ITV 1 Pixelation

[kens]

I've been using TW Digital for 3 yrs now but I have noticed on ITV1 in the last few weeks that the picture is more pixelated than I have seen before. It may be the case on the other channels too - I just noticed on ITV1. For example on outdoor shots on The Bill, the lines on the brick-work on buildings show up very noticeably pixelated - changing channel to the analog signal from Crystal Palace and the effect is not there. The pixelation even shows up on VHS recordings made from the TW STB. Does anyone know the actual video data rate? Its MPEG 2 isn't it?

Similarly I have noticed that some of the radio channels sound like MP3 does at 64 to 96Kbs - is the rate really that low? I get better sound from FM at the moment. When I first had TW Digital I was really pleased with the radio quality but it has dropped.

Are TW squishing more into the channel space and dropping the quality to do that?

Thanks in advance for any details on this.

Ken

[Jules]

Sorry I can not help you with your question but I am sure there will be some one along soon who can, I just wanted to say to the forum

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by kens

I've been using TW Digital for 3 yrs now but I have noticed on ITV1 in the last few weeks that the picture is more pixelated than I have seen before. It may be the case on the other channels too - I just noticed on ITV1. For example on outdoor shots on The Bill, the lines on the brick-work on buildings show up very noticeably pixelated - changing channel to the analog signal from Crystal Palace and the effect is not there. The pixelation even shows up on VHS recordings made from the TW STB. Does anyone know the actual video data rate? Its MPEG 2 isn't it?

Similarly I have noticed that some of the radio channels sound like MP3 does at 64 to 96Kbs - is the rate really that low? I get better sound from FM at the moment. When I first had TW Digital I was really pleased with the radio quality but it has dropped.

Are TW squishing more into the channel space and dropping the quality to do that?

Thanks in advance for any details on this.

Ken

to cableforum...

I don't know too much about the Telewest setup (we do have members who are Telewest staffers, and they may be more help).

But, I do know that NTL rely on the broadcasters to encode the signal, they do not re-encode the signal themselves (they would have to to change the bitrate).

I suspect it's the same with Telewest.

[andymt]

all i can say is that if the broadcasters encode the channels themself then this might be useful-

on digital terrestrial, itv is also a weaker signal/and appears more pixelated in a low signal area.

this is because the network with itv on it also has many analogue channels on which take up more bandwidth, but, more channels are squeezed into low bandwidth to cmpensate this
there is no such problem with the bbc network,
however this is dtt, so it prob does not correlate to digital cable.

[Lucifer]

the picture on my e4 is terrible i couldnt watch it....

[andymt]

yes...

the weak network with itv on it also has..
channel 4
e4
attheraces
filmfour and all other filmfour channels
itv news
itv2
itv3
men and motors

Do any of these give you problems?
then we can find a solution.

[Lucifer]

yeah them same channels too when i first set up my tv i thought it was the tv, but other channels are fine.....

[andymt]

r u talking bout cable tv or freeview?

[Lucifer]

telewest digital mate