I posted this thread at AVS as well, HOPING to find a solution to my "problem". This post is a combination of all of my posts in the thread I started at AVS.
I recently signed with VOOM, and now have both VOOM and DirecTV running to my plasma. As both of my sat boxes have DVI outputs, I purchased a 2x1 DVI connector and can easily switch between satellite signals with the push of a button.
The channel I most often use for comparison is Discovery HD.
As much as I WANT VOOM to succeed, and like the overwhelming multitude of channels VOOM offers compared to ANYTHING else on the market (satellite, OTA, and cable), my DirecTV signal is simply more vibrant than the VOOM signal.
The vast majority of my VOOM channels produce a picture that looks like I am watching a picture in a room where everyone is smoking a cigarette - they ALL appear as though there is a "haze" hanging in the picture.
When I switch to comparable DirecTV channels (such as Discovery HD, HBOHD, and ShowtimeHD), the pictures are more vibrant, there is no "haze" present, and it simply presents a more "geez - what a picture" response from people who have seen the two feeds (so it is not just me).
Am I the only one experiencing this - if so, is there something I need to do to correct this (if it can be corrected)?
I have a Hitachi plasma TV, and it, of course, has ALiS technology (which, from what I have read, displays 1080i pictures the best). And recently, VOOM "cut back" on its bandwith signal from 1080i to predominantly 720p.
Could that be causing the "problem"? My first instinct is to say "no", because 1080i vs. 720p vs. 480p is simply resolution. But I have both sat boxes set to display the picture as 1080i, regardless of what the native resolution of the broadcast is at any given time.
There is ONE channel that is absolutely superb on VOOM and has no comparison on DirecTV: HDNews whenever it shows the animated weather maps. I have NEVER seen pictures as vibrant as those maps. But when you go back to the live HDNews reports, I get that "haze" again.
Mind you - it is not overwhelming. But it IS noticeable (and not only to me).
One more thing - I am using DVI SINGLE link cables (that is what came with my VOOM packaging).
I have read on numerous forums that DVI Double (or is it dual?) link cables are better (i.e., support more resolution) and that both my Hughes HD-HTL and VOOM box both support the double/dual link cabling.
Do you think that "upgrading" to the double/dual link cabling would make a difference?
Of course, I sincerely appreciate any responses or suggestions to help improve my picture quality.
In sum, think of having your brightness on your monitor turned up too high and the picture seems washed out - THAT is what I am seeing on most of my VOOM channels (when compared to a DirecTV channel showing the SAME programming at the SAME time).
Regards,
Sam
I recently signed with VOOM, and now have both VOOM and DirecTV running to my plasma. As both of my sat boxes have DVI outputs, I purchased a 2x1 DVI connector and can easily switch between satellite signals with the push of a button.
The channel I most often use for comparison is Discovery HD.
As much as I WANT VOOM to succeed, and like the overwhelming multitude of channels VOOM offers compared to ANYTHING else on the market (satellite, OTA, and cable), my DirecTV signal is simply more vibrant than the VOOM signal.
The vast majority of my VOOM channels produce a picture that looks like I am watching a picture in a room where everyone is smoking a cigarette - they ALL appear as though there is a "haze" hanging in the picture.
When I switch to comparable DirecTV channels (such as Discovery HD, HBOHD, and ShowtimeHD), the pictures are more vibrant, there is no "haze" present, and it simply presents a more "geez - what a picture" response from people who have seen the two feeds (so it is not just me).
Am I the only one experiencing this - if so, is there something I need to do to correct this (if it can be corrected)?
I have a Hitachi plasma TV, and it, of course, has ALiS technology (which, from what I have read, displays 1080i pictures the best). And recently, VOOM "cut back" on its bandwith signal from 1080i to predominantly 720p.
Could that be causing the "problem"? My first instinct is to say "no", because 1080i vs. 720p vs. 480p is simply resolution. But I have both sat boxes set to display the picture as 1080i, regardless of what the native resolution of the broadcast is at any given time.
There is ONE channel that is absolutely superb on VOOM and has no comparison on DirecTV: HDNews whenever it shows the animated weather maps. I have NEVER seen pictures as vibrant as those maps. But when you go back to the live HDNews reports, I get that "haze" again.
Mind you - it is not overwhelming. But it IS noticeable (and not only to me).
One more thing - I am using DVI SINGLE link cables (that is what came with my VOOM packaging).
I have read on numerous forums that DVI Double (or is it dual?) link cables are better (i.e., support more resolution) and that both my Hughes HD-HTL and VOOM box both support the double/dual link cabling.
Do you think that "upgrading" to the double/dual link cabling would make a difference?
Of course, I sincerely appreciate any responses or suggestions to help improve my picture quality.
In sum, think of having your brightness on your monitor turned up too high and the picture seems washed out - THAT is what I am seeing on most of my VOOM channels (when compared to a DirecTV channel showing the SAME programming at the SAME time).
Regards,
Sam