Digital picture quality

Coz21 · 10-02-2012, 11:30

Why is the picture quality on my DVD recorer/video/freeview combi box not as good as the picture on my TV? They are connected to each other by RF lead and a scart lead. But if I watch TV through the box or when I'm recording something, it's not as good quality as when I watch on the actual TV. Is it not expected to be as good?

bobcar · 10-02-2012, 11:46

Just watching Freeview through the DVD recorder using the tuner built into the recorder it should be pretty indistinguishable via SCART - RF will be MUCH worse. Check that you are watching via SCART and RGB.

For a recording it will be worse but this depends on the recording level used, higher quality may be virtually indistinguishable whereas lower quality will be worse. This is because it's a DVD recorder rather than a PVR, with a PVR the recording will be identical to the live stream (from the box).

pocatello · 10-02-2012, 13:59

RF is vcr era technology...well actually even older, but yes its the worst.

Coz21 · 10-02-2012, 14:58

The box is set to RGB. So don't I need both RF and scart? If I take the RF lead out will the picture improve? Seem to remeber trying that before though. What's PVR?

pocatello · 10-02-2012, 15:47

Is the set HD?

chrisjr · 10-02-2012, 16:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coz21

The box is set to RGB. So don't I need both RF and scart? If I take the RF lead out will the picture improve? Seem to remeber trying that before though. What's PVR?

If the TV is Freeview then you will need the RF lead to feed the aerial signal through to the TV. If you take it out the TV stops receiving any programmes.

A PVR is a dedicated hard disk recorder (usually) that records the digital data from the programme service "as is". With a DVD recorder recording to a DVD disk the data has to be converted into a format compatible with DVD. That process can lose a bit of quality. With a PVR no conversion takes place so theoretically the recording is indistinguishable from the live programme.

Coz21 · 10-02-2012, 20:19

No, it's not HD. But if that was the problem, wouldn't the TV be poor quality aswell as the box?
So there is nothing I can do? :/

grahamlthompson · 10-02-2012, 20:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coz21

No, it's not HD. But if that was the problem, wouldn't the TV be poor quality aswell as the box?
So there is nothing I can do? :/

Is your DVDR connected to the TV by a fully wired scart cable, with the DVDR output set to RGB and connected to a scart socket on the TV with RGB capability ?

If the dvd recorder has a freeview digital tuner and the above is true and you choose the scart socket to which the DVDR is connected on the TV there should be little or no difference.

Depending on the recording quality you have chosen on the dvdr there may some effect on recording playback unlike a pvr that makes a perfect copy of the original digital transmission. Digital error correction ensures that the bitstream received from the recording is as near as dammit identical to the original live transmission. (ie 100% identical quality).

ProDave · 10-02-2012, 20:37

explain how it's "not such good quality"?

Are you seeing more compression artefacts for instance?

As a trial, while watching through the DVDR, unplug the RF lead to the tv. It should make no difference, but if it does, it confirms you are viewing via analogue RF rather than scart.

You don't seem to have answered if the DVDR is set to RGB output, and have you made sure you have a fully screened, fully populated scart lead? Try a different scart lead if unsure.

10-02-2012, 11:30	#1
Coz21 Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 1,852	Digital picture quality Why is the picture quality on my DVD recorer/video/freeview combi box not as good as the picture on my TV? They are connected to each other by RF lead and a scart lead. But if I watch TV through the box or when I'm recording something, it's not as good quality as when I watch on the actual TV. Is it not expected to be as good?

10-02-2012, 11:46	#2
bobcar Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 14,718	Just watching Freeview through the DVD recorder using the tuner built into the recorder it should be pretty indistinguishable via SCART - RF will be MUCH worse. Check that you are watching via SCART and RGB. For a recording it will be worse but this depends on the recording level used, higher quality may be virtually indistinguishable whereas lower quality will be worse. This is because it's a DVD recorder rather than a PVR, with a PVR the recording will be identical to the live stream (from the box).

10-02-2012, 13:59	#3
pocatello Inactive Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 8,622	RF is vcr era technology...well actually even older, but yes its the worst.

10-02-2012, 14:58	#4
Coz21 Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 1,852	The box is set to RGB. So don't I need both RF and scart? If I take the RF lead out will the picture improve? Seem to remeber trying that before though. What's PVR?

10-02-2012, 15:47	#5
pocatello Inactive Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 8,622	Is the set HD?

10-02-2012, 16:20	#6
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	Quote: Originally Posted by Coz21 The box is set to RGB. So don't I need both RF and scart? If I take the RF lead out will the picture improve? Seem to remeber trying that before though. What's PVR? If the TV is Freeview then you will need the RF lead to feed the aerial signal through to the TV. If you take it out the TV stops receiving any programmes. A PVR is a dedicated hard disk recorder (usually) that records the digital data from the programme service "as is". With a DVD recorder recording to a DVD disk the data has to be converted into a format compatible with DVD. That process can lose a bit of quality. With a PVR no conversion takes place so theoretically the recording is indistinguishable from the live programme.

10-02-2012, 20:19	#7
Coz21 Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 1,852	No, it's not HD. But if that was the problem, wouldn't the TV be poor quality aswell as the box? So there is nothing I can do? :/

10-02-2012, 20:30	#8
grahamlthompson Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Redditch Worcs Posts: 17,293	Quote: Originally Posted by Coz21 No, it's not HD. But if that was the problem, wouldn't the TV be poor quality aswell as the box? So there is nothing I can do? :/ Is your DVDR connected to the TV by a fully wired scart cable, with the DVDR output set to RGB and connected to a scart socket on the TV with RGB capability ? If the dvd recorder has a freeview digital tuner and the above is true and you choose the scart socket to which the DVDR is connected on the TV there should be little or no difference. Depending on the recording quality you have chosen on the dvdr there may some effect on recording playback unlike a pvr that makes a perfect copy of the original digital transmission. Digital error correction ensures that the bitstream received from the recording is as near as dammit identical to the original live transmission. (ie 100% identical quality).

10-02-2012, 20:37	#9
ProDave Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Northern Scottish Highlands Posts: 11,307	explain how it's "not such good quality"? Are you seeing more compression artefacts for instance? As a trial, while watching through the DVDR, unplug the RF lead to the tv. It should make no difference, but if it does, it confirms you are viewing via analogue RF rather than scart. You don't seem to have answered if the DVDR is set to RGB output, and have you made sure you have a fully screened, fully populated scart lead? Try a different scart lead if unsure.

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Digital picture quality