HD reception on various sources

[sbarcik]

Which source is the best and most reliable for HD reception?
I have Time Warner cable and I get macro blocking, sound drop outs and such. (over 8 services calls in 4 months and it is still not fixed)

Was thinking about going with a satelite provider, please give me any detailed experiences and if these picture and sound problems are common.

[mjones73]

Over The Air is the best for local channels, your nationals can vary between providers.

[strangersonmyflight]

I'd be even more leary of the satellite outfits than cable, if you are already unsatisfied with cable. See if any of your local electronics stores are demoing their HDTV's using a digital satellite feed, to get the heads-up...

[Matt27]

Dish Network is pretty good, my uncle has it and has'nt had any issues, only good things:)

[57U]

Macroblocking is a result of the MPEG compression and will be present on all providers, including OTA. OTA is likely the "best" source based on feedback on many forums. If anything, Sat will futher compress the signal, slightly increasing macroblocking and other compression artifacts, while most major cable companies allot the full 19.4 Mb/sec available to the HD stream (same as OTA).

Dropouts and sound issues are fairly common, but getting less and less. A year ago, I was probably seeing 1-2 an hour. Now I see perhaps 1-2 a week.

Since you've had 8 visits, I assume they've got the signal strength to your STB right. Which STB are you using?

See the FAQ on "Tips for SA STB".

[Splicer]

Unless one has a signal level meter (SLM) built into their set, or like me, actually has access/owns a seperate meter, signal level is pure conjuncture on a posters part. Even if someone does have a meter, the readings will help noone in most instances as these levels are non-user controllable with the possible exception of being able to remove a passive device such as a splitter to change the signal level. Also the channel the reading is being taken of also plays a HUGE part in the levels being described.

The cable co is really the only one who needs to know what the level is as they are (for all practical purposes) the only ones who can adjust/change it.

Having said this, I will charge my meter and check my levels and report back in a bit.

[Matt27]

Yeah pretty much you have no control, it's all in the providers part:(

Hopefully, with more people demanding HD material, and the concesus of people get into the HDTV scene more and more.We will get to see more HD programming and better quality channels and signal strengths.

HD is improving everyday, just as dvd is improving.The more the technology matures the better it will look.

I honestly can't wait for the new HIGH DEF dvd's come out, i'm sure you can't too:)

Just wish the damn format war would settle with one:(

Blu-Ray does have an advantage though that i hope sony exploits.Since blu-ray has a higher storage capacity then HD DVD why don't they take advantage of it by uping the bitrate as high as it can go, and still leave plenty of room for HQ Audio and extras if needed.

That alone would make the blu-ray format the better format.I E-mailed a Sony exec. and hopefully they will hear it.IMO though they probably already thought of that.

As of right now sony has just opened a blu-ray theater and are inviting guests to judge the picture quality.I heard it at www.IGN.com in the dvd section of their site, some good reading there!!!

[57U]

Just to be clear, signal strength has NO effect on the quality of the picture for digital (HD) stations once you have a "lock". You either get them, or you don't.

The only exception is a "marginal" signal strength on digital (HD) channels, when you will potentially get pixellation (not macroblocking - see the FAQ on Acronyms and definitions) and/or audio/video dropouts.

Macroblocking and other compression artifacts are also not affected by signal strength, once you have an adequate signal. They ARE affected by MPEG and whether/how much the signal is compressed by a service provider.

Analogue channels are a different story, but not the subject of this thread.

[57U]

If anyone wants to start a thread on any subject, anyone may feel free to do so, in the appropriate forum. Off-topic posts have been deleted.

[Splicer]

(See my sig for equipment list.) The pilots on the Amelia Adelphia system are channels 72 and 3. The levels going to the input of my cable box are:

72 - +5.5db (average, damn thing fluctuated from 5.1 to 5.9)
3 - +1.1db

This leg is on the -3.5db leg of a 5-1000Gig 3-way splitter.

The computer modem on the other hand:

72 - 0.0db
3 - -2.3db

The modem is on the -7db leg of the 3-way splitter with about 25' longer RG6 than the cable box RG6.

My drop is probably 225' from the pedestal and is RG7 (a lesser version of RG11). My drop is fed from a 23db down 4 port tap connected directly to the bridger trunk amp that is 1st active off of the node. There is no ground block, only the 2-way splitter in the crawl space and is not grounded (real winners for installers huh? I have left it that way because when my TV/computer gets destroyed, guess who is gonna replace it :whistle: ?), from there via RG6 to my 3 locations.

Don't see how, but hope this helps.