HD quality - best and worst

[HDinMA]

I nominate FOX HD as the absolute worst, especially for sporting events, and CBS HD the best.

[hdtvfan0001]

Oh there are plenty of others with less quality HD than Fox....

In general, the rule on HD presentation in the home:

Garbage in Garbage out.

HD won't fix poor original content/transmission quality, and some channels fluctuate in their content HD quality over different time periods.

I've seen the best overall HD on CBS, Smithsonian HD, Discovery HD, A&E HD, and a few other channels.

[David MacLeod]

at least you get FoxHD, sd only here.
is it as bad as sd?

[HDinMA]

at least you get FoxHD, sd only here.
is it as bad as sd?

No, not as bad as watching SD on an HDTV. But it makes you long for real HD though and feel cheated. I hope some of these channels are planning to upgrade their technology soon.

I should also mention Discovery HD as a standout. That was the first HD channel I tuned in with my new HDTV in late 2003 and I can still remember the awe like it was yesterday.

[dtrell]

almost all of the network 720p channels suck for HD as well as ESPN's HD channels...which is a shame since they practically have all the damn sporting events. 720p CAN be done right as shown by NATGEO HD and HIST HD..both of which have fantastic pictures on cable or D*. ABC/ESPN and FOX are simply pathetic on D* and even worse on Time Warner Cable.

and to rant yet again, espn needs to get ri of that STUPID WHITE HOT LOGO on their screen, and ESPNHD really doesnt need that stupid ticker running constantly along the bottom...people can put on ESPN2 like they used to if they want a constant ticker. why cant they just do like they do when they show pro basketball and make the espn logo OPAQUE and get rid of the ticker except for 28/58 updates (again, like they used to do all the time):soapbox::rant::ramblinon

[RawisTheGameHhH]

best hd has to be the HDNet channels :)

[wilbur_the_goose]

I agree that FOX HD is the worst.

[TheRatPatrol]

I've seen the best overall HD on CBS, Smithsonian HD, Discovery HD, A&E HD, and a few other channels.

best hd has to be the HDNet channels :)
Those and MGM HD.

[paulman182]

The best HD quality I've seen is on the PPV channels.

The HD Starz channels are the best of the movie channels, IMO.

I don't watch much of anything but movies so I can't comment on most of the channels.

[Hutchinshouse]

For me, the absolute best are:
MAXHD (ch. 512)
MAXWHD (ch. 514)
HDTH (ch. 281) Especially “Sunrise Earth”

The quality rocks! The sharpness and the black levels are by far the best I've seen pushed from DIRECTV. Even better black levels than HDNet. For the longest time I thought HDNet was the best. That all changed when I got MAXHD & MAXWHD.

I agree, FOX does stink. My unconverted DVDs look better than FOX's so called HD.

[Ice Runner]

I don't watch TBSHD much, but the picture quality during the baseball playoffs was excellent. Boy, do I wish ESPN's picture quality was that good!

[pfueri]

I don't watch TBSHD much, but the picture quality during the baseball playoffs was excellent. Boy, do I wish ESPN's picture quality was that good!
When TBS went HD I think two years ago .The baseball play off's had to be the best picture I have ever seen on Directv . Maybee they pumped up the bit rate when they first went HD .

[islesfan]

HD Net definitely the best. Our FOX has good quality but lots of dropouts in the past couple of months. Really hard to follow dialogue since early December. CBS has the best of the nets. NBC has breakups in slow pans or fast action (and no 5.1) and ABC looks good, but again no 5.1.

[paulman182]

It's really hard to say which network is the best because we get them from one local channel or the other.

I would think the NBC local in NY might look very different from the NBC local in Huntington, WV.

[ziggy29]

Keep in mind also that this may vary from market to market, and the existence (or lack) of subchannels plays a role as well if you are getting locals OTA. Even if (say) CBS is usually better than FOX, if a market has two subchannels to the CBS affiliate and none for FOX, in that market the OTA FOX picture may look better.

[philmalik]

For me, I have the NHL Centre Ice package, and when a game is on the NHL Network (Channel 215), it blows away the other high def broadcasts on other channels.

