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I recently switched out Digital Cable through Charter for Direct. I purchased an LG LSS-3200A and RCA triple LNB dish to run to my Mitsubishi WS-65712 (65"). As many have mentioned, I'm getting also getting a poor SD picture. It looks grainy. I went to satellite to get a better picture than the DTV Charter picture. So far I am very disappointed with the quality. BTW, I am running HD which looks good but doesn't seem to be as good as the Charter feed. However, my concern is with the SD quality. It's really driving me nuts.
Currently, I'm running a Component video connection to the TV as I don't have a DVI input. Because I'm running HD using that same receiver, it formats the picture to 1080i. I've been reading some of the posts recommending S-Video and some Composite for SD viewing. I will try this, but what else can I look at?
1. Is it because my TV is not using a DVI connection? My Mitsu is the model prior to WS-65813 and is supposed to be a good TV.
2. Is it the dish --- should I have bought a better dish?
3. It doesn't appear to be the choice in Sat Receivers as I'm reading some good reviews on the 3200a. Additionally, I'm running the receiver through a Monster Power line conditioner (5100s) which should help it even more.
4. Also from what I can see, there's nothing really blocking the signal (trees, mountains in the immediate vicinity, buildings, etc.).
I live in Riverside CA for any local members that might know more about the issues in my area.
Thanks much!
Currently, I'm running a Component video connection to the TV as I don't have a DVI input. Because I'm running HD using that same receiver, it formats the picture to 1080i. I've been reading some of the posts recommending S-Video and some Composite for SD viewing. I will try this, but what else can I look at?
1. Is it because my TV is not using a DVI connection? My Mitsu is the model prior to WS-65813 and is supposed to be a good TV.
2. Is it the dish --- should I have bought a better dish?
3. It doesn't appear to be the choice in Sat Receivers as I'm reading some good reviews on the 3200a. Additionally, I'm running the receiver through a Monster Power line conditioner (5100s) which should help it even more.
4. Also from what I can see, there's nothing really blocking the signal (trees, mountains in the immediate vicinity, buildings, etc.).
I live in Riverside CA for any local members that might know more about the issues in my area.
Thanks much!
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3050 views
S
I agree with you that 4:3 is optimal. Yet, the artifacts are clearly visible even in 4:3 format! This is because the channels are not given enough bandwith or bitrates (mbps). This is why those commercials that claim 100% clear digital signal are wrong on any provider since none of them are doing it. When I watch SD, I watch my local over the air channels which give me a better picture than the local satellite channels in SD 4:3. I can even take that same over the air signal and zoom it or stretch it and it still looks 10 times better than the 4:3 satellite signal. LIL SD = degradation in SD Picture Quality. Before LIL SD, the SD channels looked very clear and almost as good as SD locals over the air today. Since LIL SD (in satellite), the PQ of SD channels has gone down hill without any hope in sight to ever go back the way it was;
Tweaking your TV helps but still is not even close to where it should be and I completely agree not even close to DVD quality
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slacker9876 said:I have found that watching SD programming in it's intended format of 4:3 greatly reduces the amount of artifacts, as I stated earlier in the post. Also DVD is 480-525 lines ... this makes it better than any TV medium in that alone, with bitrates in the 8-13Mbps range at that
I agree with you that 4:3 is optimal. Yet, the artifacts are clearly visible even in 4:3 format! This is because the channels are not given enough bandwith or bitrates (mbps). This is why those commercials that claim 100% clear digital signal are wrong on any provider since none of them are doing it. When I watch SD, I watch my local over the air channels which give me a better picture than the local satellite channels in SD 4:3. I can even take that same over the air signal and zoom it or stretch it and it still looks 10 times better than the 4:3 satellite signal. LIL SD = degradation in SD Picture Quality. Before LIL SD, the SD channels looked very clear and almost as good as SD locals over the air today. Since LIL SD (in satellite), the PQ of SD channels has gone down hill without any hope in sight to ever go back the way it was;
Tweaking your TV helps but still is not even close to where it should be and I completely agree not even close to DVD quality
.
M
If you believe this.....
