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".
That was a beatiful post.
I liked it when my Tech told me that he usally fixes problems that take some takes 4 to 5 visits,, humm how odd,, Id have to say I got the same answers as you did,, besides the channel 9 issue..

Anyone watch Las Vegas last night? What a show that was, I really liked the neat transition macroblocking effects shaw implemented in the show, such a nice touch!:mad:

So, Mother-in-Law is staying over tonight (sympathies accepted) and wants to watch Desperate Housewives. We don't watch that show and she offered to watch it on one of the smaller (non-HD) TV's in the house, but I figured that I'd 'wow' her with the HD (ch. 200, 10-11PM in Calgary).

Anyways, the show kept cutting out to a black screen, so much so that she ended up watching it on the SD channel anyways. Kind of embarrassing actually...all this high tech, expensive hardware and we sit there watching a crappy SD broadcast.

Why is it this so hard to get right? Is the technology really that fragile?

So I decided to watch "Nothing But Trailers" on HDNet today, to see what was up for the movie-goer this holiday season. Now I wish I hadn't, because the HD picture quality was HORRIBLE. Macroblocking galore, and now even on still shots or relatively static images. I couldn't believe it.

But seeing as the tech that was last out told me there was absolutely nothing they could do about it, I have no recourse.

Did Shaw up their compression levels lately? Would a newer version of the HD-PVR do any better?

I just watched the same show. No problems here. I'm not saying, I'm just saying.
Watched the Will Ferrell trailer twice.

Mozza: Something is obviously wrong as HDNet always looks great here (although I missed that particular airing of Nothing but Trailers).

How is your PVR connected to your TV? If it's HDMI, try the component cables Shaw provided. Shouldn't make a difference, but maybe, just maybe, there's a problem with your HDMI cable, or the connector on the TV or PVR. Point is, try another connection (either a different path, or a different cable) just to exclude the connection as a factor. Stranger things have happened.

I think it's just Winnipeg, and half of Edmonton, and some of BC. Because Calgary doesn't seem to be horrible, and about half the people from Edm complain.

I'm in Vancouver, watched the same show and noticed the macroblocking as much as Mozza.

Possible, but I'm in the same area of Edmonton as merve04. Quite unlikely we were on opposite sides of the dividing line back in the day (when Shaw had half the city, and Videotron the other).

That, and my parents are on the other side of that line. I'm in old Videotron/Videon area, they're in an area just outside Edmonton that's always been Shaw. Nothing as bad as Mozza describes for either of us. And that's with somewhat borderline signal strength for my parents (as indicated by the Shaw tech--the DCT doesn't report signal strength under diagnostics, only Signal-to-Noise Ratio).

If the DCT is getting a decent signal (verified by Mozza's tech visit), and it's not reporting errors on the diagnostics screens, maybe the problem is between the DCT and the TV? It's at least worth a look given all the frustration Mozza's experienced.

I'm in Vancouver, watched the same show and noticed the macroblocking as much as Mozza.
At least we know if wasn't just Winnipeg. :)

I may have mentioned it before in this thread, however, the setup of the TV can be extremely important when macroblocking is present. It's definitely exacerbated by:

- Too much sharpness
- Edge enhancements turned on
- Default mode of the TV like Vivid or Dynamic.
- High contrast, or perhaps low brightness
- Etc.

It can also be influenced by the viewer. A person who has seen macroblocking and other compression artifacts can spot them much more easily than a person who hasn't gone looking for them - in which case ignorance can be bliss.

I've tweaked everything on that list...but my contrast is higher than my brightness.

I'll try that one.

Even on my Cinema mode (which I find basically unwatchable anyway) I still notice it.

As I've said before - I'm using the same setting as I had when I was subscribed to BEV, and I didn't see that sort of macroblocking I'm seeing now that I'm with Shaw.

I wish I could take a screenshot to show you the quality I'm getting. Maybe I'll try and simulate with a Photoshop job...

EDIT: Okay, here's the best I can do. The first picture would represent the sort of quality I was used to with Bell. The second is a good example of what I see happening with ANY movement or change in colour with Shaw.

http://www.finockio.com/images/Football6.jpg

http://www.finockio.com/images/Football7.jpg

Perhaps its best to go back to Bell? :P There's just so many complaints about Shaw's HD...they don't seem to have really gotten into HD yet...

As I've said before - I'm using the same setting as I had when I was subscribed to BEV, and I didn't see that sort of macroblocking I'm seeing now that I'm with Shaw.

I wish I could take a screenshot to show you the quality I'm getting. Maybe I'll try and simulate with a Photoshop job...

EDIT: Okay, here's the best I can do. The first picture would represent the sort of quality I was used to with Bell. The second is a good example of what I see happening with ANY movement or change in colour with Shaw.

http://www.finockio.com/images/Football6.jpg

http://www.finockio.com/images/Football7.jpg
That is mild compared to what ive experienced no joke. And the god dang audio drop outs today is un believable. Seriously! what the hell

HDNet hasn't looked as good lately due to macroblocking as it has in the past here in Saskatoon.

HDnet works good on my Sask tel HD, so Have you went to Sask tel store and compare the difference. If you have problems, Maybe you could try Sask tel HD and PVR Services. They pretty good in quality. Have you talk to them?

:)

Neg, SaskTel overcharges for their garbage service. Switch to a company that provides more value.

Smegger2000, I have noticed the same thing. Only, I can turn to HDNet, watch for a little while with no problems, and then it goes all crappy.

same here, hdnet has always been flawless, tonight I watched a concert and it was super full of macroblocking any time there was panning or zooming going on, it's as if the bandwidth for hdnet was cut severely or something :(