ISF Calibration Locally?

[Pat]

The basic problem with with SVM, and with the "sharpness" control, for that matter, is that they introduce artificial "information" where there was none by enhancing the edges of objects.  With cheap TVs, there might be the appearance of a better picture, but with HDTVs, there is no need to do such a thing.

They cause the appearance of a sharp edge when a cheap TV can't handle the sharp change in signal.  But they can't distinguish between cases where the "soft" edge is supposed to be there from the cases where it isn't -- they "sharpen" everything.  (They also sharpen any noise present in the singal, and make things worse -- causing really nice sharp noise!)

[Matt Heebner]

A very simple explaination of SVM is this:
It's as if your TV takes a black marker, and outlines all the lines shown on the TV picture with in it. Supposedly it is to increase the appearance of sharpness and contrast within the picture. The problem is that this information was never there, so instead you get a very "artificial" looking picture that will actually take away from looking good on a quality television. SVM should always be turned off or to low when using a HD set. The quality of the picture is already good, there is no need to try and improve it, and it actually worsens it.

Matt

[StarvingForHDTV]

In my service manual, I can turn SVM to -128 I think.  Or I can pull wire(s) off of each of the three guns to totally eliminate any chances of it being used.  In the factory my SVM is set at 0, so I guess that is why I have never seen the problem during Avia.

I don't know if anyone else owns a Pioneer RPTV here, but there is another feature in the Service menu called Detail.  There is no explanation for what this is.  The factory setting is cranked up pretty high for 480p or 1080i, but negative for 480i signals.  Maybe I will play around a little.

I did get my overscan down to 2-3% around the edges of the screen according to Avia.  I still have to center the image vertically and do some more focusing.  After that I will move on to geometry and service mode convergence.  The one thing I will not be able to do without special equipment is adjust gray scale, color temperature settings, etc.

Thanks for the tips, maybe I will give Flanner's a call when I am ready.

Starving