Direct TV...

...sucks.

My landlord just got the hi-def dish here. We split the bill, so it's pretty cheap. (I have 1 floor of a 4 floor house.)

The box only goes up to 1080i, which is ok considering what's broadcast normally. There's a fair amount of hi-def stations, not all the local sports networks though, which is annoying, or I haven't found them that.

But standard def content, sucks. I knew it would, but I mean it really sucks. Whatever compression they use is way too lossy, leaves way too many artifacts. I've seen standard def broadcasts come in over cable to a hi-def set, and they look way better. Anyone else?

Yes.

I've seen DirecTV (to give it its correct spelling) on a HiDef TV and it sucks.

Though, that said, on a regular TV, it wasn't that great either. The compression algorithm is way to high so edges are blurred or jaggy and the picture leaves trails all over the place - and the darker the screen, the worse it gets.

But they were the only ones to have an 'English' option for channels when I was in Sao Paulo, so I didn't complain.

Much.

What do you all use for high def programming? Your cable provider? We only have Comcast around here and high def stuff cost extra just for the same channels with more res...

once I have my own place hopefully all channels will be switched over to pure hd...

Uh...check the thread title, that's where I get my hi-def from...

Glad to hear it's not just me and I'm not crazy, it seemed like a lot of compression artifacts. I wouldn't have gotten it installed, it was already there and my landlord asked if I wanted to split it. For $39, I'm getting what would cost me $80 on cable, so I shouldn't complain. (Though I'm not sure we get MSG in hi-def, which will quickly anger me come October.)

Lesson learned: dish sucks.

I wonder how well FiOS does?

I asked that question out to the general crowd here- just wondering what most people do to get high def into their homes. We use dish here but it isn't the high def box and the picture quality is garbage.

I had the standard def box until a couple of days ago, the standard signal on the hi-def box isn't any better. I figured maybe it would upscale or be at least a bit crisper since it's coming over HDMI instead of S-Video, the color is more balanced, that's all. It's compressed to sh*t still.

The quality on the hi-def stations is better, I don't know what the native broadcast resolution is, but I can't tell a difference between running 720p and 1080i. I can still see some compression artifacts in shadows though, they've compressed the hell out of those signals too.

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Originally Posted by PAlexC

Lesson learned: dish sucks.

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Do you think each provider/service uses the same compression ratio to get the signal across?

I don't think they do, as I've watched a lot of Sky (Murdoch-backed UK sat TV) football (soccer) in HDTV down in the pub and it's awesome quality.

Which burns me up as I'm no fan of Sky vis-a-vis their 'I-wanna-rule-the-media-world' leader.

No, they definitely don't. Some broadcasters are better than others as well. Anything on the YES network (NY sports station for the Yankees) looks like ass.

Discovery in HD is supposed to be good, and it looks awesome at my girlfriend's place on cable. There's a noticeable difference on the dish signal.

I am not trying to point fingers at your equipment here, but are you 100% certain it's not your tv? Though I have no experience with Sat TV, I've seen cable standard def signals look good AND look like crap depending on the TV it's viewed on. When the TV gets a 480 (or whatever) signal, it attempts to upconvert to a signal the tv can utilize. I think some of the difference in your no name tv's vs. the so called better brands is usually in this part of the electronics. Many of them use the same panels, but the computer inside is what counts in this case.

The box outputs 480i/p, 720i/p and 1080i. I'm not sure what signal it receives, but you're right, it could be a 480 signal it just upscales, which would be crap.

It's not the set, movies / Xbox look pretty good on it.

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Originally Posted by PAlexC

...it could be a 480 signal it just upscales, which would be crap.

It's not the set, movies / Xbox look pretty good on it.

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Yeah - the 480 thing is what I was getting at. I am no video expert, but I know the upscaling thing can be hit or miss sometimes.

Also the physical cables used to bring the signal could be garbage? (I didnt read every word in the posts above..but didnt see mention to it)..

You could always move over to Dish Network... it could be,..umm.. WAAAAY...cheaper. ;) and then the signal wouldnt be such a problem.. ;)

If he is using hdmi I hear that monster cables compared to the $10 no name brands make NO difference. Monster cables are for people with deep pockets and small brains.

DISH NETWORK people.. ;)

it may have some CONS....but the PRO just cant be beat!

Using HDMI, which is really nice only having 1 cable running to the set.

The whole point is it's cheaper for me to use DirectTV, because I split it with my landlord, so I don't really have a choice unless I want to pay more than double what I'm paying each month, which right now isn't worth it.

In the future though, FiOS or cable...as much as I hate the cable companies and Verizon. Maybe AT&T's fiber service will be better.

how is your signal strength.. even with low def I'll get artifacts when it gets a bit to cloudy out... i also have a rather large oak tree in the way to.

I remember maybe 10 years ago in our old house when we first got satellite it was amazing the channels you could get compared to cable etc etc but when a storm rolled over we wouldn't get a signal which sucked because being stuck inside ment tv watching. We got a satellite for christmas from my step moms sister since cable wasn't available here and it has been nice but damned if a storm will screw up the signal even worse then I remember 10 years ago...you would think they could make consumer technology by now not to be that easily scrambled by storms. I can't wait to get out of the contract and just go over to cable along side our internet now that cable is available in our area...

I like the all 3-in-one offer (phone, TV, internet).. but I have Dish Network and it has to be a VERY bad storm for my dish to 'go out'.. my OLDER dish hardware (not the PRO's).. were like that..

they have some stupid rules that I dont care for, ..but if you are in the know... the price cant be beat! :)

The condo where we live came with Comcast basic. I only pay $22/month to upgrade ($11 for HD programming and $11 for HD DVR). I have it hooked up to my TV with an HDMI cable and it looks great. I have an uncle who swears that Dish is better quality then Cable but everytime I try to compare it Cable looks better. What all do you get for $80? My parents pay $35 for there Cable (non-HD) but it's only $11 more to upgrade it to HD.

Ha, I'm not crazy:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_Lite

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Originally Posted by whispers

I like the all 3-in-one offer (phone, TV, internet).. but I have Dish Network and it has to be a VERY bad storm for my dish to 'go out'.. my OLDER dish hardware (not the PRO's).. were like that..

they have some stupid rules that I dont care for, ..but if you are in the know... the price cant be beat! :) just tell them i sent you, they will sign you up right away... and ill cash my fat reference paycheck.

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