UPC HD v standard

Staplor

I was in my sisters house yesterday, she has UPC HD on a 32 inch and even on standard channels her picture seemed sharper than my standard UPC, but my TV is 40 inch. Anyone know if the HD box gives a sharper picture, or is it just screen size that is the difference.

I know for content, HD isn't worth the extra but for picture quality all round it might be.

Thanks.

Myrddin

Staplor wrote: »

Anyone know if the HD box gives a sharper picture

Em, not be too blunt, but thats kinda the point of it

Edit - I see your referring to SD channels on her HD box, my bad! It's possible there's some upscaling going on? The tv itself could be of a better quality too. Make sure your using an RGB scart lead, not a regular AV scart.

kirving

Are you using SCART or HDMI for the standard box? Either way, SCART should be fine for standard.

What TV does she have, and how is it set? My new Sony has a much better picture than an older LG, even though the LG is very good. Are they both FullHD?

Once you're far enough from the TV so that the screen appears the same size, the actual size shouldn't impact the picture quality.

Myrddin

Kevin Irving wrote: »

Are you using SCART or HDMI for the standard box?

HDMI for the standard box??

Ranicand

EnterNow wrote: »

HDMI for the standard box??

Some of the new standard non HD boxes have a HDMI port.

If your using a scart you should have the picture output set to wide and RGB.

Myrddin

Ranicand wrote: »

Some of the new standard non HD boxes have a HDMI port.

If your using a scart you should have the picture output set to wide and RGB.

Ah I didn't know that. What's the idea of an SD box having an HDMI output? To cater for newer tv's with lesser scart options that past ones?

Ranicand

EnterNow wrote: »

Ah I didn't know that. What's the idea of an SD box having an HDMI output? To cater for newer tv's with lesser scart options that past ones?

HDMI is a digital output scart is analog.

Staplor

All the settings are as above on mine. Bit weird though her tv is a HD Ready 32 LG, I've a 40 full HD Samsung, so I'm not dure where to go from here.

My standard box doesn't have a HD port. What is an RGB Scart? I have an RGB cable is that what you mean? Might try switching the Scart cable for another one

icdg

Ranicand wrote: »

Some of the new standard non HD boxes have a HDMI port.

Not sure about that - but I do know that they are supplying HD boxes to non-HD subscribers now. These boxes have HDMI outputs.

pelluci

The non recording boxes are HD, AFAIK (I got on for multiroom).

Ken bryan

Some will say that there noticeable diff with Upc hd .
But most if not Sky / upc hd is broad cast at 720 p .
bbc Is 1180 p That is only channel I have seen huge diff .
But if you Get soarview The improvement is unbelievable .
The biggest Probablem with Upc Hd is the Volume issue .
There is a thread for this open last week here . .
Good luck

Ranicand

Ken bryan wrote: »

Some will say that there noticeable diff with Upc hd .
But most if not Sky / upc hd is broad cast at 720 p .
bbc Is 1180 p That is only channel I have seen huge diff .
But if you Get soarview The improvement is unbelievable .
The biggest Probablem with Upc Hd is the Volume issue .
There is a thread for this open last week here . .
Good luck

Wrong the none of the channels are 720p or 1080p they are all 1080i.

zg3409

Staplor wrote: »

What is an RGB Scart? I have an RGB cable is that what you mean? Might try switching the Scart cable for another one

Try to use the thickest scart cable you have. Ideally every wire would be connected, but on some cables not all are. Even though it may work, it may work better with all connected.

SCART has two ways to sent a picture. One way uses a single wire called composite. The other way uses 3 wired (red, green and blue) to send each of the colours seperately. This can make a slight difference in the quality (especially on older VCR's)

In order to use RGB instead of composite the box (UPC) needs to send the right signals. I don't have an SD UPC box so others might advise if there is a menu option or not.

Then you TV needs to look for the RGB signal on the scart port. Some TV's when you press the "AV" button have options like

SCART1
SCART1RGB
SCART2
AV
HDMI etc

You need to select the RGB option. If you don't see the option under AV button then it may be under one of the TV menu options.

If you then see nothing then the box might not be putting out the RGB signal or your scart lead is the cheapo type.

And yes, the newer SD boxes have HDMI port and it can make a slight difference even for standard definition channels.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCART

taxidriver22

My tv has a scart plus DVI connection and my HD STB has scart and HDMI.

I know I can pick up a DVI to HDMI cable for about €10. Will I better results from this option over just scart ?

zg3409

taxidriver22 wrote: »

My tv has a scart plus DVI connection and my HD STB has scart and HDMI.

I know I can pick up a DVI to HDMI cable for about €10. Will I better results from this option over just scart ?

Assuming you have a HD UPC box with no HD subscription then it might make a slight difference, especially if you have larger than a 32" TV.

Make sure to get a HDMI OUT to DVI IN Cable, as opposed to the other way around.

If you don't have a HD subscription RTE2 HD should be available which would be brilliant for sports.

taxidriver22

I have HD subscription but the tv is less than 32" but will soon be upgraded to 40+ once the funds become available

pelluci

taxidriver22 wrote: »

My tv has a scart plus DVI connection and my HD STB has scart and HDMI.

I know I can pick up a DVI to HDMI cable for about €10. Will I better results from this option over just scart ?

DVI only carries video but not audio, so unless you can hook up speakers to you HD box, this won't be a runner.

taxidriver22

pelluci wrote: »

DVI only carries video but not audio, so unless you can hook up speakers to you HD box, this won't be a runner.

I think this may be runner. The HD STB box has audio connections white and red and the TV has DVI in audio point and I have a cable for this.

Assuming I am correct then I just need the HDMI out to DVI in cable.

So this bein the case I should get a better quality receiption from the HD box ?

pelluci

Sorry, I took your question to mean if you just replaced the scart with a HDMI to DVI cable. If you have the audio cable, then, as zg3409 said, you should get some improvement (or at worst no better, no worse).