For movies, HDNET is the best quality in my opinion. Especially the older movies. Some movies, even from the mid 1970's look fantastic.

[CorpITGuy]

A lot of it also depends on the actual programming. Generally, my NBC affiliate's HD programming is unbelievable. ABC is good here, too, but when Raycom Sports presents an SEC game in HD I honestly wonder whether it's SD or HD sometimes. As others have mentioned, HDNet, etc. are some of the best as well... but it really depends on the content more than the feed.

[davring]

A lot of it also depends on the actual programming. Generally, my NBC affiliate's HD programming is unbelievable. ABC is good here, too, but when Raycom Sports presents an SEC game in HD I honestly wonder whether it's SD or HD sometimes. As others have mentioned, HDNet, etc. are some of the best as well... but it really depends on the content more than the feed.

This was Raycoms last season for the SEC anyway:)

[CorpITGuy]

This was Raycoms last season for the SEC anyway:)

Oh, thanks for posting that. By the way, despite the annoying commentators, didn't that Florida victory look BEAUTIFUL in HD last night? ;)

[n3ntj]

While watching the TSN feed of the Rangers/Canadians game on NHL Network the other night, I noticed how great their (TSN) PQ was. I watch a lot of sports in HD, and this was excellent.

I think Fox and CBS do an Ok job, but NBC lacks when it comes to HD PQ. Lots of washed out faces (with no crispness) in a lot of their HD programs.

[KAL]

I nominate FOX HD as the absolute worst, especially for sporting events, and CBS HD the best.


I tend to agree. Curently watching the Arizona/Carolina game on FOX. The difference between what im seeing now and what I saw in the earlier CBS pigskin game is almost like night and day, to me at least.

[Stealth87]

I tend to agree. Curently watching the Arizona/Carolina game on FOX. The difference between what im seeing now and what I saw in the earlier CBS pigskin game is almost like night and day, to me at least.

Totally agree. It's been that way all season.

[BattleScott]

Philly/NYG is on FOXWHD CH 399 if anybody wishes to compare that with their local FOX HD signal. My local FOX HD is great, so they are pretty much the same.

[kevinwmsn]

A lot of it also depends on the actual programming. Generally, my NBC affiliate's HD programming is unbelievable. ABC is good here, too, but when Raycom Sports presents an SEC game in HD I honestly wonder whether it's SD or HD sometimes. As others have mentioned, HDNet, etc. are some of the best as well... but it really depends on the content more than the feed.

Last season was the first time Raycom had games in HD down here and it looked good. It helped being the local channel here doesn't have subchannels and Raycom games were the only things that the I ever seen this particular local channel show in HD. But now SEC games would either be on CBS or ESPN. I hope SEC games won't be on ESPNU, being D* don't have them in HD and it would require the sports pack.

[ryno2292]

For me, I have the NHL Centre Ice package, and when a game is on the NHL Network (Channel 215), it blows away the other high def broadcasts on other channels.

For movies, HDNET is the best quality in my opinion. Especially the older movies. Some movies, even from the mid 1970's look fantastic.

I agree with that, for me it's hard to imagine a better looking hockey broadcast than the picture on an NHL network (CBC HD) game in HD. NESN does a great job too with Bruins games, has to be one of the best as far as RSN's go.

[RVD26]

Best: Food Network

Worst: TNT and TBS

Of course, it always depends on the program airing as well.
All HD programs (even on the same network) are not created equally.

[BattleScott]

Best: Food Network

Worst: TNT and TBS

Of course, it always depends on the program airing as well.
All HD programs (even on the same network) are not created equally.

Food Network HD should be OUTLAWED! I've gained 20 lbs. since getting it in HD...

[Grentz]

MGMHD and the HDNet channels look amazing most of the time.

Discovery and the other Nat Geo/Science type channels also generally look very good.

[redplanet2005]

FOX HD is truly the worst....But their showings of college football weren't as terrible as pro football.....

[hdthebest]

NBA TV HD is very good especially their studio shows

[sdk009]

While I agree that Fox is by far the worst, (along with ESPN & ESPN2) and CBS is the best, NBC's SNF HD telecasts were pretty good this season, OTA. And, the Super Bowl will be on NBC.

