It may not be the type of set, but rather the settings themselves. For example, macroblocking is exacerbated by:

- The initial torch mode setting - usually called vivid or dynamic
- Very high contrast
- Edge enhancements often turned on
- a high sharpness setting

With proper setup, macroblocking can be minimized, but not eliminated.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=17713

thanks for the tips 57. I had adjusted my set up properly, but the edge enhancement was on left on. I turned it off and it made a noticeable difference.

I have the same settings as I did when I was a customer of Bell ExpressVu. The macroblocking is much worse than back then.

Just the same, I spent 45 minutes today fiddling with settings, and if anything it made it somewhat worse.

I'll update here when I talk to Shaw.

I called shaw couple days ago to complain about the sound drop outs,, and of course the CSR had no idead about this,, the sometimes video dropout on digi channels, the macroblocking. Couple nights ago my PVR recorded some HD channels,, all there was a screen of color blocks,, dont know if it was the network or is it my pvr. the CSR wanted me to check if my cable was screwed in properly or reset my terminal,, i refused to do this,, he put me on hold, came back and said he'll send a service tech.. Ill update you when he comes.

ok seriously how funny is this..
I get a email from shaw, about some special on digtal tv for christmas.. heres how it starts..

Howdy! I'm Pixel Pete and I'm part of a bigger picture. Just in time for the holiday season get a Shaw Digital Terminal for only $55. so on so on blah blah,,


But saying its pixel pete,, well atlease they know their service is all about the pixelation. what a load of crap

I got the email too....and all digital isn't even available here.

meatbird: all digital isn't available in all areas but there are used 2000 model dcts being sold for $55 in those areas that do not offer all digital.

all digital is avail in what 3 markets? maybe 4,, not sure about winnipeg.

This week for us, Numbers and Pushing Daisies (both on Eastern feeds), a ton of problems with picture (just coloured blocks and no sound) - about 10 full minutes lost in the middle of PD and about 3 minutes right at the end of Numbers (just when we are to find out what happens). I call Shaw and they have no idea and have never heard of these problems. Why must these companies always lie?

I told the tech that came today about those exact issues and how like when you call Shaw there like never heard of this. He was telling me his bro in law has some issues too with pixalations, I was like WOW hes being honest and knows about known issues with shaw. Well not like much can be done right?

Yep, when phoning Shaw to report this issue, the standard response is that they are unaware of any problems and they will send a 'tech' to your house to investigate. Since there are many posts here about the macroblocking/pixellation/audio-video dropping issue, IMHO, the issue appears to be "Shaw's side of things". It would be quite coincidental if the same problems reported by several people, did exist with each of those people's terminal/connection/etc rather than with 'Shaw'. I'm just a 'layperson' & don't know all the technical jargon, but because I'm tired of calling Shaw and getting the standard scripted reply, I'm hoping by reporting issues here, maybe Shaw employees who monitor this site will pass on the info to the appropriate people & the macroblocking/pixellation/audio-video dropping issue will be resolved sooner, rather than later.

The latest problem I encountered (which a friend of mine who lives in another part of Calgary has said occurred for him as well) was severe pixellation/audio dropping/picture freezing during the Pittsburgh vs Jets NFL game being shown on the eastern CBS - HD channel yesterday (Sunday, Nov. 18). Luckily the game was also being shown in SD so could watch it that way, but the game was unwatchable on the HD channel. Although it will be on the CBC channel and not CBS, this same issue had better not happen during this weekend's Grey Cup game, or Shaw will be losing at least one customer if it does. :mad:

all digital is avail in what 3 markets? maybe 4,, not sure about winnipeg.
actually 6. LOL. Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Saskatoon & Victoria. There are a couple smaller markets too if I recall but those are very rare and I believe they are in Ontario.

When you go into diagnostics, what are the error counts on the problem channels? (tune to a problem channel, and then enter diagnostics--unfortunately there's no way within diagnostics to change or set the channel).


Just a track back from another thread about macroblocking. I'm still getting horrible PQ on Shaw's HD channels.

I checked signal - 21.0 db (GOOD) on the one diagnostic screen, and 34-36.0 db on the two tuners.

And absolutely NO errors (uncorrectable or otherwise) at all on any of the channels I've checked when there is macroblocking (which is always).

I even unplugged my STB from the power bar I had it connected to - no difference. I removed any splitters, changed the coax cable that comes into the box, even tried it on a different TV (a smaller, 21" HD LCD I borrowed) - the macroblocking exists and it's bad.

