In the spring release Scott...........YEAH RIGHT!!!! All I know is I have stopped buying HD-DVD's until it is out so I can hear the difference.

It would seem I might have to go to a stand alone player if I decide to stay the course with HD-DVD.

HD should not look that much different from C* to D* to E*, so I would say look at the settings on his DLP. If he is like most, he has it set to the factory "TORCH" mode. Go into the picture settings and turn down the contrast and sharpness and set the color temp to warm or 6500k. This should help.

Scott

I've done all that. I was really wondering if their was anything else with regards to the 622 to check.

My 5687 looks stunning and his looks like crap. Granted his is a 720P and mine is 1080P, but it should be close.

The best HD DVD I have seen is Batman Begins,


I recorded Batman Begins, I think off of HBO HD. So I take it, it is worth watching, because I noticed it is LONG too.

Also I recorded The Usual Suspects (SHO HD, I am pretty sure) a while back. Then I sat down to watch it a few nights ago and it was NOT IN HD. Anyone know why or know if Showtime does this often on their HD feed? Could this have been a mistake? I did not watch it to see if it switched later. I was so disgusted, because I had been looking forward to it so I just deleted it. For anyone who has not seen it, The Usual Suspects is a great flick IMO.

I've done all that. I was really wondering if their was anything else with regards to the 622 to check.

My 5687 looks stunning and his looks like crap. Granted his is a 720P and mine is 1080P, but it should be close.

I'd set it to 720p instead. The less scaling the better. If you have it set to 1080i then its going to be sent to the TV in 1080i only to have the TV scale it to 720p anyway.

I've done all that. I was really wondering if their was anything else with regards to the 622 to check.

My 5687 looks stunning and his looks like crap. Granted his is a 720P and mine is 1080P, but it should be close.


I have not seen Charter HD, however I am very happy with PQ on both my 622s as well as my 942 (MPEG2 version of 622). My eye may not be too discerning. But when Doug calibrated my Panny, he seemed very impressed with the PQ as well, even on the sat Local HDs, which as previously noted are slightly softer than the OTA versions.

I've done all that. I was really wondering if their was anything else with regards to the 622 to check.

My 5687 looks stunning and his looks like crap. Granted his is a 720P and mine is 1080P, but it should be close.

Try setting the output of the 622 to 720p the native resolution of the Sammy.

Actually, you could argue his should look better than yours as it is not trying to upconvert to 1080p. :)

Scott

Is the 211 interface significantly different? Better I would assume, but how?Not much different, mostly more logical. Similar to the way you choose to map down the digital (HD) version of the locals into their logical 2, 4, 5, & 30 slots. Where a HD and SD version of a channel exist (TNT, A&E, NTG, etc) you can select to map down the HD version to be directly above the SD version. As example, FOOD is channel 110. 110 will display FOOD, and directly above it, there will be a second 110 for FOOD HD, marked with a semi-transparent HD icon.

If you select HD Priority in your settings, all HD's then map. You cannot choose to map your local HD's and not the SAT HD's. The HD mapping retains consistency throughout all of your created favorite lists.


Speaking of another long awaited change, when will we be able to program our DVR from the internet remotely? ;)That's funny!
Hopefully, before the twins graduate High School :rolleyes:

tcfila,

As others here have suggested, the output should be set to 720p.

I think there could be an issue with this being a 40-inch rear-projection display, as that's a relatively constricted throw from the light engine, and I suspect that there might be some loss of vertical resolution, though I've not seen or measured this on this size DLP.

Also, make sure that the dreadful DNIe is turned off, as this introduces a boatload of bad picture karma, including terrible edge enhancement, black level pumping and (depending on the picture mode used -- please, not Dynamic) white clipping. The best starting point for all HL-R and HL-S Samsung DLPs is Movie mode, as this turns off most of the "enhancement" marketing-driven rubbish and reins in the "way out there" color gamut.

Doug,

It is in fact a 42" if that makes a difference.

I have turned off the DNIe.

Thanks,
Tim

I recorded Batman Begins, I think off of HBO HD. So I take it, it is worth watching, because I noticed it is LONG too..

Pretty good movie IMO. Worth the watch.

The best starting point for all HL-R and HL-S Samsung DLPs is Movie modeThis reminds me to ask if there is a guide to any menu choices not immediately visible or documented in the owner's manual. Items that might affect setup, or log lamp life, etc; would be educational to see. (HLS5086W)

Thanks!

It's the best Batman of the series really.

This reminds me to ask if there is a guide to any menu choices not immediately visible or documented in the owner's manual. Items that might affect setup, or log lamp life, etc; would be educational to see. (HLS5086W)

Thanks!I think I've covered all the things on the Samsung that are use-accessible.

In general, distrust anything that suggests "enhancement" or "correction," as TV manufacturers are masters of marketing doublespeak.

Doug,

It is in fact a 42" if that makes a difference.

I have turned off the DNIe.Tim, if the picture is clearly inferior to what you're used to seeing, maybe there is something wrong with either the TV or the DISH box.

Did you have Charter on this TV before installing the 622? Does he have a DVD player, and how does it look (and what resolution does it output)?

Disney Announces Plan to Launch of Four HD Channels

From today's TV Predictions newsletter:
_____________________________________________________

Disney says it will launch four new High-Definition TV networks by early 2008.

The networks -- ESPNews HD, Toon Disney HD, Disney Channel HD and ABC Family HD -- will be carried by DIRECTV, the company said.
_____________________________________________________

To read the full story, click here (http://www.tvpredictions.com/dishd031307.htm)

Motorola Investing in Wireless Technology to Deliver HD

From today's TV Predictions newsletter:
___________________________________________________

Motorola has invested in an Israeli company that offers technology that can send wireless High-Definition signals.

The investment is the latest sign that the consumer electronics industry is moving to wireless high-def. Seven leading electronics companies (WirelessHD Consortium) last October announced they are teaming to develop a new wireless technology that can send high-def signals to your set without a single cord.

The wireless technology, which could be installed in sets as early as next year, is expected to operate within a range of 32 feet if used in the same room. Wireless high-def images are supposed to offer the same quality as video transmitted via wires.
___________________________________________________

To read the full story, click here (http://www.tvpredictions.com/wirelesshd031407.htm)

I noticed that a representative of the local CBS station in Kansas City has posted over in the KC thread to let his viewers know about some particulars relating to the broadcast of the NCAA basketball tournament.

I think the key one that may be of interest here is that local CBS stations are for the first time this year required to show the same game on both the analog and main digital (HD) channels.

It's also interesting that the KC station investigated having an HD stream and two SD streams during the tournament and determined that there wasn't enough bandwidth to do this in a way that made the channels look presentable. Bravo for rationality...

If you'd like to read the entire post, it's here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=10022233&&#post10022233

Tim, if the picture is clearly inferior to what you're used to seeing, maybe there is something wrong with either the TV or the DISH box.

Did you have Charter on this TV before installing the 622? Does he have a DVD player, and how does it look (and what resolution does it output)?

Doug,

He just moved out to Wentzville and just got the tv. This is the first time he has had HD. He does have a DVD, but it is not progressive scan. I am going to see him in the next couple of days, so I will look at everything again.

Is it common to have something wrong with the box?

I did do a quick look behind the box. There was 1 coax coming from the wall, it then went into a splitter that then went into the box.

Thanks for your help,
Tim

Doug,

He just moved out to Wentzville and just got the tv. This is the first time he has had HD. He does have a DVD, but it is not progressive scan. I am going to see him in the next couple of days, so I will look at everything again.

Is it common to have something wrong with the box?

I did do a quick look behind the box. There was 1 coax coming from the wall, it then went into a splitter that then went into the box.

Thanks for your helpTim,

Actually, it's not very common to have satellite hardware issues (apart from eventually failing hard drives in the DVRs). But based on what you're reporting, I think you have to look at the other variables, because generally DISH has a deserved reputation for good picture quality.

I noticed on Doug's spreadsheet that there are a handful of stations that broadcast in 720p. Does anyone know if Dish preserves that original resolution when rebroadcasting? or does it scale everything to 1080i before broadcast?

Has anyone heard of any software updates in the pipe that are going to let you choose which resolutions your set supports so it doesn't scale unnecessarily? Or how about adding 1080p to the list so that everything isn't being scaled 2x or more for all the newer sets?

Is the 211 interface significantly different? Better I would assume, but how?

Speaking of another long awaited change, when will we be able to program our DVR from the internet remotely? ;)

You already can with Homezone...Also program the DVR from your cell phone.

Doug,

He just moved out to Wentzville and just got the tv. This is the first time he has had HD. He does have a DVD, but it is not progressive scan. I am going to see him in the next couple of days, so I will look at everything again.

Is it common to have something wrong with the box?

I did do a quick look behind the box. There was 1 coax coming from the wall, it then went into a splitter that then went into the box.

Thanks for your help,
Tim

It is not normal to come out of the wall into a splitter. I'm surprised he gets any signal. Is that spltter a "diplexer" that de-combines SAT and ANT, and sends both to the box? If not, remove the splitter to see if that helps?

Scott

It is not normal to come out of the wall into a splitter. I'm surprised he gets any signal. Is that spltter a "diplexer" that de-combines SAT and ANT, and sends both to the box? If not, remove the splitter to see if that helps?

Scott

Scott,

I'm not sure what it is. I briefly looked in the back and saw something that resembled a splitter, it could have been a diplexer.

He is clueless to these things, but doesn't know if they installed an antenna or not. He didn't think he had an antenna. If they installed an antenna, would they provide it or would he be required to supply one. I did do a scan in the menu and it didn't pick anything up, so I assume he doesn't.

If he doesn't have an antenna, would the coax come straight from the wall to the 622?

Thanks for all the help!

Tim

I think I've covered all the things on the Samsung that are use-accessible.Thanks. I've created a custom "video mode" that is warmer than "standard" but not as orange as "movie." It also has less contrast. I have also found that some DVDs are so "warm" that I have to go back to the Samsung's "normal" mode for them to look right.

I wish I could boost gamma, as so many DVD movies have murky shadows.

Scott,

I'm not sure what it is. I briefly looked in the back and saw something that resembled a splitter, it could have been a diplexer.

He is clueless to these things, but doesn't know if they installed an antenna or not. He didn't think he had an antenna. If they installed an antenna, would they provide it or would he be required to supply one. I did do a scan in the menu and it didn't pick anything up, so I assume he doesn't.

If he doesn't have an antenna, would the coax come straight from the wall to the 622?

Thanks for all the help!

Tim

AFAIK Tim yes, it would come straight from the wall into SAT IN on the 622. That is how it is on D* anyway. And, the 622 has 2 SAT tuners, so it may require two separate leads in. Someone (Ken) will know for sure.

Scott

Thanks. I've created a custom "video mode" that is warmer than "standard" but not as orange as "movie." It also has less contrast. I have also found that some DVDs are so "warm" that I have to go back to the Samsung's "normal" mode for them to look right.

I wish I could boost gamma, as so many DVD movies have murky shadows.

I'm sure Doug could "boost" your gamma. :)

Scott

PS3. Nearly all of the PS3 fanboys are buying blu-rays regularly. Hell, even I've got 4 movies now :)

Ah, I guess then we need to see the total number of disks or wait until the frenzy dies. I assume that with the number of studios BR has in their camp, will probably enhance their disk sales. I must make the observation, however, that previous comparisons in picture quality seemed to favor HD over BR. Is this no longer the case or do buyers not care?

Walt

tcfila

I agree with everyone. The first thing I would get rid of is the "splitter". I am amazed at how many I find bad. Next I would suspect the component cables or connectors. Don't get trapped into buying the $10,000 :eek: ones they aren't THAT much better. :p

Wire is wire but sometimes the connection is not what it should be.

Walt

I give full credit to Charter for maintaining high HD picture quality (ostensibly at the expense of not having more HD channels), but I don't really think that DISH takes a backseat to them for quality, at least not in any sort of obvious or significant way.

Is there anyone here who can do a side-by-side comparison? Screenshots?

I was surprised to find how much compression Charter uses and how much PQ they get. When compairing disk space for recordings from Charter HBO HD and OTA HD, the difference is significant. OTA requires in the neighborhood of 8 gig per hour. Charter requires between 5 and 6 gig. That is at least a 25% difference.

I need to record some local channels from Charter and see what the C*/OTA difference is for the same program.

Walt

I noticed that a representative of the local CBS station in Kansas City has posted over in the KC thread to let his viewers know about some particulars relating to the broadcast of the NCAA basketball tournament.

I think the key one that may be of interest here is that local CBS stations are for the first time this year required to show the same game on both the analog and main digital (HD) channels.

It's also interesting that the KC station investigated having an HD stream and two SD streams during the tournament and determined that there wasn't enough bandwidth to do this in a way that made the channels look presentable. Bravo for rationality...

