I've got some real image quality issues and from what reading I've done I'm thinking it's a cabling issue. I'm going to call tech support tonight and go through the ol' troubleshooting bit, but I'm going to try to talk them into coming out and installing an RG-6 direct line to my TV.

I've got a Mitsu HD-ready 50" RP connected to a DishPVR (501), and I'm having terrible pixeling problems. They range from awful transitions between similar shades (shadows on faces, for example) where the demarcation line is so extreme that it looks like a cartoon, to a "pixel lag" where on closeups if the person moves his face slightly, parts of it follow a split second later and eyes sometimes seem to float disembodied in their faces.

I'm VERY unhappy with the image quality. I had digital cable previously and there were a few quality issues but NOTHING like this. The more I read the more I think it's the cabling.

Anyone know if there's a way to check if the cable has been split somewhere in the walls?

Vic

This message was edited by vich on 10/22/01 18:44.50.

Vic, all equipment problems aside, I'd look first at your signal strength. Your problem sounds like a reception issue. Does it affect all channels?

The cable issue is a valid one, but usually with wire, either you get a signal, or you don't. Try this:

Go into the setup menu where you test signal strength, have someone watch the TV while you are in voice contact, and try bending your dish up, down, left, right, (it will move a little) and see if the signal can be improved. I installed and aimed my dish myself, and have a signal strength of 90-95 on all transponders.

Larry

Signal strength is alway 100+ on one satellite and 80+ on the other. Spoke to tech support and after going through the whole song and dance they basically said that's just how it is due to cramming in so many channels, and they're working on it.

On a related issue, how does CATV cable compare to RG-6 and RG-59? I've got CATV in my house (still don't know about the splitting issue though).

Vic

Vic, having cable in the house that has CATV printed on it is really meaningless. The main difference between the two, besides what I explained in the Signal Quality thread, is that the dielectric, which is the foam insulation between the inner conductor and the shield, is thicker in RG-6.

If you look into the end of an RG-6 and an RG-59 plug, the hole in an RG-6 plug is larger. You could use a -6 plug on -59, but you'd have to strech the outer insulation a bit. It would be much harder to put a -59 plug on -6, because the foam won't fit in the hole.

If I had to guess, I'd say the CATV cable was RG-6, but it really could be either one. The important thing is the shield, which is rated in % coverage. Braid can be anywhere from 70% to 95%, where foil is always 100%. Quad-shield is the best. For runs under 100 feet, either RG type should suffice, but don't forget, I'm talking about the entire signal path, from the eservice drop to the TV.

Oh, about a splitter in the wall, it's unlikely, but not impossible. Try counting cable ends. If you have an uneven number of ends, then there's a splitter somewhere; all wires have two ends.

Larry



This message was edited by Larry Fine on 10/23/01 12:46.25.

Larry,

Thanks for all your feedback. I've counted cables and there are no splits. I also snipped and stripped a piece of my cable and compared it to RG-6 Quad Shield cable at Home Depot and it was identical.

I guess the picture quality from Dish just sucks. :-(

Vic

Hey vich,
Does your picture suck more on a breezy day? Just a thought, but perhaps when the weather is good you have a clear line of sight and when it's windy tree branches bend and flex into the way. Or perhaps your dish or some piece of it is loose and moves around in the breeze. Is your dish securely mounted on something fairly solid?
(my two cents worth)
Phil

This is just over compression by Dish. The larger the TV is, the more evident the compression is. The first thing to do is calibrate the TV with disc like Avia or V.E. This will lower the sharpness and contrast settings on the TV which exaggerate the compression.

With DBS, you either get a signal or you don't. Your picture will be the same if you have either a 60 or a 100 on your meter. A high signal strength will help wiht rain fade though.

This problem will get worse before it gets better. DirecTV and Dish have both delayed the launch of their new spot beam satellites which would handle most of their local channels. On January 1 when "Must Carry" kicks in, they will pick up additional channels in the markets they already carry. That will require additional compression to squeeze these new channels on the system.

-Robert

Robert,

Yes, I agree. The support person I spoke to ended up saying that there are just too many channels for too few transponders, but they're working on the issue. Personally I doubt it, I tend to think they'll just continue to add more (worthless) channels. I complained loudly and mentioned the fact that the majority of customers were probably people with higher end systems that really cared about picture/audio quality more than having 500 channels.

Vic

I just bought Dish Network for xmas.
This was the first thing I noticed about it. The shading was awfull and pixelated in the shadows.
I called them but I got the responce I expected......Need I say more?

"Can you say DirecTV, boys and girls? I knew that you could!"

Larry
www.fineelectricco.com

I have a big screen tv and the Dish network. The picture is lousy it makes me sick. I will be going to Direct TV, just hope its better. Tom

I recently purchased a Sony Wega 32" TV and have been a loyal Dish Network customer for over 5 years.
I never had this problem until I upgraded my TV and my service to Dish 500. I am seeing the same thing with the Pixels. My wife thinks I am crazy because she really doesn't notice it. I also get shadows on the Local channels I receive through Dish. I have a DishPlayer connected to this TV and I thought it might be the receiver. My second receiver doesn't seem to do this, though it is a smaller TV.
Is there anyway this could be the receiver?