picture quality - Page 2 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

Kittys · 2009-02-21, 05:29 PM

I think some don't realize how "soft" Bell really is until they can compare it to something else side by side. When I'm watching my Bell 9242 I don't notice how soft it is really until I flip over to my Starchoice 530. Then I go whoa

as Bell looked pretty "good" I thought until I compare the two. A great example is watching Leno or Conan where its really noticeable. I really hope when they start to switch over in April it improves.

haystack · 2009-02-21, 05:30 PM

Back to the computer as Habs vrs Ottawa game looks like crap, Is it supposed to be in HD?

QCK · 2009-02-21, 05:42 PM

They are using SD equipment for the English feed. It seems anytime there are 3 games on CBC in the same day the afternoon game will be braodcast in SD. At least this has been the norm this season.

HT gearhead · 2009-02-21, 06:54 PM

Bell is definitely soft in the PQ department. I was at FS the other day and they had Shaw digital on one of the displays and did a double take when I saw how much better HDNET looked on Shaw vs Bell. I've already seen how good it looks on Star Choice. Too bad Shaw won't set up cable in our little Hamlet even though the main pipeline runs right next to it on the highway on it's way to the base. I wouldn't mind a cable/internet package. It would be cheaper than a separate wireless ISP and satellite provider. Any word on when SC's new PVR is coming out yet?

QCK · 2009-02-21, 07:28 PM

6 - 10 months, but quoting any timeline from SC I have found has been a mistake.

the_indian_lion · 2009-02-21, 08:06 PM

I recently noticed that picture quality is much better from last 2 weeks. Using Bell 9242

markb · 2009-02-22, 12:52 AM

I too have found the picture quality to be better recently, depending on what I was watching. However, tonight it was horrible. HNIC looked "good", but not great, lots of macroblocking. Any network shows looked terrible. Flipping through channels and my results were, Hitched on ABCHDW looked bad. At the same time, Law & Order on NBC was soft and Criminal Minds on CBS was really soft. Even TSN, which had curling in HD, didn't look too good. The Score looked soft, and I've seen that ticker really stick out before, looked bad tonight. Sportsnet seemed alright, but still not great. Hopefully in April things change for the better.

catechumen · 2009-02-22, 03:31 PM

This is quite interesting. To find that BTV is broadcasting in 720p while many others are using 1080i confirms my suspicions when I saw the "softer" look of HD channels in their stores. Is this something that may change going forward? There seems to be some references to compression or technology changing in the spring. Is this wishful thinking or has there been some comment from BTV about changes coming?

It's interesting that DishNetwork is offering 1080p with their Video On Demand. They must have a fair bit more bandwidth available than BTV to offer this.

haystack · 2009-02-22, 03:41 PM

I believe that comes to you via telephone wires to your hard drive..

scrooloose · 2009-02-22, 04:14 PM

Actually it comes via broadband, using your own Internet provider.

-Mike

nicohockey9 · 2009-02-22, 06:07 PM

Hopefully, the 8PSK will improve the american superstations that is my only major complaint with bell right now, because those channels are just WAY overcompressed.

kandkt · 2009-02-22, 07:38 PM

Quote:

It's interesting that DishNetwork is offering 1080p with their Video On Demand. They must have a fair bit more bandwidth available than BTV to offer this.

The video on demand either works through the ethernet port or they download the content to your hard drive over a period of time and then you pay to access it. It is not a live feed. That is why they can offer 1080P.

I doubt that we will see 1080P broadcast for quite a few years or at least until they find a better way to compress the signal, both cable and satellite. It just takes up too much bandwidth.

kandkt · 2009-02-22, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicohockey9

Hopefully, the 8PSK will improve the american superstations that is my only major complaint with bell right now, because those channels are just WAY overcompressed.

The superstations are on the 91 degree satellite. They are not changing to 8PSK on the 91 satellite, only the 82 satellite, which is primarlily the HD channels.

catechumen · 2009-02-22, 09:00 PM

That makes more sense that the 1080p VOD movies are downloaded over the internet. I've got an Apple TV that I watch HD movie rentals on and I believe they are all 720p. Even then, that's a heck of a lot of data to download. Having the ability to download 1080p VOD sounds pretty interesting though. Perhaps one day we'll see the same thing in Canada.

Paulo · 2009-02-23, 02:07 PM

Guys, were have you been..... I've been screaming about this for the last year and a half, probably close to the time that BEV started to change all of their 1080i signals to 720P.
I received a TONE OF FLACK from people here saying that it wasn't so, and it had to be my TV, set up, etc.
Its nice to be vindicated, and believe me if there is something wrong with the PQ of BEV my 60" Pioneer (Full-Calibration) will show me all the imperfections.

