MPEG-4 Coming to Cable Boxes

[dialog_gvf]

Motorola Unveils First MPEG-4 Set Tops

In a linked article, Motorola had this to say:

If you start with the IPTV space, virtually everything is MPEG-4 based. On the cable side, you’ll start seeing MPEG-4 devices (CPE) early next year, with gradual phasing in of more MPEG-4 hardware throughout 2008. Operators will incorporate MPEG-4 in their highest service tiers first, moving to mass distribution of MPEG-4 set-tops by late 2009, early 2010. By the latter part of 2009, MPEG-2 standalone devices will have completely disappeared.

[Blubaru]

Is this a new thing?

My DTV box has done AVC for some time now.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by Blubaru

Is this a new thing?

My DTV box has done AVC for some time now.

It is for cable. What is yours?

Gary

[reiella]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

It is for cable. What is yours?

Gary

DirecTV I'm guessing

Good news though for it. Hopefully suddenlink actually tells me stuff is going on when it does transition.

[Teazle]

With luck they'll have the good sense to include 1080i to 1080p deinterlacing and a bigger HDD in the DVR cable boxes.

[Footloose301]

They might be able to do 1080P, but I know bandwidth is the key there. Currently they cannot do 1080P because of the bandwidth, so maybe the new encoding could make it possible.

On a side note: I doubt you're going to see this box out of Comcast anytime soon because they've got a deal with Scientific Atlanta for their cable boxes. Also, were using RCA modems instead of Motorola modems now.

[scott1256ca]

Perhaps they can't do 1080p60 because of bandwidth, but there is no reason they can't broadcast movies in 1080p24 so we don't have to worry about the inverse telecine stuff. If the display can't handle 1080p24, then convert to 1080i, which is simple enough.

Frankly I bet going from 1080i to 1080p60 doesn't add as much bandwidth as you might think, even if you are keeping the same "quality" of images. I say this because those lines you are adding aren't that different from the line above and below, or the similar line in the frame before and after. The compression techniques are designed to take advantage of that already.

Whether or not there are any 1080p60 cameras out there or not is a different story.

[reiella]

Originally Posted by Footloose301

They might be able to do 1080P, but I know bandwidth is the key there. Currently they cannot do 1080P because of the bandwidth, so maybe the new encoding could make it possible.

On a side note: I doubt you're going to see this box out of Comcast anytime soon because they've got a deal with Scientific Atlanta for their cable boxes. Also, were using RCA modems instead of Motorola modems now.

And we know cable has been epic failing at delivering bandwidth for HDTV signals. So I'm cautious about any predictions of a jump to 1080p.

[The Don]

Originally Posted by reiella

And we know cable has been epic failing at delivering bandwidth for HDTV signals. So I'm cautious about any predictions of a jump to 1080p.

I have Comcast and am happy with the service for high def....

Comcast used to be horrible about a year ago...but now I have no complaints except for the fact that I want every channel in HD..

[reiella]

Originally Posted by The Don

I have Comcast and am happy with the service for high def....

Comcast used to be horrible about a year ago...but now I have no complaints except for the fact that I want every channel in HD..

Hmm, how many channels are you getting?

More so, comparing them against DTV [and of course, signal quality relative to OTA].

Myself, Suddenlink is teh sux0rz... Especially upset now that they decided to seperate HD service from my Digital Teleservice service :x [funny way they decided to tell me that, sending me an ad, saying "Hey, for only 5$ more you can get HD service."), so I'm bitter, and of course, my love for Vz isn't a secret .

[Teazle]

Originally Posted by Footloose301

They might be able to do 1080P, but I know bandwidth is the key there. Currently they cannot do 1080P because of the bandwidth, so maybe the new encoding could make it possible.

I don't really expect anyone to start broadcasting in 1080p because of the bandwidth but it would be nice if the cable box could deinterlace 1080 lines so the display doesn't have to.

[blindcat87]

While I think it a pipe dream, I would love to see some form of lossless audio available via sat/cable. Not sure if it is doable since I think that DTS Master HD would work the best from what little I know about its better use of bandwidth, lesser need of headroom (sorry if that is the wrong term, but I think that is the word), and the core track. But given the size of the pipe even with MPEG-4 using the bandwidth better, there is probably not enough bandwidth to spare. It is a nice pipe dream though.

Chris

[phlydude]

Originally Posted by Footloose301

On a side note: I doubt you're going to see this box out of Comcast anytime soon because they've got a deal with Scientific Atlanta for their cable boxes. Also, were using RCA modems instead of Motorola modems now.

They do? In the Philadelphia region, they used to use Jerrold as their standard boxes but my HD box is the Motorola version (the same one Verizon uses for FiOS) and come to think of it, all digital boxes I have used from them have been Motorola.

[reiella]

Originally Posted by phlydude

They do? In the Philadelphia region, they used to use Jerrold as their standard boxes but my HD box is the Motorola version (the same one Verizon uses for FiOS) and come to think of it, all digital boxes I have used from them have been Motorola.

I imagine alot of it depends on the market and timeframe.

My DVR is motorola, but when I just had a digital box, it was still a different brand, one I honestly don't remember though.

Ah, and you appear to be in a Mocha area, sweet. Good to know that's deploying well, I hadn't thought of that avenue though. For a mocha deployment, 1080p potential is a big boon.

[phlydude]

I have yet to see the benefits of MoCA yet, let alone that we still don't have FX-HD or Discovery HD and only were forced into TBS-HD when baseball playoffs came with the Phillies maiking it this past season.

Too bad that Verizon is too slow to get their contractors to run conduit in all the developments around here. Our neighborhood has been pushed back a few times and I am stuck with Comcast for all my digital needs (DTV is too spotty for HDTV) until they deploy to my area. But FTTP is the best possible option available at this time to deliver 1080p on the most available channel options.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by benes

1080p24 actually uses LESS bandwidth than 1080i. But its upto the channels themselves to do this I think. And it would only apply to film content.

And 1080p/24 is an ATSC rate.

But, expect very few to no channels are multi-rate. It's said the infrastructure costs to do it would be too prohibitive.

But, you'd think the premium movie channels would consider it.

Gary

[Footloose301]

Originally Posted by phlydude

They do? In the Philadelphia region, they used to use Jerrold as their standard boxes but my HD box is the Motorola version (the same one Verizon uses for FiOS) and come to think of it, all digital boxes I have used from them have been Motorola.

Depends when you got the items. Here in Southwest Florida, Scientific Atlanta is what were putting in, and taking out all the Motorolas. They're old news right now.

[Footloose301]

Originally Posted by reiella

And we know cable has been epic failing at delivering bandwidth for HDTV signals. So I'm cautious about any predictions of a jump to 1080p.

We don't have any problems with HDTV channels here in Southwest Florida.

Did you know that you're able to fit 5 HD channels into the same amount of bandwidth that it takes for 1 analog channel?

[Footloose301]

Originally Posted by Teazle

I don't really expect anyone to start broadcasting in 1080p because of the bandwidth but it would be nice if the cable box could deinterlace 1080 lines so the display doesn't have to.

I know its in the works

Also make sure you're HD cable box is actually in HD mode and that its set up correctly. The way to put a cable box into HD mode is to turn it on, then turn it off and hold down the "Guide"+"Info" buttons at the same time. Then, its now in HD mode and you will have to go thru the setup process that a 4yr old could even understand.

Some people don't realize that ESPN 1 + 2 broadcast in 720P as well as a few other channels and all the cable boxes come preset to 1080i.... thus making your football games look like sh!t. After you go thru that set up process your TV will automatically change from 1080i to 720P to 480P/i depending on the channel's broadcast.