BTV - HDMI - detail in dark scenes

voice_of_reason · 16-11-2010, 09:16

I've just replaced my old CRT TV with a new Panasonic LED, and whilst the picture is very good over HDMI, I've noticed there doesn't seem to be much detail in the dark areas - shadowy areas just turn to black - like the sort of picture you'd expect from a cheap LCD TV with poor contrast ratio.

I thought at first it might be just the TV not being as great as I thought it was going to be, but the TV's own Freeview receiver doesn't have the same problem (although I would say the overall picture quality isn't as sharp as BT Vision) - switching between BT Vision and the TV's own Freeview receiver, watching the same channel and the same programme, I can see lots more detail in dark areas on the TV's receiver, whereas it just appears black via BT Vision, making it quite hard to see what's going on in dark scenes.

Is this just down to differences between Freeview receivers in different devices? Don't get me wrong, the picture is good (and the picture from an HD On Demand film is fantastic!). But is there a way to adjust the picture output from the BT Vision box? I don't want to fiddle with the picture settings on my TV as it's fine from other inputs. I haven't seen any picture settings options in the BT Vision menus.

Using the old silver box with latest firmware and Panasonic TX-L37D28BS TV.

Thanks!

allybalder · 17-11-2010, 17:36

How can two HDMI sources be connected if tv has only one socket?

pete1 · 17-11-2010, 17:45

You can buy an adapter from John Lewis which allows three HDMI sources to connect to one input on the TV.

trxster3000 · 18-11-2010, 11:53

Have you tried it without the 3-way switch?

BT Support · 18-11-2010, 12:45

Hi Voice_of_reason,

That does seem a bit strange. I would like to get this investigated for you. Please could you drop me and email with your BT account details, along with a link to this thread? My email address is btcare@bt.com if you could please make it for the attention of paddy in the subject field.

Cheers

Paddy

voice_of_reason · 18-11-2010, 17:41

Sorry, I seem to have confused everyone?! I don't have more than one HDMI source connected - just the BT Vision box.

The TV has its own Freeview receiver built-in, so there are no physical connections required to watch that.

And I can't find the part where I said the TV only had one socket?! It has four HDMI inputs.

To BT Support - thanks for the offer, but there's no need to investigate further, I don't think the box is faulty. I was just more curious to see if anyone else had noticed the same thing as me. I suspect it's just down to nuances of the BTV box's receivers.

Apologies if I've confused anyone!

dave333444 · 19-11-2010, 10:17

Hi

I had the same problem with A BTV Box

I changed the brightness setting on the input I was using on my AV amp to solve it

voice_of_reason · 19-11-2010, 13:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave333444

Hi

I had the same problem with A BTV Box

I changed the brightness setting on the input I was using on my AV amp to solve it

Thanks. I don't have any means for adjusting the input just from the BTV box, so I guess I'll live with it. It's not terrible. Anyway, maybe there will be a new Freeview HD version of the box coming out soon which may address the problem?!

allybalder · 19-11-2010, 14:37

N Ireland is not due for digital switchover till 2012 when Freeview HD should also become available
What are BT's plans to give BTV customers HD?
what happens in other regions where Freview HD is already available?

wwwebber · 20-11-2010, 10:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by allybalder

N Ireland is not due for digital switchover till 2012 when Freeview HD should also become available
What are BT's plans to give BTV customers HD?
what happens in other regions where Freview HD is already available?

BT definately has plans but we're just not aware of them. Rest assured - there'll be HD boxes available at some point.

allybalder · 20-11-2010, 14:17

So in regions where Freeview HD is available - 4 channels I presume - even BTV customers need a Freeview HD box to get HD?

wwwebber · 20-11-2010, 14:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by allybalder

So in regions where Freeview HD is available - 4 channels I presume - even BTV customers need a Freeview HD box to get HD?

Of course. Why do you think they shouldn't ??

allybalder · 20-11-2010, 14:41

Well presumably when BT get their act together BTV cutomers will get HD thru BTV boxes!

Harlotqueen · 20-11-2010, 14:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by allybalder

Well presumably when BT get their act together BTV cutomers will get HD thru BTV boxes!

Though new boxes, IIRC DVB-T2 requires different hardware...

masona2 · 20-11-2010, 16:24

The current Vision box does not support DVB-T2, which is another name for Freeview HD.

I was in Tesco yesterday and for the first time ever, I saw a Freeview HD DVB-T2 box! Tesco's own brand, Technica, at £100.

