Newbie not happy with tvdrive
 

Hello everyone. Newbie here.

Just had 2 TVdrives fitted the other week for both downstairs (Samsung LE32inch) and upstairs (LG 32inch) both support 720P HD via HDMI.

Anyway The picture quality for normal SD channels is aweful compared to the freeview (built into both LCDs)

The picture on the samsung seems very dotty (sorry cant explain very well) and blocky. Its better on the LG but its still not great or as good as the freeview.

Anyone have any ideas?

both boxes are setup for 720P wide. Had a play about with the settign but cant seem to improve anything.

Thanks

---------- Post added at 15:05 ---------- Previous post was at 15:02 ----------

Just found this post after a search. http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...t=poor+picture

Same problem as me. Will have a read through now.

---------- Post added at 15:49 ---------- Previous post was at 15:05 ----------

Well had a read through the thread but no answer.

When your in the menu the small picture is spot on. Its like a video on a pc when you make it full screen it goes blury/blocky.

Re: Newbie not happy with tvdrive
 

Telewest installer told us its only at the trial stage now and don`t expect anything for a few months.
Only SKY gives true HD.

Re: Newbie not happy with tvdrive
 

Thanks for that. Makes me feel better.

Lets hope things get better.

Re: Newbie not happy with tvdrive
 

most cheaper hd screens do not do a very good job of upscaling standard definition pictures this is the main reason im holding off till I can afford a good one that will upscale better

Re: Newbie not happy with tvdrive
 

That's referring to the number of channels. In terms of quality, I doubt there will be much difference.

Re: Newbie not happy with tvdrive
 

So it could be down to the TV upscaling the picture?

How come freeview is spot on? Doesnt the TV upscale that signal?

Playing both DVD's in 576I and 576P its great as is freeview.

Is there anyway I can improve the picture?

Re: Newbie not happy with tvdrive
 

Hello everyone! I found this forum by running a search because I have exactly the same problem that is described here! My in-built free-view tuner produces clear and unblemished images for all channels on my Samsung 32" LCD, and does the same for DVD's. However, with the TVDrive connected via HDMI cable and optical audio, the picture quality is pants! It's blocky when you go closer to it and even BBC's HD Demo channel has variable results. The nature bits are clear and crisp but some of the other demo bits can be less impressive and a little blocky.

Obviously, the screen is quite capable as demonstrated by the free-view signal, but does anyone know what is going on with the Telewest signal?

:(

Re: Newbie not happy with tvdrive
 

If you've got the cables, try connecting via component. I know it's analogue rather than digital but you can still output 720/1080. Many have found the improvement amazing compared to HDMI. Don't know what the problem with HDMI is, possibly software related!

Abs

Re: Newbie not happy with tvdrive
 

Thanks for that, I shall pick up a cable for that and give it a try.

...but I don't hold out much hope! You see I have a HDMI DVD player (just an upscaler) but I have connected it to the TV via an HDMI cable and an optical cable. The picture quality was great. The internal free-view tuner presents a great picture too.
I had ordinary cable before TVDrive, and this was connected using scart, but produced the same blocky image. I just put this down to the poorer scart connection at the time. Now, since I have already tested the HDMI input to the TV with my DVD player, I'm thinking the TV input is ok.
So, this leaves me with 2 possibilities, either the signal from Telewest has some problem with it that leaves it incompatible with my particular brand of TV, or both boxes do something with the signal that leaves poor image quality both via SCART and HDMI.

I will get the component cables and try this one remaining type of connection to see if it is any better...but I bet it isn't!!! :rolleyes: :(

Re: Newbie not happy with tvdrive
 

I've already tried that. No change in picture :td:

---------- Post added at 13:25 ---------- Previous post was at 13:22 ----------

I was the same but put it down to maybe a damaged scart/RGB connection. I wasnt impressed when I got the TVDrive to find the picture the same.

Its the same thing on my 32inch LG LCD as well regrading the problems I'm having.

Re: Newbie not happy with tvdrive
 

Most of the channels will have poorer quality as they are SD channels being displayed on a HD TV even if you use HDMI. Until every channel is available in HD, watching NTL or Sky's normal channels through a HD display will show up all the problems that are otherwise invisible on a standard Definition TV, such as the blockiness caused by the low bit rates of the channels and high compression rates.

Re: Newbie not happy with tvdrive
 

Well now, this is VERY interesting...
I have hooked up the 3 component jacks for HD output/input on my TV Drive and TV. The results are amazing! Before, even the BBC HD demo channel was fairly poor through the HDMI cable (I tried 2 different quality ones as well but with zero difference!), but now the image is STUNNING through component.

Just the other night, BBC broadcast Kill Bill Vol1 on HD and the clarity was utterly BREATHTAKING. Even my wife commented on the picture when she walked in the room and this sort of thing just does not light her fire. Even on none HD transmissions, virtually all the blockiness has gone, except for when you get really close and the flaws due to the standard picture quality are apparent...which is to be expected as per the previous post.

So, in conclusion, there must be either a fault in Telewest's software that compiles to HDMI/SCART, or there are subtle differences to that software between Telewest and certain brands of TV manufacturers. I can't say I'm too bothered as I find the component conection more than satisfactory! By the way, surely the HD Component connections are still digital and not to be confused with the older yellow/red/white component connections which are analogue. The colour code of the HD components are red/green/blue.

RESULT :D :D :D

Re: Newbie not happy with tvdrive
 

Interested that you connect the DVD player via HDMI and find a great picture, yet not so when the TV drive is connected via the same lead.

I guess as audio/visual components get more closely related to their computer counterparts then software issues / incompatabilities will be more and more common.

