Eurosport picture quality

David Rose · 03-03-2009, 21:54

With the notable exception of British Eurosport on channel 521, the picture quality on my Virgin VBox is generally OK. Eurosport picture quality used to be OK too, but has deteriorated badly so that it now lacks sharpness, and looks grainy and pixelised. When I phoned Virgin they got me to switch from the "composite" setting, to "RGB" whatever that is, but it makes no difference at all. I use Scart leads - Maybe RGB doesn't work with Scart leads. Also, my TV is not that new, so may not be compatible.

If the Eurosport picture quality on my Virgin VBox cannot be improved, I might decide to switch to Sky, but would I have the same problem there? It's very difficult to get any answers. Can anyone help?

spiderplant · 03-03-2009, 22:26

RGB does work on SCART, and normally will improve the picture. But most TVs only support RGB on the first SCART socket (labelled AV1 or EXT1). Check which socket you've got the V-Box plugged in to.

Also, make sure you are using the 'TV' socket on the V-Box - that's the lower one. As you flick between RGB and composite in the menu, you should see the picture change.

Let us know how you get on.

ps. Welcome to the forum!

demented · 03-03-2009, 22:49

Eurosport SD variants look the same on Sky. It's certainly not the best pq channel but it is far from the worst. The only way you'd get a better pq is if you got Sky+ HD and got Eurosport HD.

There is of course the possibility you may be having a signal problem but you'd have noticed it on the other channels too? If it's not that you have 3 options

(i) Get RGB and stick it out
(ii) Get a v+ if you want better PQ
(iii) Get Sky+ HD if you want better PQ.

carbon60 · 08-03-2009, 18:24

It seems to have got worse since they went to widescreen. I think that an anamorphic widescreen picture probably requires more bitrate than a 4:3 picture. I assume they've just kept the bitrate the same as it was before.

Does anyone know if this is the case?

RealDiamond · 14-03-2009, 15:19

You wont have the same problem on Sky+ or Sky+HD, Channels that go widescreen or simulcast HD improved there picture. Not all normal sky boxes are the same quality but you get Sky+ at minimum now, not surprising but the HD upgrades have improved SD feeds.
one side effect is tiny writing during simulcast programmes..on SD feeds..