Due to the numerous threads on the DSR 500 and common issues to all interested in the DSR 500, we'll try to get all discussion going here.
Okay, so you can tell the difference with the naked eye if two tv's were side by side, one with SD and one with HD? Question being: is it really that much of a difference?digitaldude said:If I understood part of your question to be is the difference in HD PQ better than SD?
Example, when watching a Hockey Game on CBC SD, I cannot see the puck and everything is blurry.
When I watch a hockey game in HD, then the pucks is visible and I can see the sweat in the pores on the players faces.
You have 6 times as many pixels to look at HD vs SD
ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY, WITHOUT ANY SHADOW OF A DOUBT.trellaine said:Okay, so you can tell the difference with the naked eye if two tv's were side by side, one with SD and one with HD? Question being: is it really that much of a difference?
Thanks DD
HD is like looking out a window. With binoculors. Its unbelievable. You really notice the difference with sports events and things like American Idol where there is an audience and lots of audience shots - you can make out individual faces!trellaine said:Okay, so you can tell the difference with the naked eye if two tv's were side by side, one with SD and one with HD? Question being: is it really that much of a difference?
Thanks DD
I find the biggest difference on nature, travel and sports.trellaine said:is it really that much of a difference?
satellite said:HD is like looking out a window. With binoculors. Its unbelievable. You really notice the difference with sports events and things like American Idol where there is an audience and lots of audience shots - you can make out individual faces!
Colours are more vivid, too.
I also really enjoy the widescreen aspect of it. And I've got a 4:3 TV, so have bars on the top and bottom. If its not in HD, I won't bother watching it on the home theatre system - I'll watch it on the regular TV in my room.
That said, the rest of my family couldn't care less. My sisters hate it because of the widescreen, so they think the picture is smaller. My parents can't tell the difference between HD and regular channels. I keep telling them they're going blind then.
Try to find a retailer that actually has the HD TVs hooked up right, and to an HD source. Even without a side-by-side comparison, you should notice a difference right away.
I'll try to post some side-by-side shots tommorow.
...For example, we now watch the "Travels In Europe" series on PBS HD Detroit...Channel 289....weeknights at 8:30pm ADT....a new one every week. Just great stuff!987654321 said:I find the biggest difference on nature, travel and sports.
Last night Sportnet had 4 different MLB games on SD and the Tiger/Red Sox in HD. The difference was huge between the SD and HD
digitaldude said:If your A/V amp decodes Dolby Digital 5.1, then in Option 6-4-2
set Digital Audio to Dolby Digital and
Analog Audio to Surround
Use either the coaxial SPDIF or the Optical TOSLINK connections.
Also the Compression settings None, Light and Heavy can be set differently for TV channels versus MUSIC channels.
This way you might have Light or Heavy on TV, but NONE on Music.
Be sure to place it into to standby at night when you go to bed.
There is NEW software coming this month to make it more robust.
Groovy, just have to remember to set my receiver correctly. hehedigitaldude said:Optical and Coaxial are SPDIF Digital Connections.
As such they can carry regular PCM digital audio as well as Surround Audio in either DTS or Dolby Digital 5.1 AC-3.
The composite are really video connections, not audio, but are typically grouped with ANALOG Left + Right.
Over those you can carry Stereo as well as Dolby Surround (Pro-Logic) which is multi-channel sound encoded into a stereo pair for your A/V amp to decode.
Keep in mind that Dolby Digital, although often 5.1 can be ANYTHING from 2.0 to 5.1 with all combinations in between.
You will find Dolby Digital 5.1 content on the premium movie channels, some PPV and the HD channels.
Most of the rest is available in Dolby Surround.
Your Digital connections (Coax or Optical) will then carry everything and your amp will decode the highest audio stream when your box is set as I described earlier.
No need to fool around after that, you're all covered.
It appears that the RF remote capability of my DSR500 has ceased to function. The IR is OK, so no big deal. But I was wondering if others have lost RF remote control, and if so, was the problem with the remote wand or the receiver itself?starchoice said:Due to the numerous threads on the DSR 500 and common issues to all interested in the DSR 500, we'll try to get all discussion going here.
Thanks for the reply. I've checked the antenna, remote address and put new batteries in with no luck. I believe the UHF remote uses the same frequency as the IR extenders do (around 430 MHz). I should be able to pick up the wand's signal with one of my ham HTs. Perhaps Kusat is willing to send me another wand.digitaldude said:Maybe check the little antenna on the back of the set and also check out the remote address.
You may need to use the front panel.
Have you recently changed batteries?
I'm not aware of any UHF failures.
Mine pretty much doesn't work at all. I don't know how people use their remotes in other rooms, I place my hand over the IR sender and the remote doesn't control the reciever any more. From 10 feet away. Mind you, I haven't bothered trying to fix it yet, so it could be something easy...carl033 said:It appears that the RF remote capability of my DSR500 has ceased to function. The IR is OK, so no big deal. But I was wondering if others have lost RF remote control, and if so, was the problem with the remote wand or the receiver itself?
Radio Shack has these IR range-extending pyramids for about $50. They work to about 100 feet, and convert the IR to UHFat the remote room, and then back to IR where the receiver is. I expected the UHF range for the DSR500 to be about the same. It was marginally that when the unit was new. But it now appears dead.satellite said:Mine pretty much doesn't work at all. I don't know how people use their remotes in other rooms, I place my hand over the IR sender and the remote doesn't control the reciever any more. From 10 feet away. Mind you, I haven't bothered trying to fix it yet, so it could be something easy...
I hope it does more than make it "robust". Tonight I had my DSR500 change channels all by itself twice and simply power itself off while I was watching a show.digitaldude said:There is NEW software coming this month to make it more robust.
Who is writing these code upgrades DigitalDude? Is it Starchoice staff? Or Motorola staff?digitaldude said:Put your units into STANDBY (OFF) to take advantage of the new & improved 78 code.
Nothing to see up front, but much less buggy. Worthwhile!
Does it matter what channel the unit is on when it is shut off? I remember to get the original authorization, it had to be on Ch 299.digitaldude said:Put your units into STANDBY (OFF) to take advantage of the new & improved 78 code.
Nothing to see up front, but much less buggy. Worthwhile!
Multiple teams on both sides of the border.dks said:Who is writing these code upgrades DigitalDude? Is it Starchoice staff? Or Motorola staff?
Not really, but 299 is as good as any.carl033 said:Does it matter what channel the unit is on when it is shut off? I remember to get the original authorization, it had to be on Ch 299.
got my new 78 code & i do notice one thing upfront.digitaldude said:Put your units into STANDBY (OFF) to take advantage of the new & improved 78 code.
Nothing to see up front, but much less buggy. Worthwhile!