How do I know if I'm getting a HDTV picture or not?

[Chiboy]

Just had Comcast installed on HDTV. What is the differance? It just looks clearer that is it... Is that right?!?

 

[hevnsnt]

well on my HDTV, the HD channels look lifelike. I mean, there is no way you can't tell the difference from standard.. Plus when I go to one of those channels, my TV tells me what mode it is in..

 

[murphy55d]

If you don't notice a difference between HDTV and whatever you had before, something definitely isn't set up properly.

Although make sure you're tuned to an HDTV CHANNEL, and not just looking at a standard cable channel.

 

[Ameesh]

you have to watch a channel that is broadcasting in HDTV. otherwise lit will look the same.

 

[Carbo]

There is no difference. You've been had. HDTV is the biggest scam perpetuated on the American consumer since Billy Beer.

 

[T2T III]

Originally posted by: Carbo
There is no difference. You've been had. HDTV is the biggest scam perpetuated on the American consumer since Billy Beer.

What?? Your statement makes no sense at all - and HDTV is not a scam. While I don't have HDTV, there is clearly a difference in the picture quality of HDTV broadcasts. However, waiting for 100% of the broadcasting to get converted over to HDTV might take quite a bit more time.

However, there are plenty of consumers who have subscribed to digital cable and don't have the necessary equipment to take advantage of the better signal that is carried.

 

[murphy55d]

Originally posted by: Carbo
There is no difference. You've been had. HDTV is the biggest scam perpetuated on the American consumer since Billy Beer.

 

[Ameesh]

Originally posted by: Carbo
There is no difference. You've been had. HDTV is the biggest scam perpetuated on the American consumer since Billy Beer.

if thats what you think, im glad you are missing out on the fun.

 

[Tetsuo]

lol..if you can't notice the difference. You shouldn't ask

 

[Doggiedog]

Originally posted by: Chiboy
Just had Comcast installed on HDTV. What is the differance? It just looks clearer that is it... Is that right?!?

You should start out by going to the channels that air HDTV signals all the time like PBS HDTV or Discovery HD. Most of the regular channels don't air in HDTV or use a cheesy version of HDTV.

If you can't tell the difference then, I suggest you return your TV and exchange it for a nice 9" B&W version.

 

[Carbo]

Originally posted by: Tiles2Tech

Originally posted by: Carbo
There is no difference. You've been had. HDTV is the biggest scam perpetuated on the American consumer since Billy Beer.

What?? Your statement makes no sense at all - and HDTV is not a scam. While I don't have HDTV, there is clearly a difference in the picture quality of HDTV broadcasts. However, waiting for 100% of the broadcasting to get converted over to HDTV might take quite a bit more time.

However, there are plenty of consumers who have subscribed to digital cable and don't have the necessary equipment to take advantage of the better signal that is carried.

Hmmm........think I'll pop open that last Billy Beer that's been in the fridge for a while, and ponder this conundrum........

 

[konichiwa]

Would using a TiVo cut down the quality of an HD signal? It seems to me that looping the cable through the TiVo and then to the TV (especially considering the TiVo automatically records live tv for X minutes) would essentially eliminate any HD signal and turn it into TiVo's compressed shite.

Is there some sort of HD-TiVo? Or am I missing something? 😀

 

[hevnsnt]

Originally posted by: konichiwa
Would using a TiVo cut down the quality of an HD signal? It seems to me that looping the cable through the TiVo and then to the TV (especially considering the TiVo automatically records live tv for X minutes) would essentially eliminate any HD signal and turn it into TiVo's compressed shite.

Is there some sort of HD-TiVo? Or am I missing something? 😀

DirecTivo's don't use compression, so you are getting a digital recording, that being said, they cannot do HDTV yet with tivos.

 

[Aves]

Originally posted by: konichiwa
Would using a TiVo cut down the quality of an HD signal? It seems to me that looping the cable through the TiVo and then to the TV (especially considering the TiVo automatically records live tv for X minutes) would essentially eliminate any HD signal and turn it into TiVo's compressed shite.

Is there some sort of HD-TiVo? Or am I missing something? 😀

That's pretty much it, if you're watching something that has gone through a TiVo or Replay then the image won't be HD.

Earlier this year TiVo did announce plans to introduce a HD unit but I don't think it's out yet.

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: Carbo
There is no difference. You've been had. HDTV is the biggest scam perpetuated on the American consumer since Billy Beer.

umm...yeah....right.

Anyway...I'm all set for the new Motorola box coming soon from Insight. I'll have just one cable box instead of the two I have now and it will include a PVR for even the HD channels 😀

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: hevnsnt

Originally posted by: konichiwa
Would using a TiVo cut down the quality of an HD signal? It seems to me that looping the cable through the TiVo and then to the TV (especially considering the TiVo automatically records live tv for X minutes) would essentially eliminate any HD signal and turn it into TiVo's compressed shite.