[studdad]

I nominate anything on D* as the worst. After all, great HD does not come with green screen, video drops, video stutters, pixelation, audio burps, audio stutters, etc.

[msmith198025]

Sounds like you have equipment problems that need to be resolved

[dewey]

Best:
Saturday Night Live on NBC has been really good lately

Worst:
Some of the CSN "HD" hockey brodcasts have been horrible

[BattleZone]

The best HD quality I've seen is on the PPV channels.

The HD Starz channels are the best of the movie channels, IMO.

I don't watch much of anything but movies so I can't comment on most of the channels.

Movies *should* look better, because they can be pre-compressed using multiple-pass compression for optimal results.

Live coverage, like sports, can only get on-the-fly compression, which means less picture quality with equal bandwidth compared to multi-pass compression. But no one would accept a delay on their "live" coverage, either, so that's what we get.

[CorpITGuy]

I nominate anything on D* as the worst. After all, great HD does not come with green screen, video drops, video stutters, pixelation, audio burps, audio stutters, etc.

Sounds like you have equipment problems that need to be resolved

No kidding. My HR-22 isn't perfect, but it's nothing like studdad is describing. Methinks he needs to call support.

[CorpITGuy]

Movies *should* look better, because they can be pre-compressed using multiple-pass compression for optimal results.

Live coverage, like sports, can only get on-the-fly compression, which means less picture quality with equal bandwidth compared to multi-pass compression. But no one would accept a delay on their "live" coverage, either, so that's what we get.

That's interesting. Thanks for posting. I hadn't ever thought of it.

[dodge boy]

No kidding. My HR-22 isn't perfect, but it's nothing like studdad is describing. Methinks he needs to call support.

They are coming out Sat. to replace my multi switch because I get all kinds of goofy stuff, and it only happens on 1 receiver.

[davidpoe]

I have my antenna into my TV in case of very bad rain fade, I get CBS, NBC, and ABC out of philly in HD over the air and it is great. My tv still can't find an over the air digital channel for Fox 29.

[Matman]

FXHD was running "I Robot" last nite, the Pix quality was EXCELLENT, probably some of the best HD I have on D* yet. F/X seems to be hit or miss on the movies depending on the age, initial quality before conversion etc, but last nites showing was AMAZING. I was a happy camper!

[Talos4]

Here in SE WI CBS has the worst HD hands down. We don't get their HD feed thru D* because the local affiliate (WDJT) is still playing the money game with D*. So I can only comment on the OTA.

They have 6, SIX! sub channels running. Pixelating during spoting events is awful, distracting and just not right.

Our NBC affilate has One sub running and is OK.

Our ABC and Fox affiliates have no subs running and both of them have far superior PQ.

NBC, ABC and Fox are available thru D*

On a side note one of our two PBS affliates is running NINE!!! subs. the other is running 3.

[studdad]

Sounds like you have equipment problems that need to be resolvedNOPE, equipment was completely swapped out. The latest updates are the issue.

[CorpITGuy]

NOPE, equipment was completely swapped out. The latest updates are the issue.

No, they aren't. All of your equipment was swapped out, including the stuff on the outside of your house? All of your wiring was re-done? Doubtful. We all got the same updates and don't have those problems.

I hate to come across as mean, but you really do have an equipment problem. I'd hate for you to wait on a fix that isn't coming. :(

[studdad]

No, they aren't. All of your equipment was swapped out, including the stuff on the outside of your house? All of your wiring was re-done? Doubtful. We all got the same updates and don't have those problems.

I hate to come across as mean, but you really do have an equipment problem. I'd hate for you to wait on a fix that isn't coming. :(Thanks for the concern, but go over to the DVR thread and look at the thread for the latest update. These issues plague a huge percentage of people. And yes, I did have EVERYTHING (EXCEPT FOR THE DISH ITSELF) CHANGED, including lbn, bbcs, HD DVR (now an HR22), all cable, all connections, etc. My system worked beautifully for about 2 months, then the first update came, and things started to happen, particularly video stuttering and audio burps, then the second update came and things got even worse, including green screen, video drops, pixelation, etc. All signals continue to be very strong,,,,80-100 on the various transponders. Maybe you missed all the issues that occured when these updates came out, but they are very prevalent in the HD DVR threads. Why have I not called someone out? Because the issue is the updates. Maybe it effects certain DVRs more than others. So, I will give them a call next week and give them one chance to fix it, but I don't see it happening. Others have had techs out with no positive results.

