tonyk

I dont see what I have posted is incorrect? His channels being broadcast at 1080i will make them look better than being broadcast at std TV definition and stretched to fit a 50" screen. They wont obviously become HD quality due to bandwidth and compression issues but they will look better.

I have Sky HD in the living room and Sky+ in the kitchen and there is a difference in the non HD channels. Granted the TV's are a 40" and 32" so not 100% like for like. The Sky HD channels will show a vast improvement over what he see's now.

coswurv

iTrader: (8)

cheer's for your info, im gonna consider getting a sky hd box if i can find one cheap enough.

stonehavencossie

why did u waste money on a dvd upscaler when the ps3 can do it ?

stonehavencossie

virgin v is crap no ones listening

Fagin

The initial post on this thread was on about the blockiness of pictures. My post was in response to that post, not to whether or not a SKY+ box will give a better or worse picture than a SKYHD box.

Whether you can seen a difference in "overall" quality between a SKY+ and SKYHD is inmaterial to the original post. The fact is, is that the blocks will be there whether or not you view the same channel through a SKY+ or SKYHD box. An upscale to 720 or 1080 has absolutely nothing to do with these blocks. Upscaling is a process of "adding" detail that the process does not know specifics of (i.e. it makes it up based on information it has).... this could in effect make the blockiness worse. Having a TV that artificially "smooths" the picture may help, but at the end of the day the blocks (casued by the encoding method) will still remain.

tonyk

[quote="Fagin"]The initial post on this thread was on about the blockiness of pictures. My post was in response to that post, not to whether or not a SKY+ box will give a better or worse picture than a SKYHD box.

Whether you can seen a difference in "overall" quality between a SKY+ and SKYHD is inmaterial to the original post. The fact is, is that the blocks will be there whether or not you view the same channel through a SKY+ or SKYHD box. An upscale to 720 or 1080 has absolutely nothing to do with these blocks. Upscaling is a process of "adding" detail that the process does not know specifics of (i.e. it makes it up based on information it has).... this could in effect make the blockiness worse. Having a TV that artificially "smooths" the picture may help, but at the end of the day the blocks (casued by the encoding method) will still remain.[/

Would it be fair to say that if this user had not noticed the blockiness before on his old TV, that it *may* be to do with the picture now being stretched to 50" thus showing the flaws in the picture up? Im sure he could buy a monster scart cable for Ł50 but would he not have been better to spend that Ł50 towards an HD box?

Im sure you must have read the bit I posted saying that "this is a basic explanation of this" I see what you are saying about compression, encoding formats and the bandwidth but rather than confuse a person with techno bable, I put my post in simple terms that the average person should understand. A lot of people think because they have bought an HDTV they automatically receive HD pictures where as somebody pointed out scart cant carry an HD signal.

In your expert opinion would you say "That DVD upscalers are a waste of money and offer no benefit at all due to the limitations of the Mpeg 2 codec used"

rsnissan

iTrader: (9)

Dont know where HD began to come in to all this TBH the original poster asked if a cable would make a difference, My response was NO it wouldn't.

I know full well that the bandwith/native res progs are broadcast in have the biggest effect on how the picture looks, how ever this is not what was being asked.

NathR

I bought the setup minus the PS3 & Sky about 3 months ago, not intending on buying the PS3 so soon!

TBH I'm glad I did get the Pioneer player for the mere Ł150 it cost anyhow as I'm not overly impressed with DVD player in the PS3. I asked at the place I got all my AV gear from what the PS3 was like for BD/upscaling and the reply I got was 'average'. But then they have a pair of B&W speakers worth Ł13k in the showroom so its to be expected I suppose! Theres a noticeable improvement with the Pioneer. I have Casino Royale on BD and tbh the difference between that on the PS3 and an SD DVD on the Pioneer player isn't greatly noticeable, if at all for 75% of the fim. Would love the Pioneer HD player but its a grand, and I just can't justify that.