Just as side take a look at this thread which touches upon some of the 1080i/720P issues.
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=84976

Paul

Paul

2009-02-21, 05:29 PM	#16
Kittys Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 118	I think some don't realize how "soft" Bell really is until they can compare it to something else side by side. When I'm watching my Bell 9242 I don't notice how soft it is really until I flip over to my Starchoice 530. Then I go whoa as Bell looked pretty "good" I thought until I compare the two. A great example is watching Leno or Conan where its really noticeable. I really hope when they start to switch over in April it improves. __________________ 9242 \| HR23-600 \| HTPC i7 \| ISF calibrated & patched KURO KRP-600M(Only 500 made by Pio) & 3 cats

2009-02-21, 08:06 PM	#21
the_indian_lion Rookie Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 6	pq I recently noticed that picture quality is much better from last 2 weeks. Using Bell 9242

2009-02-22, 04:14 PM	#25
scrooloose Veteran Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grimsby, Ont. Posts: 3,117	Actually it comes via broadband, using your own Internet provider. -Mike __________________ Pioneer PRO-110FD \| Pioneer VSX-92TXH \| BELL 9242 \| Panasonic DMP-BD35 \| XBOX 360 \|WD TV Live Hub

2009-02-23, 02:07 PM	#30
Paulo Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kleinburg, Ontario Posts: 610	Guys, were have you been..... I've been screaming about this for the last year and a half, probably close to the time that BEV started to change all of their 1080i signals to 720P. I received a TONE OF FLACK from people here saying that it wasn't so, and it had to be my TV, set up, etc. Its nice to be vindicated, and believe me if there is something wrong with the PQ of BEV my 60" Pioneer (Full-Calibration) will show me all the imperfections. Just as side take a look at this thread which touches upon some of the 1080i/720P issues. http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=84976 Paul Paul __________________ Pioneer Kuro 60", Integra DHC 80.3, Parasound Halo A51, Oppo 93, ELAC FS247's, Velodyne SPLR1000.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

2009-02-21, 05:30 PM	#17
haystack Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,113	Back to the computer as Habs vrs Ottawa game looks like crap, Is it supposed to be in HD?

2009-02-21, 05:42 PM	#18
QCK Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 1,140	They are using SD equipment for the English feed. It seems anytime there are 3 games on CBC in the same day the afternoon game will be braodcast in SD. At least this has been the norm this season.

2009-02-21, 06:54 PM	#19
HT gearhead Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,307	Bell is definitely soft in the PQ department. I was at FS the other day and they had Shaw digital on one of the displays and did a double take when I saw how much better HDNET looked on Shaw vs Bell. I've already seen how good it looks on Star Choice. Too bad Shaw won't set up cable in our little Hamlet even though the main pipeline runs right next to it on the highway on it's way to the base. I wouldn't mind a cable/internet package. It would be cheaper than a separate wireless ISP and satellite provider. Any word on when SC's new PVR is coming out yet?

2009-02-21, 07:28 PM	#20
QCK Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 1,140	6 - 10 months, but quoting any timeline from SC I have found has been a mistake.

2009-02-22, 12:52 AM	#22
markb Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 924	I too have found the picture quality to be better recently, depending on what I was watching. However, tonight it was horrible. HNIC looked "good", but not great, lots of macroblocking. Any network shows looked terrible. Flipping through channels and my results were, Hitched on ABCHDW looked bad. At the same time, Law & Order on NBC was soft and Criminal Minds on CBS was really soft. Even TSN, which had curling in HD, didn't look too good. The Score looked soft, and I've seen that ticker really stick out before, looked bad tonight. Sportsnet seemed alright, but still not great. Hopefully in April things change for the better.

2009-02-22, 03:31 PM	#23
catechumen Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: GTA Posts: 79	This is quite interesting. To find that BTV is broadcasting in 720p while many others are using 1080i confirms my suspicions when I saw the "softer" look of HD channels in their stores. Is this something that may change going forward? There seems to be some references to compression or technology changing in the spring. Is this wishful thinking or has there been some comment from BTV about changes coming? It's interesting that DishNetwork is offering 1080p with their Video On Demand. They must have a fair bit more bandwidth available than BTV to offer this.

2009-02-22, 03:41 PM	#24
haystack Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,113	I believe that comes to you via telephone wires to your hard drive..

2009-02-22, 06:07 PM	#26
nicohockey9 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Montreal, QC, Canada Posts: 574	Hopefully, the 8PSK will improve the american superstations that is my only major complaint with bell right now, because those channels are just WAY overcompressed.

2009-02-22, 09:00 PM	#29
catechumen Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: GTA Posts: 79	That makes more sense that the 1080p VOD movies are downloaded over the internet. I've got an Apple TV that I watch HD movie rentals on and I believe they are all 720p. Even then, that's a heck of a lot of data to download. Having the ability to download 1080p VOD sounds pretty interesting though. Perhaps one day we'll see the same thing in Canada.