Freeview HD - not so HD at all

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simon14

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Topic # 66381 18-Aug-2010 07:23

We just purchased the Sony KDL55EX500 - nice TV and affordable for its size too!

Bluray movies via ps3 look fantastic but Freeview HD looks just the same as standard freeview - am i missing something here?

TV has built in freeview HD which I had connected to a UHF aerial in the weekend. I did an auto scan and it found 20 channels - including the freeview HD showcase channel. TV is in digital mode, not analogue mode. Even the HD showcase channel looks just like standard definition.

I previously had freeview installed with a decoder vie a dish, not UHF aerial - when flicking between the two sources, the picture looks exactly the same quality - and yes i have been testing this on hd content.

Am I doing something wrong?

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Reply # 369061 18-Aug-2010 08:35

Doesn't sound like you've done anything wrong.

Freeview HD wont look the same as BluRay, but should look better than DVD or Satellite decoder.

What is your tv reporting the Picture size as? And you're not checking something like Prime or C4 are you?

Only TV1, TV2 and TV3 are in HD - and will primarily be upscaled at broadcast time. You may need to find a genuine HD program to see if you notice a difference.

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mentalinc

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Reply # 369078 18-Aug-2010 08:49

How close to the TV are you sitting?
Any more than 4.5m are you cant tell the difference between HD and SD

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simon14

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Reply # 369174 18-Aug-2010 10:41

I;m quite close to the screen yes - i'm comparing it by standard def to hd.... both look the same up close.

Jaxson

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Reply # 369198 18-Aug-2010 11:39

Check out the fine detail, eg peoples hair, face wrinkles etc, during a real HD show on TV1,2 or 3
All non native HD shows are upscaled on these channels.
All other channels on freeview HD are in SD.

I wish they had called it Freeview UHF personally.

wellygary

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Reply # 369205 18-Aug-2010 11:52

According to Sony's website is has

• Live Colour
• Ambient Sensor
• Intelligent Picture
• MPEG Noise Reduction

Turn these and any other "features" off and see what it looks like

Nety

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Reply # 369223 18-Aug-2010 12:15

To be honest I had a look at Freeview|HD though our TV's decoder and it looked very average. However though my media centre PC it looks much better.
As suggested turn off any "features" but I am not convinced that at least with my Sony TV that the digital tuner is very good.

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ushare

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Reply # 371226 22-Aug-2010 21:50

USING AN HDMI Cable??

simon14

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Reply # 371228 22-Aug-2010 21:53

ushare: USING AN HDMI Cable??

No HDMI cable required for inbuild freeview hd..........

robbyp

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Reply # 371237 22-Aug-2010 22:17

simon14: I;m quite close to the screen yes - i'm comparing it by standard def to hd.... both look the same up close.

YOu are probably too close, as at that size of TV, both will not look all that sharp. ALso the channel has to be broadcasting an HD show, for it to be in HD, however most shows are just SD. TV3 is better quality (1080) HD than TVNZ channels. TV3plus is only in SD, as is TV 6&7 & prime. I can definately notice a difference on my 32 inch TV.

simon14

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Reply # 371241 22-Aug-2010 22:21

robbyp:
simon14: I;m quite close to the screen yes - i'm comparing it by standard def to hd.... both look the same up close.

YOu are probably too close, as at that size of TV, both will not look all that sharp. ALso the channel has to be broadcasting an HD show, for it to be in HD, however most shows are just SD. TV3 is better quality HD than TVNZ channels. TV3plus is only in SD, as is TV 6&7 & prime.

I'm quite aware that the channels have to be broadcasting in HD.... i'm testing this on the HD showcase channel if you read the post correctly.

robbyp

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Reply # 371249 22-Aug-2010 22:30

simon14:
robbyp:
simon14: I;m quite close to the screen yes - i'm comparing it by standard def to hd.... both look the same up close.

?

YOu are probably too close, as at that size of TV, both will not look all that sharp. ALso the channel has to be broadcasting an HD show, for it to be in HD, however most shows are just SD. TV3 is better quality HD than TVNZ channels. TV3plus is only in SD, as is TV 6&7 & prime.

I'm quite aware that the channels have to be broadcasting in HD.... i'm testing this on the HD showcase channel if you read the post correctly.

Hey, just trying to help, or explainwhy you may be having issues. However you say you are testing it on the showcase channel, but that isn't actually braodcasting in full HD. On mine it is only 720, and isn't anywhere near as sharp as say CSI on TV3 in 1080.

kiwijunglist

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Reply # 371896 23-Aug-2010 23:30

I can easily appreciate the difference however I use htpc for tuning rather than inbuilt tuner

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sbiddle

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Reply # 371923 24-Aug-2010 06:20

robbyp:
Hey, just trying to help, or explainwhy you may be having issues. However you say you are testing it on the showcase channel, but that isn't actually braodcasting in full HD. On mine it is only 720, and isn't anywhere near as sharp as say CSI on TV3 in 1080.

Just FYI none of the channels are "Full HD" which is 1920x1080

TV3 broadcast in 1080i (1920x540 interlaced) and TV1 and TV2 broadcast in 720p (1280x720)

As to whether 1080i is better than 720p is totally one of personal opinion. I personally think 720p is superior as content is transmitted in a progressive scan format which is the native format reguired by any modern panel. Transmitting interlaced content that then requires deinterlacing before it can be displayed seems slightly backwards.

TechnoGuy001

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Reply # 373094 26-Aug-2010 12:57

sbiddle:
robbyp:
Hey, just trying to help, or explainwhy you may be having issues. However you say you are testing it on the showcase channel, but that isn't actually braodcasting in full HD. On mine it is only 720, and isn't anywhere near as sharp as say CSI on TV3 in 1080.

Just FYI none of the channels are "Full HD" which is 1920x1080

TV3 broadcast in 1080i (1920x540 interlaced) and TV1 and TV2 broadcast in 720p (1280x720)

As to whether 1080i is better than 720p is totally one of personal opinion. I personally think 720p is superior as content is transmitted in a progressive scan format which is the native format reguired by any modern panel. Transmitting interlaced content that then requires deinterlacing before it can be displayed seems slightly backwards.

I know, So why do they stream 1080 as 1080i not 1080p?!
Not enough bandwidth...? (but it's terrestrial there should be plenty free)

Im just really annoyed that most of the TV Shows airing that are out in HD overseas still only air in SD here :(

kiwijunglist

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Reply # 373097 26-Aug-2010 13:08

I imagine it's bandwidth issue. altho 1080i @ 50fps should be the same size as 1080p @ 25fps.

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