Watching "Easy Wheels" on MGM-HD and about 1 hour into the movie there's lots of bit starved imagery. There's a closeup of a biker in a corn field and all the corn is moving around and the biker's face goes soft. It happens several times and it's very noticeable.

Sorry I have no way to capture it to share, however it was not "live" video, it was being played back on my DirecTV DVR. It could be possible that it could have been the result of the recording and not signal from DirecTV.

Sorry I have no way to capture it to share, however it was not "live" video, it was being played back on my DirecTV DVR. It could be possible that it could have been the result of the recording and not signal from DirecTV.
The recording is bit-for-bit exactly what is received from DirecTV. There is absolutely no difference between watching a show live or recorded. It is literally the exact same data.

The recording is bit-for-bit exactly what is received from DirecTV. There is absolutely no difference between watching a show live or recorded. It is literally the exact same data.

Well then, I'm starting to get disappointed with DirecTV's delivery of the MGM-HD channel. I'm now watching "Fatal Instinct" and at 34 minutes into the move, there a guy driving a lawn mower into a house when it's storming and lightning outside and it does not look good at all.

This is scary since these movies are only 24fps.

Hopefully DirecTV will adjust for this...

Just got done watching "Hot Dog" the movie. The wet T-shirt contest had lots of movement that could have used more bandwidth.

On the other hand, I was surprised during many of the ski scenes and how well it was reproduced. Then there was some ski scenes that was could have looked better when it should have looked worst.

The movies look really good on my three HD TV sets. I recorded the James Bond movies on DVD-R using a Pioneer HD recorder and the video is excellent the audio 2 channel stereo.

The movies look really good on my three HD TV sets. I recorded the James Bond movies on DVD-R using a Pioneer HD recorder and the video is excellent the audio 2 channel stereo.

I'll be checking out one of the Bond movies soon. I've got Goldfinger ready to record on the DVR and I think it's going to record tonight. I'll be sure to watch closely to see if I can detect anything like I did with the other movies. If I do, I'll be sure to mark the time of the movie where it happens. Maybe your equipment is better at handling certain types of situations better then the equipment I have.

Just got done watching "Hot Dog" the movie. The wet T-shirt contest had lots of movement .

You are complaining about this? Some people are never happy.
Maybe it is a new feature of D*, introducing movement at appropriate times :D

You are complaining about this? Some people are never happy.
Maybe it is a new feature of D*, introducing movement at appropriate times :D

HAHA!!!

The fake ones don't move as much...maybe thats what he is complaining about...maybe he likes the fake ones...;)

Bandwitdth starved signal rears it's ugly head again on the same channel while showing "Altered States". I don't have the time mark, however it's during heavy flashing sceens almost like a strobe affect at different parts of the movie.

Looks like MPEG-4 has a hard time handling that type of signal. Either that, or DirecTV is not giving that channel enough bandwitdh to those kinds of sceens.

By the way, Goldfinger looked GREAT!

however it's during heavy flashing sceensThose are among the most difficult scenes to compress, so it's not surprising. However, overall I'm fairly pleased with the MGM HD quality, it's pretty good for 720p and the transfers are usually decent.

Those are among the most difficult scenes to compress, so it's not surprising. However, overall I'm fairly pleased with the MGM HD quality, it's pretty good for 720p and the transfers are usually decent.

MGM-HD is 720p????! I'm really surprised! I would have assumed they were 1080i particularly since on their website they have 1080p samples of the movies they are playing this month....


http://www.mgmhd.com/

MGM-HD is 720p????! I'm really surprised! I would have assumed they were 1080i particularly since on their website they have 1080p samples of the movies they are playing this month....


http://www.mgmhd.com/

MGM-HD is 1080i.

MGM-HD is 720p????!No, I was confusing it with another channel.

No, I was confusing it with another channel.

Glad to hear that! Since I know that 720p takes up less bandwidth than
1080i I was really starting to get concerned.

Rolling Thunder had some breakup in a fast action part of the movie. Seems odd to me since the movement did not seem all that bad to effect it the way it did and especially since these movies are 24fps and should not require as much bandwidth.

"The Wild Party" breaks up completely about 67 minutes into the movie. People jumping around that should not cause what I see at that moment. I think in this case it was the broadcast breaking up and not due to bandwidth problems. It was like a checker board pattern.

Well since the channel seems to only have one viewer, I can see why it's not getting too much attention from DirecTV. :D

Well since the channel seems to only have one viewer, I can see why it's not getting too much attention from DirecTV. :D

Good point! Though there is another viewer that noticed a problem with MGM-HD while he was watching "Dream Woman". He mentions it here...

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=12233684#post12233684


However the only problem with that post is I can't find a listing for the title "Dream Woman" on the Internet Movie Database nor MGM-HD's website. http://www.mgmhd.com/ Maybe it was something similar to the title "Dream Woman"?

Well since the channel seems to only have one viewer, I can see why it's not getting too much attention from DirecTV.
And it will be in a tiered HD package soon, yours for an extra $5/mo.

How about MGM-HD audio dropouts? I have a few threads/posts around here concerning my problem with "sputtering" playback issues, and I STILL think I have a junk reciever/recorder, but.....

I wonder if the problems with my recording of "2010" ARE the feed itself. That was a film I did not watch LIVE, but just what I had recorded. Not only audio drops, but horrible shaking of video as well at the end. I'm hoping it IS the feed and NOT my recorder.

Should get better once D11 is up.

Should get better once D11 is up.
Any particular reason you'd say this?

