Pioneer 3510 Quality

[Bigdog]

I just traded in the SA HD cable box for the Pioneer 3510 HD box and on the analog channels it looks TERRIBLE.  There are only 2 output options for it, S-Video and regular composite (no coax) and I went with the S-Video.  On the digital channels it looks fine but anything under 100 looks grainy. I know it is not the signal as it didn't do this with the SA or with the other non HD box.

Any ideas on how to fix it?  

Thanks

[gparris]

I couldn't agree with you more. I use the PVR box for everything except the HD channels and I have both SA and 3510 HD boxes.

It makes waiting for the SA HD DVR box even more difficult because the look on the SA DVR is cleaner, the graphics better and I have to rent 2 boxes to get DVR and HD.

Looking at the schematics for the SA8000HD there appears to be an optical digital output for sound as well the usual coax digital output, which eliminates the problem for home theater installs as many less expensive receivers have one (or  usually,none) of the coax digital inputs in my experience. Satellite boxes have always used the optical-only, so I can setup a system for one optical for the sat box and the one coax for the DVD player and it works.
This time around, the setup should be easier...I hope I read the back panel of that SA8000HD DVR correctly!:(

[summerfun]

The 3510HD has four ways to output video. You should use the component or DVI cable if possible. Some will say the DVI gives you a better picture, but I tried it and it did nothing to improve the picture. I talked to Sony and they said the DVI cable is more for security and does not improve the quality of the picture. But the component will be much better than s-video and even better yet than composite.

# 1 Composite (yellow cable)
# 2 S-Video (round computer cable)
# 3 Component (RGB cables)
# 4 DVI cable (flat computer cable)

All that being said, I also have an SA DVR box and the SD pictures are much better than the SD pictures in the 3510 HD box. I can toggle back and for between boxes on the same SD cannel and see a much better picture on the SA box than the 3510 box. Can't tell you why. I am hopping the new HD DVR box will be of higher quality. Then I will replace both my current boxes.

PS.
I have noticed that the SA DVR box has a much better blue silver menu than either the SA HD or the 3510 HD boxes. They both have an ugly yellow menu that is very blurry and the fonts are nasty and hard to read. I had TWC come out to look and they said that was the way it is. Again, I am hoping for an improvement with the upcoming HD DVR box.

[mhz40]

Originally posted by Bigdog
I just traded in the SA HD cable box for the Pioneer 3510 HD box and on the analog channels it looks TERRIBLE.  There are only 2 output options for it, S-Video and regular composite (no coax) and I went with the S-Video.  On the digital channels it looks fine but anything under 100 looks grainy. I know it is not the signal as it didn't do this with the SA or with the other non HD box.

Any ideas on how to fix it?  

Thanks

Although the failure rate is very low, you may have a bad tuner.   Direct-connect your TV for comparision.  If the pics are good on the set, swap the converter.

[Bigdog]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I'm wondering if maybe I hooked it up wrong.  I did use the component cables into my HD inputs on the TV and then I used a S-Video connection into just a regular input as well. For audio I ran 2 RCAs (red/white) to the regular input and then a digital coax to the surround sound receiver.

Did I double up on something??  I want to be able to see both HD and regular TV and would like to hear (if possible) through the TV and/or the SS receiver.


The main reason I traded the SA HD box was so I could view the guide while watching HD channels


Thanks

[Snard]

Originally posted by Bigdog
Thanks for all the suggestions, I'm wondering if maybe I hooked it up wrong.  I did use the component cables into my HD inputs on the TV and then I used a S-Video connection into just a regular input as well. For audio I ran 2 RCAs (red/white) to the regular input and then a digital coax to the surround sound receiver.

Did I double up on something??  I want to be able to see both HD and regular TV and would like to hear (if possible) through the TV and/or the SS receiver.


The main reason I traded the SA HD box was so I could view the guide while watching HD channels


Thanks

You don't need the Svideo cable if you already have component video cables connected to your TV. The box outputs ALL channels through the component outputs. Having analog audio connected to the TV and digital audio connected to your receiver does make perfect sense - I have mine connected this way as well.

Here is something else to try. In the setup menu on the 3510, you may want to add 480i and 480p as supported output formats, so the box will pass the non-HD channels to your TV without upconverting them. I've tried viewing the lower channels both "native" and up-converted, and the picture quality isn't the same for both modes. It may depend on what type of circuitry your TV has for improving the quality of a SD signal, versus what the box has.

Hope this helps!

[summerfun]

Originally posted by Snard
Having analog audio connected to the TV and digital audio connected to your receiver does make perfect sense - I have mine connected this way as well.

I'm curious why you would have any audio going to your TV. Most SD channels are stereo and many have Dolby surround encoded into the stereo signal. Although it is not Dolby digital 5.1 it is still surround sound and sure sounds better than listening to TV speakers.

I have nothing going to the TV and listen to ALL channels through the surround sound system and everything sounds great.