[CorpITGuy]

Good luck!

[techdimwit]

Yep, I agree Food Network is one of the best. I have to say, though, that the PQ on American Idol (FOX) last night was spectacular - much better than last year. I don't know what the difference is, but it was a beautiful picture. I was watching on the local delivered by D*, not OTA.

[HDinMA]

Wow, you guys are right. Food Network HD is incredible! I can't stop watching it. Even the SD show with Rachael Ray looks very good.

I must also admit that some of the hostesses are pleasant distractions, if you know what I mean. :heybaby:

[DarinC]

Keep in mind also that this may vary from market to market ... if a market has two subchannels to the CBS affiliate and none for FOX, in that market the OTA FOX picture may look better.

Unless things have changed, Fox quality should be fairly consistent from market to market. For most networks, various affiliates can have different hardware that varies in quality. And they generally send the affiliates a fairly high bitrate signal, which the affiliate then re-encodes with their equipment at whatever bitrate is left over after any subchannels they may also broadcast. Fox provided their affiliates with specific hardware that should be fairly consistent from market to market, and allows the affiliate to slip in station bugs and overlays without a re-encode. They transmit their signal to the affiliates at a relatively low bitrate (something around 14Mbps, IIRC) to give the affiliates extra bandwidth transmit subchannels if they want to. So whether or not a Fox affiliate carries any subchannels or not, the Fox feed is going to be bitstarved regardless. The Fox implementation is going to be good for situations where an affiliate would have multi-casted anyway, because it at least removes a re-encode. But it's not good for affiliates who might not have carried subchannels, as their bitrate won't be any better even if they don't. It essentially brings all of them down to the lowest common denominator.

There might be some markets that are exceptions, but my understanding was it was a national implementation strategy.

[wilbur_the_goose]

Here's an obserbation on FOX. I was watching the Giants/Eagles game on Sunday. PQ was probably 5 out of 10 (CBS was 9 out of 10).

Last night, the NFL Network is replaying the Giants/Eagles game in HD. The PQ was fantastic - as good as CBS.

I wonder if FOX' problem is in the way they deliver the programming from the network to the locals?

[Artwood]

MGM HD looks great to me.

Chillers is the most pathetic SD in the history of the universe.

[bighoopla]

For me, the absolute best are:
MAXHD (ch. 512)
MAXWHD (ch. 514)
HDTH (ch. 281) Especially “Sunrise Earth”

The quality rocks! The sharpness and the black levels are by far the best I've seen pushed from DIRECTV. Even better black levels than HDNet. For the longest time I thought HDNet was the best. That all changed when I got MAXHD & MAXWHD.

Today, I watched about an 45 min. of Running Scared on MAXWHD. I counted 4 times in only 45 min. where the picture 'BRRRIP'ed (stuttering picture w/artifacts and distorted sound).

Do you get a lot of this on MAXWHD?

What satellite are they coming off of?

[studdad]

Today, I watched about an 45 min. of Running Scared on MAXWHD. I counted 4 times in only 45 min. where the picture 'BRRRIP'ed (stuttering picture w/artifacts and distorted sound).

Do you get a lot of this on MAXWHD?

What satellite are they coming off of?common issue with the latest DVR update

[studdad]

Chillers is the most pathetic SD in the history of the universe.

lol, I would have to agree with that.

[paulman182]

Today, I watched about an 45 min. of Running Scared on MAXWHD. I counted 4 times in only 45 min. where the picture 'BRRRIP'ed (stuttering picture w/artifacts and distorted sound).

Do you get a lot of this on MAXWHD?



I get it never.

[bighoopla]

I get it never.

What model HR?? do you have?

[paulman182]

What model HR?? do you have?

The one I personally watch 90% of the time is my HR22-100.