Picture Quality of local channels,,,

[lee157]

OK another newbie question,,

I am new to the whole satellite TV thing we always had 16' ray gun looking antenna on a pole with a rotator and just got Dish Net this last Sat.

I have noticed that my local stations seem kinda Blocky,, like low quality MPEG movies.

I have messed with a LOT of MiniDV video and converting it to several different formats and when you go a lower quality you get some minor blockyness when you have rapid movement on the picture, usually sharp contrast changes yield them, like a dark object moving across a light background the outer edges of the dark object will look blocky.

Is this normal???

My other stations are fine and I'm not sure all of my locals are that way as I haven't sat in front of the tube that much yet to really study it.

But it isn't what I expected for "Digital Quality"

 

[thedamaja]

Dish uses a number of different methods to obtain local channels. This all depends on the setup for your market.

I live in South Bend and my CW and ABC look like they uplinking a feed that was captured from a UHF antenna. Luckily I receive all the digital OTA feeds from the same channels so it doesn't bother me much.

 

[slocoma]

I'm in Erie, PA. My locals look really, really bad.

Some times I think I might be better off getting them over the antenna instead of off the Dish.

 

[highdefjeff]

OK another newbie question,,

I am new to the whole satellite TV thing we always had 16' ray gun looking antenna on a pole with a rotator and just got Dish Net this last Sat.

I have noticed that my local stations seem kinda Blocky,, like low quality MPEG movies.

I have messed with a LOT of MiniDV video and converting it to several different formats and when you go a lower quality you get some minor blockyness when you have rapid movement on the picture, usually sharp contrast changes yield them, like a dark object moving across a light background the outer edges of the dark object will look blocky.

Is this normal???

My other stations are fine and I'm not sure all of my locals are that way as I haven't sat in front of the tube that much yet to really study it.

But it isn't what I expected for "Digital Quality"

It is not normal for the locals to be blocky. But first, remember when you are considering quality that only four channels are HD; FOX, ABC, NBC, and CBS. If those channels are exhibiting what you describe, you may have marginal signal for your HD locals. Yes, digital picture quality can be compromised by low signal.

 

[lee157]

Well how do I diagnose a problem if I have one?

 

[highdefjeff]

Sounds like you have a problem. The fix would be in the re-point of the dish.

What dish do you have?

Identifying Dishes

What is signal strength on 118.7 viewing transponder 18?

What is signal strength of 110 and 119 viewing transponder 11?

 

[darrencp22]

I'm in Erie, PA. My locals look really, really bad.

Some times I think I might be better off getting them over the antenna instead of off the Dish.

Erie PA? Did you move? Close MSU is Buffalo.

 

[slocoma]

No, I didn't move.

 

[darrencp22]

No, I didn't move.

Whose locals are you getting? Pittsburgh? Im pretty sure Dish doesnt offer HD channels for Erie, PA.

 

[slocoma]

Dish doesn't provide Erie HD locals, correct. OP never mentioned his locals were in HD.

My locals still look like crap.

 

[digiblur]

Don't fool yourself jeff, a repoint won't fix low bitrate local channels.

The best way to go is get them from the source via OTA digital signal.

 

[RandallA]

Jeff,

With Digital you either get picture or you don't. Re-pointing won't help you get a better picture.

 

[digiblur]

a repoint remark from the guy that claims higher signal strength gives you better quality HD picture.

Priceless!

 

[KAB]

a repoint remark from the guy that claims higher signal strength gives you better quality HD picture.

Priceless!

He has been brainwashed by his "bible" HiDef website.

 

[highdefjeff]

a repoint remark from the guy that claims higher signal strength gives you better quality HD picture.

Priceless!

Actually, the claim is low signal strength can compromise your picture quality. There's a big difference.

 

[digiblur]

As long as the signal is locked then it will not compromise the picture quality. We are no longer in the analog age.