If you'd like to read the entire post, it's here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=10022233&&#post10022233

Which has me wondering what KMOV has in mind for the dormant (right now) 4-2...

Check this out.

WTKR in VA is providing all games in a partnership with COX cable.

http://cox.com/HR/cable/basketball.asp

http://www.wtkr.com/Global/story.asp?S=3843389&nav=menu78_5

Ah, I guess then we need to see the total number of disks or wait until the frenzy dies. I assume that with the number of studios BR has in their camp, will probably enhance their disk sales. I must make the observation, however, that previous comparisons in picture quality seemed to favor HD over BR. Is this no longer the case or do buyers not care?

Walt

The PQ is virtually identical. You can see this in many disk reviews that review the BR and the HDDVD of the same movie. The problem with early BR was the samsung player and the mpeg2 codec. Check dvdreview.com, they usually review both versions when available.
dug

For Charter, and any other cable companies that think demands for retransmission payments will just go away, I saw an interesting analyst report today on CBS. I couldn't find a copy on the internet, but it is a research report from Stifel, Nicolaus & Company. Some highlights I found interesting:

CBS noted that it is currently getting about $.50 per subscriber from Verizon and that the annual price increases are about a nickel to 10%ish. While it did not disclose the details of some of its smaller deals announced earlier this year, we believe such terms were similar to that of Verizon and such deals were for top 25 cable MSOs.... Based on CBS high ratings relative to cable networks, CBS believes it could perhaps be even more aggressive eventually, though it believes it may be smarter to just shoot for $.50 instead of a buck initially.
Mr. Reynolds [CFO Fred Reynolds] confirmed that CBS has been successful in reducing affiliate compensation significantly over the last 7 years - from about $300mm to vitrually nothing in 2007. CBS also believes that it is reasonable to assume that some of the affiliate's cable retransmission fees will be passed on to to CBS in the form of reverse compensation. Essentially, the affiliates will have to pay CBS for their content.

Maybe the affiliates can argue that they shouldn't have to pay for something that is free over the air. :D

Scott,

I'm not sure what it is. I briefly looked in the back and saw something that resembled a splitter, it could have been a diplexer.

He is clueless to these things, but doesn't know if they installed an antenna or not. He didn't think he had an antenna. If they installed an antenna, would they provide it or would he be required to supply one. I did do a scan in the menu and it didn't pick anything up, so I assume he doesn't.

If he doesn't have an antenna, would the coax come straight from the wall to the 622?

Thanks for all the help!

Tim
Tim,
DISH installers do not provide off-air antennas. The thing behind the 622, you Scott, and Walt have referred to as possibly either a "splitter," or "diplexer" is a DISH Separator. The coax from the wall goes into one side of the separator, and the two other ends connect to the 622 to provide your SAT1 and SAT2 feeds.

If you removed the "spltter," as some have suggested, the 622 will not start-up. The receiver must "see" 2 SAT feeds in order to operated. It belongs there.

It almost sounds as if this receiver is connected to the TV using composite cables, rather than component or HDMI.

Scott,

I'm not sure what it is. I briefly looked in the back and saw something that resembled a splitter, it could have been a diplexer.

He is clueless to these things, but doesn't know if they installed an antenna or not. He didn't think he had an antenna. If they installed an antenna, would they provide it or would he be required to supply one. I did do a scan in the menu and it didn't pick anything up, so I assume he doesn't.

If he doesn't have an antenna, would the coax come straight from the wall to the 622?

Thanks for all the help!

Tim


I think this is what you saw:

http://www.satelliteguys.us/attachment.php?attachmentid=7266&d=1139712257

http://www.satelliteguys.us/attachment.php?attachmentid=7277&d=1139712318

Edit: Sorry Ken beat me to it.

The PQ is virtually identical. You can see this in many disk reviews that review the BR and the HDDVD of the same movie. The problem with early BR was the samsung player and the mpeg2 codec. Check dvdreview.com, they usually review both versions when available.
dug

The main problem with early Blu-ray titles was the crappy transfers. Good thing HD DVD was out there already, since the early BD transfers were barely better than quality DVD transfers (and sometimes not even that). They got their act together on the BD side because the enthusiasts were all over them. It's not surprising that the picture quality is so similar on properly transferred titles, since they use the same codecs for video. I think HD DVD has the edge in audio, since some things that are optional in Blu-ray titles are mandatory in HD DVD. The interactivity options can be quite different between the two camps.

I think this is what you saw:

http://www.satelliteguys.us/attachment.php?attachmentid=7266&d=1139712257

http://www.satelliteguys.us/attachment.php?attachmentid=7277&d=1139712318

Edit: Sorry Ken beat me to it.


Does that mean that the DISH 622 only needs 1 coax coming into it, which is split just before the box so that you can have dual tuners on a TV?

Tim,
DISH installers do not provide off-air antennas. The thing behind the 622, you Scott, and Walt have referred to as possibly either a "splitter," or "diplexer" is a DISH Separator. The coax from the wall goes into one side of the separator, and the two other ends connect to the 622 to provide your SAT1 and SAT2 feeds.

If you removed the "spltter," as some have suggested, the 622 will not start-up. The receiver must "see" 2 SAT feeds in order to operated. It belongs there.

It almost sounds as if this receiver is connected to the TV using composite cables, rather than component or HDMI.

Thanks for the info. I did check on the cables, they are RGB. Composite on the audio.

Tim

Does that mean that the DISH 622 only needs 1 coax coming into it, which is split just before the box so that you can have dual tuners on a TV?


That is correct unless you add OTA to it. The OTA takes a second coax. Ken can verify this, but it is one coax from the Dish to the tuner. Another from OTA is optional.

I haven't been keeping up lately so my apology if this has been posted.

Apparently National Geographic in HD is up some of the time on Ch 98 on D*. Right now the guide is showing a few hours of programming today.

Thanks for the info. I did check on the cables, they are RGB. Composite on the audio.

Tim
RGB as in component?
Set the 622 output to 1080i - 16:9.
If available, set your TV input to 1080i - normal aspect mode.
Any aspect change you want to make, is completed using the "star" button on the 622 remote control.

Also, remind your bother to put the 622 into Stand-by *every-night*, by powering off the receiver via the remote.

Correct, one SAT feed single-coax from the wall, to behind your 622 >then separated to provide both SAT feeds.

Tim,
DISH installers do not provide off-air antennas. The thing behind the 622, you Scott, and Walt have referred to as possibly either a "splitter," or "diplexer" is a DISH Separator. The coax from the wall goes into one side of the separator, and the two other ends connect to the 622 to provide your SAT1 and SAT2 feeds.

If you removed the "spltter," as some have suggested, the 622 will not start-up. The receiver must "see" 2 SAT feeds in order to operated. It belongs there.

It almost sounds as if this receiver is connected to the TV using composite cables, rather than component or HDMI.

Thanks Ken. I didn't think you could "split" the signal prior to the receiver. Can someone use a diplexer to run ANT and SAT to that "separater?"

Scott

Charter weirdness ... my cable internet speeds are WAY up today - well, that's a good thing. I decide to login to my account to see if maybe they gave me a free speed bump, and this is what I get:

Error 503--Service Unavailable

From RFC 2068 Hypertext Transfer Protocol -- HTTP/1.1:

10.5.4 503 Service Unavailable

The server is currently unable to handle the request due to a temporary overloading or maintenance of the server. The implication is that this is a temporary condition which will be alleviated after some delay. If known, the length of the delay may be indicated in a Retry-After header. If no Retry-After is given, the client SHOULD handle the response as it would for a 500 response.
Note: The existence of the 503 status code does not imply that a server must use it when becoming overloaded. Some servers may wish to simply refuse the connection.


hehe, typical!

The other day I asked questions about DSL and firer optics etc.

Centurytel got my borhter's DSL up and running by simply using a router. I was trying to use the DSL modem they sent him instead. The installer told him they have been sending those modems to everyone for years even though no one uses them. What a waist of money. Anyway, if fiber is run to the home I guess all you need is a router and no DSL modem. :confused:

Scott

Thanks Ken. I didn't think you could "split" the signal prior to the receiver. Can someone use a diplexer to run ANT and SAT to that "separater?"

Scott


I do not think that would work Scott. As you can see on the picture linked in the previous post of the back of the machine there is a seperate input for the OTA antenna from the Sat input. Is that what you are asking?

No he is asking if you can use a single wire to diplex in the OTA into the SAT cable
and then diplex it out prior to splitting it for the dual SAT connection.

And yes, it works.

http://www.satelliteguys.us/attachment.php?attachmentid=15074&d=1173357951

I noticed on the new preview for the movie about Stanley Kubrick starring John Malkovich, which I saw on "Nothing But Trailers", they are presenting the movie to the public in a new way. At the end it showed a screen saying something like:

"Watch how you want to watch
In Theatres on March 23
or on HDNET Movies.
Available on DVD on March 29."

I paraphrased and I just made up these dates, but did anyone else see this? It appears it is gonna be in the theater the same day it is shown on HDNET Movies. And then released on DVD about a week later. Maybe I am crazy, but I swore it said that.

No he is asking if you can use a single wire to diplex in the OTA into the SAT cable
and then diplex it out prior to splitting it for the dual SAT connection.

Damn you're good. That is precisely what I'm asking. You would need 2 diplexers to accomplish this.

Scott

I noticed on the new preview for the movie about Stanley Kubrick starring John Malkovich, which I saw on "Nothing But Trailers", they are presenting the movie to the public in a new way. At the end it showed a screen saying something like:

"Watch how you want to watch
In Theatres on March 23
or on HDNET Movies.
Available on DVD on March 29."

I paraphrased and I just made up these dates, but did anyone else see this? It appears it is gonna be in the theater the same day it is shown on HDNET Movies. And then released on DVD about a week later. Maybe I am crazy, but I swore it said that.

Yeah, I have seen that on other releases. I'm guessing this is instead of the
right to DVD method.

Thanks Ken. I didn't think you could "split" the signal prior to the receiver. Can someone use a diplexer to run ANT and SAT to that "separator?"

Scott
So everyone knows, this separator DISH includes with most of their recent dual-tuner receivers, has its own board inside it, which works to split the DISH SAT signal into two, using hardware/software built into its multiswitches.

As Walt pointed out, what you may do the to coax feed before it is split by the DISH separator, is no different than you could do with any other feed.

As example, you could diplex a OTA antenna and DISH antenna at the top of the cable >run the single cable into the living room >diplex off both OTA and SAT >then feed your OTA connection to the 622, and feed your SAT cable into the DISH separator >to connect your SAT2 and SAT 2 feeds to the 622.

Essentially, you would be able to carry 2 feeds from your roof, over a single coax cable, then creating 3 feeds to your 622, all over one coax cable.

Must be a GREAT movie!

So everyone knows, this separator DISH includes with most of their recent dual-tuner receivers, has its own board inside it, which works to split the DISH SAT signal into two, using hardware/software built into its multiswitches.

As Walt pointed out, what you may do the to coax feed before it is split by the DISH separator, is no different than you could do with any other feed.

As example, you could diplex a OTA antenna and DISH antenna at the top of the cable >run the single cable into the living room >diplex off both OTA and SAT >then feed your OTA connection to the 622, and feed your SAT cable into the DISH separator >to connect your SAT2 and SAT 2 feeds to the 622.

Essentially, you would be able to carry 2 feeds from your roof, over a single coax cable, then creating 3 feeds to your 622, all over one coax cable.


Sweet. That is exactly the info I wanted. Now if Dish would offer NFL Sunday Ticket... :(

Scott

Yeah, I have seen that on other releases. I'm guessing this is instead of the
right to DVD method.

Actually, that's part of Cuban's big vision with HDNet and Magnolia Pictures. Basically, give the viewer the choice of where they want to watch the movie instead of dictating to the viewer that they can't watch it at home for six months or whatever.

He did this with the Enron documentary "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room" which was up for an Oscar last year (so it's not just for "direct to video" type movies).

Here's a press release discussing his strategy: LINK (http://www.hd.net/pressrelease.html?2005-04-29-01.html)

Actually, that's part of Cuban's big vision with HDNet and Magnolia Pictures. Basically, give the viewer the choice of where they want to watch the movie instead of dictating to the viewer that they can't watch it at home for six months or whatever.

He did this with the Enron documentary "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room" which was up for an Oscar last year (so it's not just for "direct to video" type movies).


Now that you mention that I remember hearing something about this when Cuban was interviewed sometime. And of course this is a Magnolia picture, good catch. So is there any way this sort of idea helps a picture gross more money? Or is this another one of those ideas that gets done because a BILLIONAIRE thinks it should be this way?

So everyone knows, this separator DISH includes with most of their recent dual-tuner receivers, has its own board inside it, which works to split the DISH SAT signal into two, using hardware/software built into its multiswitches.

As Walt pointed out, what you may do the to coax feed before it is split by the DISH separator, is no different than you could do with any other feed.

