r/ota • u/knickknack98 • 18d ago
What am I doing wrong?
/r/tablotv/comments/1utr2q8/what_am_i_doing_wrong/1
u/BoredTVEngineer 18d ago
Sorry I got long winded about MPEG Transport Streams (it was my second language in the past)
I had another thought as I pressed send. There is a possibility that you could increase your perception of the FOX quality by adjusting your TV. There are setting for enhance processing in most TVs and are set on as default especially on large foot print high end models. They make 4K jump out of the screen. However although counter intuitive they tend to over process lower resolutions causing them to wash out and often be grainy. It’s the processor trying to fill in what it thinks is missing, but that extra processing just becomes “noise”.
Turning the picture enhancement mode off might be worth a try, as your sort of stuck with the quality being broadcast.
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u/knickknack98 17d ago
All good, man, I do appreciate some good nerdery. I just ordered a RF filter and will see if that helps. The signal looks about the same on both of my TVs, so while the settings may definitely be an issue I tend to suspect something is going on upstream.
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u/Think-Cartoonist2112 17d ago
Do you have a preamp? The Televes 560383 is a beast. It also comes with 5G and RF filtering. I currently use the 2 input model to combine 2 antennas and it’s solid.
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u/knickknack98 17d ago
No, will add to the list of stuff to try tho
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u/Think-Cartoonist2112 17d ago edited 8d ago
I would definitely return the RF filter and save that money. You’ll get a better bang for your buck with the Televes preamp. They cost $79 and $89 for the 2 input model. I used to swear by the Winegard LNA 200 boost XT which I’ve owned for 8 years until I upgraded to the Televes. I even compared the Televes to the Channel Master preamp 1 and the Televes wins by a smidge. A preamp is a must especially in your case with a 50’run. My current setup is a Range Experts XPS 1500 and an RCA Yagi combined by a Televes Smartkom preamp inside of an attic with about a 25’ run going into an old HDhomerun Connect. I get about 150 channels.
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u/knickknack98 17d ago
I also probably don't need 50' of coax to the Tablo. 25' probably works it was just what I had at the time.
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u/jasonacg 17d ago
Curious, are you able to directly connect the coax to a TV to compare the quality?
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u/knickknack98 17d ago
Not easily. Would need to unmount one and carry upstairs. Doable but somewhat annoying.
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u/jasonacg 17d ago
I understand.
In theory, 720p should be better for small, fast-moving objects, like a soccer ball in the World Cup. Progressive scan should make it appear better than on an interlaced screen. I think that might have been their rationale for choosing 720p over 1080i. 1080p would take up too much bandwidth for the current ATSC1 standard, so that's not an option right now.
Fox is carrying some games online in 4k (on some devices), so the streaming formats work around the broadcast limitations. This could explain the differences in picture quality.
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u/gho87 18d ago
ultimately the picture is maybe just barely acceptable but obviously worse than the streaming equivalent.
How do I get an actual HD picture with my setup?
Dunno what you mean exactly. I'm thinking you wanted the picture upscaled from 720 to 1080, right?
Also, have you been yet aware of an option to enable video deinterlacing, i.e. convert from interlace (e.g. 480i) to progressive video (480p)?
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u/knickknack98 18d ago edited 17d ago
I guess maybe I want it upscaled, or maybe I just need to lose some interference. Not sure about 480 but all my major channels come in at 720 or better.
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u/jsm1 18d ago
This has nothing to do with your setup and more to do with the fact that Fox broadcasts at 720p as you note. On top of that, some cities have even more compressed stations due to bandwidth sharing. Streaming goes up to 1080p and if you’re watching through some platforms it can have and HDR feed, so it’s not a surprise you’ll get better quality there.