Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: redelitev6 on 13 January 2011, 21:11:04
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:-? Just been watching a scary programme on channel 5 about the pilot sucked out of his plane when the windscreen blew out,noticed that on virgin digital the picture quality was iffy,flicked over to freeview and i got a chrystal clear picture , i would have thought it should have been the other way around, any ideas anyone?
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Virgin telly is a rip off. I have cable virgin internet. The basic telly package is worse than freeview & they want you to pay for it. The also upgrade your telly stations without you asking & expect you to pay for it.
Or they did until i spoke to them nicely on the phone!!!
Very happy with the broadband connection though, no landline rental to pay. Sitting in front of the telly is gay & sad so freeview is more than enough for me. :y
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:-? Just been watching a scary programme on channel 5 about the pilot sucked out of his plane when the windscreen blew out,noticed that on virgin digital the picture quality was iffy,flicked over to freeview and i got a chrystal clear picture , i would have thought it should have been the other way around, any ideas anyone?
Interesting question. Freeview is digital so that comparison is a bit unreal.
However, there's digital and there's digital. Unfortunately there are an infinite number of flavours. Assuming you are comparing the same resolution (Freeview is 576 vertical lines except on HD) then all of these channels use a variation of MPEG compression. The less bandwidth you have available for transmission, the more you have to compress, and compression eventually gives noticeable artefacts (crap picture quality in layman's terms). So, your Virgin probably has restricted bandwidth if the source material is of comparable resolution.
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Usually C5 on Freeview is a bit rubbish.
But a lot of SD FTA stuff seems to be best on Freeview
I know what it might be
The feed for cable might be a rebroadcast of the Freeview signal
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on back off free view box should say what version free view it is some of the new boxes are divx and not mpeg, also on setting in the free view box some are set to rgb or cvbs rgb is better picture i have found but it depends on your tv and how you use the box, and matching tv to box setting.
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It boils down to bandwidth, and how much they allocate each channel. Less bandwidth, means more compression, and they all use a lossy compression method.
Freeview broadcasts some channels, notably the BBC, prime ITV/Ch4/5 with decent bandwidth, thus the picture quality is often better than most cable areas (which in themself vary from region to region), and arguably better than Sky and Freesat. However, then likes of ITV2 and ITV3 etc are broadcast with a much lower bandwidth on the Freeview platform, and this leads to a noticibly worse picture quality.
The cynic in me suggests that Sky reduced the bandwidth on many of their SD channels where they have an HD equivilent, in order to screw more money from stupid people enhance the perception of the more expensive HD...
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on back off free view box should say what version free view it is some of the new boxes are divx and not mpeg, also on setting in the free view box some are set to rgb or cvbs rgb is better picture i have found but it depends on your tv and how you use the box, and matching tv to box setting.
All Freeview SD transmissions are MPEG2 based. No Freeview SD channel is MPEG4 based.
(http://www.emotty.com/images/emoticons/868.png)
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I know what it might be
The feed for cable might be a rebroadcast of the Freeview signal
Most probably it is taken from satellite or terrestrial at their cable head-end, and if they unpack it and re-compress at a lower bit-rate rather than distribute the original stream it will look like the dog's breakfast. Cowboys.
Kevin
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I know what it might be
The feed for cable might be a rebroadcast of the Freeview signal
Most probably it is taken from satellite or terrestrial at their cable head-end, and if they unpack it and re-compress at a lower bit-rate rather than distribute the original stream it will look like the dog's breakfast. Cowboys.
Kevin
I believe there is some legal issue that they cannot just receive from Sat/terrestrial, and rebroadcast.
I also know the stupid people in Milton Keynes are in for a shock this year at DSO (MK is 100% cabled, but on a really old (from the 70s) analogue system). People are assuming that Virgin will receive the channels digitally, and rebroadcast analogue, thus no need for STBs or new tellys. There is some (non-technical) reason why they are not allowed to do that, so there will be 200,000 disappointed people there. Still, most of them are on the sponge, so have Sky and bloody great flatscreens anyway....