As example, you could diplex a OTA antenna and DISH antenna at the top of the cable >run the single cable into the living room >diplex off both OTA and SAT >then feed your OTA connection to the 622, and feed your SAT cable into the DISH separator >to connect your SAT2 and SAT 2 feeds to the 622.

Essentially, you would be able to carry 2 feeds from your roof, over a single coax cable, then creating 3 feeds to your 622, all over one coax cable.


WTF just happened? Way over my head ;)

The other day I asked questions about DSL and firer optics etc.

Centurytel got my borhter's DSL up and running by simply using a router. I was trying to use the DSL modem they sent him instead. The installer told him they have been sending those modems to everyone for years even though no one uses them. What a waist of money. Anyway, if fiber is run to the home I guess all you need is a router and no DSL modem. :confused:

Scott

So what does the fiber connect to? The router or is there some box which coverts to a coax?

So what does the fiber connect to? The router or is there some box which coverts to a coax?

I have no idea. All I know is they left my Bro with a DSL modem and a router. they put in a wall plate with 2 connections, 1 telephone and 1 ethernet. They ran Ethernet form the wall to the router and from the router to the computer.

Scott

Now that you mention that I remember hearing something about this when Cuban was interviewed sometime. And of course this is a Magnolia picture, good catch. So is there any way this sort of idea helps a picture gross more money? Or is this another one of those ideas that gets done because a BILLIONAIRE thinks it should be this way?

Mark is on the HDTV programming forum and on HTPC on occasion. I seem to recall him asking for alternate means of distributing content.

On one occasion, people were complaining when one of the cable companies was setting the 5C flag on his Maverick games. They could not be copied. Seeing that he is the owner of the content, he was quite upset. If you want, you can search his posts. His I.D. is mcuban.

Walt

Mark is on the HDTV programming forum and on HTPC on occasion. I seem to recall him asking for alternate means of distributing content.

On one occasion, people were complaining when one of the cable companies was setting the 5C flag on his Maverick games. They could not be copied. Seeing that he is the owner of the content, he was quite upset. If you want, you can search his posts. His I.D. is mcuban.

Walt

I'm not finding a user with that name...

30.1 not working for anyone else?

WTF just happened? Way over my head ;)
See Channel 126 :)

Off-topic....

Sometimes I check up on other message boards on AVS, but don't get around to reading the new stuff on this thread <gasp>. For some reason, when I come back here and click on view first unread, it takes me to the posts made since I browsed the OTHER thread. FYI - I don't come here first, and then jump to the other thread.

Does this happen to everyone? If not, how do I avoid this so that I will actually be able to see the posts made here that I haven't read?

Thanks.

30.1 not working for anyone else?

Look for it on 31-1 tonight.

I PMed Wracer about it a little while ago.

Thanks. I've created a custom "video mode" that is warmer than "standard" but not as orange as "movie." It also has less contrast. I have also found that some DVDs are so "warm" that I have to go back to the Samsung's "normal" mode for them to look right.

I wish I could boost gamma, as so many DVD movies have murky shadows.A couple of things that might help you here.

First, while it is possible that the Movie mode and Warm color temp setting is shifted too far toward red and/or green on your particular set, more likely the "orange" that you are seeing is the result of you being subjected to decades of watching TVs that were set to be bluer than blue. When you take blue away from red/green/blue, you get yellow.

If you take the typical TV that has a color temperature that is tilted toward blue and you calibrate it to properly match the D6500 standard, the initial impression is that it looks yellow. But that's because of what your eyes have been conditioned to expect. In about 20 percent of the calibrations I do, the customer initially expresses some concerns about the picture looking either too dark (actually pretty rare now with digital displays that have light output to spare) or too warm.

In these situations, I urge the customer to bear with the calibrated picture for 3 weeks in order to allow his/her eyes to unlearn what they've been conditioned to expect. In the 5 years that I've done calibrations, only one customer has failed to acclimate and asked me to return for further adjustments (which I happily will do). The most recent experience with this, I left thinking the customer would run right back downstairs to shift to one of the factory default blue modes, but when I checked in with him a couple weeks later, he told me that he did hang in there and he was extremely happy. Based on our immediate post-calibration chat, I still wasn't sure that he had bought in, but then a few weeks later he called me back to arrange for me calibrate another set he owned -- because he AND his wife had gotten so used to the calibrated picture on the SXRD that she couldn't bear to watch the widescreen XBR upstairs.

So, there is definitely an unlearning process that is required to appreciate a more accurate picture.

Second, if a DVD seems overly warm, that's most likely because that's the way the director intended it to be seen. Directors use color, contrast, etc. to convey mood -- they are creating a fantasy, not a documentary. Of course, you're free to toss marbles under their vision and make everything "look right," but if you haven't seen what the film should look like, how do you know what "right" is?

The key thing to understand here is that color effectively sits on top of the black and white image, and if the black and white image is not near D6500, the colors in the full color image are going to be wrong, as the tint from the grayscale carries through to the full-color picture. And there's nothing that can be done about that via the user controls.

Gamma is adjustable on your Samsung TV via the service menu, but ultimately it comes down to setting contrast (white level) and brightness (black level) optimally and then finding the best gamma profile to match. If you're losing shadow detail, you may have brightness set too low. On the other hand, it might be a gamma issue, in which the gamma would be lowered (light level accelerates from dark to bright).

In general, the gamma on Samsung DLPs is set at the factory to favor light output, so again your problem is more likely related to your brightness setting.

I have no idea. All I know is they left my Bro with a DSL modem and a router. they put in a wall plate with 2 connections, 1 telephone and 1 ethernet. They ran Ethernet form the wall to the router and from the router to the computer.

Scott

An Ethernet RJ-45. There must be a converter in the phone box.

I am in CenturyTel's area. I don't use them but I wonder where they have fiber to the house in St. Charles county. I always thought they were a second rate phone company that would never be as good as at&t. There is plenty of bandwidth for video services. I might reconsider them...

Look for it on 31-1 tonight.

I PMed Wracer about it a little while ago.


There are gonna be some upset people if they don't get Lost recorded tonight. I just set mine to go on the Sat channel as well. I don't understand why it is on 31-1, what is going on?

How do I get 31-1 with my Media Center? What are you talking about 31-1?

i cant get 31.1 on my 622. KDNL broadcasts on channel 31, but it's flagged as 30.1 and that's how the receiver is still seeing it. I'm getting a 90+ signal on 30.1, but it won't lock in

What is the frequency? I figured out how to add 31-1 but it needs the frequency. I'm solid green on 30-1 on the meter signal strength but no display

It is 30.1 the frequency is 31. Something else is wrong with it tonight.

i cant get 31.1 on my 622. KDNL broadcasts on channel 31, but it's flagged as 30.1 and that's how the receiver is still seeing it. I'm getting a 90+ signal on 30.1, but it won't lock in
Same here. :confused:

First, while it is possible that the Movie mode and Warm color temp setting is shifted too far toward red and/or green on your particular set, more likely the "orange" that you are seeing is the result of you being subjected to decades of watching TVs that were set to be bluer than blue. When you take blue away from red/green/blue, you get yellow.Thank you for your detailed reply. I am a photographer, so I have already set my computer monitor to the 6500K color temperature and created a color profile for it with the Pantone "Eye-One," so I don't think I am too badly conditioned towards blue images<G>.
In these situations, I urge the customer to bear with the calibrated picture for 3 weeks in order to allow his/her eyes to unlearn what they've been conditioned to expect.I find that if a DVD is already "warm" at the behest of the movie director, the movie mode of the Samsung is just too much. It's OK if the DVD was burned closer to the normal 6500K. OTOH, for auto racing I often switch back to the Samsung "normal," although my custom "in-between" setting works well too.
Second, if a DVD seems overly warm, that's most likely because that's the way the director intended it to be seen. Directors use color, contrast, etc. to convey mood -- they are creating a fantasy, not a documentary. Of course, you're free to toss marbles under their vision and make everything "look right," but if you haven't seen what the film should look like, how do you know what "right" is?Again, as a photographer I also use hue and saturation shifts to achieve certain effects. The problem is that if the movie maker has done that, and then the TV adds more of the same, it gets to be too much.
The key thing to understand here is that color effectively sits on top of the black and white imageThat reminds me of the hours I spent learning to set up CRT color TVs, after learning the difference between luminance and chroma. That made it easier! Gotta get the gray scale right before adding color to it.
Gamma is adjustable on your Samsung TV via the service menu, but ultimately it comes down to setting contrast (white level) and brightness (black level) optimally and then finding the best gamma profile to match. If you're losing shadow detail, you may have brightness set too low. On the other hand, it might be a gamma issue, in which the gamma would be lowered (light level accelerates from dark to bright).In terms of both silver and digital photography, we think of gamma >1 pulling details up out of the shadows, and gamma <1 reducing the burn-outs at the bright end of the scale. (Actually, for IBM-compatible PCs gamma around 2.2 works out well.)
In general, the gamma on Samsung DLPs is set at the factory to favor light output, so again your problem is more likely related to your brightness setting.I'll try that, but I have to watch out because much of my viewing is at night and if the screen is too bright it hurts<G>!

Thanks again for your detailed explanations, that gives me some ideas to work with.

i cant get 31.1 on my 622. KDNL broadcasts on channel 31, but it's flagged as 30.1 and that's how the receiver is still seeing it. I'm getting a 90+ signal on 30.1, but it won't lock in
Same...the SAT digital (KDNL DT) is coming in fine. The OTA (30.1) shows strong signal, but doesn't lock.

Same...the SAT digital (KDNL DT) is coming in fine. The OTA (30.1) shows strong signal, but doesn't lock.
ya, I am getting KDNL-DT just fine off the 118 satellite, but I couldn't get it OTA. That's why I was wondering if maybe it was just me. I guess Dish gets their feed directly from KDNL?

ya, I am getting KDNL-DT just fine off the 118 satellite, but I couldn't get it OTA. That's why I was wondering if maybe it was just me. I guess Dish gets their feed directly from KDNL?


They have to be getting it directly.
Luckily I noticed LOST was not recording before I walked out the door. I was able to record the feed from E*. Are the D* people having an issue as well?

I scanned my channels again via the tuner on my TV and KDNL is showing up as 31.1.

No problem with TiVo and the Lost recording tonight for me (that's nice for a change).

But then I watched it mostly live...

ya, I am getting KDNL-DT just fine off the 118 satellite, but I couldn't get it OTA. That's why I was wondering if maybe it was just me. I guess Dish gets their feed directly from KDNL?
We may find out when Jim chimes in. I seem to recall reading the SAT providers get their Network/Affiliate/O&O signals via satellite, using those large white dishs.

I know Dish uplinks a channel like KDNL through their uplink center in CO, so I doubt all these individual stations are connected to CO via fiber or cable :confused:

This has happened before. IIRC it occurs when the PSIP generator crashes and goes into a default mode. PSIP starts flagging the major channel as 31-1. My receiver pauses for a moment when it sees this then recovers, now as 31-1. After it's fixed and I tune back to (now) 31-1 it will pause again then switch back to 30-1. I've even seen it recover when the PSIP flips while watching.

Many receivers aren't designed to deal with major channel number changes and will not display anything until rescanned. Those who have rescanned will likely have to rescan again once Jim fixes this.

Charter weirdness ... my cable internet speeds are WAY up today - well, that's a good thing. I decide to login to my account to see if maybe they gave me a free speed bump, and this is what I get:

Error 503--Service Unavailable

From RFC 2068 Hypertext Transfer Protocol -- HTTP/1.1:

10.5.4 503 Service Unavailable

The server is currently unable to handle the request due to a temporary overloading or maintenance of the server. The implication is that this is a temporary condition which will be alleviated after some delay. If known, the length of the delay may be indicated in a Retry-After header. If no Retry-After is given, the client SHOULD handle the response as it would for a 500 response.
Note: The existence of the 503 status code does not imply that a server must use it when becoming overloaded. Some servers may wish to simply refuse the connection.


hehe, typical!

Charter is bumping people on the 3/256 service to 5/512. Supposed to be free for 12 months. Rumor has it they are going to eliminate the 3/256 tier if the network can handle the increased speeds.

Charter is bumping people on the 3/256 service to 5/512. Supposed to be free for 12 months. Rumor has it they are going to eliminate the 3/256 tier if the network can handle the increased speeds.

Nice :)

Charter is bumping people on the 3/256 service to 5/512. Supposed to be free for 12 months. Rumor has it they are going to eliminate the 3/256 tier if the network can handle the increased speeds.
Be sure to keep-an-eye on your bill over the next couple of months. Charter has been know to be very sneaky, that way. :mad:

(wonder how long before this one gets deleted)

Be sure to keep-an-eye on your bill over the next couple of months. Charter has been know to be very sneaky, that way. :mad:

(wonder how long before this one gets deleted)



then they will have to delete both cause




im fully aware of it!!!

