Just switched to a T-Box - picture on TV1, TV2 and TV3 seems dark cf Freeview version

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techo

46 posts

Geek

#1075915 28-Jun-2014 10:23

lchiu7: While watching TV3 news tonight it was quite apparent that the T-Box picture was darker than the Freeview source. I can't adjust the brightness because it then makes all other sources too bright and there does not seem to be an adjustment on the T-Box for picture brightness/contrast. Are others experiencing this or is it just my TV (Panasonic 60" plasma).

Could this be the classic 0-255 verses 17-235 mismatch problem?

The T-Box is most likely using YCbCr 17-235 over HDMI, so check/play with your TV HDMI input setting.

kharris

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#1077564 1-Jul-2014 08:12

Generally if you are viewing on anything larger than a 42" screen an SD broadcast is going to look like crap, especially through HDMI. I have no issue with the quality on my 40" LCD screen... although it does not look anywhere near as good as the HD broadcast. I imagine an SD broadcast on a 60" screen would look a bit like space invaders graphics from 1978 though ;-)

I have never had any issue with some channels being darker than others, the picture quality is the same as through freeview for FTA channels.

rokki

374 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1077572 1-Jul-2014 08:37

lchiu7: As an aside, since this is originally a T-Box subject, I am finding the response time of the unit painfully slow. To change channels (even if you press al 3 digits) takes seconds. Is this normal? I have worked with several STB and PVR before and this is the slowest I have ever seen them.

Also why do they still need the modem? You would think they could put the modem into the unit itself if that wanted two-way interaction. That was just one more thing the installer had to cable in, find room for and for me, find a power outlet.

These below are some of the reason why i went back to normal sky

1) Fast forward and rewind still the same frozen picture with audio having returned and visible seconds of delay till picture returns this is quite visually jarring as it does this, it also makes it near impossible to stop where you want so you fart around fast forwarding and rewinding to get it where you want say after an add break.

2) Still records every rerun available , if as we do you were to record a lot and time shift you will fill the hard drive up rather quickly as we have on occasion when we have gone away and if you are watching a series then you miss out on episodes and may resort to alternative means to catch up.

3) live pause and resume still same as fast forward and rewind issue.

4) still sluggish channel change

5) transiting through menus still sluggish

6) no remote record app as yet

7) Odd pix-elation issues at times and not necessarily on the HD channels

8) If their is an interruption to your internet service the the unit can't recover until a reboot of the router and sometimes the unit as well.

To me it seemed very much like a work in progress as opposed to a finished product i cancelled the service about 3 weeks ago so was on the most recent firmware.

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kharris

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#1077583 1-Jul-2014 08:53

rokki:
lchiu7: As an aside, since this is originally a T-Box subject, I am finding the response time of the unit painfully slow. To change channels (even if you press al 3 digits) takes seconds. Is this normal? I have worked with several STB and PVR before and this is the slowest I have ever seen them.

Also why do they still need the modem? You would think they could put the modem into the unit itself if that wanted two-way interaction. That was just one more thing the installer had to cable in, find room for and for me, find a power outlet.

These below are some of the reason why i went back to normal sky

1) Fast forward and rewind still the same frozen picture with audio having returned and visible seconds of delay till picture returns this is quite visually jarring as it does this, it also makes it near impossible to stop where you want so you fart around fast forwarding and rewinding to get it where you want say after an add break.

2) Still records every rerun available , if as we do you were to record a lot and time shift you will fill the hard drive up rather quickly as we have on occasion when we have gone away and if you are watching a series then you miss out on episodes and may resort to alternative means to catch up.

3) live pause and resume still same as fast forward and rewind issue.

4) still sluggish channel change

5) transiting through menus still sluggish

6) no remote record app as yet

7) Odd pix-elation issues at times and not necessarily on the HD channels

8) If their is an interruption to your internet service the the unit can't recover until a reboot of the router and sometimes the unit as well.

To me it seemed very much like a work in progress as opposed to a finished product i cancelled the service about 3 weeks ago so was on the most recent firmware.

The current situation IMO:

1. No issue with frozen picture. Play after FF now automatically jumps back some seconds so that you don't overrun.

2. Not true. This is only the case for some channels. Series link info is supplied by third party (usually sky), although it would be nice is the data was more accurate.

3. No issue - live rewind and pause work fine.

4. True but a lot faster than it was - still needs some attention IMO

5. True but a lot faster than it was - still needs some attention IMO

6. True - would be nice.

7. Very rare to non-existent.

8. Huh? The last time my box rebooted was when I had a power cut. Otherwise this is not required any more.

kharris

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#1077587 1-Jul-2014 08:58

rokki:

To me it seemed very much like a work in progress as opposed to a finished product i cancelled the service about 3 weeks ago so was on the most recent firmware.

rokki,

Not saying your experience is not valid, just that it is not necessarily the experience of everyone. Just trying to offer a balanced view. Maybe you had a bad box or a weaker signal than mine.

Kirk

rokki

374 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1077608 1-Jul-2014 09:32

As I say was just my experience but isn't it interesting how inconsistent it is among user's.

rokki

374 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1077609 1-Jul-2014 09:33

I had two different boxes and am on UFB 200/50. Both boxes same.

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lchiu7

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#1077794 1-Jul-2014 12:51

techo:
lchiu7: While watching TV3 news tonight it was quite apparent that the T-Box picture was darker than the Freeview source. I can't adjust the brightness because it then makes all other sources too bright and there does not seem to be an adjustment on the T-Box for picture brightness/contrast. Are others experiencing this or is it just my TV (Panasonic 60" plasma).

Could this be the classic 0-255 verses 17-235 mismatch problem?

The T-Box is most likely using YCbCr 17-235 over HDMI, so check/play with your TV HDMI input setting.

Worth a check but all other content that comes in via HDMI (BD player, Popcorn Hour, PS3) is fine. Of course Freeview doesn't use HDMI

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

lchiu7

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#1077799 1-Jul-2014 12:54

rokki:

6) no remote record app as yet

That's my biggest bug bear so far ( apart from the sluggish menus). So I still record Freeview HD using NPVR and I can use a web interface to schedule recordings.

Plus I can watch on any machine on the network.

Probably the biggest plus for me getting Jones (lousy PQ notwithstanding). It's fun to watch the old shows again :-)

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

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