Is it just me or did the American Networks (NBC,CBS,ABC,FOX) improve in quality just a bit???

Talking HD here.

Well, I just purchaced a 9242 (an upgrade from a 6100) on a retention deal and there is a definate HD picture quality improvement with the 9242. I have a feeling there is someting wrong with the 6100 or maybe it is built with lesser quality components.

My only comlaint now is with NHL Center Ice. Compared to hockey on CBC HD, Sports Net HD, TSN HD and the Canucks Pay per View package (which are all crystal clear) the picture quality of NHL Center Ice is horrific.

I think that's the fault of the source... I here alot of complaints from people in the states with the Fox Sport Network (FSN) channels being low quality, they are probally grabbing the signal from one of the providors in the states.

Haven't you ever started watching a show on a network channel and then notice a difference in quality when the CTV feed cuts in?
I certainly have.
Seems to me that the main source is not the problem.

i have the 9200 PVR and from time to time i watch hockey on CBCHD but find it hard to tell the difference between SD and HD with hockey on CBC which menas the quality isn't that great and i am a videophile so its not me. I agree with CI getting fox sports channels for center ice and others Like NESN there quality even on SD is horrific so i blame it on the U.S. sport channels.

The funny thing is over in the shaw forms they are having practically the same debate with the quality with the cannuks PPV hockey channel having low quality and beleve the fault is with the carrier rather than the network

i have the 9200 PVR and from time to time i watch hockey on CBCHD but find it hard to tell the difference between SD and HD with hockey on CBC which menas the quality isn't that great and i am a videophile so its not me.

mickk, assuming you are a videophile, if you're having a hard time distinguishing between HD and SD with hockey on CBC then something must be seriously wrong with your equipment. CBCHD hockey is far, far better than their broadcasts on the SD channels (which is almost unwatchable on a big screen). Even when they occasionally broadcast SD widescreen on channel 804 it's much poorer than the HD content on 802. Check the output resolution on your 9200 - maybe it's set to 480i?

On a related note last Saturday I compared CBC's 1080i OTA broadcast to BTV's 720p version on channel 802, using a 52" 1080p 120Hz LCD. Despite the switch to 720p BTV still allocates a full transponder to channel 802 so both are getting ~17mpbs (I confirmed this by comparing the file sizes of an identical 10 min segment from each feed). The loss of resolution with BTV's 720p signal was noticeable on still shots that had little or no action. Once things started moving the difference was quite difficult to discern.

I 'll be the first to admit it, when BEV screws up, I'll point the finger and call them on it every time..... but I also want to give praise to BEV when its due.
I must say *-can't believe I am actually typing these words-* that as of late (last week or so) the PQ has certainly improved from what it was over the last 8-12 months.
NOW, let be perfectly clear, THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. I for one, would like to see complete passthrough of the original broadcast signal (1080i for the most part)

Just my 2 cents.

Paul

It sounds lke people are having the same issue as I am, which is a relief. I am getting a poor feed from Global, CTVand other local channels. I knew that Global has a crappy HD feed seeing it at my folks place on his Bravia XBR so I wasn't too concerned when my new Panasonic THpz80 didn't look that great, but seeing these other stations with the same problem is really tickin me off. I don't know about the rest of you, but I am getting a tracer image on my local feeds while watching shows like criminal minds and CSI, by Tracer I mean when they show a close-up of a person and they turn there head you see a white blur when they turn. Anyone else get the same problem???

Other channels like TSN and Discovery are outstanding, very happy with that picture.

It sounds lke people are having the same issue as I am, which is a relief. I am getting a poor feed from Global, CTVand other local channels. I knew that Global has a crappy HD feed seeing it at my folks place on his Bravia XBR so I wasn't too concerned when my new Panasonic THpz80 didn't look that great, but seeing these other stations with the same problem is really tickin me off. I don't know about the rest of you, but I am getting a tracer image on my local feeds while watching shows like criminal minds and CSI, by Tracer I mean when they show a close-up of a person and they turn there head you see a white blur when they turn. Anyone else get the same problem???

Other channels like TSN and Discovery are outstanding, very happy with that picture.
i live in a border town to michigan.
friend of mine there has direct tv hd
bell is BRUTAL compared to direct tv for picture quality.
direct tv has true 1080 hi-def. Bell does not.

I have a hard time believing its that much better. I have not seem them side by side but i've many times watched direct TV and it didn't even really have a difference with bell in terms of HD quality in my mind...

It probably has more to do with your friend having a better television for HD. I have cable service which gives me HD in 1080 and I have Bell and the difference is not that noticeable whenever I compare.