Tivo SD Picture Quality Vs Sky+?
 

Hi All,

I'm having 2 Tivo boxes installed next week, I'm moving over from Sky, however I'm getting quite concerned regarding all the comments on how 'bad' the Tivo picture quality is.

Today I only have Sky + (NOT Sky+HD) so I am used to 'only' havind an SD quality picute (I have a HDTV, just begrudged having to buy a new box and pay an extra £10 per month for HD) - my question is, is the Tivo SD picture quality any 'worse' than a Sky SD, or are most people who have an issue upset that the Upscaled HD picture they are used to from a V+HD or VHD box isnt as good on Tivo?

As long as picture is going to be no worse than I have today, I'm not that bother that I might have had a better picture with a VHD box, however if the picture is going to be worse than what I have today, I might reconsider..... (dont want to reconsider though as I'm getting a really good saving my moving ;) ).

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Cheers

Re: Tivo SD Picture Quality Vs Sky+?
 

this page might help
http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/11...ompared-v.html

Re: Tivo SD Picture Quality Vs Sky+?
 

You need to check that the channels you watch on sky are available on Virginmedia.

Re: Tivo SD Picture Quality Vs Sky+?
 

I think you'll be fine if you only have the old grey Sky+ box connected via Scart to your TV.

The old Sky+ box does not upscale the Tivo will connect Via HDMI to your TV an will up-scale SD so at worst the picture will be equal to what you're used to but I strongly suspect it will be better(dependant on how good you TV's inbuilt up-scaler is).

If you going to Tivo from SkyHD,VHD or V+HD you may or may not of noticed a big difference.

Re: Tivo SD Picture Quality Vs Sky+?
 

Hi all,

Thanks for the feedback,

Yes I do have the old Amstrad Sky+ connected via scart, so feel a bit better now :) - so many people were complaining about the pic quality, just got a bit concerned the missus was gonna kill me if the PQ really was that bad!! :D ) and VM definitely have all the chanels I'm used to, I'm moving from Sky basics with the Kids pack, to VM XL so I actaully get loads of stuff I never had before.

Cheers

Re: Tivo SD Picture Quality Vs Sky+?
 

It's also worth pointing out that VM have said that there is an update coming to fix the up scaling issue.

Re: Tivo SD Picture Quality Vs Sky+?
 

It seems to be certain TV's where the problem is more prominent, Some people have reported a problem and others have said that it is brilliant. I have to say that I have no problems with the picture quality.

But can understand that some have. So I would say that it will bee 50/50 for you. Till the next update, then it should all be fixed for all.

Re: Tivo SD Picture Quality Vs Sky+?
 

Aside from the fact the OP is used to SD, it's a lot less than 50/50. The problem is relatively rare.

This post was the first time I saw it reported, and plenty of people had TiVos by then. Which in a way is a shame because it would have been fixed earlier if we'd known about it.

Re: Tivo SD Picture Quality Vs Sky+?
 

Isn't it only related to 1080i?

Re: Tivo SD Picture Quality Vs Sky+?
 

The first thing I noticed with Tivo is that the SD picture quality was noticeably inferior to the V+, it's perfectly watchable just not as sharp and motion is a lot more blurred. I also think the HD quality is not quite as good. I've got a fairly decent telly (Philips PFL 9640) and even after tweaking the settings I couldn't get the PQ on a par with the V+.

I only know one other person with TiVo and they agree, especially about the motion handling (they have a Sony). You quickly get used to it and it's still a reasonable picture (depending on the channel) so I wouldn't worry too much, especially since they have said they're addressing the issue.

Re: Tivo SD Picture Quality Vs Sky+?
 

Possibly. I've seen reports that selecting 720p makes it go away.

I've never seen the problem myself. Only in the pictures Lew posted.

Re: Tivo SD Picture Quality Vs Sky+?
 

Although switching to 720p does hide the problem somewhat you can still see that the problem is there on text as it's slightly distorted compared to correctly upscaled content. Also, 720p mode introduces noticeable flicker on static graphics.

Here's the pics again.

576i output, upscaled by my Sony 1080p TV:

http://web.mac.com/lwernham/Pictures...oblem/576i.jpg

Upscaled to 720p by TiVo; actually I think it's upscaling to 1080i and converting that to 720p as the distortion follows the same pattern as the problem with the 1080i picture:

http://web.mac.com/lwernham/Pictures...oblem/720p.jpg

Upscaled to 1080i; here you can see that it appears to be switching the order of the lines:

[img]Download Failed (1)[/img]

Notice how in both the 720p and 1080i pictures the tops of the 'round' letters such as 'e', 'g' and 'p' look slightly pointed compared to the 576i picture.

Re: Tivo SD Picture Quality Vs Sky+?
 

Sky+ is pants picture via analogue scart (like your old VCR)
Tivo SD is upscaled via digital HDMI


= Sky+ is like watching old VCR compared to Tivo - Seen my mates Sky+ and quite frankly it should never be seen on a screen above 28" it's simply not good enough

= If you dont think Tivo (even with a limp) is 10 times better picture qual than your ageing Sky+ box I'll buy you a car

Re: Tivo SD Picture Quality Vs Sky+?
 

I also understand that problem only affects 'some' TV's

I certainly cant tell the difference between Tivo SD and V+ SD so I'm not anticipating any benefit from the up and coming fix for it

Re: Tivo SD Picture Quality Vs Sky+?
 

The easiest way to see if your TV is affected is to tune to channel 999, which is what I used in the screenshots posted earlier. If the text looks like the 1080i picture I posted then your TV is affected. If not then you're correct in that you probably won't notice any difference when they fix the problem. As long as they can get the picture quality for SD channels to match my Samsung V+ box then I'll be happy.

Re: Tivo SD Picture Quality Vs Sky+?
 

Wow - loads of reply's :)

Thanks for taking the time to offer advice - feeling quite a bit better about it now!

My install is this Wednesday, so guess I'll know for sure then :p:

Worst case scenario - I get a nice shiny new car from JethroUK!! :D

Will post feedback once I have it!!

Cheers

Re: Tivo SD Picture Quality Vs Sky+?
 

Don't believe it. He still owes me a house, a boat and a car. :)

Re: Tivo SD Picture Quality Vs Sky+?
 

Unfortunatly my feedback will have to be delayed :(

VM technician turned up for my install with 2 luvly shiney Tivo boxes (Ok, I know their matt, not shiney but you know what I mean ;) ) a Nice superhub to upgrade by 10MB, to 30MB and a length of wire to convert my phone from BT to VM, but then disaster !! :shocked:

He says my signal level is very low and he's surprised Im not having issues with my BB, says the TV picture would be unstable/unwatchable and that he is getting no signal whatsoever off the phone line.

To be fair to him, he was polite, helpfull and very apologetic and did spend the best part of an hour running between my house and the cabinet trying whatever he could to sort the problem, but in the end had to admit defeat and booked me a cable repull :bigcry:

Now have to wait 2 weeks till a 2 man team is available.

Again - no criticism of the techie - he did do everything he could! :clap:

Can't beleive how at a loss I felt just staring at my poor old Sky+ after he had left, having booked the day off to play with my exciting new Tivo box!! lol :p: