pixelating DirecTV getting worse ?

[lordsmurf]

Has anybody noticed the pixelation getting worse on DirecTV?

I saw it was almost as bad as a bootleg Divx encode for a while, but that seems to have subsided. The "crunch" effect of sudden pixel loss has not been something I've seen recently. But it seems to have been replaced...

What I'm seeing now is the top-screen overscan is leaking into the viewed picture on the tv set. The top of the image as seen on screen looks like it has microscopic life growing (little wiggly things).

I'm actually using ATI MMC VideoSoap on the lowest setting right now to combat this problem, but it's starting to aggravate me. I don't like adding extra filters, especially with such a localized error and a filter that is full-screen (like killing an ant with an a-bomb).

I see it on different tv's, receivers, and have seen it at several households (one of which was 200 miles away). So it's not just me or my personal equipment.

Anybody else noticing this? Was REALLY bad just now on the Game Show Network.

(FYIISH Network is not immune, nor is digital cable. They have problems of their own, so "you should switch"advice is unwanted and unneeded.)

[zanos]

Yes, I've noticed some bad pixelating on the FX channel. I'm not sure if the same applies to the other channels I've watched though but it doesn't appear to be as good as it was say a year ago. I don't know. Maybe it's my imagination.

[The village idiot]

I wish I could point you to my favorite forum... But I can't, they are premium only. The answer would be there. However I suspect one of several things. Solar flares. Storm over the uplink. Dave messing with the transmission patterns again to combat reception in Canada or Mexico. One of the satellites has been moved. One of the satellites is on its last legs and due to be replaced. Co-channel interference caused by a faulty Ku band uplink that has a harmonic way up where DTV lives. Someone messing with you by flying a mylar helium ballon in front of your dish.

This is of course all just speculation, as it could also simply be an encoder problem or cooling problem back at Dave HQ.

[holistic]

DISH Network is not immune

Correct - have seen same on my system. More pronounced in highmotion and dark scenes.
A lower (bitrate) stream?!? - not familar with the system but almost appears like it.

][

[lordsmurf]

DISH Network is not immune

Correct - have seen same on my system. More pronounced in highmotion and dark scenes.
A lower (bitrate) stream?!? - not familar with the system but almost appears like it.

][

DISH Net uses 480x480 and DirecTV uses 544x480. Mostly. It can vary from channel to channel. But on average, that's it.

[holistic]

Ahhh that is resolution . What bitrate is used in the MPEG2 stream??


Abu Dhabi : United Arab Emirates - OR - Borneo : Malaysia

Which is it ?!

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[lordsmurf]

Ahhh that is resolution . What bitrate is used in the MPEG2 stream?? Abu Dhabi : United Arab Emirates - OR - Borneo : Malaysia Which is it ?! ][

Those are just cool-sounding places.
Garfield sends Nermal to Abu Dhabi.
In X-MEN, Cable called himself the "Wild Man of Borneo"
And Smurfy? Well, not enough space to put "Smurf Village"
I like Kuala Lumpur too. And Tasmania.

Bitrates range from 0k-5000k. The 544x480 gets more being higher. The 480x480 gets less. They're all really skimpy with the datastream, keeping it to a minimum. They're squeezing these days, and sacrificing bitrates to squeeze on more channels on less transponders. The DTV spotbeam screws stuff up too.