This has happened before. IIRC it occurs when the PSIP generator crashes and goes into a default mode. PSIP starts flagging the major channel as 31-1. My receiver pauses for a moment when it sees this then recovers, now as 31-1. After it's fixed and I tune back to (now) 31-1 it will pause again then switch back to 30-1. I've even seen it recover when the PSIP flips while watching.

Many receivers aren't designed to deal with major channel number changes and will not display anything until rescanned. Those who have rescanned will likely have to rescan again once Jim fixes this.

Even a rescan didn't fix my E* 622 :(

Ohhhh well.

Cheers,

Charter is bumping people on the 3/256 service to 5/512. Supposed to be free for 12 months. Rumor has it they are going to eliminate the 3/256 tier if the network can handle the increased speeds.

I thought they dumped the 256 long ago...

I'm not finding a user with that name...

check post 27 here

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=727673

Walt

An Ethernet RJ-45. There must be a converter in the phone box.

I am in CenturyTel's area. I don't use them but I wonder where they have fiber to the house in St. Charles county. I always thought they were a second rate phone company that would never be as good as at&t. There is plenty of bandwidth for video services. I might reconsider them...

My Bro is right near the Lake St. Louis Exit on I-70 in O'fallon.

The Centurytel installer told me they have been running fiber in all new subdivisions for over a year now just to be prepared for the future.

Scott

.Gotta get the gray scale right before adding color to it.


Dan and Doug

Isn't this confusing for people that don't understand? Simply, your color is wrong if you don't have perfect black and White. :eek:

I love watching old B/W movies. Of course, I am as old as some of those movies and it sends me into a frenzy of remembering. :)

Walt

Simply, your color is wrong if you don't have perfect black and White.True enough, but this is a "Science Forum" and it ought to be permissible to get a little more technical.

It also helps during setup to understand that "brightness" and "color" are different parameters. It can help get a good color picture to first kill the color completely and adjust for a good B&W tonal range, and then slowly add color back in until a satisfying picture appears.

(To get really technical we would have to consider white level, black level, contrast, gamma, hue and saturation -- and if you like, separate gammas for each of red, green and blue<G>.)

^^^
And, if you start with a negative premise, everything that follows must be negative. That's why NO television straight from the factory is accurate.

Scott

See Channel 126 :)


I just now got time to look and see what channel it was, :) haha.

Good morning Scott.

This has happened before. IIRC it occurs when the PSIP generator crashes and goes into a default mode. PSIP starts flagging the major channel as 31-1. My receiver pauses for a moment when it sees this then recovers, now as 31-1. After it's fixed and I tune back to (now) 31-1 it will pause again then switch back to 30-1. I've even seen it recover when the PSIP flips while watching.

Many receivers aren't designed to deal with major channel number changes and will not display anything until rescanned. Those who have rescanned will likely have to rescan again once Jim fixes this.

Dave is correct....We lost the PSIP generator and are working hard to get it restored. None of our receivers lost the signal, but some receivers look for the virtual channel and correct PMT and PAT tables.
Jim

Good morning Scott.

Why Thank You! Good morning to you fine Sir.

I forgot to watch LOST last night, I hope my Tivo got it. :confused:

Scott

Dave is correct....We lost the PSIP generator and are working hard to get it restored. None of our receivers lost the signal, but some receivers look for the virtual channel and correct PMT and PAT tables.
Jim

Jim,

What are the SAT providers using for your signal, as that was not down at all.

Jim,

What are the SAT providers using for your signal, as that was not down at all.

Both Dish and Direct take the signal off air. We were feeding Direct on fiber but recently found out they changed there St. Louis location and switched to off air. We have been feeding the fiber (which is still installed) assuming that was how the were getting the feed! Would be nice if they would communicate with us!.
Jim

FWIW found this on the KMOV website...


"In a previous notice, we indicated that all games would be available in high definition. Based on CBS's most recent communication, due to limitations in their satellite capacity, any game that is being carried on analog stations as a "constant" will NOT be shown in HD on the digital channel. As such the "constant" feeds of the Illinois and Southern Illinois games will air on KMOV-DT in standard definition."

Both Dish and Direct take the signal off air. We were feeding Direct on fiber but recently found out they changed there St. Louis location and switched to off air. We have been feeding the fiber (which is still installed) assuming that was how the were getting the feed! Would be nice if they would communicate with us!.
Jim

So they are grabbing the UHF Freq and not the mapped, freq, that is why theirs were working?

Does that question make sense?

Dave is correct....We lost the PSIP generator and are working hard to get it restored. None of our receivers lost the signal, but some receivers look for the virtual channel and correct PMT and PAT tables.
Jim

I don't mean to be a PITA, and I know you're very busy -- do you have an ETA on its restoration?

Best,

It seems these stations are having a hard time with ATSC. When this becomes law, 2009? (getting closer every day) and analog is gone, will there be more back-ups in place or can we expect outages for several days at a time?

Why Thank You! Good morning to you fine Sir.

I forgot to watch LOST last night, I hope my Tivo got it. :confused:

Scott


Eh you didnt miss much

So they are grabbing the UHF Freq and not the mapped, freq, that is why theirs were working?

Does that question make sense?

The professional receivers we use are not sensitive to the virtual channel....so as long as we have programming on they should continue to receive it.

I don't mean to be a PITA, and I know you're very busy -- do you have an ETA on its restoration?

Best,


I hope by the end on the day, but it's not looking good...now the computer is totally dead!

It seems these stations are having a hard time with ATSC. When this becomes law, 2009? (getting closer every day) and analog is gone, will there be more back-ups in place or can we expect outages for several days at a time?

We're working on redundancy and plan to have much of it in installed by the end of the year. However, remember there's still no direct revenue from the digital channel and no ratings available yet. BTW. the first item we're close to acquiring is an updated PSIP system with back-up! There'll be a big crunch by all broadcasters in 2008 to get up to speed before Feb 09. We're actually ahead of many others. Two locations have just been converted to an all HD master control with the analog signal down converted.
Jim

Eh you didnt miss much

Sad, but you're probably right. My Wife even mad the comment the other day that she doesn't even look forward to the show anymore. LOST is, well, lost...

Scott

True enough, but this is a "Science Forum" and it ought to be permissible to get a little more technical.

It also helps during setup to understand that "brightness" and "color" are different parameters. It can help get a good color picture to first kill the color completely and adjust for a good B&W tonal range, and then slowly add color back in until a satisfying picture appears.

(To get really technical we would have to consider white level, black level, contrast, gamma, hue and saturation -- and if you like, separate gammas for each of red, green and blue<G>.)

OK...to say you adjust black and white (grey scale) and then ADD color is a totally misleading statement.

With my colorimeter, you adjust red, green, and blue to get good black and white (grey scale) at 6500K. You use brightness and contrast for the desired ft/lamberts you want from the screen. You are then finished. That is why if you don't have good black and white (grey scale) you don't have good color.

OK...to say you adjust black and white (grey scale) and then ADD color is a totally misleading statement. I was still thinking in terms of older CRT technology. If I was misleading it was as to the age of the technique - sorry!

Yes, the first step was to get the guns balanced so the gray scale really was gray. What we did was turn the color saturation all the way down so all three guns were getting the same luminance, and adjusted the drive level of each so the gray looked right.

Then adjusted brightness and contrast until the B&W picture was good.

And finally returned the saturation a little at a time until a reasonable color picture was displayed.

Sure, we had no colorimeter (at least in THAT lab!), but our results looked a heckuvalot better than those of people who left the colors saturated while they were trying to set brightness and contrast -- or those who adjusted until Caucasian skin was pink.

With my colorimeter, you adjust red, green, and blue to get good black and white (grey scale) at 6500K. You use brightness and contrast for the desired ft/lamberts you want from the screen. You are then finished. That is why if you don't have good black and white (grey scale) you don't have good color.That's fine if the default gamma suits you. And don't forget that if there is a chroma phase shift you can get good B&W balance but still have purple skies or yellow grass.

The fact that Charter does not have the game in HD is really irritating. So is their notice on Channel 784 that this is "temporary", and we can enjoy a "high quality" signal on Channel 4. You call that high quality? Are the games being broadcast on any other cable channel?

The fact that Charter does not have the game in HD is really irritating. So is their notice on Channel 784 that this is "temporary", and we can enjoy a "high quality" signal on Channel 4. You call that high quality? Are the games being broadcast on any other cable channel?

NOPE.

I am not getting any channels on dish 622/211 and is not locking are u guy having cloud problems

I am not getting any channels on dish 622/211 and is not locking are u guy having cloud problems


No problems here other than the OTA ABC being down still. Any news yet on the KPLR Dish 622 problems? Would like to have watched Smallville and Supernatural tonight in HD but still no love.

I am in fenton area still can not lock the satellite any clues

I am in fenton area still can not lock the satellite any clues

I just rescanned and I am picking it up.

I am in fenton area still can not lock the satellite any clues
All is well here also. If you've reset the receiver *and* run a check-switch, and still no lock, I'd suggest you call TS. If you have a DPP44 switch, restart it also.

No problems here other than the OTA ABC being down still.Try Channel 31 OTA. KDNL30 is ID-ing as 31.3 here.

Did somebody forget to flip the kSDk HD switch again tonight? Well, at least during Scrubs?

Did somebody forget to flip the kSDk HD switch again tonight? Well, at least during Scrubs?

And during the new Andy Richter comedy (is it ethical to call a show a comedy if you didn't laugh once?). The guy at KSDK got off his coffee break for the new Jeff Goldblum crimystery.

Commissioned Study Says HT Installers Prefer DirecTV for HD

I saw this story a few days ago, and decided it wasn't worth posting here, since it's very obviously a paid setup. But then this morning I saw another story in TV Week's newsletter (see separate post below) that indicates that DirecTV might just be laying the groundwork for its defense in the suit filed against it for HD image quality shortcomings.

This summary of the "study" is taken from today's TV Predictions newsletter:
______________________________________________________

Thinking about installing a Home Theater in the friendly confines of your own abode?

Well, according to DIRECTV, a poll of Home Theaters installers says the satcaster has the best TV service in the country.

Of course, DIRECTV commissioned the study, although it said the installers were not aware of that fact.

In a press release issued yesterday, DIRECTV says the Alliance Consulting Group conducted a poll of 500 Home Theater installers nationwide. The survey found that:

* By a 4-1 margin, the installers said DIRECTV had a better picture quality than cable.

* By a 2-1 margin, the installers reported that DIRECTV had the "best overall television experience."

* By a 3-1 margin, DIRECTV offered a better "Home Theater experience" on a High-Definition system than cable.

* By a 2-1 margin, DIRECTV defeated cable for the best "overall picture quality" on a high-def system;

* And by a 3-1 margin, DIRECTV beat cable for the best "Home Theater experience."

While the release said DIRECTV blew away cable among Home Theater installers, EchoStar was not mentioned.
______________________________________________________

To read the full story, click here (http://www.tvpredictions.com/dhome031507.htm)

DirecTV Says HD Additions Won't Impact Picture Quality

From the current edition of TV Week's "High Definition" newsletter:
____________________________________________________________ _

Starting in September, DirecTV plans to add 100 HD channels, but subscribers shouldn't expect a change in their HD signal quality. The HD feeds will continue to feature the same transmission strength the satellite TV provider currently offers, spokesman Robert Mercer said.

"[We have the] best quality now, and will have the best quality when we launch in Q3," Mr. Mercer said. "There will be no impact on quality. HD signal quality is a paramount concern and we will balance our resources accordingly."

Subscribers have derided DirecTV's HD signals as "HD Lite," saying it has a lower transmission rate than some of its rivals. DirecTV maintains that it has the best HD picture quality, a claim that has prompted online grousing from HD aficionados, as well as lawsuits from competitors and subscribers.

Mr. Mercer was asked whether- putting aside the contentious description of "quality"- DirecTV's signal specifications would change, for better or worse, as a result of the HD upgrade. Cable and satellite operators do not distribute pure, uncompressed HD and any signal can be allocated more or less bandwidth.

He maintained there's nothing lacking in DirecTV's current quality and said that quality would not change despite the addition of extra channels.
____________________________________________________________ _

To read the entire story, click here (http://www.tvweek.com/page.cms?pageId=638)

Did somebody forget to flip the kSDk HD switch again tonight? Well, at least during Scrubs?
Scrubs is not HD...

Try Channel 31 OTA. KDNL30 is ID-ing as 31.3 here.

ive tried them all and i still get nothing

Scrubs is not HD...
Hmmm, I could have sworn I've watched in HD before. Oh well, it's obvious I need more sleep.

Hmmm, I could have sworn I've watched in HD before. Oh well, it's obvious I need more sleep.

They did one episode as a beta test. It was either the season 5 or season 6 finale.

