TiVo : TiVo Picture Quality

[fredtheted]

Hi

I had the TIVO installed last Tuesday and I too notice the difference between the picture quality in SD and HD of that of my replaced Samsung Virgin+ HD box. In fact the TIVO HD image is just on a par with the upscaled SD image of that of my old box. It is so bad my wife has noticed the difference.

I note from reading this forum that I am not alone on this problem and that there is a possiible firmwear fix imminent.

Has anyone any update on this?

If one is not forthcoming in the near future, I see there is no alternative but request return of Samsung Virgin+ box, under Viirgins 28 day return policy, to keep the peace indoors.

For information I have a Sony KDL32v4000 television (all picture enhancement settings off) and have tried the TIVO video settings on 1080i & 720p output and all other settings to no avail.

If anyone has any suggestions this would be appreciated with many thanks.

[Lew]

Check that the overscan setting hasn't been changed on your TV. When I switched from a V+ to a TiVo my Sony TV (KDL-40EX403) reset the overscan setting (Settings->Display->Screen->Display Area) which made HD look fuzzy as there was no longer a 1:1 pixel mapping. Once I'd reset this there was no noticeable difference between the TiVo and V+ on HD channels.

What you're describing is not what's being discussed in this thread; this thread is discussing a problem with the way the TiVo upscales SD channels.

[DaBoz]

Originally Posted by fredtheted

Hi

I had the TIVO installed last Tuesday and I too notice the difference between the picture quality in SD and HD of that of my replaced Samsung Virgin+ HD box. In fact the TIVO HD image is just on a par with the upscaled SD image of that of my old box. It is so bad my wife has noticed the difference.

I literally laughed out loud reading that, but it so perfectly sums up how the problem is perceived in your household.

Nice one, and I completely agree, as yes, even my wife noticed how soft the SD picture is.

[scgf]

It's not always the females either. My ex-partner was a guy and he couldn't tell the difference between HD and SD. To me it was night and day. "Look at the detail in the faces and the hair' I would say, and he would retort 'I just can't see the difference'! I felt like banging my head against the wall.

There's nowt so strange as folk, as they say!

[DaMac]

Originally Posted by Lew

Check that the overscan setting hasn't been changed on your TV. When I switched from a V+ to a TiVo my Sony TV (KDL-40EX403) reset the overscan setting (Settings->Display->Screen->Display Area) which made HD look fuzzy as there was no longer a 1:1 pixel mapping. Once I'd reset this there was no noticeable difference between the TiVo and V+ on HD channels.

Yes turning overscan off will improve your picture... but there are too many channels that broadcast on VM that will give you white lines (timecode info) at the top and / or at the bottom Yuk!

[fredtheted]

Originally Posted by fredtheted

Hi

I had the TIVO installed last Tuesday and I too notice the difference between the picture quality in SD and HD of that of my replaced Samsung Virgin+ HD box. In fact the TIVO HD image is just on a par with the upscaled SD image of that of my old box. It is so bad my wife has noticed the difference.

I note from reading this forum that I am not alone on this problem and that there is a possiible firmwear fix imminent.

Has anyone any update on this?

If one is not forthcoming in the near future, I see there is no alternative but request return of Samsung Virgin+ box, under Viirgins 28 day return policy, to keep the peace indoors.

For information I have a Sony KDL32v4000 television (all picture enhancement settings off) and have tried the TIVO video settings on 1080i & 720p output and all other settings to no avail.

If anyone has any suggestions this would be appreciated with many thanks.

Just an update. I did phone Virgin and registered my dis-satisfaction and requested to revert back to my trusty Samsung Virgin+hdbox, but they insisted they send an engineer first.
He arrived this morning and advised me that the reason was probably because I had an LCD tv instead of an LED tv, which he says gives a better hd/sd image and would account for my problem. Also contrary to previous advice on this forum my tv 'sharpness' setting was turned off, but should be switched on.
I'm still not happy, but perhaps TIVO will grow on me, particularly if they remedy the lack of 'reminder facility' and programme recording 'padding' facility.

