I have a Samsung LN32A450 LCD TV. I have an HD DVR hooked up to it(HDMI) and my cable provider is Cox. The picture I get with HD channels is very grainy looking-it has alot of pixelation. I know it's not my TV because I have an Xbox 360 hooked up to it and the picture is crystal clear on it. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can improve the pixelation/grainy picture I'm seeing? Is anyone else(especially if you have Cox) having the same issue? Is this normal with Cox or is the pixelation I'm getting not normal? Thanks in advance.

It's probably not normal but you have to determine what's the cause. Plug coax directly into the TV and scan for digital cable chs. Tune it to some local HD ch and compare it to the picture coming from the DVR. If both are pixilated then the issue is with the signal from Cox. If the direct cable connection is good then the problem is in the DVR. Either way you'd have to call Cox to improve things.

It's probably not normal but you have to determine what's the cause. Plug coax directly into the TV and scan for digital cable chs. Tune it to some local HD ch and compare it to the picture coming from the DVR. If both are pixilated then the issue is with the signal from Cox. If the direct cable connection is good then the problem is in the DVR. Either way you'd have to call Cox to improve things.

It's not the DVR, because I get the same grainy picture when watching HD channels when the cable cord is plugged in directly to the TV. Also a tech from cox came out and checked the signal strength. He said the signal is fine. He installed a signal booster anyways to see if it improved the picture, which it didn't. Can this pixelation/graininess be caused by an old cable cord? Because the cable cord coming from the wall is fairly old.

The cable tech should have replaced the cable just for PM. Also... ALL of the connectors/splitters/ground blocks and any questionable cables for that matter IMO.

Did he see the poor picture quality? If he said the signal strength was "fine", why would he install a signal booster?? Sounds to me like you had a tech that was flying by the seat of his pants. ;)

IMO... call your provider and ask to speak with a supervisor (to escalate your dissatisfaction) and have a "qualified" tech identify and resolve your issues. That's what you pay for...

What make/model STB do you have from Cox?
If it is a Motorola unit what resolution setting are you using to output the HD 16:9 aspect ratio programs to your TV? It almost sounds like you are using 4:3 overidefrom the Cox box?
If your TV is a 1080p model you should be using 1080i. If it is a 720p then either 720p or 1080i can be used and you need to pick the one you like best
Does your TV have a clear QAM tuner and is that what you are using to receive HD programing from you direct to TV cable connection?

Re-read posts 1 and 3.

The TV has a QAM tuner. Problem is the same direct to TV.

Although, you are correct to suggest the OP double-check the video output settings in the DVR.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-rpud3yfqxpn/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?i=305LN32450

In neither posts 1 or 3 does he actually state that he has a clear QAM tuner. His posts just seem to think that he does and I think he is just watching analog channels which is why they are grainy
In fact from the Specs for his unit does not have a clear QAM tuner just an ATSC digital tuner. see the following:

http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/samsung-ln32a450/4507-6482_7-32815310.html

Maybe if he provides the channel numbers he is having problems with we will be able to figure it out.

I apologize if I have a reading and/or comprehension problem but please point out where I mis-read (that door can swing both ways):

It's not the DVR, because same grainy picture when watching HD channels when the cable cord is plugged in directly to the TV.

From the link I provided above (if you didn't read all the specs):
built-in digital (ATSC) and analog (NTSC) tuners for over-the-air TV broadcasts (antenna required)
built-in QAM cable TV tuner receives unscrambled programs without a set-top box (cable service required)

Let's regroup and reconsider post #4 as a starting point. ;)

Again... good attempts to help. Perhaps it may be "pilot error" on the OP's part. If so, a "good" cable tech should be able to assist/diagnose/resolve.

The problem comes from users thinking that if they subscribe to digital TV that they no longer recieve analog TV
The cable signal out of the wall contains analog TV RF signals, Digital TV RF signals, Internet Connection capability and now in may cases Phone capability. there is no filter in the steets cable box that resticts what they get.
It is only the units processing the wall signal that determine what they can receive from this common pipeline.
A simple example is that I have 5 TVs in my house and 4 of them only have old fashioned analog tuners. The digital STB in my family room can receive both analog an digital signals.
If I select CBS 2 on any of the TVs in the house or with the Digital STB I get good old CBS analog channel 2. If I select channel 702 with my digital STB I get the HD broadcast for CBS (Channel 2-1) if I had an OTS digital channel.
The cable tech that came to the OPs home obviously was totally unqualified or he could have setup the system and educated the OP properly

In neither posts 1 or 3 does he actually state that he has a clear QAM tuner. His posts just seem to think that he does and I think he is just watching analog channels which is why they are grainy
In fact from the Specs for his unit does not have a clear QAM tuner just an ATSC digital tuner. see the following:

http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/samsung-ln32a450/4507-6482_7-32815310.html

Maybe if he provides the channel numbers he is having problems with we will be able to figure it out.