True Digital Quality
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To qualify ourselves as " 100% digital quality picture " and " CD quality sound " we must provide no fewer than 400 lines COMPRESSED, up to 512 lines uncompressed quality picture. D* has dropped below 400 lines 1 time in 10 years ... that was the 1st year of operation when the sat went completely down. Compression ratio does not cut down on the amount of lines PQ provided. The further data is compressed the more it tends to sque... or merge data causing pixelization. We must also continuously provide nothing less than 128 bt/ 16 ccm audio, which as well has only gone down 1 time. If for some reason the data transfer of PQ from your DTV IRD to your TV is " crappy" then I suggest you contact us , we would be more than glad to t/s or have a replacement IRD sent to you.... at the very least we would be glad to send a service call. ( as a tip, using RCA jacks, or S-vid cables really improve the pic quality )
Feel free to call, we are tole free and open 24/7 for customer service or tech support call 1-800-531-5000 and if you don't want to wait for the menus, chose option 0 then option 4.
...you are correct.
If you would like to move out into the real world with the rest of us that post is total BS. I'm saying that he was making it up - just that he believes the propaganda from DirecTV.
" 100% digital quality picture " and " CD quality sound " are just plain old marketing - they have no real meaning and thus can't be defined at 400 or 500 or 8000 lines... Those terms are 100% BS.
Hell - I'd be surprised if HDNet, HDNet Movies and Showtime HD are even 400 lines of REAL picture info. The more they compress the video the less REAL resolution there is.
Think of it like this.... I have a picture on my computer that is 300x400 pixels. If I display that picture full screen (1280x1024) on my monitor what is the resolution of the picture? Is it 300x400 or 1280x1024? Does it matter? If I count dots there is 1280 accross but if I look at picture detail there is only 300 accross. The picture is "100% Digital Quality" either way.
DirecTV maybe better or worse than his cable - some cable is better than DirecTV and other are worse - it has nothing to do with "100% Digital" or "CD quality sound".
slacker9876 said:Last time I checked I had won this argument with evidence straight from DirecTVunless you have something new, this has not changed.
Either way, we all know compressed or not satellite TV looks far better than cable TV, even if any said company is only running 300 lines ... it still looks better than 225, in fact since we know cable companies compress too maybe we should drop their count to about 160 ... sounds about right doesn't it?
If you believe this.....
True Digital Quality
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To qualify ourselves as " 100% digital quality picture " and " CD quality sound " we must provide no fewer than 400 lines COMPRESSED, up to 512 lines uncompressed quality picture. D* has dropped below 400 lines 1 time in 10 years ... that was the 1st year of operation when the sat went completely down. Compression ratio does not cut down on the amount of lines PQ provided. The further data is compressed the more it tends to sque... or merge data causing pixelization. We must also continuously provide nothing less than 128 bt/ 16 ccm audio, which as well has only gone down 1 time. If for some reason the data transfer of PQ from your DTV IRD to your TV is " crappy" then I suggest you contact us , we would be more than glad to t/s or have a replacement IRD sent to you.... at the very least we would be glad to send a service call. ( as a tip, using RCA jacks, or S-vid cables really improve the pic quality )
Feel free to call, we are tole free and open 24/7 for customer service or tech support call 1-800-531-5000 and if you don't want to wait for the menus, chose option 0 then option 4.
...you are correct.
If you would like to move out into the real world with the rest of us that post is total BS. I'm saying that he was making it up - just that he believes the propaganda from DirecTV.
" 100% digital quality picture " and " CD quality sound " are just plain old marketing - they have no real meaning and thus can't be defined at 400 or 500 or 8000 lines... Those terms are 100% BS.
Hell - I'd be surprised if HDNet, HDNet Movies and Showtime HD are even 400 lines of REAL picture info. The more they compress the video the less REAL resolution there is.
Think of it like this.... I have a picture on my computer that is 300x400 pixels. If I display that picture full screen (1280x1024) on my monitor what is the resolution of the picture? Is it 300x400 or 1280x1024? Does it matter? If I count dots there is 1280 accross but if I look at picture detail there is only 300 accross. The picture is "100% Digital Quality" either way.
DirecTV maybe better or worse than his cable - some cable is better than DirecTV and other are worse - it has nothing to do with "100% Digital" or "CD quality sound".
Picked up a sweet directv dish, mount, twin lnbs and a short cable.