I love the assumption of the OP and hence the title of the thread. Every signal problem is evidence of bandwidth starving? Never is the problem at the source or some other issue?

Wait, this thread will be used as evidence by someone that DirecTV is using HDLite on MPEG4.

Read the article on the hijacking of HD in the new Widescreen Review. Charlie Wood does a great job of exposing the reduced bit rates of some broadcasts. One of the Salt Lake stations passes 480p off as HD. It's a greed thing. If they can run more channels, there's more advertising, and more revenue, even if the video quality suffers and is no better than standard DVD. They figure no one cares. A tip off is during action scenes, when the picture goes to hell and becomes all pixelated. We suspected almost 20 years ago this would be an issue.

Charlie's about to go off on "Stretch-O-Vision" next.

How about MGM-HD audio dropouts? I have a few threads/posts around here concerning my problem with "sputtering" playback issues, and I STILL think I have a junk reciever/recorder, but.....

I wonder if the problems with my recording of "2010" ARE the feed itself. That was a film I did not watch LIVE, but just what I had recorded. Not only audio drops, but horrible shaking of video as well at the end. I'm hoping it IS the feed and NOT my recorder.

I don't know what it could be, however watching "Cooley High" at 39 minutes into the movie, the picture goes blank for about a minute and then comes back.

Let's all just keep in mind that MGM-HD is a brand new channel, and DirecTV is currently the only provider carrying it.

Yes, my problems continue, I have confirmed that it's not just the "playback" of recorded movies showing problems, but coming through the feed/reception itself. Most problems have been discovered while watching MGM-HD.

Today, I watched a recording of "Unforgiven". Twice during the movie, there were 2 video/audio blackouts lasting for a few seconds each. Just enough to ruin the veiwing experience. This happened with MGM-HD's "Die Monster Die" as well. In fact, out of 10 movies watched, only one film has not been ruined by this problem. On a few of the other movies, no blackouts, but multiple audio "stutters" and "skips". This has also happened with veiwing HDNetMovies. I can no longer enjoy watching HDTV. But I AM obsessed with documenting all the problems I find. Now I'm watching JUST TO FIND PROBLEMS...and that no good. I can NOT watch care-free, like I did for the 2 years leading up to last weeks install of the H21-700 and dish. BTW, I have 3 pages of problems along with the problem itself recorded.

Has anyone else found these problems on MGM-HD or HDNetMovies? Any other channels?

This could be stretched out for a year, especially if I get the normal tech visits. I wonder how long I should give D* to fix this problem before pulling the "final plug"? I'd hate to downgrade to an H20, have the same problem, and then not be able to get the H21 back. I even managed to overcome the loss of an OTA input. But the above problem can not be accepted.

Sorry to hear that you are having problems with the DVR and MGM-HD. As you know, we are also talking about other MGM-HD problems on this thread...

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=928629

I'm lucky to report I'm not having any problems with my DirecTV DVR. Also, I'm very happy that there is a MGM-HD channel as it's one of my favorite channels now. I have not noticed any of those other problems with any of the HD channels I have watched, then again, it seems like all I'm watching now days is the MGM-HD channels. I love having the chance to catch movies that were mainly created for the drive-in circuit mainly produced by Samuel Z Arkoff!!!! In HD and OAR!!!

Topics merged.

Desperately Seeking Susan broke apart at 61 minutes into the movie. The good news is that it only lasted a few seconds. I really don't find these breakups very distracting at all, since it only lasts for a short period of time...and I know that one day it will get fixed. It's the bandwidth I'm really much more concerned about.

Since I really don't watch any other channels on DirecTV for any real length of time, does anyone know if these break ups are only happening on channel 255? (MGM-HD).

"Broke apart"? As in....blackout/black screen or audio only? MGM-HD, at this time, is the only channel experienceing "blackouts"(loss of picture AND audio), as far as I know.

MGM-HD is also dishing out audio STUTTERS and SKIPS like it was free. Every time I watch a movie, recorded or live makes no difference....I am sure that at least 1 blackout will happen, if not 2, and the audio stutters are just as for-sure-to-happen. I, for one, am bothered by it...however, I can deal with it since they are a new channel and others are experiencing similar issues. Since the MGM-HD logo REMAINS during the blackout, I believe it IS a source issue.

BUT......:(

...HDNetMovies HAS been around a while and I have never, ever experienced audio stutters and skips UNTIL the new dish and HR21 was installed. Since I have that problem, as well as the MGM problem, well, thats too much going on for things to be right.

Blackouts I will handle until fixed....stutters and audio drops on other channels? Nope....something is amiss.

I'm done documenting every movie I watch so I can list the issue and exact moment it happens. I have 6 pages of notes. Nobody will even ever care to see the problems....so I guess I've been doing it because I am obsessed with the problems. I mean I can't sit and watch a movie on either of these 2 channels because the anticipation of the issue coming up has a grip on me. Looks like I'm stuck with what I got.

gutwrencher, have you considered that you have a problem with your HR21? I've experienced no stutters on either. Granted, I have not watched much on MGMHD in the last few days, but I have never seen this behavior. I am watching via HR20-700.

I now have a problem with MGM-HD's website. They no longer show the movie posters nor the year they came out.

To me, that is a big determining factor in what movies I would like to watch on that channel. I like movies from certain years and the picture from the poster grabs my attention more than reading a description of the movie.

I hope it's only a temporary situation...Maybe I should contact them?

http://www.mgmhd.com/