Uverse picture Quality

cccsdad

I'm a DTV customer and am considering the switch to Uverse, however on almost EVERY forum I go to, I see complaint after complaint about Uverse picture quality.

What issues is Uverse having with picture quality? Why would there picture quality be worse than Dtv or Dish?

Has this issue been resolved? Any current Uverse users who used to have Direct TV or Dish who can give me a comparison.

If picture quality is an issue, is ATT doing anything to correct this?

Also, I live about 1000' from the ATT node, if I get Uverse is that distance going to be a factor in my picture quality?

awol

The thing I would ask is if those forum posts are recent. I know that when U-verse was first launched, they did have issues with the HD compression and resulting PQ.

As far as a comparison, I was a cable sub prior to U-verse, so I can't comment on the difference between it and Sat, but I can tell you that I've been exceptionally pleased with the picture quality thus far. Plus, the sheer number of HD stations they have FAR surpassed Cable in my area. I have no reason to watch an SD channel any more. Everything I watch is available in an HD flavor. Granted not all the content comes in HD on those stations, but in time, with the exception of the syndicated stuff, it will.

Here's something consider. A lot of people don't disconnect their Dish/DTV when they have U-verse installed. This way you can test it out, and then cancel it if you don't like it. There's no commitment like with Dish/DTV, and the installation is free.

JPL

I'm not a U-Verse customer, nor do I even live in an AT&T area, but I wanted to chime in here. I'm a former DirecTV customer who went with FiOS. I was very happy with DirecTV, but wanted HD service, and I didn't feel like paying $300 for DirecTV's HD DVR (the going lease price at the time). So I decided to try out FiOS. Point is, DirecTV allows you to suspend your account. Verizon had a one-month trial at the time, so I decided 'why not?' I already had their internet service and loved it.

My reco - since it sounds like AT&T doesn't appear to require a commitment (can't vouch for that, obviously, but that's what awol said, and I believe him), why not hook up U-Verse, and then suspend your DirecTV account. That way you can test out U-Verse to see if you like it (I decided to give myself a week with FiOS before making a decision - some things aren't obvious right up front, and I wanted to test drive the service for a good amount of time - I ended up making the decision that same day). You can even leave both services running for a day to do a side-by-side comparison.

If you really like U-Verse, then cancel DirecTV. If you don't then cancel U-Verse, and unsuspend your DirecTV account. It was more of an issue for me, btw, because I was still under contract with DirecTV, and before shelling out the money for the ETF I wanted to know if it was worth it.

cccsdad

I could suspend my Direct TV service the only issue is I hate to have a Uverse installed (2-6 hours from what I've heard) have cables drapped all over the outside of my house, then find out I don't like it.

My DTV is wired up nice and neat through my attic, so the only thing I have on the outside is the dish.

WHat about the distance (1000') from the node, is that an issue?

awol

I don't think the 1000' is an issue. I believe it only becomes an issue when you're talking over 3000'. But don't quote me on that. And as far as the install time, it can depend on how "new" your house is, and how well it was wired when it was built. It also depends on how many STBs are being installed and where in the house. Also, there isn't going to be a ton of cables draped all over the place as they use your existing wiring. They'll either go completely over your phone lines or convert the signal to run from the phone line into your existing cable connection.

Not to mention that if they were just to leave any exposed wires/cables anywhere, I would be extremely shocked. I have had to deal with an installer twice. Once on the initial install, and once when I wanted to move my Gateway. Both times, they were the most professional and polite technicians I've ever dealt with. And I've heard that numerous times from numerous people. Both times they left my house cleaner than before they came.

rbinck

You may want to read this: U-Verse IPTV

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cccsdad

Thanks for the info, very helpful. So it appears as if the HD quailty on Uverse is not as good as I am getting with my DTV. That pretty much makes my decision for me. I certainly am not going to to go with a service (Uverse) that doesn't offer the quality of picture I currently get with my DTV. Since it is pretty much agreed upon by those in the know Uverse PQ is not as good as DTV (as far as HD goes) is ATT aware of this and is anything being done to correct this, or is this just the nature of the way the two services provide signal?

rbinck

I don't think you got that conclusion from this thread. From what I have seen I would not characterize that to be true. When they first started that was the case, but they have upped the bitrate to each house. Right now the HD on my HDTV is almost as good as the OTA. From what I've seen at other people's houses, I don't see an appreciable difference between Directv, cable and U-verse HD. I've not seen Dish Network or FiOS so I can't compare those services.

But you have a point in that if you already have made the outlay for the Directv HD equipment, why would you switch? For me the reason I went with U-verse rather than upgrading to the current level of equipment that Directv requires was the equipment price. I had already upgraded once to the 3 LNB system and the cost to go to the 5LNB system was just too high for me to swallow. The cost savings between the two services is not all that much, so other than the initial cost for the equipment I don't see any other compelling reason to switch.

Edit: While nothing in the thread should have led you to the conclusion you made, I re-read the link I provided and realized I needed to update that information. It was written shortly after I first got the service and needed to be updated. That's the problem with the internet, once something is written, even by yours truly, it does not necessarily get updated. Thanks to this thread I have corrected that article. Thanks.

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cccsdad

Thanks for the help.

wase4711

Picture quality is a TOTALY SUBJECTIVE perception, and, if you know anything about the Internet, and the type of folks who post negative comments about anything, you wouldn't pay any attetntion to them..

No commitment, free install, and you will save $$$ over Direct; why wouldnt you try it?
Outside of the occasional picture freeze, I feel UVERSE BLOWS AWAT satalite service in every way..
I have had HD tv's for almost 10 years, and had every service known to man, from VOOM, to Dish, to Direct, to Comcrap...Uverse is every bit as good as any of them, and, with the innovations that they are releasing regularly, and with the most HD channels of any provider, and with me saving 50 bucks a month VS my previous Dish/Comcrap combo, I recommend it to everyone..
BTW, 2500 feet is when you may be getting a bit far for perfect/strong signal, but 1000 feet is no problem

cccsdad

First I dont' think Uvere has more HD than any provider (see directv), also, when I go on line to dozens of forums and ask about Uverse Hd picture quality, 90% of the responses I get back are that Uverse HD is not as good PQ wise as Direct Tv or Dish.

I've spoken to people who used to have Direct or Dish that now have Uverse and almost everyone of them says the HD PQ on Uverse is not as good as what they had on DTV or Dish.

rbinck

Yeah, it sounds like you need to stay with Directv. Do you have all of the equipment for the 5LNB system already? Why were you considering U-verse?

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wase4711

do the math; Uverse has more HD than any other provider, unless you use Comcraps "VOD" as part of their offering..
plus, i would love to see your statistics that show that "90%" of the responses say Uverse HD isn't as good as Direct TV?
Would you also please list the "dozens of forums" that you have gleaned this information from?

Thank you.

cccsdad

I'm not going to get into a pissing contest with you. Google. "uverse picture quality" or "Uverse vs DirecTV" and I promise you 90% of the people who have posted on the different forums and blogs have stated they felt as if the HD PQ on Direct TV was better.

Why don't you provide some proof to back your claims other than your mouth.

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r191...icture-quality

http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7596_102...sageID=2483429

http://www.thetruthaboutuverse.com/u...th-hd-quality/

these are just a few of the comments I'v see regarding this issue.

cccsdad

I liked the idea of not having to worry about weather and the DVR capabilities.