[wjlane]

EVERY week when I try to watch Playmakers, I can't. The 'sputtering' on the picture is just unbearable. Occasionally, I'll see it on other programming as well. What's causing it? From what I've read this only happens on Directv. Anyone else having this problem?

 

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Quote:

Originally posted by wjlane EVERY week when I try to watch Playmakers, I can't. The 'sputtering' on the picture is just unbearable. Occasionally, I'll see it on other programming as well. What's causing it? From what I've read this only happens on Directv. Anyone else having this problem?

No problem with the sputtering. The only problem seems to be the placement of the ESPN bug.


Take care.

 

[hockeynut]

I'm watching Playmakers via Directv and not really noticing any sputtering but my audio sync seems to always be off. The audio seems to be just a split second behind the video. Extremely aggravating! I blame this on my DTC 100. I'm hoping when I upgrade my HDTV tuner I will no longer have this problem.

 

[kcn823]

Saw some sputtering tonight and definately a audio sync problem. The audio problem was really annoying.

 

[hockeynut]

Quote:

Originally posted by kcn823 Saw some sputtering tonight and definately a audio sync problem. The audio problem was really annoying.

Glad to see that it wasn't my equipment. I wonder than who's to blame for the audio sync problem, ESPN or DIRECTV?


Also, the second showing of playmakers is the same new episode except it is filling the whole screen. What's up with that?

 

[BDHost]

I had audio sync trouble too tonight but no jitters :/


Hughes e86 btw

 

[wjlane]

It comes and goes. Sunday night football was flawless. I see it on SD prgrams on channel 73 also. The regualr ESPN channel is just fine. I have a Panny TU-HDS20 receiver feeding a JVC 48" HDTV. It appears to be a problem with Directv but I've other posts where they blame it on ESPN. I sent an email to Directv about the problem. Bottomline, Directv is the one charging me to receive this channel and they are the ones I hold responsible.

 

[mitoca]

I've seen the jitters appear a couple of times on baseball. When I've changed over to the SD feed it is OK.

 

[adb]

Haven't seen any jitters.

 

[GreyGhost00]

Bad audio synch problem on PM last night, but no jitter on Samsung SIR-TS160.

 

[Iwanthd]

I have noticed jitter on Playmakers and occasionally on HD broadcast of live sports. It seems far worse on Playmakers. I also have D* and a Panasonic TU-HDS20.

 

[jdk]

I too have the Panny HD STB, and get the stuttering.


Perhaps this is a STB-specific issue?


Hurry up with the HD-Tivo so I can get rid of this old thing!

 

[wjlane]

Here is the reply I received from D*. It really doesn't answer the jitter problem specifically. Are they saying the upconvert is the problem?




Dear William,


Thank you for your feedback about ESPN HD on channel 73. Please let me

explain what's going on with this channel. Today, much programming on

ESPN HD is a feed of the ESPN standard definition channel, which has

been "upconverted" to the 720 progressive scan format and "stretched" to

the 16:9 aspect ratio (screen size). Depending on your TV, you probably

notice a difference in picture quality between this upconverted content

and programs that are originally produced in HDTV format.


ESPN tells us that in its first year of operation, ESPN HD will have

roughly 120 originally produced HD telecasts. They're starting with the

favorites--Sunday Night Football from the NFL, Sunday Night Baseball,

and other games from MLB, the NHL and the NBA, and events like the

College World Series and women's NCAA Basketball Championships. In 2004,

ESPN plans to add originally produced HD telecasts of SportsCenter and

other studio programming, and a more exhaustive slate of games.


We know ESPN is working hard to increase its percentage of originally

produced HDTV content, and we can imagine the challenge of getting HD

production equipment in all the right cities at the right times to

produce game telecasts in HDTV. Please be patient as they expand their

HD coverage. ESPN lists their originally produced HD programming at

espn.com on its HD page.


Originally produced 16x9 HDTV programming is still rather scarce,

despite what cable and other TV distributors are promising. DIRECTV

remains the leader in providing HD and has committed to working with our

programming partners to continue bringing you the best HD programming

available at a great price. Keep checking our HD page at DIRECTV.com for

the latest information on HD equipment offers and available programming.



Thanks again for your email.


Sincerely,


Roma

DIRECTV Customer Service

 

[hpierce]

I have constant audio droputs on espn hd on my dtc100. audio problems seems to be commonplace among dtc100s and espnhd, i doubt itll be fixed soon.

 

[BrianBov]

I have been experiencing this problem since ESPN HD went live. Half the time during SD broadcasts I get this jittery picture effect. I am also using the Panasonic receiver you are referring to. This condition had not occurred during true HD programming on Ch. 73 until Playmakers began airing. I have no such problems when viewing ESPN HD with my second TV, which uses a Hughes receiver.


To complicate matters further, I ran into this jittery effect when pulling in the ABC signal from the San Diego affiliate during the Super Bowl. I usually watch OTA programming from Los Angeles, but the ABC signal is the only channel I have difficulty picking up from my home in North San Diego. The L.A. signal (which was fading in and out) was great, but the San Diego feed was unwatchable due to this constant jittering.


I came to the conclusion months ago that a substantial portion of programs being aired by ESPN HD and ABC in San Diego are not being decoded correctly by the Panasonic box. For some reason it is having difficulty converting the 720p signal being sent. The troubling aspect is that the ABC programming from L.A. never causes the receiver this problem. Whatever the folks at ESPN and ABC San Diego are doing to the signal is causing a problem for our Panasonic boxes. This appears to be a specific problem for owners of this type of receiver. I think we are out of luck. Sorry.

 

[wjlane]

Those with the Panny, what do you have your resolution output set on? Mine is always on HYBRID but I will try setting it to NATIVE or 720P and see if it makes a difference on ESPN.

 

[johnovox]

Quote:

I have been experiencing this problem since ESPN HD went live. Half the time during SD broadcasts I get this jittery picture effect. I am also using the Panasonic receiver you are referring to. This condition had not occurred during true HD programming on Ch. 73 until Playmakers began airing.

I have the same issue with my Panny and agree with the above statement. I have not had jitter problems with live sports broadcasts in HD, or even live studio upconverts (i.e., sportscenter). I generally experienced jitter with the upconverted commercials or other taped material. Now I have the same issue with Playmakers.


I also note that I had not experienced any upconvert issues when converting my ABC affiliate's 720p signal to 1080i using the Panny. Curious.