New HD TV

[Duckjake]

i'm leaning towards cable issues too.

new tech (hdtv) + old tech (inferior cables) = bad.

the only way to really tell though is with the new box. those screen caps do show a abnorbally crappy picture though.

We'll see tomorrow when we switch to SVideo for the dvd and HDMI for the Dtv box. The picture at the store where we ran our DVD test looked nothing like the ones we have at home.

 

[Duckjake]

Yes, anything but an HD signal looks horrible on an HDTV.

DVDs look good though.

You were right. It is just a poor quality picture from the standard broadcasts. Went to a local Radio Shack that had LCD's showing regular definition channels. They had the same pasty look as my TV.

 

[asudevil83]

now i'm not too sure about Direct TV's hardware, but with my Cox HD-DVR you can upscale standard definition broadcasts to 720p or 1080i. now i know it doesnt magically turn the broadcasts to high-def, but the picture quality does improve substantially.

also play around with the picture settings, and see if you can remove some of the pastyness.

 

[Covert Rain]

We'll see tomorrow when we switch to SVideo for the dvd and HDMI for the Dtv box. The picture at the store where we ran our DVD test looked nothing like the ones we have at home.

Most of the stores are running HD digital feeds or high definition video from a PC running behind the scenese. So standard definition will never looks as good as that.

I switched to the DTV HD-DVR and now I get locals in Hi-def. I can never go back to standard. It looks so incredibly bad now that my eyes have gotten used to HD. I never realized how bad standard def was until I switched.

 

[Duckjake]

now i'm not too sure about Direct TV's hardware, but with my Cox HD-DVR you can upscale standard definition broadcasts to 720p or 1080i. now i know it doesnt magically turn the broadcasts to high-def, but the picture quality does improve substantially.

also play around with the picture settings, and see if you can remove some of the pastyness.

The installers are here now so I'll try that as soon as they finish. I don't expect HD quality just a picture close to what I got from my tube tv. But from what I've heard and seen over the last couple of days I'm not real optimistic.

 

[Rats]

The installers are here now so I'll try that as soon as they finish. I don't expect HD quality just a picture close to what I got from my tube tv. But from what I've heard and seen over the last couple of days I'm not real optimistic.

Duck, I think the new HD receiver will make a world of difference.I had similar issues with the old Direct Tv receiver and then got the HD receiver with HDMI and it is night and day for clarity of the picture on HD stations which they are adding a bunch pretty quick to Direct TV. Nothing like the HD pictures for Sportscenter or Games.

 

[Duckjake]

Duck, I think the new HD receiver will make a world of difference.I had similar issues with the old Direct Tv receiver and then got the HD receiver with HDMI and it is night and day for clarity of the picture on HD stations which they are adding a bunch pretty quick to Direct TV. Nothing like the HD pictures for Sportscenter or Games.

Well it looks like I'm going to have to go back to standard def or give up Directv. They can't wire the new satellite without charging a bunch of money for installation. Getting the usual installer nonsense about wire sizes and switches and problems with having HD and non HD DVR receivers. Idiot comes out an puts up the new satellite before checking to see if he could wire it properly.

Directv has just become more hassle than its worth.

 

[Rats]

Well it looks like I'm going to have to go back to standard def or give up Directv. They can't wire the new satellite without charging a bunch of money for installation. Getting the usual installer nonsense about wire sizes and switches and problems with having HD and non HD DVR receivers. Idiot comes out an puts up the new satellite before checking to see if he could wire it properly.

Directv has just become more hassle than its worth.

Wow, that is unbelievable. I would call and demand DTV do it all for free for the agrivation. They put up 2 different dishes on my house as I have both HD DVR and standard. That sucks dude.

 

[Duckjake]

Wow, that is unbelievable. I would call and demand DTV do it all for free for the agrivation. They put up 2 different dishes on my house as I have both HD DVR and standard. That sucks dude.

To add to the aggravation I got an S-Video cable to hook up my DVD player and it made the picture even worse than with the cheap composite cables.

Meanwhile my daughters cheap Insignia 20" TV with a built in DVD player has a beautiful picture.

 

[Rats]

To add to the aggravation I got an S-Video cable to hook up my DVD player and it made the picture even worse than with the cheap composite cables.

Meanwhile my daughters cheap Insignia 20" TV with a built in DVD player has a beautiful picture.

And the hits just keep ooonnnn coming.............

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Dude, this is all crazy.

You need to call the DTV Customer Retention number, or something. Call up DTV and ask for Customer Retention.

Tell them what is going on.

I don't know why it's so hard to get this stuff done. They came and upgraded my dish to the new Mpeg4 stuff with no problem.

 

[jenna2891]

I think that's supposedd to be this spring, though. You might want to look into that.

anybody know if/when cox is adding channels?

 

[MikeOnTheMic]

Dude, this is all crazy.

You need to call the DTV Customer Retention number, or something. Call up DTV and ask for Customer Retention.

Tell them what is going on.

I don't know why it's so hard to get this stuff done. They came and upgraded my dish to the new Mpeg4 stuff with no problem.

