How do I find broadcast strengths?

Emrys Davies · 05-10-2009, 13:53

Some posters refer to viewing in 720p, 1080i or soforth. I have Sky+ and although I have searched thoroughly I cannot find any such information. Would you put me out of my misery?

Chris Frost · 05-10-2009, 16:47

Sky+ is Standard Definition - A.K.A. SD

SD resolution is 720x576i @ 50Hz

i stands for interlaced. This means that the picture is split in to two halves - the odd lines and the even lines.

Emrys Davies · 05-10-2009, 18:11

Thanks Chris., am I able to access that information via my remote control?

Emrys Davies · 05-10-2009, 18:16

Thanks Chris., am I able to access that information via my remote control?

Chris Frost · 05-10-2009, 18:26

No. It's not the sort of info the average TV viewer would probably be interested to know.

bobcar · 05-10-2009, 18:47

Am I the only one completely confused by the original post?

Emrys, your title asks about broadcast strengths but your text asks about 720p, 1080i etc. Are you really asking about how to tell whether you are viewing 520i, 720p, 1080i or are you asking about the signal strength of a given channel as the thread title would suggest? If it's the former then we can easily help you.

Emrys Davies · 05-10-2009, 22:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobcar

Am I the only one completely confused by the original post?

Emrys, your title asks about broadcast strengths but your text asks about 720p, 1080i etc. Are you really asking about how to tell whether you are viewing 520i, 720p, 1080i or are you asking about the signal strength of a given channel as the thread title would suggest? If it's the former then we can easily help you.

Yes, I want to know whether I am viewing 520i etc.

bobcar · 06-10-2009, 00:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emrys Davies

Yes, I want to know whether I am viewing 520i etc.

Right, I've just reread your original post and noticed you said you have Sky+, Sky+ is only ever 576i as it is standard definition.

To get HD (720p or 1080i/p) you would need Sky+HD, Freesat HD, Blu-ray or some othe HD source. It doesn't matter whether you have an HD TV or not you need an HD source to view HD.

Chris Frost · 06-10-2009, 08:26

Which is exactly what I said back in post #2

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Frost

Sky+ is Standard Definition - A.K.A. SD

SD resolution is 720x576i @ 50Hz

bobcar · 06-10-2009, 09:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Frost

Which is exactly what I said back in post #2

Yes but it's quite clear that Emrys' technical understanding was not sufficient to take your point (see his later responses) so I made it clear as to the resolution and also confirmed that it was not "broadcast strength" that was required.

I don't think I warranted your "roll eyes". They are very rude and this forum would be better if they never existed.

chrisjr · 06-10-2009, 09:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Frost

No. It's not the sort of info the average TV viewer would probably be interested to know.

My telly (LG) tells me that info. If I press the OK button it displays a banner across the top of screen. In amongst the stuff displayed is a little box showing the vertical resolution.

So on Freeview it shows 576i and if I'm watching a Blu-Ray disk it shows 1080p

Emrys Davies · 06-10-2009, 14:31

We are getting there, but not quite. I have a Sony Trinitron KV-32FX65 and a Sky+ box. I merely, out of sheer interest alone, wish to know in what resolution, or whatever the correct term is, my broadcasts are being broadcasted. Can I find that information on my TV or via my remote control.

chrisjr · 06-10-2009, 14:40

There is NO POINT (sorry for shouting)

You have no HD sources and I guess no HD telly either from what I can gather about the model you quote. Therefore everything you watch will be 576i.

All the channels the Sky box can "tune" into are SD. All the channels your TV can tune into from the aerial are SD. Even if you were to hook up a Blu-Ray player to the TV that would output Blu-Ray disks in SD.

So everything you see is 576i.

Chris Frost · 06-10-2009, 14:43

Your TV is a CRT (tube) type - the deep kind that was from before flatscreen plasma and LCD. It can only accept SD - Standard Definition - either from the aerial cable (broadcast) or via something connected through a wire (SCART etc).

Your telly accepts 576i ...and that's it.

It does not accept 720p

It does not accept 1080i

It does not accept 1080p

Your broadcasts i.e. what's coming in via the satellite dish and TV aerial, are all 576i.

So, to recap - the signals to your house are 576i, and your TV is 576i. That's really all there is to it.

Emrys Davies · 06-10-2009, 15:19

Not quite there. I asked 'Can I find that information on my TV or via my remote control'? and that is all I have been striving to find out. You have workrd hard and given me a lot of information which is very much appreciated, but here we go again: While I am watching my tv is there any way I can find out, by using the remote or tv, in what resolution the programme is being broadcast e.g. 720p 1080i or whatever?

Hooblue · 06-10-2009, 15:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emrys Davies

Not quite there. I asked 'Can I find that information on my TV or via my remote control'? and that is all I have been striving to find out. You have workrd hard and given me a lot of information which is very much appreciated, but here we go again: While I am watching my tv is there any way I can find out, by using the remote or tv, in what resolution the programme is being broadcast e.g. 720p 1080i or whatever?

