Poll: Have you been affected by over-compressed HD feeds?
[Image courtesy of Vidiot]
[Image courtesy of Vidiot]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
GhostDoggy @ Apr 5th 2008 12:27PM
Question: How do you know what you are seeing is a result of over-compression and not something else? I'm certainly not trying to defend those companies, but I am betting a lot of people see and or hear a problem, but being convinced that its due to compression and not some other condition wouldn't be easy.
So, if you are going to ask someone in a poll if they have experienced a condition that is the result of compression shouldn't you at least make sure they poll taker that they know how to identify and rule out other causes of video and or audio anomalies?
Jim Bailey @ Apr 7th 2008 12:46AM
That's easy I recorded the same program twice using two HD TiVo's. The first time before Comcast started further compressing streams. The second TiVo happened to record the same program on the same network Discovery Theater, after they started ruining the streams. The difference was quite noticeable especially on motion shots (this was a HD special on the ISS and the space program originally filmed using IMAX cameras). I never expected all of the noise (compression artifacts) added, it reminded me of the old days of VCD (just with a lot more resolution).
longhairbilly @ Apr 5th 2008 12:43PM
Have Directv and a Pioneer Kuro Elite. So far I am very happy with my picture. I have only had HD for 8 days so far. So I missed their "HD Lite" problems of the past.
Matt Hickman @ Apr 5th 2008 12:57PM
Earlier this week I started to see a lot of signal noise; pixelation, audio drop out, screen garbage etc on my HD channels. Also, I had three or four cable cards lose their pairing this week. I called up Comcast to re-pair those cable cards and they mentioned that VoD was currently being put in my area.
The VOD implementation could include the increased HD channel compression as part of the plan, the changes for VoD, itself, may have temporarily impacted signal quality/cc pairing, or the video/audio quality problems I have been seeing on HD channels may be completely unrelated (sun spots, anyone?).
However, Comcast is allegedly cramming three HD channels into each QAM, I see compression problems as the more likely suspect -- at least for the video issues. I have not heard that this may affect cable card pairing, but that is also a possibility.
Jerry @ Apr 5th 2008 1:08PM
Directv in Vegas on an HR20. My wife is losing her patience.
djkissler @ Apr 6th 2008 3:06AM
Dish Network Las Vegas = Teh Suck
KM @ Apr 5th 2008 1:21PM
Time Warner sux
Johnny @ Apr 5th 2008 1:29PM
I concur with you. All that's available to me is time warner cable. And not all that thrilled about it.
Dave Parson @ Apr 5th 2008 1:23PM
I have both DirecTV and Comcast. Comcast is absolustely terrible. Unwatchable at times.
Paul Arnette @ Apr 5th 2008 1:30PM
DirecTV still has over-compressed HD feeds, as I saw more than a few instances of compression during Battlestar Galactica last night. A good display, like my Pioneer Elite PRO-FHD1, can mask some of the problems, but not all. A lesser display, like my Pioneer PDP-5016HD, tends to show more 'warts'.
Jeremy W @ Apr 5th 2008 2:44PM
Most of the compression issues you see on DirecTV's new channels are the fault of the channels themselves. SciFi HD is a known offender, DirecTV is not causing the issues you're seeing there.
mitchelljd @ Apr 5th 2008 1:38PM
I have directv, so compression used to be a big problem. now... you still notice a big difference on locals against the OTA feed.
I would bet that even the pay channels like HBO or Showtime get compressed by Directv, but happily not as much as before. I am actually going to be happy with Directv (for the time being), but when you compare to FIOS... my money is on FIOS!
However, Directv has great customer service.... and Verizon is the worst. big surprise... but a fat internet wideband could be worth it.
Allen @ Apr 5th 2008 2:01PM
DirecTV. Definitely seen compression before. Its usually later at night and during programs that aren't as popular. But sometimes I notice EVERYTHING degrades really bad, even stuff with higher ratings.
I will be getting FIOS as soon as possible.
Peter L @ Apr 5th 2008 2:03PM
Comcast is getting worse every day.
Chris G. @ Apr 5th 2008 2:07PM
Comcast in NH is definitely doing this. It is very noticeable on even channels like Food Network HD. Movement is not smooth at all. The only channels that look real good are NESN and ESPN.
Chris G. @ Apr 5th 2008 2:07PM
Comcast in NH is definitely doing this. It is very noticeable on even channels like Food Network HD. Movement is not smooth at all. The only channels that look real good are NESN and ESPN.
Allen @ Apr 5th 2008 2:09PM
Just figured I should mention this about the DirecTV service:
Once I was watching ESPN HD and the video quality was just absolutely terrible. I switched over to ESPN in Standard Def, and the image quality actually PICKED UP. They had compressed the HD signal so bad that the standard def signal looked better.
