http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/ Engadget HD Comments for Ask Engadget HD: Which provider has the best quality HD? http://hd.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://hd.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/Feb 21st 2008 12:10PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/Feb 21st 2008 12:57PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/Feb 21st 2008 12:37PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/Feb 21st 2008 12:38PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/
For example, when DirecTV was restricted to their legacy satellites, using MPEG2 encoding only, they had to struggle to get all their HDTV offerings with only a few available transponders scattered over 3 satellites. Som they compressed a LOT and it showed, gaining them the HD Lite label.

Another example is unswitched digital cable (and FiOs for that matter), which has a 1GHz limit for all channels. Right now they have to compress or drop something else to add an HD channel. They are moving to local switches so that unwatched channels aren't on the local part of the cable, and this will help some.

FiOs is moving to a packet-switched model which is better yet, as it allows them to use the full fiber, essentially ending bandwidth limits.

DirecTV now has a dedicated national satellite and another on the pad, and has more of a "need more content" problem than a "too much content" problem. THe need to FILL bandwidth, not find it. So their new MPEG4 channels are generally compressed only so far as it doesn't degrade. They have a bigger issue in that a lot of what is called "HD" is just upconverted SD, some of it by broadcasters that stretch and crop to get there.]]>Feb 21st 2008 12:39PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/
Quality standards need to be in place for Blu-Ray disks as well, especially with Sony running the show. There needs to be a standard, legally, period. ]]>Feb 21st 2008 12:44PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/Feb 21st 2008 12:52PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/Feb 21st 2008 1:05PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/
There's large screenshots, so enjoy.

(d* = directv, e* = echostar, dishnetwork. avsforum shorthand)

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=704350

seems like some image hosting has blocked a few shots, so check out pages 1, 4, and the bottom of 6 for some good ones.]]>Feb 22nd 2008 12:05AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/Feb 21st 2008 1:00PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/Feb 21st 2008 2:22PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/
Every time I see that TimeWarner Fiber commercial touting it's use of fiber optics I want to puke. They've been using fiber for years BS. Well, I wish they'd put it to use for customers. TimeWarner has a monopoly in my area and it's no good because they got users over a barrel with no competition for pricing and service.]]>Feb 26th 2008 6:10PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/Feb 21st 2008 1:09PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/Feb 21st 2008 1:12PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/Feb 21st 2008 1:13PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/Feb 21st 2008 4:22PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/Feb 21st 2008 1:25PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/Feb 21st 2008 1:41PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/Feb 21st 2008 1:51PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/Feb 21st 2008 2:04PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/Feb 22nd 2008 10:20AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/Feb 21st 2008 3:01PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/Feb 21st 2008 3:22PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/Feb 21st 2008 1:43PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/Feb 21st 2008 1:51PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/Feb 21st 2008 2:02PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/ Comcast]]>Feb 21st 2008 2:22PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/Feb 21st 2008 2:42PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/Feb 21st 2008 2:49PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/Feb 21st 2008 3:16PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/
That said, OTA is also susceptible to weather problems, much more so than satellite, since if the wind blows the antenna, there goes your signal (for example). Although it has to blow pretty hard.]]>Feb 21st 2008 4:12PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/Their DVR sucks and I swear I get better sound out of my TivoHD than their own DVR.

I just wish they had more HD channels.
The customer service and billing department is deplorable as well...
If I hadn't already invested in the TivoHD, I'd be back at DirecTV by now.
]]>Feb 21st 2008 4:33PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/
The Super Bowl looked like hot ass here (Richmond, VA), which I blame on the local affiliate. It doesn't matter how nice the network feed is if your locals buy cheap-ass HD equipment.]]>Feb 21st 2008 5:01PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/Feb 21st 2008 5:27PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/Feb 21st 2008 7:04PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/
On a 1080p tv, output set to 1080i, show at 720p = 720p upscaled to 1080 in box.

1080p tv, output set to 720p, show at 1080i = 1080i converted to 720p converted to 1080p.

When dishnet was asked about this, the CSRs had no idea there was an issue. But the engineers luckily said they're working on a software fix.

In the meantime, for the best quality, you have to find out what each individual show is formatted in, and then just keep switching the dvr to that output. PAIN.]]>Feb 22nd 2008 2:42AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/]]>Feb 22nd 2008 11:49AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/02/21/ask-engadget-hd-which-provider-has-the-best-quality-hd/Mar 8th 2008 1:44PM