving internet and TV with the same company, but i'm willing to go with seperate companies if it's going to lead to excellent tv/lousy internet and vice versa. what i am primarily concerned with is the HD signal quality as it is provided by the service provider. for example, i have heard of companies squeezing the pipelines or compressing the signals to get more and more channels/bandwidth with existing lines, i'm concerned this may lead to "not as advertised" speeds/signal quality. i have not yet purchased an HDTV, but I will and it will be capable of 1080p (either plasma or LCD). i know that 1080p resolution is best viewed on larger than 50" televisions, but at the moment i am only concerned with the overall picture quality and whether it is as-advertised, or whether i should look out for companies saying one thing but delivering another. if anyone has experience with this, please post your thoughts based on services you've used or seen.

09-03-2008, 06:01 PM	#2
rbinck Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Katy, Texas Posts: 15,598	Check out FiOS. It should be available at minimum cost and you should be able to cancel if it don't work out for you. Next in line, imo, would be cable and the same low install cost and the ability to cancel if necessary. Dish will be lower install cost than Directv and both satellite services require long term contracts. Directv will require 2 years for DVR service as an example. As far as quality I'd give the nod to FiOS in most areas. How much HD is available will depend on your provider, so be sure to compare that as well. __________________ www.highdefinitionblog.com www.BlogOfHawaii.com Last edited by rbinck; 09-03-2008 at 06:05 PM.

09-05-2008, 04:32 PM	#7
rbinck Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Katy, Texas Posts: 15,598	Media Center PC will add DRM to all of their recordings, at least mine does. My other HTPCs that I used the MyHD cards are DRM free. __________________ www.highdefinitionblog.com www.BlogOfHawaii.com

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09-04-2008, 09:38 AM	#3
zero7404 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 43	thanks for posting. i'm primarily focused on the signal quality and whether it's as-advertised. looking to root out the bad apples in the industry before i choose one...... also been reading up on DVRs and services like TiVo....when it comes to modern-day TV programming and recording, i'm still stuck back in the days of the VCR. Isn't a DVR the modern-day equivalent of a VCR ? if so, then what are the services that TiVo is charging for ? with regard to digital rights management, do DVRs try to protect the content that is recorded so that I cannot transfer it to my computer for watching whenever I want or to save the recording indefinitely for revisiting in the future ? sorry...i am pretty oblivious with regard to DVR and modern day HD tech since I have not been following it very closely.....

09-04-2008, 09:00 PM	#6
zero7404 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 43	thanks again for all your help... i'm really not a fan of DRM and was curious about that with respect to DVRs, which is why i asked. don't steal music or movies or the like, but i like to know that when i pay for something to be mine, that it is not locked by DRM so that I can transport it from my living room to my PC if i so chose. looks like my alternative to a DVR box would be a media center pc.

09-05-2008, 05:31 PM	#8
TL1000RSquid A couch and an HDTV to go please. Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 13	IMO Optimum online is much better then Verizon, better speeds. Fios does offer more HD channel's though. I'm using Optimum cause its the better deal with the cable,inet,phone package. Not sure if Fios offers their own DVR services, Optimum is an extra $9.99 a month to have there DVR cable box.

09-07-2008, 04:18 PM	#9
zero7404 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 43	i've been an optimum customer before and they are top-knotch on quality of service and delivery of what they promise. i asked the cable guy the other day about io tv and he said the DVRs will store the recordings i make until they are deleted....i.e., i can keep the shows on the DVR for as long as i want. only thing i'd want to do if i got a DVR is to step up the HDD size to something that i wouldn't need to worry about saving only 20 or so hrs of HD. also asked if they partake in the practice of compressing their signals and mentioned if the 1080p they deliver is true 1080p. he answered no to compression and yes to true signal quality delivered. all i hear about verizon is horror stories from all angles (wireless, fios, etc.), this is why i would sacrifice additional features for piece of mind.

10-23-2008, 01:23 PM	#10
zero7404 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 43	another question can an hdmi connection be used to transmit only video and not audio ? i have an older av receiver which does not have hdmi connections (even if it did, i would not want to use them because it could degrade the signal)... i would like to use hdmi to connect a cable box and a blu-ray player directly to the tv, but for audio, i want to connect these boxes to my av reciever and defeat the tv's audio output. the tv in question will be the sony kdl-46z4100, and the av receiver is a yamaha r-v703.

10-24-2008, 09:17 PM	#12
zero7404 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 43	GymBrat98, i'm no fan of verizon as a company. i also don't see much expertise in what you are telling me. come back with some specs of your services/advice and i'll take you seriously....

10-24-2008, 09:19 PM	#13
zero7404 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 43	with regard to my question, i found that my receiver doesn't even have optical input, so i'm best off buying a new receiver. anyone have any experience with the Denon 2808CI ?