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General discussion

46" DLP and Dish - Better picture?

Sep 9, 2005 3:01AM PDT

Hi there,

I just got a 46" Toshiba DLP and Dish Network with one DVR receiver (for this tv and one upstairs) and one HD receiver (for this tv only.) The DVR is connected with composite video cables, the HD by interlaced component cables, both supplied by the dish installer.

Overall, the HD stations look good but everything else is pretty pixelated. DVDs (connected via S-Video cable) look really good so I know it's not the television itself. Just for kicks, I plugged in the cable box too (our service hasn't been cancelled yet) via coax cable and the quality between the DVR, HD, and cable receivers is minimal. I've tried changing the aspect ratio (which the television adjusts accordingly) and that doesn't seem to do much good.

Questions:
1) Will upgrading the cables make that much of a difference? The DVR receiver only uses S-Video or the interlaced composite cables but I could upgrade the HD receiver to HDMI or DVI-D -- but I'm not sure we're keeping the HD receiver after the free trial period ends.

2) Will calibrating the television make that much of a difference? I haven't had much time to fiddle with it yet.

3) Am I just being too picky? The pixelation isn't terrible, but it is noticeable. Is this something people just live with, enjoying the limited HD content we have while we wait for HD broadcasts to become more popular?

4) Anything else you can think of? I tried goofing around with the satellite's HD resolution (1080 vs 720 vs 480) and that didn't make a noticeable difference either.

We needed a narrow, big-screen set for a recently finished room in the house and took the plunge without knowing *all* the details, so I apologize if these are glaringly newbie questions.

Discussion is locked

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It's most likley the signal source...
Sep 9, 2005 3:29AM PDT

...not the equipment. I have Dish Network, too. Some of the standard definition channels can be a bit spotty in picture quality and I notice some dropouts in audio now and then. Other SD channels are better.

There is also the possibility that the signal feed from the dish is suffering from some degradation due to the length of the cable run but that isn't likely. Having your set professionally calibrated will make a noticable difference but not in resolution. The calibration deals with color and contrast.

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46" DLP and Dish - Better picture?
Sep 9, 2005 3:34AM PDT

It would be nice if you gave the Dish model #.
But some back groung info to help.
I have Dish when I get a HDTV (soon) I will upgrade to Dish HD.
On standard recivers S-video in best output availble. To bad they don't have component. Since the video stream is MPEG2, same as DVDs.
S-video is analog NTSC 525 interlaced lines or in computer trems it is EGA 320x240 pixels. Which is why it doesn't look so good on a HDTV.
DVD=EDTV=640x480 or 480p
HDTV is 720p,1080i,1080p
Some people get scan converts to make the analog video look better. John

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I forgot one important item
Sep 9, 2005 4:05AM PDT

Connecting the HD receiver via HDMI or DVI will give you a better picture, at least for the HD channels. did you get hte HD receiver for free as a promotional item? If so, why return it?

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RE: I forgot one important item
Sep 9, 2005 4:21AM PDT

>did you get hte HD receiver for free as a >promotional item? If so, why return it?

Yes, the receiver is part of a promotion. I think it's like $5/mo with free HD channels, but after 3 months I think the channels are an extra $10/mo. With only 5 channels being HD right now, it doesn't seem worth it.

Of course, I'll have to weigh my options when that time comes. If I need to pay full-price for the HD receiver in the future then I'll probably keep it. After all, ESPN is showing every game of next summer's World Cup in HD and I don't want to miss that. It all depends on whether I can score another promotion in 6 or 12 twelve months down the road.

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With only 5 channels being HD
Sep 9, 2005 4:28AM PDT

At this time Dish has 20 channels of HD, it's $5 for the VOOM package. John

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PROBLEM SOLVED I THINK
Sep 9, 2005 4:53AM PDT

If your t.v. has a d.v.i or h.d.m.i connection use this only for your d.v.d. and sat system, I had a nasty picture , until I bought a denon 2900 with d.v.i. output set the player at 1080 and bought a Gifin d.v.i. switcher now my DISH NETWORK 811 hi-sat system and d.v.d. player give a stunning picture also your dish unit should have a over the air hi-def tuner so throw up an outside antenna so you can receive your local station in digital and hi-def good luck reply if you wish stewart norrie cadillacstew@aol.com