DirecTV HD - not impressed - Blu-ray Forum

Shock3755 · 02-06-2008, 01:37 AM

This might be off topic, but I have DirecTV and the HD picture looks like crap. Any one else have that. I know its not my TV, everything else looks awesome.

I Bleed Blu · 02-06-2008, 01:41 AM

Some programs on an HD channel may not be broadcast or filmed on HD. This will give you a bad picture. For example, my local tv I have the HD package with includes TBS HD, nothing is in HD, NOTHING! Its a joke, its a waste, I dont even know why they added it. Its no different than the regular TBS channel.

Also, look to make sure there is "HD" in front of the title of whatever program you are watching on the menu, if there isnt, then its not in HD.

BStecke · 02-06-2008, 01:42 AM

Looks like crap compared to Blu-ray, or just in general? How's it hooked up?

Shock3755 · 02-06-2008, 01:46 AM

There is way to much distortion when objects move. During sports and I dont know if anyone has watched any WWEHD but the blurring on that is really bad. I have it trough component cables and it is outputting 720p I thought since most broadcasts are that maybe that would make it look better.

kiskiboy97 · 02-06-2008, 01:48 AM

Many movies are not presented in OAR on TV, even in high def. Scope movies are still cropped to fit your screen. Looks awful.

elwaylite · 02-06-2008, 01:57 AM

What rcvr do you have?

I have the HR20 and it puts out native resolution to my 720p tv. I do not want the dvr taking 1080i channels to 720p, I want the tv doing it.

Moving right along, their new Mpeg4 channels on the new sat look DAMN good.

fupduk2 · 02-06-2008, 02:01 AM

Mine looks really nice

Shock3755 · 02-06-2008, 02:10 AM

I just have th DirecTV Plus HD DVR rcvr. When I watched the Superbowl on Sunday and it looked bad I knew I had a problem. I know it will never look Blu good. But when I had my other tv last year and had Comcast the pic was much better than DirecTV.

mightypen · 02-06-2008, 02:14 AM

Hmm that's weird.
I'm going to assume you've tried all the connections and whatnot.

I have directv, and the superbowl looked fantastic. I really dislike the dvrs though, would kill for an hd tivo

Its never going to look as good as blu ray, of course.

Hmm. Have you tried an OTA antenna for comparison's sake?

Shock3755 · 02-06-2008, 02:16 AM

I would if I knew what that was. Standing still it looks good, but as soon as it moves it blurs really bad. Oh and I have a DLP.

I cant even watch Prison Break in HD it looks so blochy, the blacks are full of squares and the color is so off. I am just frusterated.

JasonR · 02-06-2008, 02:16 AM

I know the bitrates are lower than cable. I have cable and it looks great, I have seen very good looking DirectTV signals too though???

mightypen · 02-06-2008, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shock3755

I would if I knew what that was. Standing still it looks good, but as soon as it moves it blurs really bad. Oh and I have a DLP.

I cant even watch Prison Break in HD it looks so blochy, the blacks are full of squares and the color is so off. I am just frusterated.

Oh, OTA is an over the air antenna, any pair of rabbit ears will do. your tv might not work, though, nor your home be in reception range.

That sounds really terrible. I dont envy your call to directv, I've spent many an hour on hold with them

Oragustus · 02-06-2008, 03:01 AM

I have both DirecTV and Cablevision, and cable's HD ALWAYS looks better than my DirecTV HD. I'm not a fan of cable in general, and watch all non-hd programming off my Tivo-based DirecTV receiver, but I can't stand DirecTV's HD quality when I know it can be so much better. I understand that broadcast quality can't match blu-ray (or HD-DVD - I'm purple) but I expect more than I receive from DTV.

BStecke · 02-06-2008, 03:05 AM

If you're noticing it in motion, does it look like it breaks up or pixellates? If so, this is most likely a result of the compression . . . not a whole lot you can do about it.

Shock3755 · 02-06-2008, 03:06 AM

it pixolates bad, like a old Mpeg download

elwaylite · 02-06-2008, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shock3755

it pixolates bad, like a old Mpeg download

What channel? Local or national?

JasonR · 02-06-2008, 03:08 AM

It is the compression I would assume then...

I only have 15 HD channels and have been tempted by DirectTVs many HD channels, this is what is stopping me...

Shock3755 · 02-06-2008, 03:08 AM

well prison break is local but WWEHD is on USA

BStecke · 02-06-2008, 03:10 AM

If you have Verizon Fios in your area, you should check it out. My mother in law has it and it's the best broadcast HD I've seen yet. You still get the occasional compression artifact here or there, but much less than others. Not much you can do to get rid of those, unfortunately.

I have heard that OTA, the signal is less compressed than in a cable/satellite signal. Don't know if there's any truth to that, but the OTA HD content is generally passable. I used to be blown away by it, but now that I'm used to Blu-ray, I was pretty disappointed watching the Super Bowl.

elwaylite · 02-06-2008, 03:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonR

It is the compression I would assume then...

I only have 15 HD channels and have been tempted by DirectTVs many HD channels, this is what is stopping me...

The mpeg2 on D* and E* are crap, but the mpeg4 on D* is top notch.

D* has had some issues with HD locals in mpeg4 in some markets, so thats why I want to know what channels are the issue.

I have D* HD and OTA hd locals, and I would not trade it for anything. Also, D* has 5 new hd channels on their site that should launch soon

02-06-2008, 01:37 AM	#1
Shock3755 Member Member since:Dec 2007 Location:Grand Rapids MI	DirecTV HD - not impressed This might be off topic, but I have DirecTV and the HD picture looks like crap. Any one else have that. I know its not my TV, everything else looks awesome.