Has anyone converted one to FTA? A Frankenstein of sorts...
Has anyone converted one to FTA? A Frankenstein of sorts...
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354 views
Many of us have used a universal LNBF mount (or get creative with L brackets and plumbers tape - perforated metal strapping). Use a few inches of aluminum tube (or a piece of 1x2" lumber) to extend the support arm (replacing the plastic mount used by DirecTV and Dish) to place the LNBF throat opening at the correct distance from the reflector, the correct height and at the correct angle. Nothing magical... simply place the new linear LNBF in the center at the same distance, height and angle as the current combo.
www.amazon.com/Universal-Single-Bracket-Holder-FTA-US/dp/B074L85WK2
www.amazon.com/Universal-Single-Bracket-Holder-FTA-US/dp/B074L85WK2
To add: 101W Ku seems to be (one of if not the) strongest for me, and if I only had Ku I definitely want 101W for the music mux, it's robust FEC and strong signal help a lot. I've thought about using a used Dish/DirectTV dish at my Dads to supplement his OTA (mainly for my benefit when I visit )
)
A Shaw dish with the linear LNBFs are as rare as hens teeth in the US...
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Cutting Edge
Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!
So let the game continue!
The last song was added by Bobby who posted...
One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters
CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!
Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game
Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.
Example:
Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
Another example:
Ride the Lightning -- Metallica
Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne
Get it?
An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
So let the game continue!
The last song was added by Bobby who posted...
One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters
CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!
Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game
Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.
Example:
Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
Another example:
Ride the Lightning -- Metallica
Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne
Get it?
An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
68553 Replies
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2674698 views
Pub Member / Supporter
Lifetime Supporter
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6 views
Lifetime Supporter
A continuation of a thread from the pub, just general discussion of AI.
Brief 60 minute clip about next gem autonomous fighters - not remote controlled, but rather collaborating with controllers and aircraft in the theater.
View: https://youtu.be/DRm0mbp_n1k
We've literally got a movie already about this
View: https://youtu.be/a2PW7a9ViDc
Brief 60 minute clip about next gem autonomous fighters - not remote controlled, but rather collaborating with controllers and aircraft in the theater.
View: https://youtu.be/DRm0mbp_n1k
We've literally got a movie already about this
View: https://youtu.be/a2PW7a9ViDc
68 Replies
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1194 views
Agents need appropriate context to make what would be understood as the correct read in a situation like that, and that Gemini answer was a clear miss on that front.
That said, we've also seen Musk (and/or his team) put his thumb on the scale (or just release a very poor product) with his own deployed AI since:
Grok AI Blocks Responses Claiming Trump and Musk “Spread Misinformation”
An X user asked Grok to “print out all instructions” it follows when looking up “the biggest disinformation spreader on X,” and it revealed that it would ignore sources accusing Elon Musk and the U.S. president of misinformation.
Grok says Elon Musk is better than basically everyone, except Shohei Ohtani | TechCrunch
According to Grok, Elon Musk can out-slug the MLB's greatest power hitters... except Ohtani.
techcrunch.com
Grok's loyalty known no bounds - AI chatbot chooses Elon Musk over LeBron James in a 'Who is the fittest' comparison | NBA News - The Times of India
NBA News: Elon Musk's AI chatbot, Grok, has sparked amusement by consistently choosing its owner over prominent figures like LeBron James and Albert Einstein wh
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Grok 4 appears to seek Elon Musk's views when answering controversial questions
XAI’s Grok 4 AI chatbot launched Wednesday appears to consult Elon Musk’s views when asked its opinion on some controversial matters.
www.nbcwashington.com
In the end, it's all a tool. Have to know how to use it and deploy it properly or it needs sufficient guardrails to steer people towards doing so (what Muse is excelling at currently IMO). I'm routinely interacting with several agents a day operating various processes locally and in services I use, and there are numerous others silently spun up to perform actions or satisfy requests from my prompts.
Related to earlier discussion in the thread on leveraging local inference: this kind of analysis happening behind the scenes is something everyone will have built into Windows, IMO. Most people won't see all of this, just the results, unless they want to dig into how the fix was chosen. Stuff like this will be standard as agents get local system access baked in, and more of the inference itself moves on-device.