I seem to be getting pixelation/graininess on every HD station such as TNT HD, CBS HD, and especially NBC and USA HD. I have a Motorola DCH3416 HD DVR. The video output format of my DVR is 1080i Wide-Stretch 4:3 Pic. I tried changing the video output format to 720p Wide-Stretch 4:3 Pic to see if it improved the pixelation/graininess. Unfortunately it looks the same on both settings.

The problem comes from users thinking that if they subscribe to digital TV that they no longer recieve analog TV
This has nothing to do with the problem at hand.

The cable signal out of the wall contains analog TV RF signals, Digital TV RF signals, Internet Connection capability and now in may cases Phone capability. there is no filter in the steets cable box that resticts what they get.
It is only the units processing the wall signal that determine what they can receive from this common pipeline.
Assumed... we all know that CATV carries analog and digital as well as broadband (internet/VoIP). Not the problem at hand.

The cable tech that came to the OPs home obviously was totally unqualified or he could have setup the system and educated the OP properly

Again... Post#4;)

Don't mean to thread hijack, but has anyone else noticed a significant degradation in the quality of the COX HD feed? I am in Phoenix (NE Valley) and have found a noticeable difference over the last few weeks.

Anyone else with COX notice this?

Call Cox and ask. Or, post your question in the appropriate forum for your location for better results. :)

This has nothing to do with the problem at hand.


Assumed... we all know that CATV carries analog and digital as well as broadband (internet/VoIP). Not the problem at hand.



Again... Post#4;)


So, is this true if I subscribe to the older "standard" (analog?) cable service only?

I have 2 analog TV's and got 2 DTV converters (one for each) and they work well receiving off-the-air digital broadcasts. I tried connecting my existing standard (non-digital) cable (from Cox Communications) signal directly from the wall (no splitters) and the DTV box could not find any channels. I called Cox and they said these DTV converter boxes only work with antennas and I would need to be "upgraded" to digital cable and rent one of their converter boxes for an additional cost.

Does this make sense? Is the digital portion being filtered out (blocked) at the street and I would be paying Cox to just remove this filter so I can be "upgraded" to digital? Or is the digital content being blocked or scrambled at the source? Or is there another way to get my DTV boxes to see the digital content?

TIA for any replies.

Lou

So, is this true if I subscribe to the older "standard" (analog?) cable service only?

I have 2 analog TV's and got 2 DTV converters (one for each) and they work well receiving off-the-air digital broadcasts. I tried connecting my existing standard (non-digital) cable (from Cox Communications) signal directly from the wall (no splitters) and the DTV box could not find any channels. I called Cox and they said these DTV converter boxes only work with antennas and I would need to be "upgraded" to digital cable and rent one of their converter boxes for an additional cost.

Does this make sense? Is the digital portion being filtered out (blocked) at the street and I would be paying Cox to just remove this filter so I can be "upgraded" to digital? Or is the digital content being blocked or scrambled at the source? Or is there another way to get my DTV boxes to see the digital content?

TIA for any replies.

Lou

Never mind. CECB's are for OTA only. Thanks for reading!!

Lou

By government specification the subsidized tuner boxes are designed to replace an OTA analog tuner and therfore only are allowed to accept OTA ATSC digital or NTSC signals and convert them to SD 480i using RF or S-video output to the TV.
There are no filters on the line from the street.
If you have TVs with only NTSC analog tuners and are using cable there is not need for you to have a converter box since the cable service will (in almost all cases) contiune to supply the analog channels corresponding to the new digital broasdcasts till 2012.

I have this same problem. I have had cox for over a year now and have noticted pixelation more and more as they add new channels. I have called them repeatedly asking them to fix it but they do the same thing everytime. Once they sent a tech out but he said nothing is wrong. I really want to dump Cox but that is the only thing excpet satellite here in Omaha.

I have this same problem. I have had cox for over a year now and have noticted pixelation more and more as they add new channels. I have called them repeatedly asking them to fix it but they do the same thing everytime. Once they sent a tech out but he said nothing is wrong. I really want to dump Cox but that is the only thing excpet satellite here in Omaha.

I feel the same way. Cox is getting on my nerves. My pictures quality was as grainy as an HD channel could get, and the supposedly experienced technician had the nerve to shake his head and (lie) and say "The picture looks fine". I would dump Cox in a heart beat if I had other choices besides satellite.