CNN HD on BHN vs. DirecTV

[skottey]

Today I did a comparison between CNN HD on DirecTV and the newly added CNN HD on BHN.

My hookup-
I currently have my BHN box hooked up via HDMI (looks better than component on my Sony HD set) and my fairly newly subscribed DirecTV box (about six weeks) is hooked up via component still (I have an HDMI 4 device switch on the way for both HDTVs). Having had both BHN and Dish Network, I stand behind the HDMI looking better than component on this particular Sony HDTV with any tested source (including Xbox360, Dish Network 622, BHN HD box). I have not yet hooked my DirecTV H21 up via HDMI. But in general, HDMI is known to look better than component (I realize not always) but this has been the case with my Sony HD television.

The comparison-
I tuned to CNN HD on both my BHN box and DirecTV. I then switched back and forth between video inputs, in a non-scientific eyeball examination of CNN HD on each source. Keep in mind, DirecTV is using the component connection, which in general looks worse on this television.

The Results-
1- CNN HD on DirecTV is about 5 seconds ahead of CNN HD on BHN. I'm not sure why BHN has such a delay.

2- CNN HD looks far better to the naked eye on DirecTV than it does on BHN. In fact, I got macroblocking on BHN during my trial. But even when it wasn't pixelating, the BHN picture was washed out and not nearly as sharp.

My thoughts-
I hope this is not a sign of things to come with BHN once they start using SDV (if this isn't SDV already). It is entirely possible they are feeling pressure to add channels and reducing bandwidth (think HD Lite) in order to squeeze in channels. I often (almost always) found BHN HD to have a better picture on the same channels as Dish Network HD last year when I subscribed to both, but that is clearly not the case when comparing DirecTV to BHN. DirecTV is far better to the naked eye. I'll test again when I have both hooked up via HDMI later this week and compare some other channels. DirecTV looks great now, it should be even better with HDMI.

Your thoughts-
Anybody else do a comparison test yet? How about BHN vs. FIOS. Oh wait, I don't think FIOS gets CNN HD yet. But you could test other channels.

[Chucky Cheese]

My personal thoughts, Direct TV or Dish has better picture quality than cable. Which do I prefer?? Cable. Why? Reliability. Whenever I had bad weather I couldn't watch tv because I'd lose signial. Im not much of a TV person but when weather is bad that's when you want to see TV. Never had that problem with cable.

[Kevin1514]

My personal thoughts, Direct TV or Dish has better picture quality than cable. Which do I prefer?? Cable. Why? Reliability. Whenever I had bad weather I couldn't watch tv because I'd lose signial. Im not much of a TV person but when weather is bad that's when you want to see TV. Never had that problem with cable.

You must have had a bad install, I only lose picture about 2-4 times a year due to weather and I live in the PNW where it rains all the time and we get some pretty bad storms in the winter.

[Chucky Cheese]

I was locked at 96-98% according to the box. Doesn't matter much now..

[skottey]

My personal thoughts, Direct TV or Dish has better picture quality than cable. Which do I prefer?? Cable. Why? Reliability. Whenever I had bad weather I couldn't watch tv because I'd lose signial. Im not much of a TV person but when weather is bad that's when you want to see TV. Never had that problem with cable.

I lost Dish Network a lot last summer. This summer the storms have been just as bad and I have lost DirecTV only a few times. The difference being that DirecTV was only out for a few minutes, where as Dish would go out much longer, like, until the rains stopped.

DirecTV also put a huge dish on my roof, where Dish Network gave me a pair of smaller ones. I'm sure that makes a difference.

[razorphreak900]

well , when it comes to different companies, there will always b a delay. even as much as 10 second delay. depending on their personal feed/distance/signal quality.

technically, when i see people say, why such the delay. well being quite honest, why would anybody care. if YOU the person see it just fine, in your own home. why care about, why my friend or my other carrier is faster or slower with the delay. i mean, thats just plain like compulsive lol.

as for the quality. well idk. I dont have dish service. so i cannot compare. but...

different company,model of boxes,wiring, will always have somewhat of an impact on how a quality is being feed.

the only way to properly compare, is using same type of wires of course, and most importantly, same cable and dish box models.

example, when i had the 8300hd, lets just say, the box in itself is quite crappy. but with the same service, same wires, same ol CRAPOLA lol. with the 4250hdc box, everything *even if i was to use component, wich i have used* the picture quality is ever so much clearer and the speed of channel changes are far better.

now one thing i do get bothered, as other has mentioned around here. is when a channel is somewhat new and in hd. they make it look the same and or worse than the regular digital broadcast.

I remember when tbs hd came out. gosh did it ever looked so horrible, i used to stay with the "regular" tbs channel most times. thats how SO NOT hd it was. but of course, with time now all of that has been properly fixed and or updated. so I am hoping with the 4 new channels we have gotten, they upper to true hd quick.

I saw disney/cnn for example, and gosh they look crappy. i mean all that omg i cant wait to have this channel in hd. but then when u do, its like, OH!? it looks ummmmm well idk lol, they still even broadcast it in 4 by 3 picture mode.

but anyways.

who in the pinellas county area, would consider fios and give it a try, for when it comes out?

