MPEG4 HD Channels - now lower quality?

[Mark Strube]

I just started noticing this today, first watching about 10 minutes of Ghost Rider on one of the StarzHD channels, and now my recording of Weeds from ShoHD-West. I'm noticing a lot more artifacting on fades & transitions, and a lot less small object detail than I've become accustomed to on these channels. One of the reasons I record Weeds from the West feed is for the better MPEG4 quality.

Has anyone else noticed an overall dip in the quality on the MPEG4 channels? Any ideas as to why? Are they planning on squeezing more channels into the feed soon?

 

[darrencp22]

Me thinks it you and/or the Starz feed. No issues here.

 

[Mark Strube]

Nothing's changed on my end... a nicely calibrated 1080p Sony SXRD... and it's nothing "breaking up," this isn't signal problems... it's bandwidth and encoding issues I'm seeing. Something has changed in at least some of their channels' encoding algorithms.

 

[FlyingJ]

No issues at all here. Sorry, I have to agree with darren on this one.

 

[HD#1]

I actually think the opposite the quality has improved over time.

 

[charper1]

No issues on any of my displays either .

 

[Rey]

it's still gggrrreeeaaattt!

 

[Ronnie-]

Havent seen any problems here either

 

[Mark Strube]

Okay thanks for the feedback. I started watching a replay of the latest Weeds again on Showtime West... same quality problems, but I didn't notice the issue on any other channel, so there's a good chance it's just the "look" of the show that's not too friendly with their encoders.

 

[raoul5788]

Okay thanks for the feedback. I started watching a replay of the latest Weeds again on Showtime West... same quality problems, but I didn't notice the issue on any other channel, so there's a good chance it's just the "look" of the show that's not too friendly with their encoders.

Just think of how bad CSI Miami looks. Wait a minute, that could just be David Caruso!

 

[FlyingJ]

Okay thanks for the feedback. I started watching a replay of the latest Weeds again on Showtime West... same quality problems, but I didn't notice the issue on any other channel, so there's a good chance it's just the "look" of the show that's not too friendly with their encoders.

Hey Mark, sometimes I have to think about that myself. LAst year while watching Friday Night Lights I thought my whole set up was going to hell. Come to find out that that show just was not real HD friendly. Maybe improvements this year with whatever it is that they are up to.

 

[gadgtfreek]

You wanna see lower quality HD, switch to Dish or cable .

As long as D* doesnt add one more channel to each TP, their PQ will continue to look very nice.

 

[Bob Nielsen]

Just think of how bad CSI Miami looks. Wait a minute, that could just be David Caruso!

I can see why he wears shades, but why do they put them over the camera lens?

 

[gadgtfreek]

Oh yeah, he's pretty baggy under the eyes. I do like the bright look of Miami OTA, some dont.

 

[ChrisPC]

Just think of how bad CSI Miami looks. Wait a minute, that could just be David Caruso!

Or as I call it: CSI Orange!
Not to be confused with the original, CSI: Aqua.

 

[raoul5788]

Or as I call it: CSI Orange!
Not to be confused with the original, CSI: Aqua.

Now that's funny!

 

[Jimbo]

I've always found CSI Miami to have a real good picture quality, regardless weather it's CBS or A&E .

My PQ on D* is looking the same as it has since they went to MPEG4, just wish the X-Files was shot in something better than 240i, always been real poor PQ for x-files though.

Jimbo

 

[heisman27]

You wanna see lower quality HD, switch to Dish or cable .

As long as D* doesnt add one more channel to each TP, their PQ will continue to look very nice.

My HD PQ with D* is far worse than cable but only slightly worse than E*. Perhaps E*'s has gotten worse since I switched to D*, but I still have Comcast and its HD PQ blows the doors off D*.

 

[rad]

I just started noticing this today, first watching about 10 minutes of Ghost Rider on one of the StarzHD channels, and now my recording of Weeds from ShoHD-West. I'm noticing a lot more artifacting on fades & transitions, and a lot less small object detail than I've become accustomed to on these channels. One of the reasons I record Weeds from the West feed is for the better MPEG4 quality.

Has anyone else noticed an overall dip in the quality on the MPEG4 channels? Any ideas as to why? Are they planning on squeezing more channels into the feed soon?

Here's a poll on this question from earlier this month, http://www.satelliteguys.us/directv-hd-discussions/141373-directv-mpeg4-pq-declining.html Two of the no votes were a mistake admitted by the voters so only 15 out of 122 votes think that it has gotten worst.

 

[gadgtfreek]

My HD PQ with D* is far worse than cable but only slightly worse than E*. Perhaps E*'s has gotten worse since I switched to D*, but I still have Comcast and its HD PQ blows the doors off D*.

Sorry, dont believe it its D's fault and never will.


Something is defective. Im not saying you are a liar, but I just dont think we know the whole story. Ive yet to see ONE person claim Cable looks better than D*. The fact your claiming Dish looks better, which hasnt in awhile, makes me wonder.