Why couldn't they compress the standard def more is what I wonder? Most SD TVs are so far away from a person, and so small, that people won't be able to tell the lower image quality.
Doc @ Apr 5th 2008 2:19PM
Does anyone know if there is a website that shows what the supposed bandwidth is for any of these companies in regard to the HD tier? Or do only the tech teams for any of these companies have that knowledge?
Dave @ Apr 5th 2008 2:28PM
Yes, it's called AVS forums. Perhaps you've heard of it?
hans @ Apr 5th 2008 2:24PM
my comcast HD channels already look overcompressed and now with the
addition of 4 new lame HD channels most of them are unwatchable.
pixel noise, frames locking up, dropping out, sound dropping out.
it's ridiculous.
Gregory @ Apr 5th 2008 2:31PM
Haven't had any problems with too much compression on TWC in Buffalo, but NBC always looks like ass -- I hear it is due to their backhaul feed being underwhelming
Mike P @ Apr 5th 2008 2:39PM
Comcast.... Its killing me... Told the parents to go to Fios but nooooo
Dgmayor @ Apr 5th 2008 3:05PM
Time Warner in Raleigh, NC - latest round of additions (Food Network, HGTV and National Geographic HD) were all crammed into 1 QAM - i.e. cramming 3 channels into the space for 2.
Andrew @ Apr 7th 2008 8:48AM
They are killing us! But I suppose I'll take 3 HD channels compressed into 1 QAM channel if it means more HD. I mean, it's still better than SD right? They need to get Raleigh's SDV going full force and start putting everything on it.
yums @ Apr 5th 2008 3:21PM
Time Warner in Irving, TX is sucking it up big time. Worst of all I am just like 8 blocks away from FIOS territory :(
allargon @ Apr 5th 2008 3:30PM
Many HD channels on Dish Network are a pixelated mess. Anything with fire or explosions invites a swarm of macroblocking to my display.
Howard Weiner @ Apr 5th 2008 3:37PM
I work as a video engineer in the film industry, and part of the problem that all of us are seeing is multiple layers of compression. Almost every compression scheme throws out some data--some are better than others, but when the camera compresses on shooting, and the broadcaster compresses at the release point and then the cable or satellite company compresses even further PRETTY SOON YOU HAVE WHAT LOOKS LIKE SOUP.
Particularly on fast motion (motion blurr and sometimes a thing called judder) all your Hi Def turns to Hi Blur and you wonder what you paid so much for. And yes, the less compressed, normal def feed sometimes ends up looking better. This can be a frustrating situation, and there is only one answer...you have to try setting your cable converter to a different resolution and adjusting the HD tv resolution to match and give you the best picture.
Howard Weiner @ Apr 6th 2008 1:30PM
or might I add you can change to a service that uses less compression
hdphan @ Apr 5th 2008 4:44PM
optonline (cablevision) is absolutely unwatchable. regardless of "digital widescreen" (480p), 720p or 1080i broadcasts, everything is grainy, pixelated, you get locked frames, digital noise, blah blah.
FIOS (verizon) is un-bucking-felievable. I have never seen an image as close to that real and CLEAN on even lower quality TVs (this ALSO includes their standard definition images) EVER. Clear winner here.
DirecTV is also pretty good, just FIOS here is the clear winner IMHO.
xplode @ Apr 7th 2008 11:12PM
notch up another for (against) cablevision. macroblocks galore as soon as anything on screen moves just a little.
i -can- get fios, and am considering it... just i don't like verizon. but then again, i don't like cablevision either.
djmattyb @ Apr 5th 2008 5:11PM
Comcast in Seattle. Compression is too much. BSG on SciFi had a few skips and breakups.
Dan @ Apr 5th 2008 6:10PM
Comcast in Seattle market, compression on Discovery HD, may look good but up close, looks as bad as SD
Dan @ Apr 5th 2008 6:10PM
Comcast in Seattle market, compression on Discovery HD, may look good but up close, looks as bad as SD
herman miklitsch @ Apr 5th 2008 6:34PM
we get alot of freez up and audio problems from time warner albany new york.
Zman @ Apr 5th 2008 6:53PM
Insight in Columbus, Ohio is looking really good...
docmo @ Apr 5th 2008 8:22PM
DirecTV with my HR20-700 and Pittsburgh locals sees a lot of backround breakup ( blue sky pixellation is typical but any color is suseptible.)
igG4 @ Apr 5th 2008 9:00PM
Comcast, Twin Cities
dean-l @ Apr 5th 2008 9:00PM
yes, COMpressionCAST
Kevin Olson @ Apr 5th 2008 9:19PM
Comcast Issaquah, WA (Seattle Area)
Bruce Cushman @ Apr 5th 2008 9:30PM
In RI, Verizon FIOS outstanding. My son has Cox and has noticed degraded PQ due to compression
NoK610 @ Apr 5th 2008 9:36PM
Time Warner Cable... they're killing me.
