[sclan]

I have been a Starchoice customer for about Four years.
My question is, has anyone else noticed a reduction in video quality since the switch to Rogers?
Some of the channels seem to be getting pretty crappy in terms of quality. I have the HD receiver, good siginal, cables, etc. It just seems that they reduced the bandwidth to accomodate more channels.
I can play a normal DVD with comp video as the signal and have a better picture than satalite through component video or DVI.

Is it just me?

 

[987654321]

??? - What has Rogers got to do with Shaw Direct?

 

[zbroke]

You probably mean since the switch to Shaw?

My personal experience is no not really it's pretty much the same. A lot of it has to do with the network providing the feed to the distributors. Some channels are better than others.

 

[gonkster]

Also of note, Shaw has owned them the whole time you have been with them. All that has changed is the name from Star Choice to Shaw Direct.

 

[tico]

I personally haven't noticed any worsening of PQ over the past 2 years, but, if there is any PQ issue stemming from bandwidth, it would most likely have to do with the expansion of HD services. Each HD channel takes up the bandwidth of 4 to 6 SD channels. As they try to compete with the other providers for HD content, they must be getting very creative making their aging satellites carry this additional bandwidth. I noticed that the PPV offerings are very thin compared to Bell - ever try to use 6 PPV credits in 6 months without watching XXX? I think it's to save bandwidth for HD.

The digital compression leaves artifacts and even without a bandwidth crisis, the PQ on a SD channel is better on C-Band (Analog) than any DTH sat provider or digital cable provider.