Two reasons Scrubs is not HD:
1)the producers like to use 16mm cameras for cost and ease of use. 16mm is borderline too grainy for HD.
2)NBC doesn't want to pay the money to Disney (who prodcuces the show) to have them start making it in HD.

OT

I'm trying to find work for my Brother from California. He is an experienced plumber, but here in MO I guess you have to know someone to be in the union. Also, he has no MO license, so he is looking to work for/under someone who is licensed. Any help or direction woud be appreciated. PM me please.

Scott

All is well here also. If you've reset the receiver *and* run a check-switch, and still no lock, I'd suggest you call TS. If you have a DPP44 switch, restart it also.
How do I reset dpp44 switch , the technician wont be there till 20th any suggestions i cant imagine me going through the whole weekend without HDTV

How do I reset dpp44 switch , the technician wont be there till 20th any suggestions i cant imagine me going through the whole weekend without HDTV
Desidoc,
Have you no lock on all satellites?

To reset the DPP44 Switch:
Unplug your receiver(s)
Located, and unplug the power (AC) inserter for the DPP44 switch. (the inserter is often located behind your 622 and has a green LED lit when powered up)
Plug the inserter back in, then plug back in your receiver(s)
Let the receiver(s) go through their normal start-up
Run Check Switch Test. Menu >6 >1 >1 >[check switch] >[test]

Yup 0 on all 4 satellites and I did not touch the dish or the receivers. I will have to go home try to do this. Is it possible i have a bad switch DPP44

Hey Doug, I know you're just passing along info...

But where the hell are all these HD channels going to suddenly come from that DirecTV is touting?

Cheers,

Hey Doug, I know you're just passing along info...

But where the hell are all these HD channels going to suddenly come from that DirecTV is touting?You're not the only one wondering about this -- I've pondered it myself, so here's my best guesses.

First, I expect that DirecTV will pick up the same 15 VOOM channels as carried by DISH -- my understanding is that this is an all-or-nothing proposition, as Rainbow is not allowing cherry-picking.

I also would expect that you will see DirecTV carry whatever East/West HD movie channels are available. In the age of the DVR (and overwhelming choice) I don't really see the point of E/W movie channel feeds, but I think they will be needed to pad out the total that DirecTV says it's aiming for. I know that there used to be an HBO-HD West, but not sure if that's still around. Same goes for others, but again I think DirecTV will be oriented to grabbing whatever is available in this category.

Then there's all the HD channels that have been around for awhile now that DirecTV doesn't currently carry -- Music HD, A&E, Food, HGTV, National Geographic, Wealth and USA Network. InHD might also be a possible in this category -- I believe at one point that DirecTV filed suit about the pricing of this channel to non-cable consortium entities, but I can't recall exactly how that legal action played out, or if there was some settlement. Note that InHD used to carry two channels, but this is supposed to be rationalized down to single channel, if that hasn't already occurred.

From there, it's a matter of which of the newly announced HD channels will be available in July and then which of the remainder will be live before the end of the year. These include the four Disney-owned channels announced earlier this week, as well as others announced over the past few months, including CNN, the Golf/Versus time-share HD channel, NBC-Universal's Chiller, Sci-Fi HD, Weather Channel, and MGM Movies (not sure this last one has been "officially" announced, though).

Bottom Line: I think DirecTV can get close to 60 HD channels in July, but at this point it seems contingent on including the VOOM channels and at least a couple of the E/W movie feeds. Apparently there are some international HD channels that might figure in the mix, such as BBC World, Al-Jazeera, etc. In fact, I know that HD launched on Sky in Britain and I'd bet there are at least a couple of "local" channels there that might make the trip stateside.

I think the tougher goal could be 100 by the end of the year.

Doug:

With Dish's Harmonic encoders singing a nice tune on the true MPEG-4 channels it's going to be "good times" for those of us with HD Satellite capability.

Best,

Cable Chief Blasts FCC Chair; Claims Tough Line is A La Carte Reprisal

From the Television Week web site:
____________________________________________________________ __

Kyle McSlarrow, president-CEO of the National Cable and Telecommunications Association, is accusing FCC chairman Kevin Martin of tilting against cable in several agency proceedings because of cable's unwillingness to unbundle its channel packages and offer channels a la carte.

Mr. McSlarrow also confirmed that NCTA is abandoning its neutrality on retransmission consent issues and lobbying to get cable providers more leeway on payments to TV stations. Until several weeks ago, NCTA had stayed out of the retransmission fight because its members include some media companies as well as cable providers. His comments were the first confirmation of the group's switch.

It was the most vocal attack yet on Mr. Martin from the cable industry.

Mr. McSlarrow suggested the cable industry has seen dramatic, even "amazing" advances that the Federal Communications Commission should be highlighting and striving to encourage; instead, the FCC is proposing new burdens on cable. Asked if he thought it was because of a la carte pricing, he responded, "Yes."

At a briefing Thursday in Washington, Mr. McSlarrow told reporters, "From the point in time we had a fight over a la carte to now, the path chosen is not one that I think reflects the realities of the marketplace. I don't think it's rocket science."

To demonstrate the cable industry's progress, Mr. McSlarrow pointed to the nearly 10 million customers using cable for phone service, the increase in availability and speed of broadband and the increase in the share of cable customers getting digital cable.

"I would expect [the FCC] to make note of it. I would hope for a vision that says, 'How do we keep all that going? How do we drive innovation to keep every job in America?' Instead, what I'm seeing is regulatory retreads," he said, citing several FCC proposals.

Mr. Martin had no comment.
____________________________________________________________ __

To read the entire story, click here (http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=11727)

I find this prety humorous. I don't know, maybe McSlarrow is correct...maybe the FCC is being tougher on the cable industry than it was under the former chairman, Michael Powell.

All I know is that after the NAB, cable seems to get the easiest ride of all the FCC constituencies. The best example I can provide of this is the fact that a few years back the FCC ruled that TV manufacturers had to build OTA digital tuners into all their TVs, based on a phased-in plan. It seemed to me then, and now, that the FCC could have just as logically required all cable companies to do the same for cable set-tops capable of delivering HD cable channels. Of course, the FCC didn't do that, probably because they knew the industry would resist it and lobby it to death via Congress.

I said when this ruling came down that the FCC simply picked on the weakest constituency -- TV manufacturers -- because they are for the most part foreign and not particularly well-organized from an industry lobby standpoint.

The irony here is that if the FCC had ordered cable to incorporate OTA tuners and the cable industry had complied, cable wouldn't be nearly as exposed to local stations' demands as they are.

Tough cookies.

Commissioned Study Says HT Installers Prefer DirecTV for HD

I saw this story a few days ago, and decided it wasn't worth posting here, since it's very obviously a paid setup. But then this morning I saw another story in TV Week's newsletter (see separate post below) that indicates that DirecTV might just be laying the groundwork for its defense in the suit filed against it for HD image quality shortcomings.

This summary of the "study" is taken from today's TV Predictions newsletter:
______________________________________________________

Thinking about installing a Home Theater in the friendly confines of your own abode?

Well, according to DIRECTV, a poll of Home Theaters installers says the satcaster has the best TV service in the country.

Of course, DIRECTV commissioned the study, although it said the installers were not aware of that fact.

In a press release issued yesterday, DIRECTV says the Alliance Consulting Group conducted a poll of 500 Home Theater installers nationwide. The survey found that:

* By a 4-1 margin, the installers said DIRECTV had a better picture quality than cable.

* By a 2-1 margin, the installers reported that DIRECTV had the "best overall television experience."

* By a 3-1 margin, DIRECTV offered a better "Home Theater experience" on a High-Definition system than cable.

* By a 2-1 margin, DIRECTV defeated cable for the best "overall picture quality" on a high-def system;

* And by a 3-1 margin, DIRECTV beat cable for the best "Home Theater experience."

While the release said DIRECTV blew away cable among Home Theater installers, EchoStar was not mentioned.
______________________________________________________

To read the full story, click here (http://www.tvpredictions.com/dhome031507.htm)

This sounds like Ameren justifying its rate increase.

Walt

.... However, remember there's still no direct revenue from the digital channel and no ratings available yet. ...... Jim

This is also probably true with Belo and KMOV-HD. Which means all the Charter HD subs who don't watch KMOV anymore are not cutting into the revenue or ratings. This could be a long stand-off.

Of course ameren goes out of service more often which leads to very cold showers in the winter.

Yup 0 on all 4 satellites and I did not touch the dish or the receivers. I will have to go home try to do this. Is it possible i have a bad switch DPP44
Not likely, though I suppose not impossible. I've never read of one going bad. The most often cause of losing all SAT locks is setup, followed by dish moving, then cabling/connection. A bad switch or receiver would be the least likely culprit.

When you get home, or if you now are, you're welcomed to PM. :)

You're not the only one wondering about this -- I've pondered it myself, so here's my best guesses.
First, I expect that DirecTV will pick up the same 15 VOOM channels as carried by DISH -- my understanding is that this is an all-or-nothing proposition, as Rainbow is not allowing cherry-picking.
I also would expect that you will see DirecTV carry whatever East/West HD movie channels are available. In the age of the DVR (and overwhelming choice) I don't really see the point of E/W movie channel feeds, but I think they will be needed to pad out the total that DirecTV says it's aiming for. I know that there used to be an HBO-HD West, but not sure if that's still around. Same goes for others, but again I think DirecTV will be oriented to grabbing whatever is available in this category.
Then there's all the HD channels that have been around for awhile now that DirecTV doesn't currently carry -- Music HD, A&E, Food, HGTV, National Geographic, Wealth and USA Network. InHD might also be a possible in this category -- I believe at one point that DirecTV filed suit about the pricing of this channel to non-cable consortium entities, but I can't recall exactly how that legal action played out, or if there was some settlement. Note that InHD used to carry two channels, but this is supposed to be rationalized down to single channel, if that hasn't already occurred.
From there, it's a matter of which of the newly announced HD channels will be available in July and then which of the remainder will be live before the end of the year. These include the four Disney-owned channels announced earlier this week, as well as others announced over the past few months, including CNN, the Golf/Versus time-share HD channel, NBC-Universal's Chiller, Sci-Fi HD, Weather Channel, and MGM Movies (not sure this last one has been "officially" announced, though).
Bottom Line: I think DirecTV can get close to 60 HD channels in July, but at this point it seems contingent on including the VOOM channels and at least a couple of the E/W movie feeds. Apparently there are some international HD channels that might figure in the mix, such as BBC World, Al-Jazeera, etc. In fact, I know that HD launched on Sky in Britain and I'd bet there are at least a couple of "local" channels there that might make the trip stateside.
I think the tougher goal could be 100 by the end of the year.
I wonder if DirecTV is including the on-going addition of local DT spots when they tout their expected channel count.
It would not be unlike any company to "bend" its advertisements to attract as many subs as possible. After all, we all know....there is no truth in advertising.

Now even 30 SD on DirectTV doesn't work. It is the feed not DirectTV. 30 is having major troubles.

Now even 30 SD on DirectTV doesn't work. It is the feed not DirectTV. 30 is having major troubles.

If you are refrencing KDNL

Charter 12 fine
OTA - 30 Fine
OTA - 31.3 Fine

I wonder if DirecTV is including the on-going addition of local DT spots when they tout their expected channel count.
It would not be unlike any company to "bend" its advertisements to attract as many subs as possible. After all, we all know....there is no truth in advertising.Ken, I think they've been reasonably clear in talking about "national" HD channels, at least in reference to the 150 channels they say they can handle.

But I agree anything is possible, particularly in view of the fact that DirecTV has pushed the corner of the envelope on its HD marketing for a LONG time.

Ken, I think they've been reasonably clear in talking about "national" HD channels, at least in reference to the 150 channels they say they can handle.

But I agree anything is possible, particularly in view of the fact that DirecTV has pushed the corner of the envelope on its HD marketing for a LONG time.
For the most part, what I've been hearing is, "with capacity for up to 150 HD channels."
Given, there's a huge difference between "capacity" and the actuality of bringing a channel into a subscribers home. A duo of un-launched off-shore rockets, come to mind.

Though, in defense of DirecTV, I'm certain verbiage is at a premium, considering the cost of TV advertising, and they have to be careful in avoiding any similar "cry-baby" type lawsuits, the likes of the cable-quality vs DirecTV-quality sham.

If the public and lawmakers are willing to accept the lure of a implied capacity, to be understood as actually having an additional 150 HD channels (national or otherwise), then they should not be concerned over claiming a superior quality.

In retrospect, I suppose I'm saying, it really doesn't matter just what is said, or how it's worded. Both are simply a ploy to attract customers, and just what advertising is all about, or what it has become.

A little off topic, but I saw a couple days ago someone repoting they were now getting 5M speeds off their 3M service from Charter. My pipeline had been slow for the past 36 hours, and just an hour ago it finally started working again. It seemed faster, so I went to speedtest.net, and now get 4.7M down, 490K up. Not quiet 5M/512K, but I was getting 3M/256K on the dot. I checked my acocunt online and it still lists 3M. Guess for once Charter has decided to do something good for the consmer.

