I am trying to decide on an HD provider and was hoping to get opinions from people who have seen one of the satellite providers MPEG4 stations versus the fiber optic providers. For fiber optic, I would be specifically considering Surewest, but for those who have compared FIOS to the satellite offerings, I think that input would still be useful to compare.

I hear that with MPEG4, that those stations that use it on satellite have improved dramatically. So the question for me is, does the quality match or come very close to the fiber companies? Also how do the MPEG4 stations picture quality compare between DISH and DirecTV?

If the picture quality between these is starting to become very close, then I would lean toward one of the satellite providers as I think they will be ahead in terms of channel availability and DVR capabilities. But if the fiber companies are still significantly better for PQ, then I might deal with their other shortcomings to get that good PQ and go with them.

The TV I plan on getting is a 60" Pioneer and so I think that it will show imperfections in the source more than a smaller TV would. So it would be interesting if there are people that have been able to compare with a TV of that size and whether or not they believe that the PQ is significantly different or not.

It depends on which DBS provider, both of which are using MPEG4, and which 'fiber' provider you want to compare.

Verizon FiOS is generally considered to be the best possible source for HD quality. AT&T U-verse HD quality on the other hand is generally considered to be inferior to DBS and most cable HD providers.

DirecTV is generally considered to have better HD than Dish Network, at least at this time.

In my area, I can compare Dish Network to Comcast, and in spite of the fact Comcast has recently reduced HD image quality, it still looks better than Dish Network.

Check the local topic for your area to see what end users of Surewest think of their HD. It's likely others have already done the comparison.

It depends on which DBS provider, both of which are using MPEG4, and which 'fiber' provider you want to compare.

Verizon FiOS is generally considered to be the best possible source for HD quality. AT&T U-verse HD quality on the other hand is generally considered to be inferior to DBS and most cable HD providers.

DirecTV is generally considered to have better HD than Dish Network, at least at this time.

In my area, I can compare Dish Network to Comcast, and in spite of the fact Comcast has recently reduced HD image quality, it still looks better than Dish Network.

Check the local topic for your area to see what end users of Surewest think of their HD. It's likely others have already done the comparison.

OK, thanks for that info - I didn't expect that there would be a case where a fiber optic provider would actually be worse than a satellite provider like in the case you cite with AT&T U-verse. I know that it depends upon how each provider chooses to compress and send their signal, but I just assumed that fiber optic providers would make the most of their bandwidth capability and always have at least equal if not superior quality.

Thanks, also for the idea about checking the local topic - I didn't realize there was a thread like that. I found the Surewest one in my area and so will check that as well. Your comment about comparisons of Dish Network and Comcast show me that this is not easily generalized and that it will be best to get opinions on the exact providers I want to compare.

I've had Surewest for 4 years now, and about 2 of those with HD. My friends who actually work for Comcast come over and tell me how much better my picture looks than their Comcast. I have a 56" JVC LCD HDILA Projo.

The DVR is very basic with Surewest, but it does its job. And I believe right now its free for 6 months.

I had Directv, Dish, and Comcast. Verizon FIOS is FAR superior. Dish used to do a pretty good job but they lost their way. But don't trust empirical data alone - there are several threads I have seen showing bitrates.

Well I;m new to this HD stuff but I have a different opinion anecdotal as it may be. I live in Bradenton, Fl and have had Dish for 7 years with an anolog TV and have always been amazed to the picture quality. I switched a month ago to Bright House HD and was greatly disappointed with their picture. I even had a brand new PVR. I switched back a little over two weeks ago and won't look back. I have a new Panasonic TH-42PZ85U and with the DISH 1000,4 the picture could not be better on any channel I watch.

Well, I had a problem with about six or eight channels; DIY, DISC. Animal Planet and Golf to name a few that would not pop up when I surfed to them. I would get an error message showing signal acquisition and transponder 19 on Sat. 61.5. So the installer came out and exchanged my 1000.4 with two 500's and my signal quality took a nose dive. I'll be calling him back today and telling him I want my 1000.4 back.