I second this.

If you have been a customer for a reasonable amount of time they will hook you up. I just got the Hr20-700 free last week. There is a thread on dbstalk that people have posted their deals and experiences with directv. Basicaly just call the 800 number, and when the robot answers tell it you want to cancel your service. They will transfer you to retentions...which is where all the deals are made.

Let them know you are considering switching to DishNetwork because they give all the hardware for HD+dvr for free and the rep will make a deal. If the deal is not good enough (free or better) hang up and call back again.

Rinse, repeat.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

anybody know if/when cox is adding channels?

no plans that I have heard.

 

[Duckjake]

I second this.

If you have been a customer for a reasonable amount of time they will hook you up. I just got the Hr20-700 free last week. There is a thread on dbstalk that people have posted their deals and experiences with directv. Basicaly just call the 800 number, and when the robot answers tell it you want to cancel your service. They will transfer you to retentions...which is where all the deals are made.

Let them know you are considering switching to DishNetwork because they give all the hardware for HD+dvr for free and the rep will make a deal. If the deal is not good enough (free or better) hang up and call back again.

Rinse, repeat.

Well the only koolaid in this deal is that because we have been customers for so long the entire upgrade including installation was free.

Didn't know about telling the robot "cancel" that's a great tip.

Really appreciate all the support guys. Meet me at the Derminators tailgate this fall. Drinks are on Derm.

 

[Covert Rain]

To add to the aggravation I got an S-Video cable to hook up my DVD player and it made the picture even worse than with the cheap composite cables.

Meanwhile my daughters cheap Insignia 20" TV with a built in DVD player has a beautiful picture.

That doesn't make sense. S-Video should look better then RCA type connection. I am leaning towards you having some issues with that TV set. The only other thing I can think of is you damaged the S-video cable when you installed it (the prongs at the tips).

In terms of DTV, what the above guys stated is true. If you get the Retention department at DTV they cut sweet deals if you threaten to leave DTV. In some cases, you get installation or equipment for free.

 

[Duckjake]

That doesn't make sense. S-Video should look better then RCA type connection. I am leaning towards you having some issues with that TV set. The only other thing I can think of is you damaged the S-video cable when you installed it (the prongs at the tips).

In terms of DTV, what the above guys stated is true. If you get the Retention department at DTV they cut sweet deals if you threaten to leave DTV. In some cases, you get installation or equipment for free.

I would agree with you on the TV being the problem except that the over the air antenna HD picture I get on local channels is fine.

I had the DTv installer plug in the SVideo and he had trouble getting it into the TV SVideo slot so you're probably right on the cable being damaged because there are now lots of spots on the screen when it is blank but on the video 1 feed. Brand new cable too.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I would agree with you on the TV being the problem except that the over the air antenna HD picture I get on local channels is fine.

I had the DTv installer plug in the SVideo and he had trouble getting it into the TV SVideo slot so you're probably right on the cable being damaged because there are now lots of spots on the screen when it is blank but on the video 1 feed. Brand new cable too.

I never used S-Video for anything. I agree that the connection is a pain. I wish I could use Component and HDMI for my duel tuner DVR, but as soon as the HDMI is connected, the Component is disabled.

My TV does a pretty good job with standard TV, considering how close I sit (around 7 feet on a 62" screen)

 

[O]

Just out of curosity what input are you using on your TV?

 

[Duckjake]

Just out of curosity what input are you using on your TV?

What do you mean by input? The receiver?

 

[O]

Coming out of your satellite box, output, into your TV, input?

On my TV, a Mitsubishs, I have two antenna inputs, one s-video inputs, two composite, three component inputs, one of which is for hi-def/digital.

Not being in the correct input could result in a bad picture. WHat input does your remote say?

Just a shot in the dark here.

 

[Duckjake]

Coming out of your satellite box, output, into your TV, input?

On my TV, a Mitsubishs, I have two antenna inputs, one s-video inputs, two composite, three component inputs, one of which is for hi-def/digital.

Not being in the correct input could result in a bad picture. WHat input does your remote say?

Just a shot in the dark here.

After all that hassle a lead tech from Directv came out and fixed the wiring problems. It also turns out that the connections and new TV were fine. It was the satellite receiver that was bad. My old tube tv hadn't died after all.
Lead tech says there wasn't any way we could have known the box was bad without hooking up another sdtv.

 

[Pariah]

After all that hassle a lead tech from Directv came out and fixed the wiring problems. It also turns out that the connections and new TV were fine. It was the satellite receiver that was bad. My old tube tv hadn't died after all.
Lead tech says there wasn't any way we could have known the box was bad without hooking up another sdtv.

Look at it this way: The universe wanted you to have an HDTV.

It's all good!

 

[Covert Rain]

After all that hassle a lead tech from Directv came out and fixed the wiring problems. It also turns out that the connections and new TV were fine. It was the satellite receiver that was bad. My old tube tv hadn't died after all.
Lead tech says there wasn't any way we could have known the box was bad without hooking up another sdtv.

Glad to see the issues got fixed. Congrats.