XfinityTV and Equipment

[shwaldo]

I've had comcast for about 2.5 years.  I had an old tube TV, but I just set up my new Samsung 40" LCD 1080p 120Hz TV.  HD channels look good for the most part.  However, I watched Moneyball on demand from HBO HD, and it looked grainy, choppy, pixelated during motion, and overall not good.  There were also single thin white horizontal lines that appeared from time to time.  Is this just how HD on-demand is?  After the movie, I flipped over to an HBO HD channel and it was sharp as a tack.  I am using an HDMI cable between the TV and cable box, and the box is an HD DVR.  However, the cable from the wall is coaxial.  Is that still the norm?

Anyone know why the HD on demand offerings would look so much worse than regular HD broadcast?

Also, does comcast only broadcast in 1080i 60Hz?  That's what my TV says the source is.  Is there a way to increase that?  When can I get the benefit of 120Hz?

Thanks.

[rog286713]

On demand should not look bad escpecially in HD, have you checked other hd on demand programs to see if it might just have been an issue with that one.  pixelation at any time is usually caused by a signal issue, you might be seeing this now more than before because you have a newer tv with HD.  Only a tech visit can tell you that though.

Coax from the wall is still how it is no matter where you go.

comcast only broadcasts in 1080i along with everyone else.  The only way to get 1080p is with a bluray player, no you can't increase it.   Those hertz numbers that get tossed around are used as marketing ploys to get people to buy more expensive tv's the average person cannot tell any difference.

[EG]

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rog286713 wrote:

Those hertz numbers that get tossed around are used as marketing ploys to get people to buy more expensive tv's the average person cannot tell any difference.

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I disagree. Especially where fast action scenes are concerned such as sporting events. Guess that I'm not "average" ?

[rog286713]

You are probably not.  Here is some light reading that might shed some light on the topic of how it all works.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2379206,00.asp

[shwaldo]

Thanks.  I'll check some other HD on demand movies and call comcast if it persists.

I've been skeptical of the 60 vs 120 debate.  Found out after the fact that all cable is broadcast at 60.  Sales people always say you'll see the difference in things like sports.  But it seems that it wouldn't matter what show/sport you're watching if it's broadcast at 60.  60 is 60.

[guziol]

This is not your TV, it's compression Comcast uses to fit more channels or ''on demand'' shows on one frequency. They squeeze five or sometimes more HD channels on one particular frequency, in order to that they need to compress original picture quality reducing frame rate and resolution, that's why you see pixelation or other noise in fast moving scenes. Welcome to real HD ;-)

[shwaldo]

Well, that kind of sucks.  Is there anything that can improve that, or is this just the way it is?  Worth a comcast home visit?

[rog286713]

Do you have a motorola box?  If you do have you gone into the config and set it up for your TV?  with the cable box OFF tv on press menu on your remote, in there you set all your video settings.

I can tell you this I do not have the issues you have with my on demand on my motorola box.  It is true comcast does compress the channels but I have not seen what you see when I view on demand hd.

[shwaldo]

I'm not sure, I think it's motorola.  I'm not at home right now.  I'll try that today.

I did check some other HD on demand movies, and they all looked bad.  I've configured the picture settings with the TV and cable on, but I'll try video settings with cable off as you suggest.

[guziol]

No there's nothing you can do or Comcast's technician to improve picture quality unless you have other problems, but if all live HD channels are acceptable,  only quality of "on demand" is  not so good- that's it! they're broadcasting that way. I talk to numerous of Comcast technicians about poor HD picture quality and they told me that when they drop analog signal completely,  the  signal of HD will improve. At this time try to enjoy your new TV as is.