I have no issues with bhn what so ever, but giving something "newer" a try, wouln't hurt.

has anybody used it? or with a friend that has it. what is the pq like, speed and u get as much goodies with fios like u would do with bhn?


well im done for now, peace! =-P

[skottey]

I saw disney/cnn for example, and gosh they look crappy.

Actually, CNN HD is a very sharp, nice looking picture during its HD programming. That is why I compared CNN HD and not something else. No, it isn't the best channel in HD, but TW has done a far better job launching CNN in HD than they did TBS or even TNT.

Honestly, I don't even watch CNN on a regular basis. I watch Fox News and Fox Business. I have watched some CNN because it is in HD. I can't wait for Fox News in HD. Fox Business Network in HD looks nice on DirecTV.

[razorphreak900]

Actually, CNN HD is a very sharp, nice looking picture during its HD programming. That is why I compared CNN HD and not something else. No, it isn't the best channel in HD, but TW has done a far better job launching CNN in HD than they did TBS or even TNT.

Honestly, I don't even watch CNN on a regular basis. I watch Fox News and Fox Business. I have watched some CNN because it is in HD. I can't wait for Fox News in HD. Fox Business Network in HD looks nice on DirecTV.

You are right, I have personally yet, to see a true hd recording on those channels, so i will give it time and see what is all about. thought for channels like those, especially cnn, even thought to me it isnt such a big deal channel anyways. shouln't all their recordings b on hd?

dont we have on bhn fox in hd??? i thought we did lol, *i will double check*

do you by anychance have the hd package from directv, where they have like TONS of hd channels, if so what is your personal input?

[skottey]

dont we have on bhn fox in hd??? i thought we did lol, *i will double check*

BHN carries both Fox News and Fox Business in the SD format. DirecTV carries Fox Business in the HD format but Fox News in the SD format until the fall when they get their new satellite operational (so I have read on here). Fox News has been live in HD since May for a few TV markets, but not BHN or DirecTV.

do you by anychance have the hd package from directv, where they have like TONS of hd channels, if so what is your personal input?

I have the DirecTV Premier package plus a second HD DVR. I also pay either $5 or $10 extra for a handful of HD channels in an HD extras package (this includes MGM, HDNET, HDNET Movies and a couple others). The rest of the stuff DirecTV gives you with the HD package. I basically have everything. (except extra sports packages like Sunday Ticket, Playboy TV, and PPV, I NEVER buy PPV) All the movie channels they offer, all the regular sports channels (65 or so regional channels and their alternative feeds, blackouts apply). I am a huge movie person, so it is nice to have 10 or so premium channels (HBO/MAX/Sho/Starz) in HD, plus the rest in SD (still fewer multichannels in SD than BHN). I am not a big sports fan, but I do love hockey (go last place Lightning!) and enjoy my local Tampa Bay Buccaneers football. I won't get the Season Pass for anything, but even if I was a die hard fan I would have to think long and hard at a cost of $250 a year for out of market games (in the case of the Sunday Ticket NFL). I would consider getting the NHL Center Ice maybe, just because I love hockey, but I get enough Lightning games that I doubt I would watch too many out of market games, unless they were some big rivalries.

I am very happy with DirecTV. My bill is around $118 before their discounts that I get for the first year. I also keep BHN around as an old friend with an HD-DVR and digital (no extra paks or premiums) for about $68/month. Yes, it is a rip off. I just feel guilty getting rid of them after all these years. Plus that, I want to be there when they go SDV and add a bunch of channels. I am a wasteful geek I guess.

But yeah, I love DirecTV.

[razorphreak900]

BHN carries both Fox News and Fox Business in the SD format. DirecTV carries Fox Business in the HD format but Fox News in the SD format until the fall when they get their new satellite operational (so I have read on here). Fox News has been live in HD since May for a few TV markets, but not BHN or DirecTV.




I have the DirecTV Premier package plus a second HD DVR. I also pay either $5 or $10 extra for a handful of HD channels in an HD extras package (this includes MGM, HDNET, HDNET Movies and a couple others). The rest of the stuff DirecTV gives you with the HD package. I basically have everything. (except extra sports packages like Sunday Ticket, Playboy TV, and PPV, I NEVER buy PPV) All the movie channels they offer, all the regular sports channels (65 or so regional channels and their alternative feeds, blackouts apply). I am a huge movie person, so it is nice to have 10 or so premium channels (HBO/MAX/Sho/Starz) in HD, plus the rest in SD (still fewer multichannels in SD than BHN). I am not a big sports fan, but I do love hockey (go last place Lightning!) and enjoy my local Tampa Bay Buccaneers football. I won't get the Season Pass for anything, but even if I was a die hard fan I would have to think long and hard at a cost of $250 a year for out of market games (in the case of the Sunday Ticket NFL). I would consider getting the NHL Center Ice maybe, just because I love hockey, but I get enough Lightning games that I doubt I would watch too many out of market games, unless they were some big rivalries.

I am very happy with DirecTV. My bill is around $118 before their discounts that I get for the first year. I also keep BHN around as an old friend with an HD-DVR and digital (no extra paks or premiums) for about $68/month. Yes, it is a rip off. I just feel guilty getting rid of them after all these years. Plus that, I want to be there when they go SDV and add a bunch of channels. I am a wasteful geek I guess.

But yeah, I love DirecTV.

thats koo, i will for sure look into it more then. how about them storms and stuff? how is your dish holding up?...thanks for all the info btw =-)