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I believe there is some legal issue that they cannot just receive from Sat/terrestrial, and rebroadcast.
I was half-involved in a monitoring project for cable tv head-end a long time ago. Trying to remember what they were doing. That might even have been analogue, mind. ::)
Either way, they are probably scrimping on the bit-rate, which means they are probably re-coding whatever feed they are provided with.
I also know the stupid people in Milton Keynes are in for a shock this year at DSO (MK is 100% cabled, but on a really old (from the 70s) analogue system). People are assuming that Virgin will receive the channels digitally, and rebroadcast analogue, thus no need for STBs or new tellys. There is some (non-technical) reason why they are not allowed to do that, so there will be 200,000 disappointed people there. Still, most of them are on the sponge, so have Sky and bloody great flatscreens anyway....
;D
That I can understand.
Surely there's no room for all the shopping channels with an analogue cable feed? ;)
Kevin
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I believe there is some legal issue that they cannot just receive from Sat/terrestrial, and rebroadcast.
I was half-involved in a monitoring project for cable tv head-end a long time ago. Trying to remember what they were doing. That might even have been analogue, mind. ::)
Either way, they are probably scrimping on the bit-rate, which means they are probably re-coding whatever feed they are provided with.
I also know the stupid people in Milton Keynes are in for a shock this year at DSO (MK is 100% cabled, but on a really old (from the 70s) analogue system). People are assuming that Virgin will receive the channels digitally, and rebroadcast analogue, thus no need for STBs or new tellys. There is some (non-technical) reason why they are not allowed to do that, so there will be 200,000 disappointed people there. Still, most of them are on the sponge, so have Sky and bloody great flatscreens anyway....
;D
That I can understand.
Surely there's no room for all the shopping channels with an analogue cable feed? ;)
Kevin
They only have the analogue channels anyway. They used to get a couple of others included in a higher fee - Sky One type channels. These were broadcast in analogue on the cable, unencrypted, but off the edge of the usual UHF 21-69, hence the requirement to 'rent' a STB, or.... ::)
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They only have the analogue channels anyway. They used to get a couple of others included in a higher fee - Sky One type channels. These were broadcast in analogue on the cable, unencrypted, but off the edge of the usual UHF 21-69, hence the requirement to 'rent' a STB, or.... ::)
Pre-historic stuff. Still, if it keeps them off the streets, raiding the pubs for alcopops... ;D
Kevin
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They only have the analogue channels anyway. They used to get a couple of others included in a higher fee - Sky One type channels. These were broadcast in analogue on the cable, unencrypted, but off the edge of the usual UHF 21-69, hence the requirement to 'rent' a STB, or.... ::)
Pre-historic stuff. Still, if it keeps them off the streets, raiding the pubs for alcopops... ;D
Kevin
It was a system put in in the 1970s by the Post Office. When BT was privatised, they had to 'sell' (might be leased) it. I think Westminster Cable took it on, they got swallowed into NTL at some point, and now Virgin.
But nobody has ever updated it. Its got extended as new estates are built. Picture quality is poor to be honest, possibly why most houses have Murdoch's gay looking rusty metal hanging off the walls.
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It was a system put in in the 1970s by the Post Office. When BT was privatised, they had to 'sell' (might be leased) it. I think Westminster Cable took it on, they got swallowed into NTL at some point, and now Virgin.
But nobody has ever updated it. Its got extended as new estates are built. Picture quality is poor to be honest, possibly why most houses have Murdoch's gay looking rusty metal hanging off the walls.
I remember in my childhood; the town where my Grandmother lived had the old Rediffusion service; which I think dated back to the 50`s.
The distribution was at H.F using two tête-bêche frequencies of 5.9 and 8.9 Mhz.
The signals were distributed into houses via multipair cables at HF and Audio. (Radio and Tv.)
It seemed the height of luxury to have radio coming out of the Tv. in those days (when there were only two conventionally 'broadcast' Tv. channels and for much of the day they only showed trade-test films. ::)
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It was a system put in in the 1970s by the Post Office. When BT was privatised, they had to 'sell' (might be leased) it. I think Westminster Cable took it on, they got swallowed into NTL at some point, and now Virgin.
