Sky Digital on new Panasonic LCD - advice required on getting picture clearer

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samoir

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Topic # 24594 28-Jul-2008 21:18

gidday, gidday

Finally, we've adventured from CRT to LCD television, with a Panasonic 37LZ800a model.
A bit disappointed with the quality of Sky programs – some programs seem quite pixelated and the "channel bug" graphic fuzzy, same goes for alot of other graphics when they appear on an advert? Stripey shirts and ties look weird and fuzzy. Playing DVD's, the clarity is alot better.

Maybe something to do with our setup of the decoder, which is around 4 years old now.

We have ->
- Sky Digital, from suburb of Balmoral, Auckland.
- Motorola STB Decoder - STB Software version 0351, CA Version 2.4.121 (Feb 2004)
- Cable we have is SCART -> 3xRCA (Audio L,R / Video), connected to the AV1 input of the TV.
- Panasonic LCD TV
- Sky connected directly to TV (AV1)
- DVD connected directly to TV (AV2)
- Normal TV tuner unused as yet.

What can we do to improve picture quality?
Are we using the right decoder? Is there a later model which is better? Current Motorola one is 4 years old/Black in colour.
Different / better cables?

If we got a Freeview HD would this improve the quality?
If so what is a good one to get? Hills? or Zinwell??

Another thing (if you wanted another thing, here it is)
the Sky Programme Guide seems really large onscreen, i thought this LCD TV device was running at 1900 x whatever.
The programme guide seems really massive, can this be scaled down so more fits on screen, or is it broadcast like this?

Agggh, agggh, so so many questions. Id be greatful for any help.

Many many thanks -

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Reply # 152210 28-Jul-2008 21:23

Thats is because ur sky is in SD and u have a HD which will be stretching it to Widescreen. I had the same problem on normal Tv before going Freeview HD

As for freeview HD, You cannot run it on your sky dish, HD Terrestrial which uses a UHF Aerial, You can run normal freeview (SD) off your skydish but I don't know what sort of quallity you would get on a Widescreen tv.

AncestralGeek

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Reply # 152239 28-Jul-2008 22:58

Hi samoir
Have same TV but are using it with a MySky unit. Setup slightly different from yours in that I am connecting to the TV using componet and mostly are seeing an quite acceptable picture. New DVD player/recorder, which I recieved as part of the Panasonic promo deal, is connected via HDMI. Have only watched part of couple of DVD's since it arrived but feel that there is a positive difference (slight but visiable) between the component and the HDMI.

In other posts, sorry do not remember which one, there were instructions where to go to in setup to see if your sky STB will output over component. I originally had a Motorola unit also black, about four years ago, and was able to use component with it. You will need a Scart to Component cable. Hunt around a bit as they vary in price quite a lot.

Looking in the manual for the new Sky HDi the EPG also seems to be big. I was hoping that they would make use of the extra pixels to give us more spread. ie four hours instead of two.

After playing with the various aspect settings have settled on 16:9 justify as the best compromise foor me.

Hope this is of some help

samoir

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Reply # 152402 29-Jul-2008 13:18

hi there
thanks for the information, ill give thise suggestions a go. have order MySKY HDi so maybe that will change the quality as well.

many thanks again

samoir

sbiddle

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Reply # 152408 29-Jul-2008 13:39

Firstly on any new flat panel Plasma/LCD you really need to be using component inputs Sky STB - using composite video is just going to deliver a poor quality picture. Sky were supplying cheap SCART -> component cables at some stage, you could ring them and ask if they have any deals at present.

You also need to ensure that you have the aspect ratio set correctly - make sure it's set up 16:9 Widescreen in the Sky STB and also set to 16:9 on the TV. Also make sure any MPEG NR or Noise Reduction) is turned off as this will normally make a picture look worse, not better.

