Videotron HD Current Status?

[chrisr]

Hi
Depending on whether i call in the morning, afternoon or speak to tech support instead of presales, i get different answers on what exactly is available.

I already have extreme high speed, so i save on paying the 2.99$ network charge.

As for non PVR receivers, I have the choice of the SA3150, which is EOL and is being phased out. I can still get these, as a few retailers still have them. The advantages from what i understand is that there is firewire and a dvi output. Currently, the new box replacing the SA is a pace, which is selling for 169$ with some credits. This box is a little bit low end, is anyone using this with videotron?

What are these options for renting for 2 years that I see on the web page for videotron? Is anyone doing that?

Does anyone have a contact that really knows what is going on with the various service offerings?

Thanks
:canada:

[Atradeus]

As of Friday my Pace 550 was working just fine. As far as being a "low unit", I'm not sure about that. The Pace has both a DVI output as well as a digital audio output. It has been said to have better SD quality than the SA 3250 it replaces, but I can neither confirm nor deny that since I haven't had two models to sit next to each other. My one complaint about the system is that if you do not have a TV that supports 720p (or 1080i) you have to force one mode or the other for all channels, or select PASS, and then when you want to watch an HD channel that utilizes 720p you have to manually change to 1080i.

As far as Videotron HD packages, if you subscribe to the U.S networks package you also get their HD counterparts "free" with the exception of Fox. *note that regular analog network channels are Burlington, Vermont broadcasts, but the HD channels come out of Detroit. There is also an additional $6/month package called "HD Extra". tt adds Fox, TSN, Rogers Sports Net, CTV, Discovery, and City-TV HD channels to your line-up. Finally there are Video On Demand and pay per view HD movies you can rent.

The two year rental option mearly removes the $100 installation charge.

HD quality seems to vary between channels and programs. Rogers Sports Net's sports center show looks incredible on my set for sure. TSN-HD seems to broadtcast in HD only occasionally, with it's outbut in 4:3 format, which blows. As for the major networks I haven't experimented enough yet to give a definitive quality assessment, but CBS seems to have very good quality as well based on inital impressions. PBS and Fox are good, but don't seem to look quite as crisp on my set. This might have to do with the conversion from 720p to 1080i for my tv set on those channels, or it just may have been my perception/reception.

With the DVI output the screen format is slightly smaller than with the component, though I'm not sure why this is the case. Analog channels look ok, not the greatest especially compared to HD, but ok again it seems to be based on the particular channel. TLC looks fine, but the analog US networks don't look so good. I can also now say without a doubt that the DVI output does improve picture quality over component in HD format, even on a CRT monitor (at least my Samsung TX-P3064W). Even my wife also noticed the difference. I have an RCA DVi 9ft cable and the component I measured it against was a Monster THX standard 3ft cable, all other things equal.

I'll try to follow this up with a bit better description after this weekend of my thoughts on the HD content/quality and SD quality as well. In the meantime if anyone knows why the DVI screen size is slightly smaller than component all other things equal for SD broadcasts and could give me a reason or a resolution I'd appreciate it.

[mfabien]

Atradeus,

If I had your STB (Pace 550), I would try the following and then decide:

- In setup, I would select 480i Wide (instead of standard). You should have "Auto Fix" in your STB Settings and the STB should change to 480i when it detects SD reception.

Or

- I would install a S-Video cable for Video 1 or 2 TV input (S-Video output at the STB). Upon selecting a SD channel, I would then switch TV input. I would then select Theater Wide 1 aspect with the TV remote and that would then be remembered.

Don't know if any of the above works, but, that's what I would try.

[chrisr]

Thanks for the updates. I suppose that this means that the DVI port on the Pace is enabled, that is good news.

Did Videotron ever enable the firewire ports on their other models? I see posts that say it was to be done in june 2004, and then in september 2004, but no one wrote back to say for sure that they had it.

[francogf]

Hi,
I'm a new owner of the Videotron ENP8300 HD. I'm glad that you've mentioned that DVI connexion worth the price. I have component cables and I wasn't sure if I should buy the DVI cable. Which brand did you buy ? How much ?
Thank you

[57U]

The SA8300HD has an HDMI connection, not DVI.

See the HDTV FAQ on "DVI/HDMI Information" for websites and information.

HDMI will not always provide a better picture, it depends on your TV and how the inputs are set up.

[Whytewolf]

As for HD channels,it depends where you live..i am in granby and i only get the free package...so i don't have tsn,city,discovery etc...i only have 6 channels...hopefully i will be getting more soon.