For the record, many of us that have been using TVDrive for many months on different TV's find just the opposite.

I'm not going to get into the HD debate and the availability of channels, but I have run Sky+ and TVDrive (in HDMI) mode. On a Panasonic TV the Sky+ and built in freeview tuner output a picture that si comparable in quality (i.e both are very good indeed).

However watch the same programme upscaled via TVdriave and there is a noticable picture quality improvement, which increases again when HD is broadcast. I specifiaclly remember a particularly sad instance when I had friends round and we sat and watched the BBC HD trail for a substantial amount of time as the picture quality was eyewateringly ggod. Sad, i know, but - hey ho - isn't all AV. (great, isn't it!)

D

Re: Newbie not happy with tvdrive
 

Component cables are still only analogue as they are just phono cables, although they do output HD signals. DVI or HDMI are the only true Digital connections.

Re: Newbie not happy with tvdrive
 

Our TW box is connected to our Hitachi 42PD9700 plasma using HDMI and the picture quality for both SD and HD channels are fantastic. Obviously older programs will not look as good as the recent stuff but that goes without saying. We have noticed that the feed from the TW box is better than the inbuilt freeview tuner. We have it set to 720wide (just because of the blurry menu issue with 1080i). Our DVD player also upscales to 1080i and assuming the DVD is a good quality film (e.g. films released in the last 5-10yrs) then the picture quality is fantastic on this too.

I must admit that I have always found LCD pictures to be too harsh and highlight any flaws in pictures and in this respect unless you have a very good and true HD feed the picture will never look as good as it can on a Plasma. Also you have the refresh issues with faster moving images too.

In respect of the upscaling/downscaling, this is done in the TV Drive box primarily but then also in the TV. If you set your box to 720p then it will output in 1280x720 and 1080i is 1920x1080. Obviously if your TV screen is not this resolution then it will need to upscale/downscale appropriately too. Some TV's are better at doing this than others. If your TV is not that good at this then it may be worth setting the TV Drive to the resolution that best suits your TV's.

Re: Newbie not happy with tvdrive
 

I have the LG 32" LCD through HDMI @ 720 Wide and all my pictures through the TVDrive are stunning.

Re: Newbie not happy with tvdrive
 

I know that all Telewest customers are all fully aware of Re-Booting the box if things go wrong, but before you grab the phone to call them up for help. Consider the Batteries in your remote control, as another cause for the problem?
I suppose with all this new technology a window will pop up on screen and tell you when to change them, but until that happens, just keep that in mind.
I was just about to make a call myself recently, until I remembered about the remote batteries.
So I took them out and tried them in a torch (which is a good way of finding out how much power they have left)
As we use rechargeable ones, they do tend to need replacing more often, so it is a handy point to remember;)

Re: Newbie not happy with tvdrive
 

arthurthe spur here, I fell foul of a very good well known store, over a 37in telly, and with a TELEWEST TV DRIVE, the picture is top quality clear picture, and it has saved me hundreds, when you compare to Sky,(which does costs about £300.00+) when you buy large TVs be careful, as there are a few twists, that sales reps don't tell you about, so be careful, maybe when Sir Richard takes over, he will some buttons to make things happen:confused:

---------- Post added at 20:33 ---------- Previous post was at 20:21 ----------

Arthurthe Spur here, There is only one problem with the SkyHD, it is called price, Before l went to Telewest from Sky, l was qouted £300+ for HD, BUT don't forget if you have Sky+ you have to have a separate box, so with BOTH boxes you are looking at nearly £1,000 plus installations/insurance cost, whereas with Telewest you get both in the same box for £15.00 per month and no repair bill, if it goes wrong - they change the box.;)

Re: Newbie not happy with tvdrive
 

Not sure what the first part of your post was about. But Sky HD doesn't require a Sky+ box as well. The Sky HD box has the recording features as well.

Re: Newbie not happy with tvdrive
 

You do not need to have both boxes to watch HD, assuming that you are starting from scratch you have the initial outlay for the HD box.
Assuming that you already have the older sky or sky+ box then that will become redundant, which in fairness is no different as if you were an NTL customer going to HD.
With regard problems if things go wrong remember the sale of goods act, and by the way another thing to remember is that goods are covered up to 6 years regardless what guarantee you are given by the provider or manufacturer.
Only yesterday I got a refund on a laptop that was playing up, I had only had it about 4 weeks, I wont name the outlet, but for some reason patrick moore comes to mind!
They tried fobbing me off with the manufacturers helpline number, even consumer direct were not seeing the issue from my pont of view, so I got onto head office and reminded them that as the laptop was less than 6 months old I did not have to prove there was a existing problem when it was first purchased, and that I would take the matter to the small claims court if a full refund was not forthcoming.
At first they offered to do a recovery at their inconvenience, and if that did not work then they would offer a refund.
I declined this offer stating that I had no faith in their products and reminded them again of my intentions, they then conceded and offered me the full refund.

Re: Newbie not happy with tvdrive
 

Good result there with your Lap Top, well done!:tu:

Another thing I have noticed with these large TVs, is the price is dropping a lot, I know we bought ours way back to watch the work cup, but the prices have "halved" in some stores since then. We also took out their "Extended Warranty" just in case things went wrong?
The picture quality is great through the Telewest TV Drive box, in fact we had to get that, as the quality was so poor through their standard box.
My B/in/Law, has Sky, and gets around 8 H/D film channels, but then he is paying a lot more for that, than we are!
I contacted Telewest t ask about their future plans for H/D TV programs, and they said things are going to change come April? So we will have to wait and see;)