HD DTH comparison

[TechHead]

Does Videocon provide 5.1 audio? Thanks.

 

[dillihifi]

Well most of the HD PQ of the DTH companies are similar. Well once you get to HD you will not go back to SD. The things which one has to take into consideration are :

1. Channels availability on HD
2. Sound Quality (not only presence of 5.1)
3. Any constraints in locating the Dish (maybe you have one or two options depending on the apartment complex/society building)

 

[sudhir_rr]

Wow! 41 replies in this new thread for the same old topic of debate.

 

[Santy]

Only yesterday I upgraded to HD from Reliance.
The PQ of SD channels in RelianceHD is a lot worse than the the previous one.
It was frustrating to see the pixellated display at closer distance which was super smooth in old version.
It is ridiculous that what is supposed to be an upgrade is actually a degrade.
It seems really stupid technical team and a commensurating marketing team are working together.
HQ like quality for 250 channels? BS.

BTW the technician could not get the HDMI output on the TV.
Currently connected only on component.
Has anyone faced similar issue, what could be the problem

 

[Kudla]

Re: SD Channels on HD DTH comparison

An important criteria should be quality of upscaling of SD channels. How these set top boxes cope with it. In other threads there are complaints of quality of SD channels even when HD STBs are used.

So how is the quality of upscaled channels on these DTH HD boxes ?

Even am interested in this aspect of HD DTH. Who has the best quality of upscaled SD channels on HD STB?

Is it Airtel, Tata Sky or Reliance?

 

[ShaQ.Blogs]

Re: SD Channels on HD DTH comparison

Even am interested in this aspect of HD DTH. Who has the best quality of upscaled SD channels on HD STB?

Is it Airtel, Tata Sky or Reliance?

did you even *consider* reading just 4 pages :indifferent14:

 

[Kudla]

Re: SD Channels on HD DTH comparison

did you even *consider* reading just 4 pages :indifferent14:

Most of the posts has been on the number of HD channels and the quality of the same. We have at max 12 HD channels and rest being SD, i feel the need to look at the quality of upscaled SD channels on HD box of various service providers.

 

[DIVASMMM]

Hathway is coming up with HD services..as per my cable operator the HD thing will be active by Dec-2011.

As the experience with Hathway SD is nice....expect the same experience with better quality in HD too.....
anyone has a point to add here?

 

[i13]

Only yesterday I upgraded to HD from Reliance.
The PQ of SD channels in RelianceHD is a lot worse than the the previous one.
It was frustrating to see the pixellated display at closer distance which was super smooth in old version.
It is ridiculous that what is supposed to be an upgrade is actually a degrade.
It seems really stupid technical team and a commensurating marketing team are working together.
HQ like quality for 250 channels? BS.

BTW the technician could not get the HDMI output on the TV.
Currently connected only on component.
Has anyone faced similar issue, what could be the problem

Try via hdmi cable and you'll feel the diff. If hdmi is not working , ur box may be faulty get it replaced , in fact you shouldn'y have signed instalation form till he gets you hdmi output working. Who knows maybe faulty box can be culprit for pict quality also.

I am on 42x30 with rel dvr , most of sd channels are treat to eyes. Cant tell whats missing until i switch to hd channel. Imo compared to d2h hd (my cousin using it), reliance rocks in pict quality terms on sd content, for hd both are similar.

According to Reliance CC

Reliance HD DVR STB has dolby parse through capability. You need to connect SPDIF output to your home theatre system to enjoy dolby digital sound.

 

[baijuxavior]

Reliance HD may have dolby pass through capability in paper, but there is no dolby 5.1 through spdif or hdmi. SD picture quality is bad due to the upscaling. Watch it at closer distance and you will know what I meant.

 

[dijeesh]

thanks for the info hyeah:

but any Pixelation in hd or sd channels during faster action scenes also how is the service ?

jerry,
There is no pixelation in HD.Videocon recently added Colors HD.
There is an improvement in SD quality also.I was using Dish SD earlier.
My tv is 42 incher,so pixelation is visible in SD channels.
Otherwise i have not yet experienced any problems in picture quality.
Thanks,
Dijeesh.

Regarding the service- Good.
I had some dancing/moving pixels in the corners and edges of pictures in Pogo channel.I sent a mail and pat came the reply in my mobile informing that technician will visit my house in 24/48 hours to rectify the problem,they indeed came with in 24 hrs and rectified the problem.

 

[i13]

Reliance HD may have dolby pass through capability in paper, but there is no dolby 5.1 through spdif or hdmi. SD picture quality is bad due to the upscaling. Watch it at closer distance and you will know what I meant.

