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OK folks, cards on the table. This blog is supported by Solid Signal, a DIRECTV Dealer. I don't often spend a lot of time complaining about DIRECTV or telling you they've done something wrong. Why would I? If I don't like something, I try not to make too big a deal of it. But, occasionally, I do mention it when I think they should do something better. This is one of those times.

The HDR problem

HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. When it's done right, it makes your HD or 4K picture look incredible. The problem is that the HDR standard isn't really that well written. A lot of TVs qualify for the HDR designation, but many of them (most, probably) look better in non-HDR mode than in HDR mode. I go into a lot of detail about the reasons why, here. It boils down to the amount of brightness the TV can show. If the TV can't get bright enough, then it needs to make everything else darker in order to meet the HDR standard. That makes things look dark and dull, especially on Hulu. For that reason, a lot of people keep the HDR setting on their streaming boxes off unless they deliberately want to use it. I'm one of those people, for the record.

That's a fairly simple matter if you have an Apple TV, Roku, Google TV, or even a smart TV. It's also fully automatic if you have a DIRECTV 4K Genie Mini Client. However, on a Gemini showing DIRECTV content, HDR seems to be on or off, all the time. It's the one thing I don't like about my Gemini.

Would it be so hard?

I really doubt it would be terribly hard to put a manual SDR/HDR setting into the Gemini. I can see why there isn't one on the Genie client, because it's in SDR almost all the time. (SDR, in case you haven't figured it out, is Standard Dynamic Range. In other words, it's non-HDR.) But if the Gemini is going to be in one mode, it makes sense for you to be able to control it. Or, like some streaming boxes, give you the option of Always On, Always Off, or Match What It Was Produced In.

So the real question, dear friends, is whether or not I'm alone in wanting this switch. So do me a favor. Whether you read this article on The Solid Signal Blog or in one of the other sites where it's syndicated, leave a comment to tell DIRECTV's engineers what you think.

Obviously it's going to be just one data point, and possibly not even an important one. Generally DIRECTV decides whether or not to do something based on two factors: (1) how long it would take to do and thoroughly test: (2) how much it's going to cost to support it at the call center. If most people don't care about this issue, or if it's likely to be a problem in the support department, it won't happen.

Still it would be nice for the enthusiast community to speak out about this subject. Here's your chance… go for it!

The post SOUND OFF: Is Gemini HDR a problem for you? appeared first on The Solid Signal Blog.

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