Why is the Illinois game in HD and then the SIU game not, same channel, same location. I'm sure someone has a reason, but this is ridiculous.

I am getting 30.1 on my D* Tivo FYI. Is everyone else not getting it or something?

Scott

Need to vent.

Ok, I have now spent 6 hours trying to install flash player on my desktop, so that my Neice can play games on Disney.com. I guess my registry is all mucked up or something. I must be getting better in my old age as I have not thrown the computer out the office window yet...ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!

Venting off.

Scott

Why is the Illinois game in HD and then the SIU game not, same channel, same location. I'm sure someone has a reason, but this is ridiculous.

No HD on any of the games they are switching to on channel 4. Everyone over there must have gone home for the night and forgot to keep the HD feed running. Nice.

Do any of you HR20 folks have it hooked up via HDMI? My install is tomorrow afternoon and right now I have my cables set up to hook up with HDMI. I read on dbstalk that HDMI might have had some problems early on, but I'm not clear if that is still the case.

If there are still significant problems with using the HDMI connection, I'd like to change my cabling out to component now rather than waste time while the installer is here. I prefer HDMI, so if any of you are using HDMI and can verify that it's working ok, that would be helpful.

Thanks!

Need to vent.

Ok, I have now spent 6 hours trying to install flash player on my desktop, so that my Neice can play games on Disney.com. I guess my registry is all mucked up or something. I must be getting better in my old age as I have not thrown the computer out the office window yet...ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!

Venting off.Have you tried to do a system restore? That might at least help you address a registry problem if the Flash install corrupted it, or part of it. System Restore can be easy to forget about (and difficult to find) but it is accessible thorugh the XP help system.

Not sure about Vista if that's your weapon of choice...

Nuzy,

I see a fair number of HR20s in the field these days and I would say that most of them are hooked up via HDMI. I typically ask customers what they like or don't like about the new DVR and can't recall HDMI being mentioned as a problem.

So, as far as I know, you should be fine going the HDMI route...

A little off topic, but I saw a couple days ago someone repoting they were now getting 5M speeds off their 3M service from Charter. My pipeline had been slow for the past 36 hours, and just an hour ago it finally started working again. It seemed faster, so I went to speedtest.net, and now get 4.7M down, 490K up. Not quiet 5M/512K, but I was getting 3M/256K on the dot. I checked my acocunt online and it still lists 3M. Guess for once Charter has decided to do something good for the consmer.I checked my speed 10 days ago when that was discussed and I was getting just a touch below 3Mb. I just checked it again, and now I am just short of 5Mb. Upstream is faster too, 500K versus 300K...

BTW, it's been nearly a week since my cable modem has needed a reboot. That's more like it...

I was downloading some pretty huge files yesterday and getting 5m speeds doing it. But today all I get is this...

http://www.speedtest.net/result/100463355.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

Mine is normal....same as always:
http://www.speedtest.net/result/100504532.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

I can see the obvious difference in speed. One has to go 50 miles further. ;)

Walt

can someone claify for me, are the st louis OTA hd channels..vhf or uhf....my sony xbr1 uses the 4.1 , 5.1, 5.2 type of OTA channel tuning, and i receive very few hd.....yes to 5.1 and 5.2 and no the 9's and no 4.1, I am using a SS2000 ANTENNA in the attic and have moved this thing inside, outside , ( i actually think it might receive better it the trash can)!! I am in the 63052 imperial area and not in a really low position........fairly clear sight the north, northeast...............here's the funny part, daughter lives at approx 270 and 55, 2nd floor of 4 story apt, hooked up a vintage dual rabbit ear antenna ( prob older than me) to her hdtv..........and she gets every ota channels imginable...what's kmov 4.2? never even knew it was there.........best part antenna has no uhf loop..................whats going on.....????


thank you .... sp7128 -AT-aol-dot-com

sp,

The information you're looking for is on the first page of this thread -- all the St. Louis digital channels are in the UHF band and all will be remaining there through the transition and for the long term.

What you're seeing in the 4.1, 5.1, etc. is the digital channel being "mapped" by your receiver to the old analog number. This feature was created at the request of broadcasters, as most viewers think of a local station by its number, rather than by its call letters or network affiliation. This ensures that the investment stations have made over the years in creating a channel-number-related brand (for example, NewsChannel5 (lol)), is preserved in the switch to digital broadcasting.

dtr,


any prefs on ota hd antenna?


sp

Nuzy,

I see a fair number of HR20s in the field these days and I would say that most of them are hooked up via HDMI. I typically ask customers what they like or don't like about the new DVR and can't recall HDMI being mentioned as a problem.

So, as far as I know, you should be fine going the HDMI route...

Yep, both of mine are connected via HDMI. One to a Denon 2807 and the other
to a Philips 23in LCD HDTV.

Sorry if this has already been posted:

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/E2250AD3644D596E862572A00002D865?OpenDocument

dtr,


any prefs on ota hd antenna?Again...first page of this thread...

dtr,


any prefs on ota hd antenna?


sp

Much of it depends on where you live of course ... I bought a cheap $12 RCA indoor antenna at Best Buy and I get all the OTA St. Louis HD channels.

Keep in mind that the expensive ones labled "HD TV!!!!" are the same as the cheap ones. That being said, some do work better than others. Many prefer the Silver Sensor, but its hard to find locally - might try Sears.

Yep, both of mine are connected via HDMI. One to a Denon 2807 and the other
to a Philips 23in LCD HDTV.
Thank you to you and Doug for the input. I have a 1-5pm window, so I'll report back later on how everything went - assuming they make it out.

Mike

I checked my speed 10 days ago when that was discussed and I was getting just a touch below 3Mb. I just checked it again, and now I am just short of 5Mb. Upstream is faster too, 500K versus 300K...

BTW, it's been nearly a week since my cable modem has needed a reboot. That's more like it...

Doug,

I've been seeing the same results as you -- although I was already at 5 Mbits/second.

Cheers,

I can see the obvious difference in speed. One has to go 50 miles further. ;)

Walt
I tried to keep it the same as the reference. ;)
There is only one Chicago server selection, though it shows them to be 50 miles apart.....makes me wonder of the overall accuracy.

Here's LA:
http://www.speedtest.net/result/100578131.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

I get in the high 4's stateside, and mid-high 3's abroad.

NewsChannel5 (lol)
How is that funny, Doug :D

Hmmm, my DSL is fast today than the last time I checked.

http://www.speedtest.net/result/100589741.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

I do read the posts and the only reason I ask is that the antenna info and the uhf channel info is from 2003 and I guess nothing has changed in the hdtv world in the last 4 years?

My results with SBC DSL have been rock solid.

http://www.speedtest.net/result/97160459.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

I have the cheap 1.5mb/s upload and 128 download so I'm doing pretty good. I don't download a whole lot or game, so I'll think I'll just stay here.

When is ABC30-HD going to be fixed? Are we in day 3 now? No I guess it is day 4.

jpconard, you're not the only one.

My D* HR20 can't tune KDNL HD OTA. When I go to the signal meter, it shows 95-99. However, when I try to tune 30-1, it shows a searching for signal message. I first noticed it when trying to watch Lost on Wednesday. Rebooting the HR20 didn't help. The two 30's over the sat still work.

Now even the SD feed is not working again. Hope nobody really wanted to watch the Busch race today.

I just checked mine and the ota is working with my hr20 and 30-1.

Check your satellite now, is it a frozen picture or skipping?

Regrading the cable internet speeds: someone already mentioned that everyone is being bumped up to the 5 meg package for free for a year, and they are going to do away with the 3 meg package. Mine is running plenty fast now.

Now even the SD feed is not working again. Hope nobody really wanted to watch the Busch race today.The race looks great on 31.3.

I do read the posts and the only reason I ask is that the antenna info and the uhf channel info is from 2003 and I guess nothing has changed in the hdtv world in the last 4 years?
Of course, much has changed in the world of HDTV in the past 4 years. Though, very little, if anything has with regard to terrestrial reception. Probably the most significant, is antenna manufacturers producing more eye-appealing UHF antennas. Though, like with most things, something is sacrificed for another. In this case, quality of reception.

It should also be noted, although the post is from 2003, Doug updates the data on a regular basis. IIRC, the last update being in February :)

I'm still receiving the KDNL DT on the DISH SAT HD local, but the OTA continues to show a signal with no lock.

dtr,


any prefs on ota hd antenna?


sp

Not what, but where anyway.

Skywalker Communications
9390 Veterans Memorial Pkwy
O'Fallon, MO 63366
(800) 844-9555
(314) 272-8025
Fax (314) 272-8214

Antennas Direct
699 West 5th Street - Suite F
Eureka, MO 63025
877-825-5572

When is ABC30-HD going to be fixed? Are we in day 3 now? No I guess it is day 4.

Working fine at my house on 30.1, 30 and 86.

Scott

Update on my computer woes...

Long story short, I ended up re-installing XP Home. I finally have most stuff working, but getting but loads of errors. Anyway, my Neice can play games at Disney.com now, so I'm the man.

Scott

My OTA tuner box has ABC now at 31-1. It switched automatically.

So are we saying there is no problem with ABC HD? How do you change it in Media Center and the guide?

I reset the OTA on my HR20 then redid the initial OTA setup. KDNL-DT OTA is now working again. I guess attempting to tune to 30-1 while KDNL was having issues earlier this week broke something in the HR20. Those of you who still have problems might want to try resetting or rescanning your tuner.

Is the KDNL PSIP thing back to normal now?

That is what I would like to know, since we don't get information from anywhere else. For some reason the generic app with my tuner works fine. Media Center still shows nothing but solid green on the signal but no picture. If it stays like this everybody with Media Center is SOL.

Just got around to checking my recording of Smallville from CW11 Thursday night. Had to do a double take, thought I was watching kSDk..... the 5.1 audio flag was activated, but sound was only coming from the left and right fronts. No center, no rears, and no bass. Shades of Jay Leno!

Downloaded new guide in MCE, went through the entire tuner configuration again. MCE does not scan for HD (ATSC), it gets the channel info through the guide info.

So if the frequency has changed for KDNL ABC30 - DT, then they need to make it known to Zap2it, so that the channel info is updated correctly.

Re-booted PC, don't know what else to try, 30 is still out.

Funny thing my app that came with tuner, which I stated that works is finding the channel ID of D310-1 with frequency of 31. Media Center will not allow the manual entry of 310-1 (only 31-1, only 2 digits plus the sub).

I think there is a problem with the broadcast ID from KDNL. Even the generic app, which uses Titan TV as a guide, will not schedule recordings or switch to KDNL because the TitanTV guide is showing 30-1 as the channel ID, and the app doesn't know what channel that is. The relationship between TitanTV and all the other channels 2.1, 4.1, 5.1, etc. work fine.

It appears if KDNL would set its channel ID back to 30-1 or even 31-1 (I could manually map it into MCE), but 310-1 is what I am picking up.

It appears if KDNL would set its channel ID back to 30-1 or even 31-1 (I could manually map it into MCE), but 310-1 is what I am picking up.
If you scroll back up the thread a few messages, you will see Jim's description of what went wrong and what he is doing to fix it.

How is that funny, Doug :DWell, since you asked...

KSDK's news team has this tradition of going around to local schools, and I guess they bribe the kids with some camera time if they agree to do this stupid hand signal that some nitwit in the station's marketing department came up with -- first they hold their hand up, palm facing out, with all FIVE fingers extended, then they do a closed fist with the index finger extended upward.

I guess this is supposed to mean: "NewsChannel 5 is No. 1."

I've created my own "home version" of this game. Whenever KSDK fails to flip the switch, or when it otherwise demonstrates that is the St. Louis HD Loser, I perform a slightly modified version of the 5-is-1 signal and then I down a beer in one gulp.

Makes for a fun evening... ;)

Well, HR20 HD Upgrade install was a bit of a bust. Installer was very nice and did a good job with what he did, but didn't have enough F-Connectors to finish the job. He is coming back Tuesday to finish. He did install my WB68 and left the HR20 here. I'll just have to drool over the box for 3 more days...

So you are acknowledging that there is still a problem with KDNL, even though some are getting it fine and act as if there is not an issue?

The current set-up is not how it is planned to be left for long-term?

Quote:
Originally Posted by jpconard
It appears if KDNL would set its channel ID back to 30-1 or even 31-1 (I could manually map it into MCE), but 310-1 is what I am picking up.


If you scroll back up the thread a few messages, you will see Jim's description of what went wrong and what he is doing to fix it.

__________________

---- Dan in Saint Louis

So you are acknowledging that there is still a problem with KDNL, even though some are getting it fine and act as if there is not an issue?

