RPTV image issue

[mrpogo]

Just got a RCA D61W130 and the picture with the TWC Pioneer box sucks.  It is really bad.  I am looking at getting the Samsung T160 and DTV and was wondering if I hook it up via DVI if I should see a huge difference in quality?

Thanks,
John

[Gregg Lengling]

Well if you watched the threads around here a lot of people are unhappy with TWC.  Now are you using a HD box or just their digital box.  Most programming is all SD except HBOHD, SHOWHD and the PBS demo channel.  Whether you are hooked up with DVI or Component video won't change the quality as they are the same just one is encoded and single wire.

It sounds like you must be feeding your RCA from Composite video if it's that bad.


------------------
Gregg R. Lengling
RCA P61310 61" 16x9
HiDTV Pro 2 computer reciever card
glengling@ameritech.net

[ReesR]

I own a Samsung TS-160.  The picture quality is magic.  Looks great.  There are two issues, which Samsung has a fix for.

The first issue is the box freezes on Over the Air stations.  Pulling the plug on the receiver is the only way out and then plugging it back in.  That has been identified by Samsung and corrected but must work with Directv to distribute the fix via a software download.  That should be here relatively soon.  The temporary fix is to view only Directv until the fix arrives.

The second issue is some television monitors respond to the TS-160 with a high color output.  You can either turn down the color or if you call Samsung they will fix the problem by exchanging your unit.

Other than that, the box has, in my opinion, the best feature set out there.  It is the only set which will output standard definition as well as high defintion video at the same time.

To watch it is a pleasure.

I realize it might be more than you asked for but I hope it helps.

------------------
Rees Roberts
Racine, WI
reesr@wi.net

HDTV Receiver:  Sony KD-34XBR2 16X9
Bi-directional AntennaCraft VHF Yagi Model #2260P
+
2 Winegard PR9022 UHF yagi's pointing N & S
Antennas at about 30 feet
Samsung SIR-TS160 HD Directv receiver

[mrpogo]

So from my understanding the box should upgrade all signals to 1080i if I'm using the DVI setting.  Will this help me have a smoother image?  I understand that their is still compression used by the providers.  

[kjnorman]

Mr Pogo,

The standard pioneer box from TWC only supplies standard definition programming.  If you would like HiDef programming, then you will need to specifically request a Scientific Atlanta 3100HD box from TW.

Feeding the component outs of this box to you TV will then give you HiDef programming.

As lummox states there is only the HBo and Showtime HD channels presently.  WTMJ will be HD on TW from Dec 19th.  There is also a PBS demo channel - that has occasional programming as well as the regular loop.

The component output will also upconvert standard def to 1080i.  However you will have no aspect ratio control on the programming.  If you need to have aspect ratio control through you TV, you will also need to run an s-vhs lead from the 3100HD to the TV.

Hope this helps.

Kerry

[Pat]

Many (most) HDTVs have less than optimal setup for standard analog reception.  They usually do very well for an HD signal, but with the additional detail they're capable of displaying, plus their increased size (usually), they magnify any defects in the signal.  You've probably heard the expression, "Garbage in, garbage out."  The analog signals are often not very good.  Some "features" of TVs actually accentuate defects in a poor signal: Scan Velocity Modulation is an example.

Some brands, Mitsubishi's for example, can be adjusted to have stellar results even on analog channels.  Several of us on this board have them, and have made the adjustments.  I don't really know how easy it is to adjust other brands.