But nobody has ever updated it. Its got extended as new estates are built. Picture quality is poor to be honest, possibly why most houses have Murdoch's gay looking rusty metal hanging off the walls.
I remember in my childhood; the town where my Grandmother lived had the old Rediffusion service; which I think dated back to the 50`s.
The distribution was at H.F using two tête-bêche frequencies of 5.9 and 8.9 Mhz.
The signals were distributed into houses via multipair cables at HF and Audio. (Radio and Tv.)
It seemed the height of luxury to have radio coming out of the Tv. in those days (when there were only two conventionally 'broadcast' Tv. channels and for much of the day they only showed trade-test films. ::)
When I were a boy we used to get video over baked-bean tins. You had to be careful what type of string you used mind you. Some of the stuff they used down t'lotments was rubbish!
Only joking. Just had a rush of blood to the feetbrain. ;D ;D ;D
In the 70s I had a lot of fun trying to get as many analogue channels as possible onto a single rf feed so that the Sport luvvies could view all the incoming football feeds in their ivory towersoffices. It was a horrendous task avoiding cross-channel interference etc. Those were the days.
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When I were a boy we used to get video over baked-bean tins. You had to be careful what type of string you used mind you. Some of the stuff they used down t'lotments was rubbish!
;D Dampening the string improves bandwidth! :y
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on back off free view box should say what version free view it is some of the new boxes are divx and not mpeg, also on setting in the free view box some are set to rgb or cvbs rgb is better picture i have found but it depends on your tv and how you use the box, and matching tv to box setting.
No freeview box,the TV has freeview built in,would that make a difference?
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on back off free view box should say what version free view it is some of the new boxes are divx and not mpeg, also on setting in the free view box some are set to rgb or cvbs rgb is better picture i have found but it depends on your tv and how you use the box, and matching tv to box setting.
No freeview box,the TV has freeview built in,would that make a difference?
The TV's freeview tuner isn't involved when you're watching the Virgin source so no. ;)
Kevin
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I only noticed last night that freeview are transmitting dolby digital on some programmes and not just on films or HD.....or i assume its dolby digital as my surround sound puts it light on some programs/films meaning 'multi channel decoding' as apposed to 'normal' surround sound.
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Slightly off topic.
Always makes me laugh when people call it freeview, as it isn't really. You have to pay for the box initially and then pay for a TV licence to legally watch programs on 'freeview' channels.
:)
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Slightly off topic.
Always makes me laugh when people call it freeview, as it isn't really. You have to pay for the box initially and then pay for a TV licence to legally watch programs on 'freeview' channels.
:)
People call it freeview because the consortium that runs the platform call themselves Freeview ;)
Its as free to watch as terrestrial analogue channels.
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Slightly off topic.
Always makes me laugh when people call it freeview, as it isn't really. You have to pay for the box initially and then pay for a TV licence to legally watch programs on 'freeview' channels.
:)
People call it freeview because the consortium that runs the platform call themselves Freeview ;)
Its as free to watch as terrestrial analogue channels.
Apart from the subscription channels that is!!! :(
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Slightly off topic.
Always makes me laugh when people call it freeview, as it isn't really. You have to pay for the box initially and then pay for a TV licence to legally watch programs on 'freeview' channels.
:)
People call it freeview because the consortium that runs the platform call themselves Freeview ;)
Its as free to watch as terrestrial analogue channels.
Apart from the subscription ones that is!!! :(
That isn't Freeview that was Titsup TV, and that didn't work either I used my CAM and card and nothing was subscribed.
THey used to work with the previous pay people
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Slightly off topic.
Always makes me laugh when people call it freeview, as it isn't really. You have to pay for the box initially and then pay for a TV licence to legally watch programs on 'freeview' channels.
:)
People call it freeview because the consortium that runs the platform call themselves Freeview ;)
Its as free to watch as terrestrial analogue channels.