The current set-up is not how it is planned to be left for long-term?
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=10033313&&#post10033313

So you are acknowledging that there is still a problem with KDNL, even though some are getting it fine and act as if there is not an issue?

The current set-up is not how it is planned to be left for long-term?I'm only replying to this, because I need a break from my fantasy baseball draft planning.

But to take Scott's computer for a convenient example, is the current set-up EVER the long-term plan? I think we're living in a beta world.

Seriously, the station says they are aware of the PSIP problem and they say they are working on getting it fixed. The really nice thing about hearing that from someone at KDNL is that it means that they are actually working on getting it fixed. A reasonable person might think that when a TV station has a problem it would be fixed in a reasonably timely way.

But that would be wrong -- see KTVI (brief dropouts), KMOV (loud pops) or KSDK (pretty much whatever).

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

We Interrupt Your Normal AVS Programming...

...for the following St. Louis housekeeping break:

In the past, we used to begin each month of the St. Louis discussion with an entirely new thread and usually that started with a cut/paste of basic resource information about HDTV and over-the-air reception. Although those messages were moved to the new thread here that was started in January, that information is still easily overlooked as the new thread is growing rapidly, approaching 75 pages in a relatively short period.

So, in order to make this introductory information more accessible, I will be periodically reposting this advisory/reminder note. The idea is to make the general resource information available here more visible and easier to find for more readers.

With HDTV sales increasing every month, we're getting more and more newcomers here, which is a great thing to see. But like most of us when we took home our first HDTV, there's a huge amount to learn beyond where to point the remote and which buttons to push.

Hopefully, you'll find this information of some use...

Tower Maps, Your Satellite/Antenna Rights & Local Station Feedback (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9713839&&#post9713839)

Resources for Receiving Digital/HD OTA Local Stations via an Antenna (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9713842&&#post9713842)

Frequently Asked Questions about HDTV (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=2995791&&#post2995791)

HD Programming Available in St. Louis (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9714728&&#post9714728)

Why Isn't KDNL-DT (ABC) Available via Charter? (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8072643&&#post8072643)

Why Isn't KMOV-DT (CBS) Available via Charter? (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9341270&&#post9341270)

New! St. Louis Blues in HD Schedule (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8678636&&#post8678636)

2006 Survey Results: HDTV in St. Louis

Part 1: Profile of Survey Respondents (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9713951&&#post9713951)

Part 2: Local Digital Stations (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9713954&&#post9713954)

Part 3: Digital Multicasting (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9713956&&#post9713956)

Part 4: Customer Ratings for Charter, DirecTV & DISH HD Services (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9713960&&#post9713960)

Part 5: Customer Ratings for Pay TV HD Channels (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9713963&&#post9713963)

Part 6: Best Picture/Sound Ratings & HD Wish Lists (http://http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9713965&&#post9713965)

Finally, I want to remind everyone that you can access the St. Louis HDTV discussion here at AVS directly by using the shortcut URL that has been arranged.

The short-form URL also makes it very easy to remember and give the address to anyone you know who's just getting into HDTV.

The shortcut URL is: www.stlhdtv.info

I think we're living in a beta world.

. A reasonable person might think that when a TV station has a problem it would be fixed in a reasonably timely way.

But that would be wrong -- see KTVI (brief dropouts), KMOV (loud pops) or KSDK (pretty much whatever).


Very true... Windows XP/VISTA/2000 etc are perfect examples.

_______________________________

In addition to your list of grievences, there's plenty of volume issues with KTVI and KMOV between their upconverted local programming and their HD Network. Likewise, KETC is just loud compared to the others. At least on my TV...

_______________________________

Also, I'm beginning to understand why the KTVI dropout issue isn't getting much attention and also why stations can't monitor their HD "on-air" instead of watching demod like the rest of us.

Short answer, there's no good way to monitor the digital signal once it's converted to the ASI transport stream. Since it's no longer an analog source, conventional monitoring, analysing, and testing are irrelevant.

This means that if there is a malfunctioning peice of equiptment, the only way (as far as I know) to diagnose it is to switch out each link in the chain until the problem is resolved. Not exactly practical since you'd have to have an extra everything to find a problem.

Hope this makes it a little more clear why the KTVI dropout issue is ongoing.

_______________________________

Has anyone had their Sammy DLP calibrated and want to share the setup numbers with me? Maybe? No? OK Just checking.

_______________________________

I've created my own "home version" of this game. Whenever KSDK fails to flip the switch, or when it otherwise demonstrates that is the St. Louis HD Loser, I perform a slightly modified version of the 5-is-1 signal and then I down a beer in one gulp.

Makes for a fun evening... ;)


Hmm, sounds a lot like my game where my wife and I down a drink everytime Horatio tilts his head, does something with his sunglasses, or someone mentions "epiphelials" on CSI:Miami...

Makes for a rough Tuesday morning, I can tell you... :p ;) :p ;)
-Matt

On college campuses the game is legendary... Jack Bauer shoots somebody, everyone drinks a shot... that distinctive CTU phone rings, everyone drinks a shot... Jack yells "DAMMIT," everyone takes a shot... since 24 is network TV, that's the only curse word Jack can say, sometimes he says it three or four times in a row... THAT makes for a rough Tuesday morning!

Has anyone had their Sammy DLP calibrated and want to share the setup numbers with me? Maybe? No? OK Just checking.Copying down someone else's calibrated settings will NOT make your TV calibrated -- I'd expect a higher level of intelligence from someone who says he is an engineer. Then again, my expectations often go unrealized.

TVs -- yes, even the same model -- vary in hundreds of subtle ways from one another, and copying someone else's settings may well may make your picture worse than what you started with. Another factor is standard-definition DVD players, where the output signal characteristics vary wildly from one another, even among the same manufacturer.

Maybe we're not living in a beta world after all -- in this case, it's a peer-to-peer, why-should-I-pay-for-it, thieving world.

I'm only replying to this, because I need a break from my fantasy baseball draft planning.

But to take Scott's computer for a convenient example, is the current set-up EVER the long-term plan? I think we're living in a beta world.

Seriously, the station says they are aware of the PSIP problem and they say they are working on getting it fixed. The really nice thing about hearing that from someone at KDNL is that it means that they are actually working on getting it fixed. A reasonable person might think that when a TV station has a problem it would be fixed in a reasonably timely way.

But that would be wrong -- see KTVI (brief dropouts), KMOV (loud pops) or KSDK (pretty much whatever).

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

And the reason for this is that they are all really owned by Ameren. :mad: :)

Walt

Is this confined to just a few cities or is Charter affected nationwide?

Stock,

Local stations are, for the most part, not owned by the network they are affiliated with. For example, the Gannett corporation owns KSDK, Tribune Company owns KPLR, and Belo owns KMOV; on the other hand, the FOX network actually owns KTVI.

In the situation with KMOV, Belo is demanding payment from Charter in order for Charter to be able to carry KMOV-DT. In another Charter market, the CBS channel is most likely not owned by Belo, and therefore there would be no negotiation issue.

So, as is often the case, the answer to your question is "it depends."

Well they have until 2009 until it is the law, no longer Beta. The other channels I can watch just fine. Some people's systems will display nothing for KDNL, keep that in mind.

Any other industry if you took this long to get it back up and running you would be out of business.

Less & less Beta in my book - 'Slowly but surely, the February 17, 2009, cutoff date for over-the-air analog TV gets an increasing amount of attention as we get closer to the date (just two years away). But an equally important date is just days away: February 28, 2007. That's the last day that manufacturers can ship or import any product that has only an analog TV tuner. As of March 1, all new TV and video products imported into the U.S. or shipped to retailers that include an analog (NTSC) tuner need to have a digital (ATSC) tuner as well. "


Quote:
Originally Posted by jpconard
So you are acknowledging that there is still a problem with KDNL, even though some are getting it fine and act as if there is not an issue?

The current set-up is not how it is planned to be left for long-term?

I'm only replying to this, because I need a break from my fantasy baseball draft planning.

But to take Scott's computer for a convenient example, is the current set-up EVER the long-term plan? I think we're living in a beta world.

Seriously, the station says they are aware of the PSIP problem and they say they are working on getting it fixed. The really nice thing about hearing that from someone at KDNL is that it means that they are actually working on getting it fixed. A reasonable person might think that when a TV station has a problem it would be fixed in a reasonably timely way.

But that would be wrong -- see KTVI (brief dropouts), KMOV (loud pops) or KSDK (pretty much whatever).

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

Where is the best place to buy a new computer?

Scott

Anyone else having issues with drop-outs on OTA KMOV? I watched fine all day yesterday, all the games, and then in the evening drop-outs were so frequent, I had to switch to SD from the sat.

I'm receiving with a DB4 through a Dish 411 in the St. Charles/Harvester area. I have reset my receiver.

What the heck is the deal with KMOV not broadcasting the Tenn/Va game in HD today?????

JSR, I just got on here to ask the same question.

This is at least twice now that they've dropped the ball on this.

So sick of this BS.

Where is the best place to buy a new computer?

Scott

Scott although I personally build my own computers, and gaming computers for others on the side. The deals through Dell are unreal at times. I recommend, http://www.extremeoverclocking.com/deals/, to find the best deal. Just follow the instructions. Hope this helps!

Looks like someone at KMOV just got off the phone and went and flipped the switch. Thank you to whoever called....

Copying down someone else's calibrated settings will NOT make your TV calibrated -- I'd expect a higher level of intelligence from someone who says he is an engineer. Then again, my expectations often go unrealized.

TVs -- yes, even the same model -- vary in hundreds of subtle ways from one another, and copying someone else's settings may well may make your picture worse than what you started with. Another factor is standard-definition DVD players, where the output signal characteristics vary wildly from one another, even among the same manufacturer.

Maybe we're not living in a beta world after all -- in this case, it's a peer-to-peer, why-should-I-pay-for-it, thieving world.

Deep breath. Too many 5-1's for you last night? :D

Where is the best place to buy a new computer?

Scott
My sister got an awesome deal on a Gateway at COSTCO. Even came with the 22inch Widescreen monitor.

Where is the best place to buy a new computer?

Scott


Um, Apple store? :)

Even though somebody suggested Dell's, and they do have great deals (I got a great deal on one of their LCD monitors for my Mac), we recently switched all our PC stuff at work from Dell to HP -- Dells customer support has gone down the toilet, and least at the enterprise side. YMMV.

The BEST place to buy a new PC is online.

Oh yeah, and as far as that KSDK 5 1 thing goes, they have been doing that
since I was a kid............and I am old...Right Scott?

Looks like someone at KMOV just got off the phone and went and flipped the switch. Thank you to whoever called....

The encoders are choking on the Tennessee orange.

and I am old...Right Scott?

Um...Yeah! Older than dirt.

Scott

FYI we've been working hard to correct the PSIP computer problems. We rerceived a new computer overnight on Friday AM. However, it did not work correctly and the company remotely worked on reprogramming it. By Friday evening we thought we had enough data going out to make receivers tune correctly. Obviously that is not the case. We should have new software on Monday.
Jim

Copying down someone else's calibrated settings will NOT make your TV calibrated -- I'd expect a higher level of intelligence from someone who says he is an engineer. Then again, my expectations often go unrealized.

TVs -- yes, even the same model -- vary in hundreds of subtle ways from one another, and copying someone else's settings may well may make your picture worse than what you started with. Another factor is standard-definition DVD players, where the output signal characteristics vary wildly from one another, even among the same manufacturer.

Maybe we're not living in a beta world after all -- in this case, it's a peer-to-peer, why-should-I-pay-for-it, thieving world.


I expected you to say something like that.... And you answered the question I should have just asked you: "Would it work to use a standard set of numbers to calibrate my tv?"

Thanks for your input, sarcasm and snobbery.

As of 2:00, KMOV is back to pillarboxes.

So sick of it.

Hmm, sounds a lot like my game where my wife and I down a drink everytime Horatio tilts his head, does something with his sunglasses, or someone mentions "epiphelials" on CSI:Miami...

Makes for a rough Tuesday morning, I can tell you... :p ;) :p ;)
-Matt
I'm guessing you're referring to "epithelials" (epithelial cells are skin cells), not "epiphelials."

This is what someone from the STLTODAY.com online forum, "Bernie's Pressbox" had to say re: HD on KMOV...

I called Channel 4, and he told me it was a network problem in New York. They do not have enough satellite space to cover all the glaes at the same time in HD. That is what he said.


I call bull(crap.)

But an equally important date is just days away: February 28, 2007. That's the last day that manufacturers can ship or import any product that has only an analog TV tuner.


Did I just go through a time warp?

Where is the best place to buy a new computer?

Scott

I build all of my computers too. If you go through Dell, make sure you haggle with them for more RAM, larger LCD, better video card, etc. I did this twice for my best friend in SF and saved her some cash and got a bigger monitor and so forth.