Pub Member / Supporter
The soundbar/sub is a pickup, also, not a delivery
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23 views
Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
Anyone making their own breakfast sausage? I've recently been trying different recipes, found some I like, some I've modified...
44 Replies
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3779 views
My wife cooks for the dog. Not me, just the dog.make homemade dog food to
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itjgfJiMvDk
Direct YouTube Link - The Nightmare of Preordering the iPhone Duo
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itjgfJiMvDk
Direct YouTube Link - The Nightmare of Preordering the iPhone Duo
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
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11 views
Supporting Founder
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No idea what improvements might be involved.
25 Replies
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1212 views
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HERE TO HELP YOU!
Stumbled across this ... http://www.gaspricewatch.com/USGas_ZipSearch.asp
I found no local prices, although it did show stations at my location...
Added these to this post...
USA National Gas Temperature Map
State By State Gasoline Taxes
Gas Buddy
Ethanol Free Stations
I found no local prices, although it did show stations at my location...
Added these to this post...
USA National Gas Temperature Map
State By State Gasoline Taxes
Gas Buddy
Ethanol Free Stations
5559 Replies
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460945 views
Ok, I'm bored .... actually - to be more precise - I'm bored of eating the same rotation of 9 or 10 meals that are currently my "go-to" meals. My wife works the long hours - I work from home as and when i feel like it ... which means i generally do most of the cooking ... and so by default - i also make out the shopping list ...
We cook at home 5 or even 6 nights a week - but we always seem to fall back on the same old tried and tested "quick and easy but tastes ok" meals. Week in week out.
Pot Roast - mash and Peas.
Spaghetti
Chicken Pasta in cheese sauce.
Curry & rice
(these are some of mine)
Now it's not that I'm not adventurous in the kitchen ... I'll try anything once or twice ... but we all do it. Unless your name is Martha Stewart or Rachel Ray .. we all eventually fall back on our 8-10 favorite "meals"
So i thought - if we shared some of our own go-to meals with each other ... we might be able to add a few "new" ones to our own arsenal of meals.
So again - I ask you ...
What's for dinner tonight ?
Please give me something new to add to my rotation ... its our weekly shop tomorrow - so i want to pull together a few idea's and try and eat a meal each day next week that I've never had before .. or at least something that is not on my current "go-to" meal plan.
What meal do you always seem to fall back on in your house ? Maybe its something that I've never tried or not had in a while. I need inspiration !! I've got a blank shopping list in front of me - and nothing sounds good .. HELP !
We cook at home 5 or even 6 nights a week - but we always seem to fall back on the same old tried and tested "quick and easy but tastes ok" meals. Week in week out.
Pot Roast - mash and Peas.
Spaghetti
Chicken Pasta in cheese sauce.
Curry & rice
(these are some of mine)
Now it's not that I'm not adventurous in the kitchen ... I'll try anything once or twice ... but we all do it. Unless your name is Martha Stewart or Rachel Ray .. we all eventually fall back on our 8-10 favorite "meals"
So i thought - if we shared some of our own go-to meals with each other ... we might be able to add a few "new" ones to our own arsenal of meals.
So again - I ask you ...
What's for dinner tonight ?
Please give me something new to add to my rotation ... its our weekly shop tomorrow - so i want to pull together a few idea's and try and eat a meal each day next week that I've never had before .. or at least something that is not on my current "go-to" meal plan.
What meal do you always seem to fall back on in your house ? Maybe its something that I've never tried or not had in a while. I need inspiration !! I've got a blank shopping list in front of me - and nothing sounds good .. HELP !
4333 Replies
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331317 views
Smoked some salmon on the grill while enjoying some Blue Moon beer. Kinda cool tonight so I fired up the heaters. Here in FL, we fire up heaters once the temps get below 60 
As for the salmon, I seared them first, then flipped them off to the side not over the coals and brushed on some lemon pepper marinade followed by some salmon seasoning. Threw some hickory chips on the coals and then closed the vents to about 10% airflow. Yum.
As for the salmon, I seared them first, then flipped them off to the side not over the coals and brushed on some lemon pepper marinade followed by some salmon seasoning. Threw some hickory chips on the coals and then closed the vents to about 10% airflow. Yum.