So I got a 4K TV...

[ejb1980]

One week ago, I got a Samsung 50" 6300 Series 4K TV. I am generally pleased with the upscaled picture, especially when using the UHD Color and getting rid of the soap opera effect. After turning off a lot of the stupid settings and just playing with a few different things every couple days, I have tweaked it to the point that the picture is gloriously beyond my expectations.

Some Directv-related observations:
1. It up-scales beautifully. HD channels look better than I ever recall them looking. SD channels still look like crap, but less so. There is much less "smokiness" in scenes with a lot of black.
2. Local channels don't seem quite as crisp, but better than they were.
3. The HDMI control actually works! I have never gotten it to work well before.
4. Some sports graphics (like ESPN basketball) look really bad, especially in comparison to the great picture they are super imposed on.
5. Sadly, the RC65 doesn't do anything on the TV except power, select, and channel changes if you're already on the OTA source. The TV's remote is so weird and so different from older TVs, I am not surprised. The only thing I need the TV remote for is input changes. I don't have to change the input on my Denon receiver anymore, I assume due to the HDMI control. If only the RC65 changed the TV input. Maybe it does, I tried all the codes listed for Samsung, but they didn't work to change the input from the RC65 remote.
6. I do not see the point in getting a 4K system. I do not need 3 Directv receivers on top of each other (AM21, HR54, 4K client) for 1 TV. I do not want to put a nice HR54 on my bedroom TV that I rarely use in comparison to the living room TV. I do not want my main TV on a client. I have read enough on here to justify waiting. If there's a HR64 coming, it better output 4K.
7. Not Directv related, but actual 4K content from Netflix and YouTube doesn't stream on my crappy Internet. Comcast upgraded my speed from 25 to 50 (and I got them to add on the package with Military History and Pac 12 instead of HBO to get a discount!) just today and the limited time I have had to watch real 4K, it is impressive. But not THAT much different. Certainly not worth paying another $7/month for.
8. The TV's internal guide knows most of the channels on Directv. Pressing the "extra" button on the TV puts either a) programming info; b) a live Twitter feed for channels that do that (like ESPN during a live Sportscenter); c) weather info if the TV doesn't "know" the channel; or d) a combination thereof. It even knows my local Bounce TV WFFF-3, which the AM21 doesn't. My other missing channel is Grit, but it doesn't show up on the extra guide. (Pic in next post)
9. The OTA tuner on this TV doesn't have all the signal level displays I am used to from the old LGTV, but the OTA tuner itself is much better. There was some pixelation during windy days on the LG, but I have seen little during the wind today.

 

[ejb1980]

Bounce TV... Smart TV knows. Dumb AM21 doesn't.

 

[Jimbo]

Bounce TV... Smart TV knows. Dumb AM21 doesn't.

Whats on the top right side ?
That kind of stuff would annoy me.
I want to see my program.

 

[ejb1980]

Whats on the top right side ?
That kind of stuff would annoy me.
I want to see my program.

That is the "internal" guide from the TV. It's not there all the time, I just took a pic of it because it is showing actual Bounce guide data, despite the AM21 not. I think what you're seeing is where the two guides overlap because I had them on at the same time. Occasionally, a small "extra" icon will appear in the upper right of the screen if something new is there. It doesn't stay on long as long as and is less intrusive than the "scoreguide" pop up.

 

[Jimbo]

That is the "internal" guide from the TV. It's not there all the time, I just took a pic of it because it is showing actual Bounce guide data, despite the AM21 not. I think what you're seeing is where the two guides overlap because I had them on at the same time. Occasionally, a small "extra" icon will appear in the upper right of the screen if something new is there. It doesn't stay on long as long as and is less intrusive than the "scoreguide" pop up.

Gotcha.

 

[dfergie]

Congrats!

 

[texasbrit]

If it's an RVU 4k TV, why not connect the HR54 directly, you don't need a client.

 

[mdram]

you can get the rc65 to change inputs.
i dont remember which code i used

try this
Activate TV INPUT button:

• Mode switch to TV
• Press and hold Mute and Select until the LED blinks twice
• Enter: 9 6 0
• If the LED flashes twice after entering 9 6 0, the Input button is enabled. If it flashes four times you've turned the Input button Off and need to repeat the above step to enable it again.

 

[AZ.]

If it's an RVU 4k TV, why not connect the HR54 directly, you don't need a client.

