Direct comparsion screenshots of DIRECTV and DISH Network
Satellite providers are not all created equal. DIRECTV and Dish Network both broadcast the signal at different resolutions and it causes a different picture quality. Ever hear of HD-Lite? This is what they are talking about. It is high-def but bit-rate is lower and therefore, a lower picture quality. There is a thread over at AVS Forums that shows you in full resolution the difference in quality. It won't be obvious at first but look at the detail and it will be come evident.
NOTE: expect slow load times for dial-up users due to big pictures.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
MadcapMagician @ Jul 28th 2006 11:56AM
That is a pretty illustrative comparison. I appreciate the time taken to provide those. Someone somewhere should put together a comparison including cable providers, too.
Phil @ Jul 28th 2006 1:38PM
The comparison's a bit flawed in that the resolution has been bumped down and recompressed into jpeg. Still, he gets points for trying. DTV and E* aren't that dissimilar from each other but I'm really waiting for a good mpeg4 comparison once the service really gets rolling and they get more familiar with compressing their feeds. We're still early into the transition so I expect much more of an improvement in the next few years. My DirecTV HD channels are really starting to show their age now that I'm spoiled by HD-DVD.
Mitch @ Jul 28th 2006 1:57PM
Well, no surprise to me. as a directv subscriber I am aware that they do compress the crap outta it sometimes.
I would really expect they do it on the national HD networks, depending on the baseball/sports tv load and other factors
What i am really concerned to see is the quality of signal off the new satelites with MPEG 4, for national channels.
I am hungry for more national channels and the new HD DVR!!! on Directv
WallyB @ Jul 28th 2006 3:25PM
Pretty frogs!
GhostDoggy @ Jul 29th 2006 7:30AM
I thought one of the things that made high-definition 'HD' was the ability to see the detail. What good is it to over compress and reduce the resolution if you throw away said detail? It doesn't. But, most consumers are use to being fleeced (either due to laziness or ignorance) so these companies get away with it.
Comparing the two DBS providers to a cable provider is not going to work easily. I say this, because local franchises can alter the image quality on a local setting. What good would it do a consumer in Virginia to know the LA Comcast provider is a great job when their local Comcast provider might be doing an otherwise crappy job?