Will There b improvement in picture quality for sd channels if I used a virgin HD box

jav123 · 11-09-2009, 10:14 AM

If I bought a virgin media HD box and connected it to my 1080p LCD tv via hdmi will There be an improvement in picture quality for the sd channels ? ( I will not be subscribing to HD package as cannot afford it) compared to a sd virgin media box connected to my 1080p lcd tv via a decent scart cable ?

Will there be any advantages just because signal will be going through as hdmi ?

I would really appreciate as many oppinions and suggestions on this please.
Thanks and regards

MazsterUk · 11-09-2009, 12:33 PM

there is a nocticveable (imo) improvement in image quality (sharpness) going from standard scart to hdmi. You have to bear in mind that scart is analogue and subject to signal loss and that the hdmi is lossless if implemented correctly - therefore there should be an improvement regardless.
What i would say though, is the improvement to your sactisfaction compared to whatever you paid for the V+ box. I would try it and see, if not for you you should have a cooling down period.

Boostrail · 11-09-2009, 1:40 PM

Not only is the improvement due to the intrinsic HDMI over Scart technology, the SA V+ box has an excellent upscaler. I think you will see a vast improvement in SD particularly using a 1080 x 1920 TV.

jav123 · 11-09-2009, 5:59 PM

What is a SA? v+ box I gathered the v+ is virgin media HD box
sorryto sound dumb!

Boostrail · 11-09-2009, 8:03 PM

There are 2 versions of the V+HD box. The established Scientific Atlanta - a division of Cisco Systems - (SA) box that most have and the recently introduced Samsung V+ HD box. As yet it is uncertain what the upscaled SD is like on the Samsung box. However on the SA box it is almost incredible. The SA box is often criticised in particular for slow response but I do not personally regard a max 2 secs response as a problem. Also one must recognise that the V+ SA box is a simple variant of the worlds most used HD capable Cable PVR as AFAIK it is the standard offering of most US cable networks.

jav123 · 11-09-2009, 9:40 PM

hi re the scientific atlanta box - 1 of my friend has this box and i have played around with the menu, how do u get the box to upscale normal sd? or does that do it automatically?
as i couldnt see anything in the menu re upscalling, unless i obviously didnt see it.

if it did upscale it to behonest i didnt think there was a diffrence in picture quality,

its 1 ugly box thow!

Boostrail · 12-09-2009, 3:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jav123

hi re the scientific atlanta box - 1 of my friend has this box and i have played around with the menu, how do u get the box to upscale normal sd? or does that do it automatically?
as i couldnt see anything in the menu re upscalling, unless i obviously didnt see it.

if it did upscale it to behonest i didnt think there was a diffrence in picture quality,

its 1 ugly box thow!

This is I trust the SA V+ box as there were also some earlier SA V boxes around. Depends if he has it connected to a HD Ready TV via HDMI and has set the box to output 720p or 1080i. If its connected at 576i or via the scart etc then the V+ is not upscaling even if it is connected to a HD ready TV

personally I prefer its looks to the Sky+HD

jav123 · 14-09-2009, 10:15 AM

he has got a black colour box, and it's connected to a 1080p LCD tv via hdmi,
the picture looks realy grainy at times on certain channels all though he has split his cable comming into the house with a 4 way splitter so he can watch virgin in diffrent rooms , as he has got normal virgin media box in each bedroom

so could this lead to having a poorish picture? As the signal is split into 4 even before he's getting signal into the HD box?

janz70 · 28-09-2009, 11:10 PM

Old SA top
New Samsung bottom

as stated you have to set the outut of the box to 1080 for it to upscale

I found this "press home on the remote select options select display/audio select hidef hdmi instead of 16.9 widescreen then select 720 ok to save and exit"

hope this helps