No.

Chris Frost · 06-10-2009, 15:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emrys Davies

Not quite there. I asked 'Can I find that information on my TV or via my remote control'? and that is all I have been striving to find out. You have workrd hard and given me a lot of information which is very much appreciated, but here we go again: While I am watching my tv is there any way I can find out, by using the remote or tv, in what resolution the programme is being broadcast e.g. 720p 1080i or whatever?

The short answer is no - just as it was before.

Here's the reason why...

Some TVs do display this information, but these are TVs that can accept and display 576i and 720p and 1080i and 1080p. That would be flat panel TVs. Yours I'm afraid can't.

Yours can't, so there's no point in Sony putting in some sort of feature to tell you what picture resolution the program being broadcast is in when your TV can't show you a picture unless the broadcast is in 576i.

Your TV only accepts 576i. If you try to connect a Sky HD box at 1080i your TV wouldn't show you a picture. It's the same with DVD at 720p, and Bluray at 1080p. You wouldn't get a picture. It wouldn't work.

You must get it now, surely?

chrisjr · 06-10-2009, 15:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emrys Davies

Not quite there. I asked 'Can I find that information on my TV or via my remote control'? and that is all I have been striving to find out. You have workrd hard and given me a lot of information which is very much appreciated, but here we go again: While I am watching my tv is there any way I can find out, by using the remote or tv, in what resolution the programme is being broadcast e.g. 720p 1080i or whatever?

It is very simple and I am struggling to work out what you are not understanding.

NONE of the equipment you have listed here is capable of any other resolution than 576i Every single channel your TV or Sky box receives is 576i Neither unit can tune into any other form of broadcast.

It is not that your TV cannot tell you the resolution. It is simply that nothing you possess is capable of receiving anything other than SD 576i broadcasts.

Emrys Davies · 06-10-2009, 15:46

Thanks a lot Chris. for that very explicit piece of information, which I now fully understand. Also, many thanks to everyone else for their help and patience.

05-10-2009, 13:53	#1
Emrys Davies Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Solihull, UK Posts: 185	How do I find broadcast strengths? Some posters refer to viewing in 720p, 1080i or soforth. I have Sky+ and although I have searched thoroughly I cannot find any such information. Would you put me out of my misery?

05-10-2009, 16:47	#2
Chris Frost Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Cheshire Posts: 6,462	Sky+ is Standard Definition - A.K.A. SD SD resolution is 720x576i @ 50Hz i stands for interlaced. This means that the picture is split in to two halves - the odd lines and the even lines.

05-10-2009, 18:11	#3
Emrys Davies Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Solihull, UK Posts: 185	Thanks Chris., am I able to access that information via my remote control?

05-10-2009, 18:16	#4
Emrys Davies Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Solihull, UK Posts: 185	Thanks Chris., am I able to access that information via my remote control?

05-10-2009, 18:26	#5
Chris Frost Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Cheshire Posts: 6,462	No. It's not the sort of info the average TV viewer would probably be interested to know.

05-10-2009, 18:47	#6
bobcar Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 14,718	Am I the only one completely confused by the original post? Emrys, your title asks about broadcast strengths but your text asks about 720p, 1080i etc. Are you really asking about how to tell whether you are viewing 520i, 720p, 1080i or are you asking about the signal strength of a given channel as the thread title would suggest? If it's the former then we can easily help you.

05-10-2009, 22:56	#7
Emrys Davies Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Solihull, UK Posts: 185	Quote: Originally Posted by bobcar Am I the only one completely confused by the original post? Emrys, your title asks about broadcast strengths but your text asks about 720p, 1080i etc. Are you really asking about how to tell whether you are viewing 520i, 720p, 1080i or are you asking about the signal strength of a given channel as the thread title would suggest? If it's the former then we can easily help you. Yes, I want to know whether I am viewing 520i etc.

06-10-2009, 00:49	#8
bobcar Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 14,718	Quote: Originally Posted by Emrys Davies Yes, I want to know whether I am viewing 520i etc. Right, I've just reread your original post and noticed you said you have Sky+, Sky+ is only ever 576i as it is standard definition. To get HD (720p or 1080i/p) you would need Sky+HD, Freesat HD, Blu-ray or some othe HD source. It doesn't matter whether you have an HD TV or not you need an HD source to view HD.

06-10-2009, 08:26	#9
Chris Frost Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Cheshire Posts: 6,462	Which is exactly what I said back in post #2 Quote: Originally Posted by Chris Frost Sky+ is Standard Definition - A.K.A. SD SD resolution is 720x576i @ 50Hz

06-10-2009, 09:33	#10
bobcar Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 14,718	Quote: Originally Posted by Chris Frost Which is exactly what I said back in post #2 Yes but it's quite clear that Emrys' technical understanding was not sufficient to take your point (see his later responses) so I made it clear as to the resolution and also confirmed that it was not "broadcast strength" that was required. I don't think I warranted your "roll eyes". They are very rude and this forum would be better if they never existed.