Shaw denies there's a problem, but I haven't had a tech here yet. I'm wondering if a tech would actually look at the picture and agree with me? How much do Shaw's techs in Winnipeg know about HD television?

If nothing else you confirmed that it's not a problem with errors in stream. That's something as they could cause macroblocking as fewer picture details would be getting through.

As for the signal, unfortunately they don't indicate the signal strength anywhere. All that's provided is the S/N ratio. Takes a visit from Shaw to actually get the signal strength.

That said, you're not getting errors. Seems to me that means you're getting an adequate signal (I'm not a tech though). Still would be nice if the actual number was displayed though. Then we'd have another comparison point.

Out of curiosity, what connection are you using between the DCT and your TV?

As for a tech visit, what could it hurt?


Anyway, tracking back from that other thread, you posted that logo sweeps are especially bad. Keep in mind those logo sweeps aren't necessarily hi-def, even during an HD event. You're probably already aware of that, but I thought I'd mention it.

Just a track back from another thread about macroblocking. I'm still getting horrible PQ on Shaw's HD channels.

I checked signal - 21.0 db (GOOD) on the one diagnostic screen, and 34-36.0 db on the two tuners.

And absolutely NO errors (uncorrectable or otherwise) at all on any of the channels I've checked when there is macroblocking (which is always).

I even unplugged my STB from the power bar I had it connected to - no difference. I removed any splitters, changed the coax cable that comes into the box, even tried it on a different TV (a smaller, 21" HD LCD I borrowed) - the macroblocking exists and it's bad.

Shaw denies there's a problem, but I haven't had a tech here yet. I'm wondering if a tech would actually look at the picture and agree with me? How much do Shaw's techs in Winnipeg know about HD television?
That's pretty much what I'm getting for numbers too and I notice the macroblocking a lot.
I really notice it on Discovery HD when they do one of those POV running scenes or there's a big water splashing scene.
Hell, I even get macroblocking on the CRT in my bedroom on some channels.
I've got both my digital box and plasma plugged directly to (different) outlets in the wall to avoid any problems. Haven't tested my splitter in awhile...I did that to see if I could get rid of the horizontal pulsing lines that stream through most channels. It didn't help, and I have those lines in my bedroom CRT tioo.
My only theory is my building is poorly grounded.

Just for the record, higher the dB doesnt always mean better the picture will be,, its not like satelitte where you lock in on a bird. dB is the power strength thats in the line, typically larger buildings output a higher dB signal due to the amount of splitting and feeds it will be running off a line. These DCT's arent meant to take in a high dB signal. I pretty sure one of the shaw techs didnt know what he was doing when he plugged my box directly in the electrical room where shaw enters the building as it fryed the box. Try putting a -3dB or -6dB attunator,, you may be suprised by the results.

I'm not saying my issue is 100% solved but I have noticed improvements, certainly on audio dropout.

I'm using component cable as my connection.

I called Shaw to get a tech visit booked for this issue, and my missing Channel 9 issue. The CSR wasn't buying my "poor HD quality" complaint, instead claiming that my TV isn't an HD TV! I actually hung up in disgust. I might try calling back later to see if they actually hired some decent people to work there in their call center...

I have a 6416 p3 (new, not a refurb!!), recently acquired through the satellite winback program and I have noticed that when the action is fast I do seem to see more macroblocking that I had with my Bell 9200. Not so bad that I'm getting annoyed with it (yet).

So I called back to Shaw today, and booked a tech appointment for tomorrow afternoon. These are the issues:

- Still not getting Channel 9 (Shaw Community)
- Macroblocking on HD channels
- Today I came home, switched on CBC Newsworld, and saw a whole bunch of bad signal. Flipped though channels 2-60, and they look horrible compared to what they looked like 12 hours previous. Confirms to me that I must still be on the analogue map, despite being told by the installer that I would be switched to the digital map.

I'll update tomorrow and see where I get. At least this time the Shaw CSR didn't treat me like an idiot.

UPDATE:

So the tech stopped by this afternoon.

1. My channel 9 problem is a building problem. They are going to call the building manager tomorrow and see if they can't get that resolved.

2. The tech agreed with me that there is macroblocking on my HD channels, but said there's nothing he can do about it. I'm not getting errors, so he blamed the "software" on the DCT.

3. The tech stated that I "didn't want to go on the digital map" because the quality is "worse than what [I] have now".