Upscalilng (New TV questions )

Wondering if any of you can help me out with a few questions re my new HD TV

One of the reasons I've held off so long in getting a HDTV was that I cant get Freeview UHF and Freeview Satellite is of course digital but not HD.
But I've seen DVD players that upscale and there are some Freeview STB's that do this too. Would it be worth upgrading from my existing freeview box to one that upscales? This is not too trivial an expense so has to be a pretty good improvement

Also should I convert the PC/TV connection from component to DVI/HDMI. My video card doesnt do actual HDMI out only DVI but I can get a 5m DVI/HDMI cable for $32 so it doesnt have to be that big an improvement but still want to know its worth it.

btw its just a Series V Samsung 40" so not bleeding edge but still a big improvement on my old 29" CRT.

DIt doesnt have S-Vidwo input either so I've had to convert the PS2 back to componenet -

DVI to HDMI cable yes, do it NOOOOW. DVI and HDMI are electrically identical, it's a simple converter cable, and the quality difference will me MASSIVE over component.

I assume you haven't got a UHF antenna? Seriously, hit up Dick Smith and grab a FreeviewHD tuner, and try it with rabbit ears/any kind of jury rigged antenna. You'd be very surprised just what you can get away with and still get a digital signal. It's very forgiving, it either works 100%, or doesn't work at all, no crappy half signal.

If it doesn't work, make use of DSE's 14 days returns policy and you're only out he cost of whatever antenna you try rigging up.

thanks kris - yes I've tried to get UHF before using DSE return policy and I couldnt get any signal so I have to live with Satellite. Hence the question about upscaling which you didnt comment on - what do you know about that?
I'm sceptical as its really only taking a lesser quality signal and trying to smooth it I assume.
But yes I will get the DVI/HDMI cable esp since thats only 30 bucks or so. tho someone at work said component cables were good enough...

Ahhh stink :/

I don't really know enough about upscaling to comment sorry fella.


You should strangle the workmate with your soon to be retired component cable: component is analogue, DVI>HDMI is purely digital stream. You'll be able to run the panel at it's native resolution, so it will be crystal clear.

I do know that there certainly are some decent upscalers in SOME hardware, so it certainly can help. Might try checking the Geekzone forums on such things, as much as the forums are generally full fo nuts, there's a big knowledge base when it comes to this kind of thing.

I could try putting a UHF aeiral on the roof I guess but I'm getting a new roof soon so that might have to wait. Thanks kris I will investigate some more (I did do a bit of research before I posted here)

anybody got any suggestions about how to improve the PS2 connection with no s-video input on the TV (no dont suggest I buy a PS3 lol). I mean its alright as it is... but just wanna get it to the best I can.
Currently using it as the DVD player too... tho I can of course use the PC for that too which may be the bizzo once I get the new DVI/HDMI cable.

Very basically, those upscaling units are a bit of a cop out. At the end of the day, a DVD is 720x480 resolution. Your TV is 1920x1080 pixels. The upscaling IC is going to take the 720x480 signal and do its best to turn that into HD. While it will be able to make 1920x1080 pixels appear on your HDTV, the information being supplied is only 720x480, so It'll be a better picture, but only in terms on numbers of pixels, not natively sharper because of the data it is receiving. Its going to need to turn every pixel into about 2.5 pixels to 'upscale' it to HD.

Think of it as if you were ripping music. If you rip a CD to 192kbps, and then go and re-encode that at a higher bitrate (say, 320kbps), you end up with a file that says its 320kbps (or Hi-Def, to use the analogy) but is in fact simply a 192kbps file with the computer 'upscaling' to 320. Its not 320 in the sense that the file contains no new information or data.

That said, upscaling is certainly better than no upscaling, so I guess it depends on the budget. Ideally for the best picture you'll be using DVI or HDMI and the source you're getting this from (freeview, blueray, whatever) will also be full HD.

If that's the case, I would certainly hold off, get an antenna stuck on your roof while it's being worked on and get a proper HD tuner then.

Not much you can do about the PS2 sadly, apart from try and track down the PS2 Component AV cable, it will be a little bit better than the standard composite cable.

Sweet, a freeview thread.
Noob time everybody, can I use my sky dish for Freeview and will it be HD. If this is somehow mentioned above, sorry I just got cained and Im
a bit fuzzy

No. HD Freeview is UHF only, they don't have enough satellite bandwidth to deliver HD via Satellite.

You'd have to check coverage maps to see if you have Freeview coverage in your area.

Cool, cheers K

http://www.freeviewshop.co.nz/

is the place to look ring Lars on contacts there he van answe all your questions

I have HD and. An tell you is crap that you dot get issues if you get it At all

I also just installed sat and can get many more channels with 900mm dish and two lnb's for Intelsat and optus

your samsung is not rue HD I think but at only 40" is not an issue

you cab also visit Lars in titiranhi an veck things for yourself

You TV will already upscale from the native res (say 720 x 576 = PAL) to the panel res which is constant.

Much like the same way a laptop works when you change the res.

I have seen say WinMC upscale a picture and improve it a bit over the native upscaling due to post processing the image.

And yup use DVI (or HDMI) for your PC for godsakes man!

yes my research indicated that the upscaler in tv's (in general) is quite poor quality.

Yeah, built in upscalers can be fairly shitty.

What you'll find in a good upscaling DVD player will be higher quality (maybe a blueray player would be a better option for this), but yeah you'll have to hunt for a decent Freeview DVB-S STB.

I have hdterrestrial and it is not true that if you get a signal all is good. Just ask Lars or the installer who came to setup my satellite. My zinwells have given me trouble but not as bad as teac crap loaner

Satellite gives you 16 video Inc sbs 1 & 2 abc and bbcworld plus 12 audio Inc oz

I thought you'd bought dse special on samsung I saw which was 740 p plasma

all good I think you 'd be happy with satellite as bcasts are not all in 1080

...on hd t

sat freeview is fine (well mush better for us than normal) and no better than HD freeview unless theres some hd content which apart from some tv3 programs isnt a lot.

rain fade can be a pain though

There's a fair bunch of HD content, and everything else is upscaled, with far better upscalers than you'll find in consumer level gear. The HD stuff is considerably better, and I've compared back to back since I have a dual tuner card with both DVB-T and DVB-S.

Yep, was pretty much just about to say this.

although it's 720x576, for 4:3. 1024(1050)x576 for 16:9

actually, just ignore that last part

depends if you're talking about pal or ntsc.

yeh I've now watched my tv enough to go and make a valid comparison with a mates exactly same tv playing tv3 uhf hd and there is a difference but its not enough to piss me off...
I'm still enjoying the size and clarity of the new screen and will progessively add the improvable options so that I get to enjoy improvements every now and then.
so thanks for everyones input. appreciate it a lot

well I finally got the DVI/HDMI cable but only because I am now using the 42" Samsung as a monitor.




Starcrat II is pretty awesome as are my charts and documents etc...
so its a bit of an expensive monitor but wtf.... only had a 19" before !