Make sure if you get a Dell, Gateway, HP/Compaq that you remove all the vendor related crud. Ask if they use a recovery CD or if they also include the OS only on CD. Most use the recovery CD.

What is wrong with your PC? Send me a PM with your number and we can talk about it.

Edit: I just sent you a PM with my number.

I expected you to say something like that.... And you answered the question I should have just asked you: "Would it work to use a standard set of numbers to calibrate my tv?"

Thanks for your input, sarcasm and snobbery.

Whether you like his answer or not, he is right. I have had 2 Sammy DLPs and they were very different. I also had the light engine swapped on one and not only was it a Zeiss (the other was not Zeiss) lens, but it too was different.

Lighting conditions and even viewing distance makes a difference. I recommend a professional calibration but if not then get Avia or Video Essentials. If your greyscale isn't too whacked (mine was) you may get okay results and better results if you go into the Service Menu to change the gamma for example (Going into the Service Menu is not covered by warranty if you mess up your set). It's a bit much for me. I don't have all the equipment or knowledge so I leave it to the professional. I wanted the best image possible and that's what I have.

This all reminds me of that song, Cyndi Lauper did....I don't recall the title. :rolleyes:

This all reminds me of that song, Cyndi Lauper did....I don't recall the title. :rolleyes:

LOL! I don't know what "this all" is but it's funny. :p

Girls just wanna have funa. :)

I expected you to say something like that.... And you answered the question I should have just asked you: "Would it work to use a standard set of numbers to calibrate my tv?"

Thanks for your input, sarcasm and snobbery.You're welcome.

And you're absolutely right -- you should expect exactly that sort of reply when you float that sort of question in a reply to me.

What am I supposed to do? Encourage people to help you avoid paying for something they've already paid for?

[QUOTE=black_macleod]

Dells customer support has gone down the toilet,
QUOTE]

I didn't know that's where India/Phillipines was :eek:

Mo,

If you are in the computer helping mood, I PM you.

Tim

Girls just wanna have funa. :)LOL! I don't know what "this all" is but it's funny. :p
I was thinking more of True Colors :D

You're welcome.

And you're absolutely right -- you should expect exactly that sort of reply when you float that sort of question in a reply to me.

What am I supposed to do? Encourage people to help you avoid paying for something they've already paid for?

His question was posed to the forum as a whole. If you must reply, answer in the constructive way that MoInSTL did. I'm sure I'm not the only one noticing your new penchant for dishing abuse towards NotGoliath. Please resist the urge.

Okay, KDNL is actively working on the PSIP issues (Thanks, Jim!) and will the time set up along with that.

So, for you OTA'ers, what's the deal with KPLR, WRBU, and KNLC? KPLR has the PSIP on, but the program times are all wrong (pre-daylight saving time). KNLC has the right date, but nothing else (no PSIP or a time anywhere near to correct), and WRBU is PSIP-less and has the wrong time.

As for KMOV-DT and SD College Basketball, I'm totally non-plussed. Perhaps a quick call to Alan Cohen will clear things up.

His question was posed to the forum as a whole. If you must reply, answer in the constructive way that MoInSTL did. I'm sure I'm not the only one noticing your new penchant for dishing abuse towards NotGoliath. Please resist the urge.
Uhm....not how it happened. He was commenting on one of Doug's posts, which he had quoted. Oh, then just happened to mention, in the same post to the only professional ISF calibrator here, if "anyone 'in the forum as a whole' happens to know..."
Please!

Uhm....not how it happened. He was commenting on one of Doug's posts, which he had quoted. Oh, then just happened to mention, in the same post to the only professional ISF calibrator here, if "anyone 'in the forum as a whole' happens to know..."
Please!

I'm not going to arm wrestle over this. My main point was that which you clipped. I've just seen a bit too much of this hostility recently and, while no one else expressed concerned, I thought it a reasonable idea to ask that it be toned down.

Last I'll say so as not to waste bandwidth and encourage more.

I'm not going to arm wrestle over this. My main point was that which you clipped. I've just seen a bit too much of this hostility recently and, while no one else expressed concerned, I thought it a reasonable idea to ask that it be toned down.

Last I'll say so as not to waste bandwidth and encourage more.

I must admit I felt the same way. And, I am a bit miffed as to why doug is acting this way. I simply attribute it to a bad day I guess. I've said it before and I'll say it again. No one contributes more valuble iformation to this fourm than Doug, and usually with profound professionalism. That is why I am confused to see him out of character like that.

Scott

Uhm....not how it happened. He was commenting on one of Doug's posts, which he had quoted. Oh, then just happened to mention, in the same post to the only professional ISF calibrator here, if "anyone 'in the forum as a whole' happens to know..."
Please!


I did actually mean to pose it to the whole group and if Doug took it the wrong way, I appologise. I mean no malice toward anyone in this group, much less Doug, who contributes so much more than the rest of us put together. If there's any bad blood between he and myself, I hope it will end here.

Also, I'm fairly ignorant when it comes to the inner working of DLP sets and the calibration of them. If Doug or anyone else would like to explain how an ISF calibration works, I'd love to hear it.... The factory "blow me out of the water" settings aren't quite cutting it for me :).

Whether you like his answer or not, he is right. I have had 2 Sammy DLPs and they were very different. I also had the light engine swapped on one and not only was it a Zeiss (the other was not Zeiss) lens, but it too was different.

Lighting conditions and even viewing distance makes a difference. I recommend a professional calibration but if not then get Avia or Video Essentials. If your greyscale isn't too whacked (mine was) you may get okay results and better results if you go into the Service Menu to change the gamma for example (Going into the Service Menu is not covered by warranty if you mess up your set). It's a bit much for me. I don't have all the equipment or knowledge so I leave it to the professional. I wanted the best image possible and that's what I have.

Yeah, the service menu (and the lack of detailed setup in the on screen menu) was what got me curious to begin with. I can set up any standard monitor to color bars, but the complexity of the service menus convinced me that it's a little more complex than the setup/bright/chroma/phase settings on a standard NTSC monitor. Sometimes it's good to know what I don't know if you know what I mean....

Changing topic.... did the brief explanation I gave concering KTVI's dtv problem make sense to anyone? I know I'm not in a position to completely understand or fix it, but I hope I can keep you guys (and gals?) informed a bit.

That's it for now-
David

David,

I appreciate your latest note and your explanation. I accept your apology without reservation and in turn I apologize to you -- and to the rest of the group here -- for my replies. As someone suggested, this should have been dealt with on a one-on-one basis.

There's no point in looking back any further on any of the recent exchanges between us, and as far as I'm concerned, it is forgotten.

HIP, HIP, HOORAY!!!!!! Doug's Back. :)

Charter actually showed up on time and delivered on what they told me they could do! Miracles do happen! I had requested a Charter(Motorola) DVR with an HDMI output on it, they actually showed up with it and the HD channels look fabulous! But now some of the HD channels look horrible. I checked the info pane on the TV and it states it is on 1280 X 720, this means it is upscaling the SD broadcast to 720p, correct? Is there way to adjust the output on the Motorola DVR? I dont think there is but if I missed it please let me know. This is the Motorola box not labeled as a MOXI.

http://www.dbstalk.com/images/smiles2/group.gif http://www.dbstalk.com/images/smiles2/allg050.gif

Charter actually showed up on time and delivered on what they told me they could do! Miracles do happen! I had requested a Charter(Motorola) DVR with an HDMI output on it, they actually showed up with it and the HD channels look fabulous! But now some of the HD channels look horrible. I checked the info pane on the TV and it states it is on 1280 X 720, this means it is upscaling the SD broadcast to 720p, correct? Is there way to adjust the output on the Motorola DVR? I dont think there is but if I missed it please let me know. This is the Motorola box not labeled as a MOXI.

No it doesn't. It is scaling all HD to 720P. If you look at the setup screen, you will see a default 4:3 override, you might want to toggle between 480i and 480p to see what is best for you. I use 480p.

BTW...I recorded the golf yesterday to the DVR and the HTPC. What I saw of the picture looked like s**t. I have not had a chance to download from the DVR to the computer and see the difference in file size.

AND, I can understand Doug's attitude in reguards to calibration. It has been stated many times on many forums that the differences from one display to another, even same models/years, can be great, be it CRT or digital technology. It is his chosen line of work and if I was a customer, I would consider any calibration by a professional as proprietary. Just the equipment required to do a proper job can be VERY expensive. The more inputs, the more equipent and time required to get proper gray scale.

Walt

Someone asked a few weeks ago about when NBC Nightly news was going to HD.

From TVPredictions.com

Washington, D.C. (March 18, 2007) -- The NBC Nightly News With Brian Williams will begin broadcasting in High-Definition next week.

That's according to an article in Broadcasting & Cable magazine.

TVPredictions.com reported last month that the network's evening news would switch to high-def in March but our sources did not know the launch date. B&C says the HD debut will take place the week of March 26.

http://www.tvpredictions.com/brianhd031807.htm

I know I'm not in a position to completely understand or fix it, but I hope I can keep you guys (and gals?) informed a bit.
David

I think I am the only gal in this thread.

P.S. Unless you are very brave or feel like spending weeks on research, stay out of the Service Menu. OTOH, look up the thread here on AVS on your model number for suggestions. I subscribe to my model number thread. There are usually one or two simple service menu tweaks you can do if you proceed cautiously. All such posted suggestions are this strongly stated as well as the advice to write all defaults settings down. The other settings are pretty uesless AFAIK without the equipment to go with the settings. FWIW, I know with my old HLR only changing the gamma and turning off DNIE was suggested. On my HLS turning off DNIE is a user option. But if you read the thread you can find some simple fixes. There is also a thread here on ISF calibration with many user questions and answers from calibrators that can be very infomative.

This is what someone from the STLTODAY.com online forum, "Bernie's Pressbox" had to say re: HD on KMOV...




I call bull(crap.)

KenH on the HDTV Programming forum had noted before the tournament that not all feeds would be in HD, although all games had HD cameras. The bottleneck appears to be the amount of HD feeds that CBS's main studio can produce.

For KMOV to stay on the Southern Illinois game full time, they could only show the SD feed.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=817525

Someone asked a few weeks ago about when NBC Nightly news was going to HD.

From TVPredictions.com

Washington, D.C. (March 18, 2007) -- The NBC Nightly News With Brian Williams will begin broadcasting in High-Definition next week.

That's according to an article in Broadcasting & Cable magazine.

TVPredictions.com reported last month that the network's evening news would switch to high-def in March but our sources did not know the launch date. B&C says the HD debut will take place the week of March 26.

http://www.tvpredictions.com/brianhd031807.htm


Great, more useless HD programming not to watch.

I'm a little confused about the posts I've read on 'break-in' settings. I purchased a Pio 1140 HD plasma recently from a local, specialty retailer. I asked him about "break-in" and he gave me that 'not necessary' look although that seems to contradict some of the articles I've read.

My bottom line question(s) is: Is it absolutely necessary? Will it hurt my plasma if I don't? and Does this actually improve PQ? (I have no complaints whatsoever as I think the picture looks great. Currently running it in 'Standard - Full).

Thank you all in advance!

KenH on the HDTV Programming forum had noted before the tournament that not all feeds would be in HD, although all games had HD cameras. The bottleneck appears to be the amount of HD feeds that CBS's main studio can produce.

For KMOV to stay on the Southern Illinois game full time, they could only show the SD feed.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=817525
And the good news is, from this point forward with fewer locations, all games will be HD. Also, the SIUC/KU game Thursday starts at 6:10 and will be the full time game as it was yesterday.

Anyone else have a VCR that automatically sets its time via a time value encoded in our local PBS signal? Mine didn't spring forward a couple weeks ago, but I'm not sure if it is the fault of the VCR or if KETC isn't sending the correct time. I tried forcing it to resync the time, but it's still showing an hour behind.

A VCR with the time set...There is something I haven't thought about in about 6 years.

NBC is very sketchy on golf in HD. I have seen some broadcasts that look phenomenal and other just look like dog****! Sunday's was definitely sub-par. But Fox's NASCAR transmission was awesome like usual! Thanks for the tip on the new cable box. I gotta say a good thing about Samsung. After a total of 2 calls, totalling 10 minutes on the phone, my replacement Sammy will be here tomorrow.

Anyone else have a VCR that automatically sets its time via a time value encoded in our local PBS signal? Mine didn't spring forward a couple weeks ago, but I'm not sure if it is the fault of the VCR or if KETC isn't sending the correct time. I tried forcing it to resync the time, but it's still showing an hour behind.

What is this "VCR" device that you speak of?

What is this "VCR" device that you speak of?http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VCR

My VCR is a Panasonic model with Commercial Advance which automatically skips commercials without any input from the user -- sure wish my DVR would do that! :p That said I don't really use the unit as a VCR anymore, but rather it modulates my satellite signal onto channel 3 coax that runs to three other TVs in the house.