And lastly Sky's picture quality is regarded by many people as being extremely poor with a low bitrate (so they can transmit as many channels as possible from their transponders on the satellite). There is nothing you can do about this but at least having a component cable, correct aspect ratio and NR turned off you will be getting a picture that is as good as you can get.

samoir

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Reply # 152424 29-Jul-2008 14:16

Nice one, thanks for that.
We have both the Decoder STB and TV aspect ratio set at 16:9 .
Will look at the cables that you and others suggested - it looks like thats the way to go. MySKY HD order today, install next week. So will now have the HDMI as a comparison.

cheers for now

ajobbins

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Reply # 152432 29-Jul-2008 14:47

samoir: Nice one, thanks for that.
We have both the Decoder STB and TV aspect ratio set at 16:9 .
Will look at the cables that you and others suggested - it looks like thats the way to go. MySKY HD order today, install next week. So will now have the HDMI as a comparison.

cheers for now

Where in NZ are you? I ordered HDi weeks ago and my install is next week! I know people who arent booked in until September!

samoir

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Reply # 152435 29-Jul-2008 15:09

Am in Auckland. I did use my manners on the phone, so maybe that did something.

samoir

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Reply # 152913 31-Jul-2008 10:18

SCART to Component has definately made the picture quality a whole lot better. Its not as jagged on the graphics, however reds are quite full on, on solid red adverts (eg). Can definately sit closer to the TV, and not get a whole heap of distortion, under SCART to composite.

Have also succeeded in hooking up the Apple Powermac G5 Dual 2.0GHz with DVI-I video card, to the HDMI3 interface, using a DVI-D to HDMI cable. The results are exceptional, with screen res at 1920 x 1080, being crystal clear. Audio is handled using the analogue RCA's.

old3eyes

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Reply # 152979 31-Jul-2008 12:20

As a comparison with the crap low bitrate channels , if you have access to the Movie 1 or 2 check the PQ of those . They're pretty good..

Regards,

Old3eyes

Litespeed

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Reply # 156864 14-Aug-2008 12:25

Holy thread resurrection, Batman!

We got a 32" Panasonic LCD (32LE8) on the weekend and we also have poor quality from our Sky digital box. Ours is hooked up like so:

SKY ----scart---> DVD Recorder ----component---> TV

From the couch it looks ok, but if you get any closer, the images are all blocky and look like an impressionist painting. The TV only has composite, component or HDMI.

I've toyed with the idea of getting a proper HDMI home theatre but I doubt that would improve the poor quality of the Sky picture. I guess MySky HDi is the way to go.

sub

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Reply # 156867 14-Aug-2008 12:44

Litespeed: Holy thread resurrection, Batman!

We got a 32" Panasonic LCD (32LE8) on the weekend and we also have poor quality from our Sky digital box. Ours is hooked up like so:

SKY ----scart---> DVD Recorder ----component---> TV

From the couch it looks ok, but if you get any closer, the images are all blocky and look like an impressionist painting. The TV only has composite, component or HDMI.

I've toyed with the idea of getting a proper HDMI home theatre but I doubt that would improve the poor quality of the Sky picture. I guess MySky HDi is the way to go.

I'd take the DVD Recorder out of the path from the sky box to the TV. DVD Records will typically output a reencoded signal, which will cause quite a bit of signal degradation. Test it by connecting directly from the Sky box to TV. If that improves things, like I expect it will, then by a splitter to feed both the DVD Recorder and TV from the Sky box (instead of going via the DVD Recorder).

Spyware

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Reply # 156873 14-Aug-2008 13:08

Sky is more suited to a 21" CRT max. I'm cancelling Sky today because of the compression artifacts. Not worth $81/month for something that wouldn't even be appreciated in Somalia.

Ross

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samoir

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Reply # 156877 14-Aug-2008 13:23

the MySKY HDi has improved things no end. The SD picture quality is infinately better over the SCART to component via the old Motorola decoder. HD is available on 4 channels, via SKy, and is impressive when programs are cast in this format. However, we'll probably cancel the HD ticket, as theres only limited programs available in this format, and probably not worth the expense at this stage.

clevedon

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Reply # 156880 14-Aug-2008 13:31

We think MySky HDi is fantastic and for only $10 a month for the HD ticket more than our old MySky1 - great value.

alexingram

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Reply # 156882 14-Aug-2008 13:39

I must be missing something - I've had Sky HDi for a week now and can't really say I'm blown away by a greatly improved picture.

STB via HDMI to TV, which is a 2yr old Phillips LCD. Don't have Sport channels so can only use movies or TV3 as a comparison to Portable TV connected to original MySky box now in the bedroom.

Yamaha amp lights up with Dolby, so I guess the broadcast is HD, but I don't see the 'HD' symbol on the second bar of the i-box, just HD at the end of the synopsis.

Watching Blu Ray version of Planet Earth via PS3 was very impressive, but not seen anything from Sky to match this.

I've read about people being able to see things in films they've not seen before etc etc

Am I expecting too much????

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