Is there some sort of HD-TiVo? Or am I missing something? 😀

DirecTivo's don't use compression, so you are getting a digital recording, that being said, they cannot do HDTV yet with tivos.

DirecTvos DO use compression. It is variable depending on the action on the screen. I can easily tell the difference in video quality between my DirecTivo and other receiver when viewing SD channels. The DirecTvio has more compression artifacts.

This is my second main beef with DirecTivo (along with the fact that it cannot record terrestrial channels). The compression is there, but NOT user adjustable.

 

[godspeedx]

I heard that most stations broadcast in HDTV after 7:00PM.

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: godspeedx
I heard that most stations broadcast in HDTV after 7:00PM.

See my post in here

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: godspeedx
I heard that most stations broadcast in HDTV after 7:00PM.

ABC, CBS, and NBC do the bulk of their HD broadcasting at primetime. HBO-HD and SHO-HD show a mix of HD and upconverted content (you can tell by aspect ratio alone--- upconverts are 4:3 and HD is 16:9). Discovery HD and HDNet are always HD. ESPN-HD is only HD for special events.

 

[godspeedx]

Originally posted by: conjur

Originally posted by: godspeedx
I heard that most stations broadcast in HDTV after 7:00PM.

See my post in here

WOO! I heard right!!!

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: godspeedx

Originally posted by: conjur

Originally posted by: godspeedx
I heard that most stations broadcast in HDTV after 7:00PM.

See my post in here

WOO! I heard right!!!

Well...sorta. What stations do you mean? Broadcast stations like ABC, CBS, etc.? If so, yeah (but more accurately, after 8pm). If you mean cable/satellite channels then, no, those are typically 24/7 HD with some upconverts sprinkled in or they offer a special or a game in HD once in a while.

 

[godspeedx]

Originally posted by: conjur

Originally posted by: godspeedx

Originally posted by: conjur

Originally posted by: godspeedx
I heard that most stations broadcast in HDTV after 7:00PM.

See my post in here

WOO! I heard right!!!

Well...sorta. What stations do you mean? Broadcast stations like ABC, CBS, etc.? If so, yeah (but more accurately, after 8pm). If you mean cable/satellite channels then, no, those are typically 24/7 HD with some upconverts sprinkled in or they offer a special or a game in HD once in a while.

I guess I mean if you watch TV after 8pm (thanks for the correction) you will see most things in HD. Most stations are broadcasting in HD by 8, if not 24/7.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: godspeedx

Originally posted by: conjur

Originally posted by: godspeedx

Originally posted by: conjur

Originally posted by: godspeedx
I heard that most stations broadcast in HDTV after 7:00PM.

See my post in here

WOO! I heard right!!!

Well...sorta. What stations do you mean? Broadcast stations like ABC, CBS, etc.? If so, yeah (but more accurately, after 8pm). If you mean cable/satellite channels then, no, those are typically 24/7 HD with some upconverts sprinkled in or they offer a special or a game in HD once in a while.

I guess I mean if you watch TV after 8pm (thanks for the correction) you will see most things in HD. Most stations are broadcasting in HD by 8, if not 24/7.

The only ones that show mainly Primetime HD are the big 4: ABC (720p), CBS (1080i), NBC (1080i) and Fox (480p).

No other stations have HD only during primetime. Some others are special event only HD channels that can have special events any time of the day. Others are always HD.

 

[CFster]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: hevnsnt

Originally posted by: konichiwa
Would using a TiVo cut down the quality of an HD signal? It seems to me that looping the cable through the TiVo and then to the TV (especially considering the TiVo automatically records live tv for X minutes) would essentially eliminate any HD signal and turn it into TiVo's compressed shite.

Is there some sort of HD-TiVo? Or am I missing something? 😀

DirecTivo's don't use compression, so you are getting a digital recording, that being said, they cannot do HDTV yet with tivos.

DirecTvos DO use compression. It is variable depending on the action on the screen. I can easily tell the difference in video quality between my DirecTivo and other receiver when viewing SD channels. The DirecTvio has more compression artifacts.

This is my second main beef with DirecTivo (along with the fact that it cannot record terrestrial channels). The compression is there, but NOT user adjustable.

mmm, are you sure about that? As far as I can tell, the recorded signal looks identical to broadcast one - from what I've seen. And I've noticed that 35 hours means pretty much 35 hours. That's why I upgraded to 105.

As far as the terrestrial channels, I get them over the dish anyway, so it's not an issue for me.

 

[Aves]

Originally posted by: Amused
DirecTvos DO use compression. It is variable depending on the action on the screen. I can easily tell the difference in video quality between my DirecTivo and other receiver when viewing SD channels. The DirecTvio has more compression artifacts.

This is my second main beef with DirecTivo (along with the fact that it cannot record terrestrial channels). The compression is there, but NOT user adjustable.

As I understand it the DirecTV signal itself is compressed using VBR and is directly stored to the DirecTiVo's hard drive.

That's the reason you can't adjust the recording quality.