hd picture quality

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robin100

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I have read articles in the past about a drop in HD picture quality due to compression. Amongst others I often feel the picture now is sharp for large screen tv but no longer has that 'vibrant and alive' look to it.
I am not a technical buff but is there any easy way to tell if a program is true HD other than by the amount of space consumed on the PVR by a recorded item e.g. The Tudors is still as sharp as before but I believe now lacks vibrancy and PQ is not much different from that of Rick Mercer which is billed as being widescreen. Does the latter just take up the same room on a PVR as any 30 minute sd program?
Thanks,
Robin
 
I think the problem is with what the networks are sending to Bell.

I've noticed that stations like HDNET, Equator and Treasure are always high quality. They're just a pleasure to watch. This isn't true on many of the networks. Their programming seems to be hit and miss.

I've seen wide screen programming on CTV that is no better than what they show on their SD stations. Corner Gas fits in this category. I've watched the SD and HD versions of Corner Gas and other than the aspect ratio, I can't see much difference in quality. It's disappointing.

On the other hand, the HD Doctor Who on CBC is noticeably superior to what they broadcast on their SD channels.
 
I'd like to say this is always true, but tonight I noticed in the guide it showed "HD-Friends". I thought this was strange because I didn't think any of the episodes were in HD (but I could be wrong). Sure enough, I turned it on and it was SD.

In most cases if it says HD it will be, but this is not always the case.
 
When I asked if there was an easy way to tell if it was true HD I was really meaning detection between true HD and different levels of compressed HD. I would agree that Oasis etc. is more vivid whereas to use the example I quoted, the Tudors is pretty crisp on a large screen TV but no longer seems to be vibrant. The CBC news on #802 also is now billed as widescreen rather than HD and I think the same applies here.
Robin
 
The best broadcast HD you will get will be found with OTA signals. The best possible HD picture will be with Blu-ray or HD-DVD. All HD signals on cable and satellite are compressed. Even OTA signals are compressed by the networks, but they aren't compressed as much as cable and satellite so will give the best possible broadcast picture. Every show on one HD channel will take up the same amount of space on the hard drive--even a 4X3 show like The Amazing race takes up as much space as the 16X9 version of Survivor, both recorded from a CBS HD channel. TAR in HD looks a little bit better than its SD version, while Survivor in HD looks a lot better than its SD version.
 
This is not true for all cable service providers. Some do no further compression of all or many channels, giving you 2 HD channels per QAM, or up to 19.4 Mbps, which is the broadcast limit.

See the following thread discussing "HD".

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=44772
 
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