How can I calibrate when I don't have a Blue Ray or HD-DVD player? All I have is an upconverting DVD player that does 1080i. I want to calibrate the picture for my HD-cable viewing. But how is this possible? Just calibrate on SD or upconverting DVD and hope that translates the best it can onto my HD source, which most of my viewing is?

Also, even if I did own an HD-capable DVD player for DVE or AVIA, wouldn't I just be calibrating the DVD player input? I want to calibrate my HD cable input the most for NBA games. I'm moving from AZ to CT, and the closest way to get to my Suns is the by having the best picture.

I've heard take a DVD player and calibrate it on every input. The way I see it, that's doing nothing more than making sure every input on my TV is ready to give me the best picture only when that same DVD player is inputted. Ideally, I'd like to calibrate my TV for my HD cable service (component), and my upconverting DVD player (HDMI). If it's not asking too much and I can get those last 2 down, it would also be cool to do the same for SD channels. I don't have 2 inputs from my cable box, but my TV, when you set it has 3 modes to choose from (standard, cinema, vivid). The names of the modes mean nothing because you can tweak each one and make it something else. So I could calibrate my HD cable channels using standard, and when I'm watching SD turn it to cinema. I'm pretty sure each input has those 3 settings as options, and saves the settings of each 3 per input. Maybe this is too much information, and wrong information at that.

I suck.

Use the test patterns broadcast by HD-NET early (0630ET) on Saturday mornings. Hint: Record the test patterns on your DVR ;) You CANNOT calibrate an internal TV tuner any other way.

If you are using a standard cable STB via DVI or HDMI, you can calibrate that TV DVI/HDMI input using a standard "Studio Level-output" (16-235) DVD player because the DVI/HDMI output of stock STBs (ie. Motorola) is standard "Studio Level" (16-235). You cannot use a computer using "PC Level-output" (0-255)!

Do they run these test patterns every Saturday? I guess my topic was confusing. My TV is HDTV, and my cable is in HD. I just meant I don't own a Blue Ray or HD-DVD player, and don't plan on it for some time.

Every Saturday! Check their schedule.

You don't need an HDM player, just a DVD player with DVI/HDMI.

But if you're using a DVD player (of any kind, HD or not), you're just calibrating your TV for that input, for that DVD player right? Doesn't translate over to your cable viewing. I'm ordering Comcast to be installed in mid April so I guess I'll go with the HD Net test. Thanks for all your help!

You don't quite grasp that any DVI/HDMI-enabled DVD player, HDM player, cable/satellite STB, etc. which outputs standard 'Studio/Video'-level signals (16-235) is interchangeable when it comes to calibration.

If you calibrate your TV/display by using a digital (DVI/HDMI) video input, it is now calibrated for any* digital (DVI/HDMI) video source.

A 'black' level of 16 one one device is identical to 16 on any other device! 16=16=16, etc.

* This does not apply to personal computers or those few other devices which do not use standard 'Studio/Video'-level signals!!

I only have 1 hdmi input where the upconvert DVD player is plugged in, game console, and most importantly cable box all outputting over component. Problem?

Also let's say I get the TV settings values (Contast, tint, etc) using the HDMI calibration, can I assume all the inputs can use those identical settings to make it equally calibrated?

can I assume all the inputs can use those identical settings to make it equally calibrated?No. :mad:

So I can't even calibrate my TV if the sources are component? Thanks for the mad face I'm feeling encouraged!

So I can't even calibrate my TV if the sources are component?You can calibrate individual analog source components, one at a time, but the settings are not universal.

You CANNOT calibrate an internal TV tuner any other way.Ever heard of a HD RF signal generator?? ;)

http://www.sencore.com/products/vp403c.htm
http://www.dtvinteractive.com/product/product03.html?idx=24

Ever heard of a HD RF signal generator?Yeah ... that's something that Joe Sixpack is going to have laying around! :rolleyes:

Joe Sixpack wouldn't know what calibrate meant in the first place.

Joe Sixpack wouldn't know what calibrate meant in the first place.That's true! :rolleyes: