Improving quailty of compressed video

[Mudfrog]

I have Xfinity at home, most shows look ok but a few look ridiculously bad. Examples being Supernatural, Walking Dead, Arrow, etc. The video shows obvious signs of major compression. Anyway to somewhat improve the image? I have a Vizio M60-C3 which is 4k, I'm sure the up-scaling to 4k only makes the issue worse.

It's even worse now that I've been switched to the cloud DVR service.

[GreatGreg]

Buy the blu-ray!

[Mudfrog]

I don't like the shows that well

[AmishParadise]

Rent the Blu-ray!

[ImPulSive]

I visited this thread hoping to improve my duck calls, how disappointing...

PS

[Show spoiler]It is "quality" not quailty...

Re Comcast Cloud based DVR, good luck with that... Buy/rent the shows, I have given up DVRing, watching most shows like that and just binge watch later on when full season is out.

[Mudfrog]

Originally Posted by ImPulSive

I visited this thread hoping to improve my duck calls, how disappointing...

PS

[Show spoiler]It is "quality" not quailty...

Re Comcast Cloud based DVR, good luck with that... Buy/rent the shows, I have given up DVRing, watching most shows like that and just binge watch later on when full season is out.

Yes, I hate typos

I dislike Comcast altogether but they are my only option atm.

[bigshot]

If comcast is internet, not cable, a solid wifi connection will get you better quality streaming. There are things you can do to optimize your wifi connection to get better bitrates. One thing is if you have a dual band router, activate the 5G network. 5G doesn't go through walls as well, but if your TV is close to your router, it will eliminate momentary drops in throughput. Another thing you can do is get a free app like NetSpot and scan your area to see what channel your neighbors' wifi networks are on. Internet providers almost always put everyone on channel 1, along with baby monitors, and other wifi devices. This causes interference and lower bitrates. Find an open range and move your wifi to that channel. Also a better router makes a huge difference too. I went from the free one Verizon gave me to an Apple Airport Extreme and it made a big difference in my signal strength.

Wifi isn't plug and play. You have to finesse it to get the best performance, especially for things like streaming that require high data transfer rates. You'll find though that stronger wifi will let you lock in to better quality streams.

[ImPulSive]

Originally Posted by bigshot

If comcast is internet, not cable, a solid wifi connection will get you better quality streaming. There are things you can do to optimize your wifi connection to get better bitrates. One thing is if you have a dual band router, activate the 5G network. 5G doesn't go through walls as well, but if your TV is close to your router, it will eliminate momentary drops in throughput. Another thing you can do is get a free app like NetSpot and scan your area to see what channel your neighbors' wifi networks are on. Internet providers almost always put everyone on channel 1, along with baby monitors, and other wifi devices. This causes interference and lower bitrates. Find an open range and move your wifi to that channel. Also a better router makes a huge difference too. I went from the free one Verizon gave me to an Apple Airport Extreme and it made a big difference in my signal strength.

Wifi isn't plug and play. You have to finesse it to get the best performance, especially for things like streaming that require high data transfer rates. You'll find though that stronger wifi will let you lock in to better quality streams.

OP is referring to Comcast/Xfinity cable TV service. Their newer X1 DVR is a cloud based system that they are trying to perfect so recordings are on the cloud and not on a hard drive on the device. This DVR accesses the cloud via the Comcast coax, no Internet connection is needed. This is how mine works, no Ethernet cable plugged in and no WiFi configured. And my Internet is not Comcast/Xfinity equipment, I bought my modem and run my own firewall and WiFi. So the only way for my X1 DVR to get Internet access right now is via the coax connected to it. Not sure we need to connect anything anyway since the installation instructions never mention connecting to Internet.

With my X1 DVR (Arris version) when a recording is cloud based (something I still do not understand how I can control, force to be hard drive instead) there is a noticeable loss in quality. I also have audio issues, can only playback in stereo, no 5.1 - again at least for me. I would like to figure out how to force ALL recording to local disk to avoid cloud based recordings altogether. Right now if I see that a show is cloud recorded, I do not even bother to watch it. I delete and then try on demand or just download it elsewhere to watch. It amazes me how Comcast can take so many steps forward only to take some back too. Their old DVR (Motorola) could step through the playback frame by frame - not on X1. The old would let you set a manual recording (for example race was rained out, be on tomorrow but guide does not update to show) - X1 does not. Old DVR had a lot more flexibility in modifying the recording start and stop times - X1 limited. Frustrating when you get used to old one and then a new one loses some of these basic features.

Edit - Now if the OP is trying to watch TV, recorded shows from Xfinity on a device other than their X1 DVR, like a tablet or phone, then your Internet connection which most likely includes WiFi will play an important role in the best quality possible. I was assuming that the OP was referring to content served up by the X1 DVR only and watched on the attached TV. OP can clarify if I am mistaken.

[Mudfrog]

Originally Posted by ImPulSive

OP is referring to Comcast/Xfinity cable TV service. Their newer X1 DVR is a cloud based system that they are trying to perfect so recordings are on the cloud and not on a hard drive on the device. This DVR accesses the cloud via the Comcast coax, no Internet connection is needed. This is how mine works, no Ethernet cable plugged in and no WiFi configured. And my Internet is not Comcast/Xfinity equipment, I bought my modem and run my own firewall and WiFi. So the only way for my X1 DVR to get Internet access right now is via the coax connected to it. Not sure we need to connect anything anyway since the installation instructions never mention connecting to Internet.

With my X1 DVR (Arris version) when a recording is cloud based (something I still do not understand how I can control, force to be hard drive instead) there is a noticeable loss in quality. I also have audio issues, can only playback in stereo, no 5.1 - again at least for me. I would like to figure out how to force ALL recording to local disk to avoid cloud based recordings altogether. Right now if I see that a show is cloud recorded, I do not even bother to watch it. I delete and then try on demand or just download it elsewhere to watch. It amazes me how Comcast can take so many steps forward only to take some back too. Their old DVR (Motorola) could step through the playback frame by frame - not on X1. The old would let you set a manual recording (for example race was rained out, be on tomorrow but guide does not update to show) - X1 does not. Old DVR had a lot more flexibility in modifying the recording start and stop times - X1 limited. Frustrating when you get used to old one and then a new one loses some of these basic features.

Edit - Now if the OP is trying to watch TV, recorded shows from Xfinity on a device other than their X1 DVR, like a tablet or phone, then your Internet connection which most likely includes WiFi will play an important role in the best quality possible. I was assuming that the OP was referring to content served up by the X1 DVR only and watched on the attached TV. OP can clarify if I am mistaken.

You nailed it on the head. This is the cloud based DVR through the X1 box. They just replaced my faulty box with a unit that does not even have a hard drive, so ALL of my recordings are cloud based

As you stated, not only is there a loss of picture quality, the audio is downgraded to stereo for *most* recordings.

I did not think about deleting the show and watching it through on demand, although that kind of defeats the purpose for me as I can't fast forward through the commercials.

[Gravy4547]

Sounds like you guys need to get a DirecTV dish. If I every played back a DVR'ed show and it was not picture perfect and in Dolby 5.1, I would change carriers immediately. My priority list would look like this:

1) Get DirecTV installed
2) Go to hospital about massive bleeding headwound
3) Screw wife

well, I'm lying, it would actually be

1) screw wife
2) get direcTV installed
3) Get massive bleeding head wound looked at...

Not sure what your viewing habits are, but if you are old-fashioned "sit in front of the boob-tube and watch a show" then DirecTV is the king. If you are watch on a tablet, then smart phone, then DTV is weak in those areas. But in my opinion and I believe the general consensus is: DTV is tops in PQ, AQ and DVR. You literally get spoiled by the high level of quality DTV offers and when you go over to other people's houses without DTV, you are offended by how shitty their shows look.

[ImPulSive]

Originally Posted by Mudfrog

You nailed it on the head. This is the cloud based DVR through the X1 box. They just replaced my faulty box with a unit that does not even have a hard drive, so ALL of my recordings are cloud based

As you stated, not only is there a loss of picture quality, the audio is downgraded to stereo for *most* recordings.

I did not think about deleting the show and watching it through on demand, although that kind of defeats the purpose for me as I can't fast forward through the commercials.

There are ways around the commercials with on demand. Reprogram the skip ahead and back buttons (page up/down) on your remote to say 30 seconds. These are enabled for on demand, it is just the fast forward and rewind that are disabled. Most commercials are 30 seconds or multiples of 30 seconds usually. Just press the jump ahead button several times and if too far, can rewind or use replay button (button below mute) to jump back 15 seconds.

If you have not already reprogrammed your page up/ahead and down/back buttons, easy to do. Google it. I think the process is: Press exit button 3 times then enter in 4 digit value for new time in seconds, like 0030 for 30 seconds. If that does not work just Google it.

Good luck. If it were me, I'd push back and insist on a X1 with internal disk. If Comcast did that to me, would be the end of Comcast for my TV, switch over to somebody else if that means satellite.

[Mudfrog]

I was actually going to go with the Playstation Vue and drop my tv service altogether. But supposedly they are introducing the 1TB data cap this month, with 5 people in the house, we are up around 600-800GB without streaming tv all day.

I'll look into directv, but I hate contracts.. with a passion.

[ImPulSive]

Originally Posted by Mudfrog

I was actually going to go with the Playstation Vue and drop my tv service altogether. But supposedly they are introducing the 1TB data cap this month, with 5 people in the house, we are up around 600-800GB without streaming tv all day.

I'll look into directv, but I hate contracts.. with a passion.

You do know that you can pay an extra $50 per month and have unlimited data, right? That is what they advertise.

https://www.engadget.com/2016/10/06/...ut-nationwide/

So what happens if you go over 1TB per month? For the first two months in a 12 month period that it happens, nothing. Also, Comcast customers can adjust their settings for notifications via email, browser or text when they reach thresholds like 50, 70, 85 or 125 percent of the cap. The third time it's exceeded within a 12 month period, however, the "courtesy months" go away and users will be charged $10 for an additional 50GB of data, which will continue happening to a limit of $200 per month. If you want unlimited data access, you can buy it up front, for an additional $50 per month over your current internet bill.

Double check with Comcast to confirm the exact terms for your account. The above is not guaranteed, would not want you to assume the above applies to you and then find out something else.

[Mudfrog]

Originally Posted by ImPulSive

You do know that you can pay an extra $50 per month and have unlimited data, right? That is what they advertise.

https://www.engadget.com/2016/10/06/...ut-nationwide/



Double check with Comcast to confirm the exact terms for your account. The above is not guaranteed, would not want you to assume the above applies to you and then find out something else.

I do, but I was looking at "cutting the cord" to reduce my bill, paying for unlimited data would wipe any savings.

I think for now I'll just take my box back to Comcast and swap it for one with a hard drive.

[Gravy4547]

DirecTV is very expensive, and they do lock you in contracts. But you do get the best, they do not skimp on quality. There seems to be a genuine effort by DTV to put out the best PQ/AQ, and they do not rest on their laurels, they are always trying to improve their product. That is something I appreciate.

I cannot really comment on the 4K aspect, as I am stuck in 1080p-land for the foreseeable future. (damn Panny plasma won't quit looking beautiful!) However, DTV seems to be leading the charge of live sports 4K broadcasts. They did broadcast the Masters and a few Cubs/Mets games in 4K last year.