JVirg1 @ Apr 5th 2008 9:51PM
I honestly don't watch a lot of TV so am not a great judge. But I am watching the John Adams miniseries on HBO and was thinking this is being shot for TV so for HDTV and should be about as good as High Def TV can be and should be a gorgeous picture. I have DirecTV and frankly am not blown away (good movie I just mean picture quality). The quality of this is no better than an upconverted standard def DVD. The only show I actually see on TV that is just a gorgeous blow you away picture is CSI Miami (and let's face it that is a stupid show I just watch it for the beatiful picture and hot people) and I get that off my antenna as Richmond VA does not yet get locals from DirecTV.
I think it is just like anything else they sell you on the technology with great introductory pictures and slowly lower the quality and hope you won't notice. I am just at a point that it is what it is.
matt @ Apr 5th 2008 10:36PM
time warner cable out of binghamton, ny. i was trying to watch lord of the rings last night (tnt hd - 720p) but there were too many jitters in the signal to really get into it. a lot of boxy compression artifacts but huge blocks and lines across the screen every 20 seconds or so and audio jitters also. i gave up after about 40 minutes, it was too annoying. it's the only cable provider in the area and is really making me give a good long look at those dish and directv guys who also offer more than 5 hd channels...
JP @ Apr 5th 2008 11:20PM
I just canceled my Comcast (Los Angeles) mainly because their local HD feeds were terribly blocky (over compressed), and they would go out all together for hours. However, they had the cheapest package to lease a HD-DVR. You get what you pay for.
dammenion @ Apr 6th 2008 12:14AM
I have Comcast in NorCal. When I first got HD a few years ago they only had like 6 channels. Fox, 2 INHD's HBO, Stars and, Shotime. They used to look pretty damn good back then. Now we have like 30'ish channels and the quality of them all is sub-par. Last week we got 6 new channels including SciFi HD. And I swear now most of out HD channels look worse then upscaled 480P content. Tons of artifacts.
Watching BSG last night was sad when I can switch to SD SciFi and zoom the damn picture and be nearly the same quality.
It really sticks out when I watch a Blu-Ray then go back to cable and see just how badly the compression is.
nathan @ Apr 6th 2008 2:06AM
I hate to admit it but the first place I saw the problem was actually with an OTA signal (PBS channel nine in San Francisco) in 2001 or 2002. Massive pixelization on scenes with movement, perhaps because they have 3 or 4 or 5 sub channels, in addition to their HD channels.
Bryan @ Apr 6th 2008 8:00AM
Comcrap - 'nuff said.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Apr 6th 2008 12:26PM
I've seen problems with overcompression on DirecTV's MPEG2 HD channels (the ones they are phasing out). Also, on OTA reception, KQED (channel 9 in San Francisco) is a joke, they very much overcompress their SD channels. They show This Old House on 9-2 and it looks like a slide show.
I've been very happy with DirecTV's MPEG-4 channels. The nationals (like HBOW, Starz, etc.) look fantastic, and MPEG-4 locals look almost identical to OTA, and in fact even though I have an OTA antenna, I record all but 1 of my HD shows off DirectTV's MPEG-4 locals instead of the OTA locals, simply because I can't tell the quality difference, and the MPEG-4 channels take up less space on the hard drive.
For those above who say "I'm switching to FiOS", if you are watching MPEG-4 on DirecTV, its almost certain any compression problems you see are from the source, not from DirecTV. Will it always be this way? Well, if past history is any indication, DirecTV will compress their channels more and more over time, like they did with SD.
These are the DirectTV MPEG-2 HD channels. They definitely have overcompression issues. But they will switched to MPEG-4 soon, as DirecTV is moving every HD channel to MPEG-4.
MPEG-2 HD:
HBOHD (70,501,509)
SHOWH (71,537,543)
ESPN2H (72,209)
ESPNH (73,206)
Universal HD (74)
TNTH (75,245)
Discovery HD Theater (76)
HDNet Movies (78)
HDNet (79)
contractcooker @ Apr 6th 2008 1:27PM
comcast in ann arbor michigan is having problems
Gordon Werner @ Apr 6th 2008 2:49PM
Comcast's HD compression was clearly evident in the premiere of Battlestar Galactica friday night