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HDTV picture quality question...

Here goes...my first post and it's not even audio related...you'll have to excuse me...cause I'm desperate.

I just purchased a Toshiba 34HDX32 and I've got a problem. Watching DVD's are good, I know it'll be better once I get all my cables...I've ordered them and they'll be here in a week. BUT, my main concern is the picture quality of regular TV. I used to have an older ('99) 27" Samsung and when watching TV, it looked not half bad. Now, on the Toshiba, the image is all pixelated, fuzzy, just generally unclear. Anyway, any ideas on how to improve the picture if at all possible?

Here's what I have:
Toshiba 34HDX82
Satellite (Starchoice, I'm here in Canada)
- Yes, it has S-video out but my bettercable Silver Serpent has yet to come...so that'll improve the image...right? In the meantime, I'm using a standard video cable.
- The majority of channels; ALL major stations (ABC, CBS, NBC, local, etc.) have this problem.
- The channels that do look GOOD, and yes, they look real good are the higher channels (Discovery, TLC, the Food network, etc.)
- The satellite receiver itself is hooked up via a standard/generic F-pin/CATV/Coax cable. I'm thinking of replacing this but have no idea what to get...I was looking at MIT but someone out bid me on those. Anyway, ANY help is much appreciated. Thanks for your time!
spencer23
jcaudio's avatar
jcaudio
237 posts
 
This is fairly normal on digital sets as they try and convert the analogue signal to digital. You can fix this by adding a inexpensive line doubler like the Divio from the satellite. You will notice on HDTV satellite broadcasts this is not present. That is because it is digital from the outset.
You will also get used to it over time. I have on my digital set. It is much worst on larger screens than smaller sets.
spencer23 OP
2 posts
 
Thanks for your help guys. I'll check out the avsforums and look into that Divio line doubler. As for my satellite provider...Starchoice, which is a Canadian provider, receives signal from 1 of 2 satellites; Anik F1 and Anik E2. Anik F1, which is newer and larger, carries the bulk of the English-language programming. Anik E2 carries mostly French and ethnic programming...and I don't watch any of the latter programming. But anyway, I'll keep looking into it and again, thanks for your help!

sw.
matt8268
92 posts
 
A quick check with your satellite provider may be able to confirm whether or not it's the source. I know on my DirecTV certain channels definitely look better than others, and within that, look better or worse at different times of day (prime time usually higher quality). May want to check around to see if there's a different satellite provider with better signal quality.

Also, don't know how it is in Canada, but in California now you can pick up a $15 antenna, hook it through a HDTV receiver to your TV, and pick up all the local channels (NBC, ABC, CBS, etc.) in crystal clear HD.
glen's avatar
glen
714 posts
 
Matt, That's interesting. You say you can pick up the HD signal for local channels with a $15.00 antena? Where do you get the antena? What part of CA are you from? I guess you still need the HD converter box with five video outs to the tv?
edesilva
768 posts
 
Er, you also need some means for decoding the HDTV signal. Is your set top box (STB) capable of receiving satellite HDTV channels? (Are there HDTV satellite channels)?

Dunno how it works up north, but in order to get over the air (OTA) HDTV, I needed an HDTV set top box. Although some digital HDTV ready TVs are now being marketed w/HDTV OTA tuners, the large majority of those sold today *do not* have tuners for HDTV built in. In addition, the large majority of the DirecTV STBs are not HDTV compatible--whether satellite or OTA. That being said, I believe that most satellite STBs that provide for HDTV satellite reception also have the capability of doing HDTV OTA. So, you are really looking at shelling out an additional $500 or so to get HDTV reception OTA.
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