16-11-2010, 09:16	#1
voice_of_reason Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 262	BTV - HDMI - detail in dark scenes I've just replaced my old CRT TV with a new Panasonic LED, and whilst the picture is very good over HDMI, I've noticed there doesn't seem to be much detail in the dark areas - shadowy areas just turn to black - like the sort of picture you'd expect from a cheap LCD TV with poor contrast ratio. I thought at first it might be just the TV not being as great as I thought it was going to be, but the TV's own Freeview receiver doesn't have the same problem (although I would say the overall picture quality isn't as sharp as BT Vision) - switching between BT Vision and the TV's own Freeview receiver, watching the same channel and the same programme, I can see lots more detail in dark areas on the TV's receiver, whereas it just appears black via BT Vision, making it quite hard to see what's going on in dark scenes. Is this just down to differences between Freeview receivers in different devices? Don't get me wrong, the picture is good (and the picture from an HD On Demand film is fantastic!). But is there a way to adjust the picture output from the BT Vision box? I don't want to fiddle with the picture settings on my TV as it's fine from other inputs. I haven't seen any picture settings options in the BT Vision menus. Using the old silver box with latest firmware and Panasonic TX-L37D28BS TV. Thanks!

17-11-2010, 17:36	#2
allybalder Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Lisburn, N. Ireland Posts: 135	How can two HDMI sources be connected if tv has only one socket?

17-11-2010, 17:45	#3
pete1 Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Low Fell, Gateshead Posts: 297	You can buy an adapter from John Lewis which allows three HDMI sources to connect to one input on the TV.

18-11-2010, 11:53	#4
trxster3000 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 113	Have you tried it without the 3-way switch?

18-11-2010, 12:45	#5
BT Support BT Support Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 459	Hi Voice_of_reason, That does seem a bit strange. I would like to get this investigated for you. Please could you drop me and email with your BT account details, along with a link to this thread? My email address is btcare@bt.com if you could please make it for the attention of paddy in the subject field. Cheers Paddy

18-11-2010, 17:41	#6
voice_of_reason Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 262	Sorry, I seem to have confused everyone?! I don't have more than one HDMI source connected - just the BT Vision box. The TV has its own Freeview receiver built-in, so there are no physical connections required to watch that. And I can't find the part where I said the TV only had one socket?! It has four HDMI inputs. To BT Support - thanks for the offer, but there's no need to investigate further, I don't think the box is faulty. I was just more curious to see if anyone else had noticed the same thing as me. I suspect it's just down to nuances of the BTV box's receivers. Apologies if I've confused anyone!

19-11-2010, 10:17	#7
dave333444 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 29	Hi I had the same problem with A BTV Box I changed the brightness setting on the input I was using on my AV amp to solve it

19-11-2010, 13:53	#8
voice_of_reason Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 262	Quote: Originally Posted by dave333444 Hi I had the same problem with A BTV Box I changed the brightness setting on the input I was using on my AV amp to solve it Thanks. I don't have any means for adjusting the input just from the BTV box, so I guess I'll live with it. It's not terrible. Anyway, maybe there will be a new Freeview HD version of the box coming out soon which may address the problem?!

19-11-2010, 14:37	#9
allybalder Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Lisburn, N. Ireland Posts: 135	N Ireland is not due for digital switchover till 2012 when Freeview HD should also become available What are BT's plans to give BTV customers HD? what happens in other regions where Freview HD is already available?

20-11-2010, 10:59	#10
wwwebber Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Nottingham Posts: 3,536	Quote: Originally Posted by allybalder N Ireland is not due for digital switchover till 2012 when Freeview HD should also become available What are BT's plans to give BTV customers HD? what happens in other regions where Freview HD is already available? BT definately has plans but we're just not aware of them. Rest assured - there'll be HD boxes available at some point.

20-11-2010, 14:17	#11
allybalder Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Lisburn, N. Ireland Posts: 135	So in regions where Freeview HD is available - 4 channels I presume - even BTV customers need a Freeview HD box to get HD?

20-11-2010, 14:37	#12
wwwebber Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Nottingham Posts: 3,536	Quote: Originally Posted by allybalder So in regions where Freeview HD is available - 4 channels I presume - even BTV customers need a Freeview HD box to get HD? Of course. Why do you think they shouldn't ??

20-11-2010, 14:41	#13
allybalder Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Lisburn, N. Ireland Posts: 135	Well presumably when BT get their act together BTV cutomers will get HD thru BTV boxes!

20-11-2010, 14:50	#14
Harlotqueen Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,579	Quote: Originally Posted by allybalder Well presumably when BT get their act together BTV cutomers will get HD thru BTV boxes! Though new boxes, IIRC DVB-T2 requires different hardware...

20-11-2010, 16:24	#15
masona2 Inactive Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 780	The current Vision box does not support DVB-T2, which is another name for Freeview HD. I was in Tesco yesterday and for the first time ever, I saw a Freeview HD DVB-T2 box! Tesco's own brand, Technica, at £100.

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BTV - HDMI - detail in dark scenes