flat screen tv picture splotchy like an oil painting

[realolman]

I just bought a sony bravia 32 inch TV last night.

I am not happy with the picture. I understand that I will not get the picture the thing should be capable of because I do not have HD signal, but I thought it would be at least as good as the CRT with the signal we do have. It seems jaggedy and splotchy, at least enough to the point that I noticed it,and I find it pretty distracting. Like watching an oil painting

We have Dish network satellite...not HD.

I am using the coax connection from the receiver to the tv... would some other connection be better. I have messed with all the settings I can find... doesn't seem to help.

I'm pretty dissappointed in it... but I feel like I'm getting killed by all the subscriptions I pay for monthly, and I am not willing to spring for HD... additionally I'm not sure what percentage of programming is in HD any way even when you pay for it.

Shouldn't the picture quality be at least as good as the old CRT?

thanks in advance

 

[gatchel]

I would say that you should definitely try to use the video outputs rather than the coax between the TV and the Sat receiver.

HDMI, component video, S Video, and composite video, in that order. Pick the best quality connection you have. HDMI being the best...

Your TV might not have HDMI but if it does it's where I would start.

I hear Dish has a pretty good HD selection. I'm sure there is a cost though. You would probably have to upgrade your receiver and your Satellite Dish if your Dish account was set up longer than a few years ago.

 

[sic0048]

I definitely agree with playing around with the input types. Also, usually B to ouput a certain resolution. Many times, the best resolution to output from the box is the default resolution of the TV. But some of the newer TVs might have a better scaler than the STB, so it is best to try several different combinations and see what you like best.

The other issue is that SD TV on a LCD or Plasma HD TV generally looks worse than the same SD signal on the older CRT TVs. It's just the nature of the beast. HD looks great on the new TVs, but shows all the flaws of SD TV.

 

[Rupp]

My dad sees this same exact issue. I can tell you that "normal" signals will never look as good on a new "higher def" TV than the tube models. The newer models show so many pixels that you see more of the signals flaws. You should try a good old fashion TV antenna and get the over the air ( OTA) free high def signals. It's an amazing difference.

 

[Neurorad]

I intermittently see that weird painted appearance on some SD shows - seems to be the minority for me. Most of what I watch is SD, and I don't see that very often. Yeah, it's really annoying when I see it. Not sure of the reason for it - maybe some internet sleuthing will reveal the etiology.

 

[Rupp]

I intermittently see that weird painted appearance on some SD shows - seems to be the minority for me. Most of what I watch is SD, and I don't see that very often. Yeah, it's really annoying when I see it. Not sure of the reason for it - maybe some internet sleuthing will reveal the etiology.

Dang! I first have to Google etiology to find out what that is ...

 

[pete_c]

Back in the early days of DTV you could already see the flaws with different compression ratios on the media. Today still have legacy DTV (Tivo) and using SVideo you can actually still see that and even more pronounced.

My sisters father in law worked for a television station a few years back when HD broadcasts were still being worked out. The major issues with the broadcasters was related to justification of going to HD (family get together discussions). Most of them wanted to split up the frequency allocations and different compression ratios so that they could provide a base "free" HD broadcast and a "few" paid for broadcasts and they were actually pushing for that.

Funny in that the push to migrate to HD was manditory and yet cable and DTV companies are making it a premium to be able to watch HD while they still work on shifting their methodology of broadcasts. It'll end up being the consumer that pays for the DTV and Cable upgrades to HD.

 

[realolman]

...You should try a good old fashion TV antenna and get the over the air ( OTA) free high def signals. It's an amazing difference.

Unfortunately, it wasn't until after everybody bought a converter box that they discovered that the broadcast range of digital over the air was about 43 feet.

Folks around here who got 4-5 stations over the air in analog get zippo stations in digital.... but we all have nice paperweight converter boxes.

Yeah I'm a little bitter... yet another money suck perpetrated on the public

 

[signal15]

...You should try a good old fashion TV antenna and get the over the air ( OTA) free high def signals. It's an amazing difference.

Unfortunately, it wasn't until after everybody bought a converter box that they discovered that the broadcast range of digital over the air was about 43 feet.

Folks around here who got 4-5 stations over the air in analog get zippo stations in digital.... but we all have nice paperweight converter boxes.

Yeah I'm a little bitter... yet another money suck perpetrated on the public

My buddy's neighbor got some crazy HDTV grid antenna and put it on a pole 20 ft high in Rochester, MN. He can pick up stations from Chicago with the thing.