02-06-2008, 02:16 AM	#10
Shock3755 Member Member since:Dec 2007 Location:Grand Rapids MI	I would if I knew what that was. Standing still it looks good, but as soon as it moves it blurs really bad. Oh and I have a DLP. I cant even watch Prison Break in HD it looks so blochy, the blacks are full of squares and the color is so off. I am just frusterated. Last edited by Shock3755; 02-06-2008 at 02:18 AM. Reason: new idea

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02-06-2008, 01:41 AM	#2
I Bleed Blu Senior Member Member since:Feb 2007 Location:Lexington, KY Home Theater Gallery:6 Blu-ray collection:86 Trading Score:23	Some programs on an HD channel may not be broadcast or filmed on HD. This will give you a bad picture. For example, my local tv I have the HD package with includes TBS HD, nothing is in HD, NOTHING! Its a joke, its a waste, I dont even know why they added it. Its no different than the regular TBS channel. Also, look to make sure there is "HD" in front of the title of whatever program you are watching on the menu, if there isnt, then its not in HD.

02-06-2008, 01:42 AM	#3
BStecke Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jun 2007 4K collection:182 Blu-ray collection:567 DVD collection:1 Digital collection:1 iTunes collection:1 Blu-ray reviews: 1 Trading Score:6	Looks like crap compared to Blu-ray, or just in general? How's it hooked up?

02-06-2008, 01:46 AM	#4
Shock3755 Member Member since:Dec 2007 Location:Grand Rapids MI	There is way to much distortion when objects move. During sports and I dont know if anyone has watched any WWEHD but the blurring on that is really bad. I have it trough component cables and it is outputting 720p I thought since most broadcasts are that maybe that would make it look better.

02-06-2008, 01:48 AM	#5
kiskiboy97 Blu-ray reviewer Top contributor Member since:Sep 2007 4K collection:- Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:- Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:2	Many movies are not presented in OAR on TV, even in high def. Scope movies are still cropped to fit your screen. Looks awful.

02-06-2008, 01:57 AM	#6
elwaylite Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Mar 2007	What rcvr do you have? I have the HR20 and it puts out native resolution to my 720p tv. I do not want the dvr taking 1080i channels to 720p, I want the tv doing it. Moving right along, their new Mpeg4 channels on the new sat look DAMN good.

02-06-2008, 02:01 AM	#7
fupduk2 Senior Member Member since:Aug 2007 4K collection:54 Blu-ray collection:328	Mine looks really nice

02-06-2008, 02:10 AM	#8
Shock3755 Member Member since:Dec 2007 Location:Grand Rapids MI	I just have th DirecTV Plus HD DVR rcvr. When I watched the Superbowl on Sunday and it looked bad I knew I had a problem. I know it will never look Blu good. But when I had my other tv last year and had Comcast the pic was much better than DirecTV.

02-06-2008, 02:14 AM	#9
mightypen Banned Member since:Jan 2008 Blu-ray collection:46	Hmm that's weird. I'm going to assume you've tried all the connections and whatnot. I have directv, and the superbowl looked fantastic. I really dislike the dvrs though, would kill for an hd tivo Its never going to look as good as blu ray, of course. Hmm. Have you tried an OTA antenna for comparison's sake?

02-06-2008, 02:16 AM	#11
JasonR Super Moderator Top contributor Member since:Nov 2007 Trading Score:12	I know the bitrates are lower than cable. I have cable and it looks great, I have seen very good looking DirectTV signals too though???

02-06-2008, 03:01 AM	#13
Oragustus Junior Member Member since:Feb 2008 Blu-ray reviews:1	I have both DirecTV and Cablevision, and cable's HD ALWAYS looks better than my DirecTV HD. I'm not a fan of cable in general, and watch all non-hd programming off my Tivo-based DirecTV receiver, but I can't stand DirecTV's HD quality when I know it can be so much better. I understand that broadcast quality can't match blu-ray (or HD-DVD - I'm purple) but I expect more than I receive from DTV.

02-06-2008, 03:05 AM	#14
BStecke Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jun 2007 4K collection:182 Blu-ray collection:567 DVD collection:1 Digital collection:1 iTunes collection:1 Blu-ray reviews: 1 Trading Score:6	If you're noticing it in motion, does it look like it breaks up or pixellates? If so, this is most likely a result of the compression . . . not a whole lot you can do about it.

02-06-2008, 03:06 AM	#15
Shock3755 Member Member since:Dec 2007 Location:Grand Rapids MI	it pixolates bad, like a old Mpeg download

02-06-2008, 03:08 AM	#17
JasonR Super Moderator Top contributor Member since:Nov 2007 Trading Score:12	It is the compression I would assume then... I only have 15 HD channels and have been tempted by DirectTVs many HD channels, this is what is stopping me...

02-06-2008, 03:10 AM	#19
BStecke Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jun 2007 4K collection:182 Blu-ray collection:567 DVD collection:1 Digital collection:1 iTunes collection:1 Blu-ray reviews: 1 Trading Score:6	If you have Verizon Fios in your area, you should check it out. My mother in law has it and it's the best broadcast HD I've seen yet. You still get the occasional compression artifact here or there, but much less than others. Not much you can do to get rid of those, unfortunately. I have heard that OTA, the signal is less compressed than in a cable/satellite signal. Don't know if there's any truth to that, but the OTA HD content is generally passable. I used to be blown away by it, but now that I'm used to Blu-ray, I was pretty disappointed watching the Super Bowl.

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