[Bigdog]

Thanks for the info Mike, I will go back and fix those connections.  I figured it worked the same as the SA box so had both going there, eventho it was missing the coax connector.  I did turn on the video noise reduction on the TV and that did smooth it out some.   I may still call them up and see what is up with it tho.


Summerfun, I can answer your question in one word...wife  It is much easier (for me) if she can watch TV down there with just one remote. The cable box remote will control the TV so that is why I still need sound coming from the TV speakers..

[The Law]

It is much easier (for me) if she can watch TV down there with just one remote. The cable box remote will control the TV so that is why I still need sound coming from the TV speakers..

I would *highly* suggest the Kameleon 6-in-1 remote from Radio Shack http://www.mykameleon.com/product_rs6.html

They offer an 8-in-1 as well.

My wife got me one for xmas for about $60.  I was using 4 remotes since none of them (though they each claimed they could) can fully duplicate any of the remotes.  This one, you can program.  If you have a special button on your remote (for example, Cables Aspect Ration Button (bypass) or your Stereo's Surround Sound button) you can point the original remote at the Kameleon and it will program whatever key you want.

Macros are also programmable - so you can do 1 button to turn e everything on at once (i.e. mine turns on/off TV, Cable, Receiver).  I can use it to access my DVD onscreen Menu,  TVs On Screen Menu and Cable on screen menu/guide.  I've also got it rigged such that no matter what function i'm controlling (VCR, DVR, Cable, Receiver, TV, CD) the volume button only controls receiver.

This has made life extremely easy such that my kids no longer accidently crank the Cable Volume or the TV volume by mistake.

This remote, quite simply, rocks.  Finally, if your remote is not supported, call the Tech Support, tell 'em what you've got and hold the remote to the phone - they can update it remotely!

[summerfun]

That remote sounds pretty cool. I may have to go get one today.

The 3510 remote can be programmed to run all my devices except the input button for some reason. I still have to go to the TV remote to change the input source and the receiver remote to change it's input source every time I switch between the HD cable box, the DVR cable box and the DVD.

It does allow to program the volume to always run the receiver and the channel to always change the cable box no matter what mode, but still have to change modes to turn everything on and off one at a time with the power button.

It sounds like the macros might be the answer for on/off power. Looking forward to it.

[Snard]

Originally posted by summerfun
I'm curious why you would have any audio going to your TV. Most SD channels are stereo and many have Dolby surround encoded into the stereo signal. Although it is not Dolby digital 5.1 it is still surround sound and sure sounds better than listening to TV speakers.

I have nothing going to the TV and listen to ALL channels through the surround sound system and everything sounds great.

Well, sometimes it's not worth the bother of turning on the stereo if I'm watching something 'ordinary' on TV. For those cases, the stereo speakers in my TV are fine. Alternately, there are rare cases where my wife is watching TV, but I want to listen to a CD or FM station with my headphones.

[Bigdog]

Well I connected it up with just the component cables and still doesn't look as good as "raw" cable on the analog channels.  I then tried to run the coax through the TV and then loop out to the box but then IControl stuff does not work.  Lastly I tried a splitter I had (said for digital cable, 2Ghz bnadwidth) and with that HDTV didn't work at all so back to the cable going into the box and going to the TV via the component cables and have the crappy analog reception so I guess have to call TW.


That remote sounds pretty nice. I saw one at the local RS and asked if it would work with the TW box and they didn't know so I passed on it.


I feel like Snard does, sometimes it is not really worth listening with anything bigger/better than the TV speakers.

[summerfun]

Just went to Radio Shack and they said they did not make that remote anymore. They currently do not sell any remote that can run macros or be programmed as you mentioned. All they have are the plain old universal remotes.

They guy was pretty rude, but said that people kept complaining and bringing them back because if they would hit power on the macro and not everything went on or off, they would be out of sync and you would have to manually fix them.

[summerfun]

I did a little experimenting with the output settings on the 3510 to see if I could get the SD channels to improve, or at least be as good as they look on the SA DVR box.

As someone suggested earlier, I set the output to allow 480i and 480p. It did make a difference and the quality improved because it is not up converting to 1080i for SD channels.

However, when you set it that way you get a flash between channels whenever you change between types. i.e. changing from SD to HD channels the screen flickers for a moment. Also, channel 506 looked worse because it is an HD channel being broadcast at 480p. If you select 720p for an output then you get the screen flicker between ABC and the other HD channels because they are 720p and the others are 1080i.

Pros and Cons, just thought I would let you know what I found. It seems best to just leave the output only on 1080i and live with the less quality on the SD channels. What are we doing watching SD channels anyway.

Hoping the new HD DVR box is better.

[Bigdog]

I tried adding all those formats to my setup and the analog channels still look like crap.  I dunno maybe the box is bad or something..  I'll call and complain next week and see what they say.  I can't even get a splitter to work with it as HD wont work anymore..