Are you using plasma or lcd/led?

I have
Rel hd box connected to 22" full hd lcd monitor via hdmi cable
and another
Rel hd dvr box connected to 42" hd ready plasma tv

Quality on plasma is very crisp and clear. while in lcd montor pixel breaks in(when you come too close) like you are saying.

Same thing happens with d2h connection my cousin have connected to philips 42" led tv.

IMO it depends on screen too ..... was one of factor why always favoured plasma over lcd/led.

Try same hd connection on any plasma and you'll see the diff.

 

[Santy]

Try via hdmi cable and you'll feel the diff. If hdmi is not working , ur box may be faulty get it replaced , in fact you shouldn'y have signed instalation form till he gets you hdmi output working. Who knows maybe faulty box can be culprit for pict quality also.

I am on 42x30 with rel dvr , most of sd channels are treat to eyes. Cant tell whats missing until i switch to hd channel. Imo compared to d2h hd (my cousin using it), reliance rocks in pict quality terms on sd content, for hd both are similar.

Actually the problem was the HDMI cable, when I replaced it, there was no issue. However, I still stay put on my comment that SD quality in Reliance HD (via HDMI) is a lot worse than that of regular Reliance DTH (via Component). I have done a A/B comparison so I am damn sure of what I am saying. Of course only at a closer distance it is evident.

 

[baijuxavior]

Actually the problem was the HDMI cable, when I replaced it, there was no issue. However, I still stay put on my comment that SD quality in Reliance HD (via HDMI) is a lot worse than that of regular Reliance DTH (via Component). I have done a A/B comparison so I am damn sure of what I am saying. Of course only at a closer distance it is evident.

That is what I said. The SD channel quality is bad at closer distances though it looks better from a distance.

 

[Kudla]

An important criteria should be quality of upscaling of SD channels. How these set top boxes cope with it. In other threads there are complaints of quality of SD channels even when HD STBs are used.

So how is the quality of upscaled channels on these DTH HD boxes ?

Having tried Reliance HD STB and Airtel HD STB, i would vote for Reliance on up-scaling of SD Channels. Reliance HD has much better picture quality for SD channels.

 

[sudhir_rr]

Present list of channels is as follows (Last updated 30th October 2011).

SUNTV Direct
Dolby digital 5.1 sound is supported.
Channels: Tamil Movies HD, Telugu Movies HD, Movies Now HD, Discovery HD, National Geographic Channel HD. Doordarshan HD.

Airtel Digital TV
Supports 5.1 via optical
Channels: Colors HD, CNBC TV18 Prime HD, Star World HD, Star Movies HD, Star Plus HD, Star Gold HD, Movies Now HD, Discovery HD, National Geographic Channel HD.

Videocon D2H
Dolby digital not supported.
Channels: Colors HD, Star World HD, Star Movies HD, Star Plus HD, Star Gold HD, Movies Now HD, Discovery HD, National Geographic Channel HD, Travel XP HD, Active HD 3D, ESPNHD, Star Cricket HD.

Tata Sky
Dolby Digital 5.1 surround supported
Channels: Star World HD, Star Movies HD, Star Plus HD, Star Gold HD, Discovery HD, National Geographic Channel HD, Star Cricket HD.

Dish TV
Supports 5.1 via optical
Channels: Ten HD, Neo Sports HD, Movies Now HD, Discovery HD, National Geographic Channel HD, Travel XP HD, History HD, National Geographic, Adventure HD, National Geographic Wild HD, MTunes HD, CNBC Prime HD.

Reliance Digital TV
Dolby digital 5.1 not supported.
Channels: ESPN HD, Star Movies HD, Star Plus HD, Star Cricket HD, Movies Now HD, National Geographic Channel HD, iConcerts HD.

 

[BLASTO]

Airtel shows UTV Stars and History HD also. Please add them. Iam enabling them today.
airtel HD channels

 

[Kudla]

Re: SD Pics on HD STB?

Would there be any device to better the SD pictures of a HD STB?

Please advice.

 

[sudhir_rr]

I have added History HD to my webpage. Is UTV stars an asli HD channel

Airtel shows UTV Stars and History HD also. Please add them. Iam enabling them today.
airtel HD channels

 

[haisaikat]

Another member: haisaikat has replied that DishTVHD does support 5.1 surround audio through optical connection. Did you try that?

Yes it is true. In some movies of Movies Now channel you get an option to change the language from English to English 5.1 and that gives you the effect but this is not default in all movies only some. One more thing, in Nat Geo Adventure / Wild HD there is a surround effect where the voice comes from rear channels. I know it is not true 5.1 surround but at least this is the essence of multichannel output.