He wouldnt get 4K then......Big flaw on Directs part.....He would also be charged the same price as a client.....kinda a wash either way

 

[mdram]

He wouldnt get 4K then......Big flaw on Directs part.....He would also be charged the same price as a client.....kinda a wash either way

he would get 4k using it as an rvu client with an hr54
but not via hdmi with the hr54
of course he would be paying 2 fees

 

[AZ.]

he would get 4k using it as an rvu client with an hr54
but not via hdmi with the hr54
of course he would be paying 2 fees

Correct....the way it was worded sounds like he thought you could hook a cable straight up from the HR54, which we know is not possible, and the other way is a fee either way.

 

[texasbrit]

He wouldnt get 4K then......Big flaw on Directs part.....He would also be charged the same price as a client.....kinda a wash either way

Of course he will get 4K. Just connect it as an RVU client, as if it were a C61K.

 

[raoul5788]

I just picked up the same tv, from Target. It was cheap, only $480!

 

[ejb1980]

I do not have a HR54 so the RVU wouldn't give me 4K. Like I said, I do not need to pay for 2 receivers on 1 TV. I do not want to watch this nice TV on a client or RVU. I never have problems with the HR44. I won't get 4K off a client, at least not for a long time and it can be proven that it's snappy and not buggy..

He wouldnt get 4K then......Big flaw on Directs part.....He would also be charged the same price as a client.....kinda a wash either way

 

[ejb1980]

you can get the rc65 to change inputs.
i dont remember which code i used

try this
Activate TV INPUT button:

• Mode switch to TV
• Press and hold Mute and Select until the LED blinks twice
• Enter: 9 6 0
• If the LED flashes twice after entering 9 6 0, the Input button is enabled. If it flashes four times you've turned the Input button Off and need to repeat the above step to enable it again.

PERFECT! Thank you, it works. I can use only the RC65 for basic everyday use for everything! And, like I said in the original post, the HDMI control changes my Denon so I don't even have to change inputs on there.

 

[mdram]

I do not have a HR54 so the RVU wouldn't give me 4K. Like I said, I do not need to pay for 2 receivers on 1 TV. I do not want to watch this nice TV on a client or RVU. I never have problems with the HR44. I won't get 4K off a client, at least not for a long time and it can be proven that it's snappy and not buggy..

then your only option with directv is to wait to see what the next unit is

this is the approach i am taking.

the hopper 3 will output 4k via hdmi, but dish has no broadcast 4k that i know of
they do have on demand 4k, not sure if its sat or internet

 

[ejb1980]

then your only option with directv is to wait to see what the next unit is

this is the approach i am taking.

the hopper 3 will output 4k via hdmi, but dish has no broadcast 4k that i know of
they do have on demand 4k, not sure if its sat or internet

That's my approach too. Clients for 4K, what planet are they on?

 

[ejb1980]

While all programming is better PQ than before, some shows look even better than others. I am watching the Dan Patrick Show from Audience recorded earlier and I have noticed since I got the new TV, this show looks just a bit better than others. So did a movie I watched on Audience. The HBO channels look extra stunning, too, as does ESPN 206. Some programming on the NBC channels does, too. Do these shows have better cameras? Do the HBO channels get extra bandwidth?

 

[ejb1980]

you can get the rc65 to change inputs.
i dont remember which code i used

try this
Activate TV INPUT button:

• Mode switch to TV
• Press and hold Mute and Select until the LED blinks twice
• Enter: 9 6 0
• If the LED flashes twice after entering 9 6 0, the Input button is enabled. If it flashes four times you've turned the Input button Off and need to repeat the above step to enable it again.

Weird question... Are there codes to get an old Scientific Atlanta Explorer 4250C cable box to work on the AV2 slider? It would be nice to swich between CBC, Pac 12, and Military History without hunting for the Comcast remote. There's no point in me upgrading to HD with Comcast - There are only 2 HD channels that I would have on there that are not on Directv (HSN and regional cable news channel NECN) because their HD lineup is truly pathetic. Even the SD channels from the AV input on the TV look far better than they did before.

 

[mdram]

Weird question... Are there codes to get an old Scientific Atlanta Explorer 4250C cable box to work on the AV2 slider? It would be nice to swich between CBC, Pac 12, and Military History without hunting for the Comcast remote. There's no point in me upgrading to HD with Comcast - There are only 2 HD channels that I would have on there that are not on Directv (HSN and regional cable news channel NECN) because their HD lineup is truly pathetic. Even the SD channels from the AV input on the TV look far better than they did before.

maybe
i google'd "rc65 remote code Scientific Atlanta Explorer 4250C"

and came up with this, ymmv

http://www.fixya.com/search/p2607937-directv_rc65_remote_control/codes_scientific_atlanta_cable