06-10-2009, 09:39	#11
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	Quote: Originally Posted by Chris Frost No. It's not the sort of info the average TV viewer would probably be interested to know. My telly (LG) tells me that info. If I press the OK button it displays a banner across the top of screen. In amongst the stuff displayed is a little box showing the vertical resolution. So on Freeview it shows 576i and if I'm watching a Blu-Ray disk it shows 1080p

06-10-2009, 14:31	#12
Emrys Davies Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Solihull, UK Posts: 185	We are getting there, but not quite. I have a Sony Trinitron KV-32FX65 and a Sky+ box. I merely, out of sheer interest alone, wish to know in what resolution, or whatever the correct term is, my broadcasts are being broadcasted. Can I find that information on my TV or via my remote control.

06-10-2009, 14:40	#13
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	There is NO POINT (sorry for shouting) You have no HD sources and I guess no HD telly either from what I can gather about the model you quote. Therefore everything you watch will be 576i. All the channels the Sky box can "tune" into are SD. All the channels your TV can tune into from the aerial are SD. Even if you were to hook up a Blu-Ray player to the TV that would output Blu-Ray disks in SD. So everything you see is 576i.

06-10-2009, 14:43	#14
Chris Frost Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Cheshire Posts: 6,462	Your TV is a CRT (tube) type - the deep kind that was from before flatscreen plasma and LCD. It can only accept SD - Standard Definition - either from the aerial cable (broadcast) or via something connected through a wire (SCART etc). Your telly accepts 576i ...and that's it. It does not accept 720p It does not accept 1080i It does not accept 1080p Your broadcasts i.e. what's coming in via the satellite dish and TV aerial, are all 576i. So, to recap - the signals to your house are 576i, and your TV is 576i. That's really all there is to it.

06-10-2009, 15:19	#15
Emrys Davies Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Solihull, UK Posts: 185	Not quite there. I asked 'Can I find that information on my TV or via my remote control'? and that is all I have been striving to find out. You have workrd hard and given me a lot of information which is very much appreciated, but here we go again: While I am watching my tv is there any way I can find out, by using the remote or tv, in what resolution the programme is being broadcast e.g. 720p 1080i or whatever?

06-10-2009, 15:29	#16
Hooblue Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 27	Quote: Originally Posted by Emrys Davies Not quite there. I asked 'Can I find that information on my TV or via my remote control'? and that is all I have been striving to find out. You have workrd hard and given me a lot of information which is very much appreciated, but here we go again: While I am watching my tv is there any way I can find out, by using the remote or tv, in what resolution the programme is being broadcast e.g. 720p 1080i or whatever? No.

06-10-2009, 15:34	#17
Chris Frost Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Cheshire Posts: 6,462	Quote: Originally Posted by Emrys Davies Not quite there. I asked 'Can I find that information on my TV or via my remote control'? and that is all I have been striving to find out. You have workrd hard and given me a lot of information which is very much appreciated, but here we go again: While I am watching my tv is there any way I can find out, by using the remote or tv, in what resolution the programme is being broadcast e.g. 720p 1080i or whatever? The short answer is no - just as it was before. Here's the reason why... Some TVs do display this information, but these are TVs that can accept and display 576i and 720p and 1080i and 1080p. That would be flat panel TVs. Yours I'm afraid can't. Yours can't, so there's no point in Sony putting in some sort of feature to tell you what picture resolution the program being broadcast is in when your TV can't show you a picture unless the broadcast is in 576i. Your TV only accepts 576i. If you try to connect a Sky HD box at 1080i your TV wouldn't show you a picture. It's the same with DVD at 720p, and Bluray at 1080p. You wouldn't get a picture. It wouldn't work. You must get it now, surely?

06-10-2009, 15:45	#18
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	Quote: Originally Posted by Emrys Davies Not quite there. I asked 'Can I find that information on my TV or via my remote control'? and that is all I have been striving to find out. You have workrd hard and given me a lot of information which is very much appreciated, but here we go again: While I am watching my tv is there any way I can find out, by using the remote or tv, in what resolution the programme is being broadcast e.g. 720p 1080i or whatever? It is very simple and I am struggling to work out what you are not understanding. NONE of the equipment you have listed here is capable of any other resolution than 576i Every single channel your TV or Sky box receives is 576i Neither unit can tune into any other form of broadcast. It is not that your TV cannot tell you the resolution. It is simply that nothing you possess is capable of receiving anything other than SD 576i broadcasts.

06-10-2009, 15:46	#19
Emrys Davies Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Solihull, UK Posts: 185	Thanks a lot Chris. for that very explicit piece of information, which I now fully understand. Also, many thanks to everyone else for their help and patience.

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How do I find broadcast strengths?