Ron

D* MPEG-4 HD > Comcast HD

First hand experience.

It depends on which DBS provider, both of which are using MPEG4, and which 'fiber' provider you want to compare.

Verizon FiOS is generally considered to be the best possible source for HD quality. AT&T U-verse HD quality on the other hand is generally considered to be inferior to DBS and most cable HD providers.

DirecTV is generally considered to have better HD than Dish Network, at least at this time.

In my area, I can compare Dish Network to Comcast, and in spite of the fact Comcast has recently reduced HD image quality, it still looks better than Dish Network.

Check the local topic for your area to see what end users of Surewest think of their HD. It's likely others have already done the comparison.



Does anyone know why Verizon Fios HD picture quality is so much better than AT&T U-Verse? There both fiber optic.

Does anyone know why Verizon Fios HD picture quality is so much better than AT&T U-Verse? There both fiber optic.
FIOS runs fiber to the curb - or even right to your home. AT&T only runs it to the neighborhood node. They rely on copper to go the rest of the way.

In simple terms: FIOS has more bandwidth to play with all the way to your house. AT&T has to squeeze things to make it all work.

FIOS runs fiber to the curb - or even right to your home. AT&T only runs it to the neighborhood node. They rely on copper to go the rest of the way.

In simple terms: FIOS has more bandwidth to play with all the way to your house. AT&T has to squeeze things to make it all work.

The large amont of bandwidth lets them push the video signal without compression, so the signal is the same quality and bits per second as distributed by the source (TV station, pemier channe - ex:HBO, etc).

I've heard (don't have access to an AT&T installation) that you can only have one HD channel broadcast into the house at any one time. If true, this is a significant disadvantage compared to FIOS (which I have) that can handle any number of HD channels simultaneously.

The large amont of bandwidth lets them push the video signal without compression, so the signal is the same quality and bits per second as distributed by the source (TV station, pemier channe - ex:HBO, etc).

I've heard (don't have access to an AT&T installation) that you can only have one HD channel broadcast into the house at any one time. If true, this is a significant disadvantage compared to FIOS (which I have) that can handle any number of HD channels simultaneously.


Did they run the fiber optic cable right to your home?

I've heard (don't have access to an AT&T installation) that you can only have one HD channel broadcast into the house at any one time. It was true, but they've upgraded to two HD streams at a time, and are adding the whole house DVR (one DVR will play on any STB in the home) to markets all over the country right now.

Did they run the fiber optic cable right to your home?FiOS does, U-verse does not.

This is the major difference between the two services. The FiOS approach takes fiber to the home, the U-verse approach takes fiber to the neighborhood and uses existing twisted pair copper telephone line to the home.

I've heard (don't have access to an AT&T installation) that you can only have one HD channel broadcast into the house at any one time. It was true, but they've upgraded to two HD streams at a time, and are adding the whole house DVR (one DVR will play on any STB in the home) to markets all over the country right now.

Did they run the fiber optic cable right to your home?FiOS does, U-verse does not.

As already noted, this is the major difference between the two services. The FiOS approach takes fiber to the home, the U-verse approach takes fiber to the neighborhood and uses existing twisted pair copper telephone line to the home.

The large amont of bandwidth lets them push the video signal without compression, so the signal is the same quality and bits per second as distributed by the source (TV station, pemier channe - ex:HBO, etc).

I've heard (don't have access to an AT&T installation) that you can only have one HD channel broadcast into the house at any one time. If true, this is a significant disadvantage compared to FIOS (which I have) that can handle any number of HD channels simultaneously.
Neither of your statements is true.

AT&T compresses their HD down to anywhere from 9-12Mb/s currently. They are planning to go lower. FIOS passes the signal as is.

I believe you can now stream up to 3 HD channels at one time with U-Verse plus one or two additional SD channels with their whole house DVR solution. I'd have to check the U-Verse thread for the exact specs, though. Nearly all the U-Verse areas offer at least 2 simultanious HD channels to be viewed or recorded with their standard equipment, though.