Apart from the subscription ones that is!!! :(
That isn't Freeview that was Titsup TV, and that didn't work either I used my CAM and card and nothing was subscribed.
THey used to work with the previous pay people
TopupTv works as they claim, I did used to subscribe to it..
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It was a system put in in the 1970s by the Post Office. When BT was privatised, they had to 'sell' (might be leased) it. I think Westminster Cable took it on, they got swallowed into NTL at some point, and now Virgin.
But nobody has ever updated it. Its got extended as new estates are built. Picture quality is poor to be honest, possibly why most houses have Murdoch's gay looking rusty metal hanging off the walls.
I remember in my childhood; the town where my Grandmother lived had the old Rediffusion service; which I think dated back to the 50`s.
The distribution was at H.F using two tête-bêche frequencies of 5.9 and 8.9 Mhz.
The signals were distributed into houses via multipair cables at HF and Audio. (Radio and Tv.)
It seemed the height of luxury to have radio coming out of the Tv. in those days (when there were only two conventionally 'broadcast' Tv. channels and for much of the day they only showed trade-test films. ::)
Wow, Debs! you are the first person in ages to confirm this! I've been asking people over the last few years if they could remember having only BBC1 and BBC2 and that BBC2 only used to show these test films during the day, mostly the film were from BP, Texaco and other industry giants. Also, BBC2 really only transmitted proper programs from 6pm till 10 or 11pm, but it was also the first full colour channel.
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Wow, Debs! you are the first person in ages to confirm this! I've been asking people over the last few years if they could remember having only BBC1 and BBC2 and that BBC2 only used to show these test films during the day, mostly the film were from BP, Texaco and other industry giants. Also, BBC2 really only transmitted proper programs from 6pm till 10 or 11pm, but it was also the first full colour channel.
I suppose it made sense to broadcast 'something' during business-hours for shop customers to see; for, many of could only imagine what a colour Tv. picture would look like.
This will bring back memories for those of a certain age:
http://www.zen77094.zen.co.uk/vintagebroadcasting/bbcttfilms.htm
My favourite was "On the SAFE side" (safety in the electrical lab.).....but the one with racing power boats, enthralled me too. ;)
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It was a system put in in the 1970s by the Post Office. When BT was privatised, they had to 'sell' (might be leased) it. I think Westminster Cable took it on, they got swallowed into NTL at some point, and now Virgin.
But nobody has ever updated it. Its got extended as new estates are built. Picture quality is poor to be honest, possibly why most houses have Murdoch's gay looking rusty metal hanging off the walls.
I remember in my childhood; the town where my Grandmother lived had the old Rediffusion service; which I think dated back to the 50`s.
The distribution was at H.F using two tête-bêche frequencies of 5.9 and 8.9 Mhz.
The signals were distributed into houses via multipair cables at HF and Audio. (Radio and Tv.)
It seemed the height of luxury to have radio coming out of the Tv. in those days (when there were only two conventionally 'broadcast' Tv. channels and for much of the day they only showed trade-test films. ::)
Rediffusion, now there is a name from my past Debs!
Yes, very much in vogue during the 1950s & 60s, and certainly we had that wired in to our Maltese house. Just one simple box, with a knob to turn it on or off. I will always remember the BBC Overseas Service giving us all the latest news and music, which opened using a very jolly tune that I can still hear in my mind, but cannot name!! The assination of President J.F.Kennedy, on that fateful Friday on 22nd November 1963, I particularly remember by way of the news broadcasts coming from our "box"!
Redifussion, one of the first cable services? What memories! :D :D :D ;)
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Wow! Again! Lol! Thanks for that link Debs, thats fantastic! I had googled for these films a while back but with no joy, so now , when I get time I'll have a good watch at them again and see if I can remember any of them lol! Dont ask me why, but as a kid I can remember enjoying watching these films while sitting in my mums washing basket lol, wheres Freud when you need him lol!
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:( We have bloody miles of old rediffusion cables all over the council houses in newcastle ,we keep trying to get it removed but it's going to cost a fortune,so we're stuck with the stuff >:(