Fagin

The way that some of the information has been put in this thread (please consider the original post), that it may be construed that a SKYHD box will get rid of the blockiness..... this may not of been the intention, but you may understand that it could be read like that. I made it perfectly clear (to dispel that) what was the case with the blockiness and whether a SKYHD box would stop that from happening etc.

If a user does not notice the blockiness on a smaller TV he needs glasses! The blocks are still there. However, I do agree that a bigger tv will only amplify the problem. Yes.... the SKYHD box is better (as regards to the SKYHD lol and the fact that the box has a HDMI socket on it), but only the user can determine whether or not this is worth the outlay of the box and increased subscription. The SKYHD box (as already explained) will not be HD in all channels and the others ones will look the same as SKY+ (apart from any positives a HDMI connection brings).

DVD upscalers are not worth a toss in the majority of cases within the home. The logic algorithms used in the majority of upscalers are not very good..... if you want an upscaler that actually does a proper job, expect to spend at least a Ł1k minimum. For what very little benefit the upscalers in a lot of the low/mid tier DVD players can give...... save your money. Don't believe the bullshit posted on forums...... go and see the gear in operation for yourself, side by side, then you will see if they make a difference. A lot of people go out buying a Ł200 dvd with upscaler and says it makes a load of difference....... they need to clean their glasses! It's a case of something cost me Łx, so it must be making a difference.

A proper upscaler is not a waste of money, if you find the benefit worthwhile..... would I buy one? Yes I have done, was it worth it.... no, not to me! lol

stonehavencossie

fair enough if u had bought it already

i personally find the ps3 an excellent dvd player & upscaler hence i found no need to buy upscaling kit

im not alone, a large part of the AV community are very impressed with the ps3's upscaling and has been found to outperform Ł500 + upscalers

percybigun

if you get a sky HD box off ebay, you need to get a quad LNB (that goes on the dish) and run another wire from the dish to your box for the sky-plus facility.

and as said above you then just ring up sky to get it activated.

some of the sky HD boxes on ebay already come with the quad LNB and some extra cable.

make sure you get the sky HD remote aswell.

also you can easily upgrade the hard drive inside so the sky plus will have alot more space, using the method here:

http://www.skycopyplus.co.uk/

Fagin

If you see a difference than great.

I have a Ł65 dvd player in the bedroom (with upscaler built in). Both my XBOX HD-DVD upscaler and PS3 upscaler are no better. This is side by side on the same set and same connection method.

Perhaps a PS3 upscaler is as good as some Ł500+ upscalers..... but it is also no better than some Ł65 DVD players/scalers either. You understand what I am trying to get at.

For as many people that say the PS3 scaler is good, you can find another that says it's gash. Im certainly not slagging the PS3 off here though.

Lambchop

iTrader: (1)

if you buy a cheap hd box from ebay thats all very well. you still pay a subscription every month no? or can you run the box only and still get a better picture?

percybigun

i dunno if you could run the box without the Ł10 a month HD subscription, i dont see why not though. at least you would have it connected via HDMI instead of scart.

coswurv

iTrader: (8)

yeah this is what im hoping to do just activate my card with a hd box and stay on the same tariff (Ł45 a month) and run the box through hdmi and hope there is a difference !!

tonyk

Coswurv,

Ok some of thst above is not accurate.

First off you do not need a quad LNB for Sky HD. Its just a case of unplugging the cables from the old sky+ box into the HD box. You only need a quad LNB if you go multi room (two sky boxes) or an Octo LNB for 3 or 4 boxes.

If you plan to just replace your current Sky+ box then you have all you need for HD once you have bought the HD box. If you have first generation Sky such as not being able to record programs then you may need to buy a new LNB.

If you want to relocate your existing sky box to another room in the house and have the HD box on your main TV then you will need a quad LNB. If you go through Sky all the work needed is included in the price.

percybigun

yeah thats what i meant, if you already have sky plus you dont need to do the other wire and LNB thing

coswurv

iTrader: (8)

ok cheers. i'll find a hd box and plug it in the same way as the plus box and just phone sky and pair my card with the hd box, job done.