Toshiba PQ

[Bigdog]

We just got a new Toshiba 62HMX95 DLP and currently have TWC for cable. I hooked up a Pioneer HD box and the PQ sucks, it is grainy even on the digital channels. For a comparison I also tried to hook the cable up directly (bypassing the box and as a test to get the TV Guide working as that does not support the component inputs) and it would only see the analog channels. It's supposed to haver a QAM tuner in it, so I'm wondering it TWC scrambles all of the channels above 100?  Would I be better dumping the Pioneer box and getting the cablecard instead?

Any ideas how to improve the PQ as the Mrs is not a happy camper at how it looks.

Thanks

[Mark Strube]

How do the HD channels look? Grainy as well? If those don't look good then your problem is bigger than just the TWC box. Otherwise I'd just say you need to do some tweaking.

On my set I have different video presets, all tweaked myself, that I use for different kinds of stations.

For everyday watching of HD, analog stations, and DVD, I use a standard setting with everything (sharpness, brightness, etc) at around the midpoint (calibrated to a THX dvd), and the contrast (aka. picture) set at around 85%. If I'm watching an analog channel, I'll usually enable mild mode (soft picture) and turn noise reduction on high.

For the standard def digital channels, I have a different setting with a bit less contrast, no sharpness, and mild mode & noise reduction enabled. (Note that I'm allowing the box to upscale the image to 1080i... if I have it pass thru the digital SD signal of 480p, turning the sharpness all the way down will produce a horribly soft picture.)

If I'm watching something real nice in HD (discovery channel) or I'm trying to show my set off for a demo, I put it into Vivid mode... all my settings are the same as standard but the internal circuitry makes the picture "pop" a bit more, and I have contrast at 100%.

Oh, and a sidenote... many HDTV's come preset with "neutral" or "cool" color temperature, with the color setting itself far too high... I find it's always good to use the "Warm" setting (this is the reference setting) with color at the midpoint... then adjust saturation from there to what looks good to your eye.

Tweaking is KEY, so many people plug in their new HDTV's and are just apalled at the standard definition picture quality... this is usually easily solved by putting some time into major tweakage.  

[Den Mayer]

You can do a 'fake' Cable Card test of your HD if you have a QAM cable tuner...

  Plug you Cable Co cable from the wall into your rear 'Cable RF'

  port on the HDTV...     Via the TV, do a QAM/Cable scan for digital channels...

   Channels reporting should be QAM Chan 81.1 thru 124.20...

  Play/view those selected stations via the funny QAM cable

  Chan number and view the Picture Quality...    Both digital SD & HD

  stations should be found...     Identifying the QAM stations

  you are viewing is a trying process...   HD Picture Quality

  should be Superb!!


  A QAM scan of this Web site should identify most TWC QAM IDs.

[Bigdog]

How do the HD channels look? Grainy as well? If those don't look good then your problem is bigger than just the TWC box. Otherwise I'd just say you need to do some tweaking.

On my set I have different video presets, all tweaked myself, that I use for different kinds of stations.

Tweaking is KEY, so many people plug in their new HDTV's and are just apalled at the standard definition picture quality... this is usually easily solved by putting some time into major tweakage.  

The true HD stuff looks pretty good as well as DVDs but most of the other stuff looks pretty bad. One other odd thing I noticed is that Pioneer HD box, does not display stuff in 480P. I thought all the digital channels (>100) and especially HBO channels all were 480P, but instead it is shown in 480i.  The Guide is also EXTRMELY SLOW and blurry and on some HD channels will actually lock the box up.. Really frustrating.. Is a cablecard any better? I'll see what I can tweak on the box and TV to make any improvements.

Thanks

[Bigdog]

You can do a 'fake' Cable Card test of your HD if you have a QAM cable tuner...

  Plug you Cable Co cable from the wall into your rear 'Cable RF'

  port on the HDTV...     Via the TV, do a QAM/Cable scan for digital channels...

   Channels reporting should be QAM Chan 81.1 thru 124.20...

  Play/view those selected stations via the funny QAM cable

  A QAM scan of this Web site should identify most TWC QAM IDs.

Yep this TV does have a QAM tuner. I did try bypassing the box via a splitter as the built-in TV Guide feature does not support the box being hooked up via component connecters, only composite/S-Video/RF, which I'm still waiting to see if it finds any listings...

Unfortunately I didn't have any luck in finding the non encrypted digital (HD) channels in that range you listed above. I tried calling TWC who said that to get any of the HD channels you either need the HD cable box or cablecard or antenna.... :bang:  Does the channel numbers vary depending on a particular tuner or

Thanks.

[Mark Strube]

On the Pioneer box, are you using DVI or component? If you're using component, I'd set the box to output 1080i only. This should solve your slow guide problems, the freezing, and may make those non-HD channels look crisper. (And I'd definitely reccommend against using DVI on that box.)

[Den Mayer]

Based on the MKE TWC QAM info from other members:

  103.3  WITI-HD

  103.4 WTMJ-HD

  109.1 WDJT-HD

  109.2  WISN-HD ?

  109.3  WMLW-HD

  116.1  WMVS-HD

  and a whole slew of SD digital channels I did not list...

 I'm trying to ask for a QAM retest knowing these QAM HD channels...

  Rather than a scan....   You might be able to key 'em In via the TV remote?

[MoreTorque99]

I had a Toshiba 46HM95 in my home for 3 days before I took it back.  We didn't have it out on the floor at work yet so I was buying it sight unseen.  Wow was that a mistake.  The picture quality was TERRIBLE.  Always very grainy.  No matter what the setting, it always looked poor.  The red push was pretty crazy.  Not to mention the cooling fan was loud as hell.

Mine would not pick up all of the TWC digital channels with its QAM tuner either and the CableCARD just flat out didn't work with TWC.  TWC said it was Toshiba's problem and Toshiba said it was TWC's problem with the QAM tuner not working right.  Toshiba told me the CableCARD just flat out won't work with TWC.

I hate to say it, but its not setup or tweaks that are the problem, it is the TV.

Honestly, the only fix for your problem is to return the set.

[Mark Strube]

I hate to say it, but its not setup or tweaks that are the problem, it is the TV.

Yeah it sounds like the Toshibas are problematic... but in most cases tweaking will solve that problem.