Question about OTA image quality

[gflande1]

Just got the 622 a couple of days ago. Before that, I have a standard Dish Player 522 with the OTA going directly to the back of the TV. Anyway, after connecting the OTA to the back of the 622 I started noticing breakup in the picture. The signal strenght would constantly change...sometimes as drastic as 10%. The breakups were a problem when connected directly to the tv, just not as bad. Tonight I purchased a 10db signal amplifier from Radio Shack. This seems to have corrected the break up issues, however there is a noticable difference to the image quality. Things arent closed to being as sharp as before. I dont know if this started when it was first hooked up to the 622 (didnt watch alot of OTA because of the constant break ups) or if its caused by the amplifier. The antenna I purchased is a Channel Master STEALTHtenna, supposed to be one of the best. I can purchase a Channel Master 15db amplifer made specifically for the STEALTHtenna...maybe that would help.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Ron Barry]

Are you getting HD channels with this? If so, what type of signal strength are you seeing? Your OTAs HD channels should look wonderful and since they are digitally delivered you either get them or don't. It is not a matter of PQ but either on, partially on with breakup (As you described) or nothing.

Not sure what you mean by PQ.

[gflande1]

Can a in-line signal amplifier cause lower picture quality (PQ) on HD OTA signals? I feel the image quality isnt as sharp as it was...or is it like my wife says, and Im going crazy?? :sure:

Thanks

[Bill R]

Can a in-line signal amplifier cause lower picture quality (PQ) on HD OTA signals? I feel the image quality isnt as sharp as it was...or is it like my wife says, and Im going crazy?? :sure:

Thanks

Remember that the HD signal is digital. If you are able to receive the signal, it will look the same (amp or no amp). I would look for some other problem (cable or try a different input on your TV.

What amps can do is over amplify the signal. This can cause the channel to drop out.

[whatchel1]

Can a in-line signal amplifier cause lower picture quality (PQ) on HD OTA signals? I feel the image quality isnt as sharp as it was...or is it like my wife says, and Im going crazy?? :sure:

Thanks

A signal amp can only amplify the signal it has nada to do w/ PQ. With digital it is either perfect, near perfect, or not there at all.

[gflande1]

Makes sense to me...just a bunch of ones and zeros...it was just getting frustrated. I know it didnt make sense, I was just trying to find a cause. It was the only thing I could think of at the time, even though I know better.

Anyway, I found the problem. It ended up being my HDMI, don’t know what’s causing it, however I hooked up my Monster component cables and saw a drastic improvement...even my wife noticed (and she hates how much I obsess over this TV...she doesn’t see the point, she thought the SD picture was fine enough!:lol: ). Anyway, I swapped my Monoprice HDMI cable out with the one that came with my 622 and saw no difference. Don’t know if it’s cheap quality cables or something wrong with my TV or 622.

Anyway, thanks for all the help...

[Ron Barry]

Once again.. HDMI is digital from the 622 to your TV. Either get it or you don't. Should not created PQ issues unless your HDMI TV settings are really messed up.

[whatchel1]

Makes sense to me...just a bunch of ones and zeros...it was just getting frustrated. I know it didnt make sense, I was just trying to find a cause. It was the only thing I could think of at the time, even though I know better.

Anyway, I found the problem. It ended up being my HDMI, don’t know what’s causing it, however I hooked up my Monster component cables and saw a drastic improvement...even my wife noticed (and she hates how much I obsess over this TV...she doesn’t see the point, she thought the SD picture was fine enough!:lol: ). Anyway, I swapped my Monoprice HDMI cable out with the one that came with my 622 and saw no difference. Don’t know if it’s cheap quality cables or something wrong with my TV or 622.

Anyway, thanks for all the help...

The HDMI output is a known issue for the 622 althought it usually just goes dead instead of looking bad.

[gflande1]

Once again.. HDMI is digital from the 622 to your TV. Either get it or you don't. Should not created PQ issues unless your HDMI TV settings are really messed up.

Again I dont know what I was thinking...it makes sense...I will say it is a difference...and I cant find anything different on my tv...the HDMI picture looks no better than SD...maybe I am going crazy!!!!:eek2:

[Ron Barry]

Hmmm.. do you happen to have any of the other inputs hooked up to your TV. If so, unhook them and verify that it is the HDMI input that you are actually viewing. I know it sound crazy.. but people have made the mistake before.

[Jim5506]

Be sure the 622 output is set to 1080i or 720p (whichever is natural for your display). The default is 480i.

[primetimeguy]

It may just be that your user settings on the TV for the different inputs are different (brightness, sharpness, etc.) and you prefer one over the other. If those are the same then the service mode items could still be different causing differences in the picture.

[lujan]

Also, make sure the broadcast is in HD...

[CricTic]

I second the rec to check your picture settings in HDMI. Your TV may have gone back to the default settings on that input.

When I first switched to HDMI, I was amazed by how much the picture seemed to pop. Then I realized that the brights seemed really washed out and the colors just looked off. I checked the picture settings, and sure enough, they were at the factory defaults for the HDMI input. I reset them to my prefs and it looks great now.

It doesn't make any sense that HDMI looks less sharp than component. If anything, it would be the other way around ... the digital picture should look razor sharp.