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by fredtheted

Just an update. I did phone Virgin and registered my dis-satisfaction and requested to revert back to my trusty Samsung Virgin+hdbox, but they insisted they send an engineer first.
He arrived this morning and advised me that the reason was probably because I had an LCD tv instead of an LED tv, which he says gives a better hd/sd image and would account for my problem. Also contrary to previous advice on this forum my tv 'sharpness' setting was turned off, but should be switched on.
I'm still not happy, but perhaps TIVO will grow on me, particularly if they remedy the lack of 'reminder facility' and programme recording 'padding' facility.

What a pile of junk , there are some excellent LCD TVs out there.

Originally Posted by fredtheted

Just an update. I did phone Virgin and registered my dis-satisfaction and requested to revert back to my trusty Samsung Virgin+hdbox, but they insisted they send an engineer first.
He arrived this morning and advised me that the reason was probably because I had an LCD tv instead of an LED tv, which he says gives a better hd/sd image and would account for my problem. Also contrary to previous advice on this forum my tv 'sharpness' setting was turned off, but should be switched on.
I'm still not happy, but perhaps TIVO will grow on me, particularly if they remedy the lack of 'reminder facility' and programme recording 'padding' facility.

VM are supposed to be bringing out an update to solve the pq problem some people have. They also might add reminders. If you can't cope without them and if VM are unwilling to tell you for certain they will be added then you would be better to revert to the V+ IMO.

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by fredtheted

Just an update. I did phone Virgin and registered my dis-satisfaction and requested to revert back to my trusty Samsung Virgin+hdbox, but they insisted they send an engineer first.
He arrived this morning and advised me that the reason was probably because I had an LCD tv instead of an LED tv, which he says gives a better hd/sd image and would account for my problem. Also contrary to previous advice on this forum my tv 'sharpness' setting was turned off, but should be switched on.
I'm still not happy, but perhaps TIVO will grow on me, particularly if they remedy the lack of 'reminder facility' and programme recording 'padding' facility.

The tech is talking utter nonsense!!

Some people said its a problem with the way the box is outputting the frames in the wrong order and an update to TiVo should sort it out. Due to American software and the PAL picture. I think anyway.

I have a Samsung TV and the pq looks great, but it seems to be certain makes/models that it is more noticable on.

[jb66]

What's the tech supposed to say, he can't exactly say the TiVo has a crap picture to the customers face

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by jb66

What's the tech supposed to say, he can't exactly say the TiVo has a crap picture to the customers face

LOL does that mean you think its not great ?

Originally Posted by jb66

What's the tech supposed to say, he can't exactly say the TiVo has a crap picture to the customers face

Shouldn't he just tell them the truth? That some tv's have a pq issue with tivo and if the customer wants his old box until a fix is available then so be it. He shouldn't fob him off by telling him he has the wrong sort of tv.

[devilincarnate]

Originally Posted by jb66

What's the tech supposed to say, he can't exactly say the TiVo has a crap picture to the customers face

Very well said

Originally Posted by ahardie

Shouldn't he just tell them the truth? That some tv's have a pq issue with tivo and if the customer wants his old box until a fix is available then so be it. He shouldn't fob him off by telling him he has the wrong sort of tv.

Can I just add what happen's if the tech does not know about the PQ issue

Originally Posted by devilincarnate

Very well said



Can I just add what happen's if the tech does not know about the PQ issue

Well shouldn't he know Devil? If VM aren't briefing their tech's properly then they will try a box swap out or something which costs the company money. That has to be passed on to us customers. In fairness to the tech's though perhaps the customer should be told there is a pq issue and there is a fix on the way when they phone up faults in the first place.

[devilincarnate]

Originally Posted by ahardie

Well shouldn't he know Devil? If VM aren't briefing their tech's properly then they will try a box swap out or something which costs the company money. That has to be passed on to us customers. In fairness to the tech's though perhaps the customer should be told there is a pq issue and there is a fix on the way when they phone up faults in the first place.

Yes I agree, But it has been stated that some installers are sub-contracted so they will be the last to know? ( Not sure if correct )