dvdo VP30 setup help

[182]

I could really use some help with getting the correct resolution on my
42pv500. There doesn't seem to be an option for 1024x768 which is the screens resolution i think? How do i pixel map useing the test patterns in the VP30?
If anyone has a 42pv500 can you let me know what yours is set to.
I'm sure this is all really basic stuff, but i'm struggling to understand all this. Any help much appreciated.
Thanks.

[Roman]

If you go to the Output Format sub menu and select XGA (I think) the display on the front of the VP30 should indicate 1024 x 768.

I can't help you with the settings for your TV though as I'm not familiar with that model.

Hope this helps.

Roman

[182]

Originally Posted by Roman

If you go to the Output Format sub menu and select XGA (I think) the display on the front of the VP30 should indicate 1024 x 768.

I can't help you with the settings for your TV though as I'm not familiar with that model.

Hope this helps.

Roman

Thanks for your reply. Yeah i tried that but got no picture. I'm connecting via HDMI so as thats for VGA i guess thats why?
I'm really stumped on this issue. Basically i just set my dvd and sky to 720p in output-format 720p. and they look ok, but the 1st test pattern with the boxes and the pixel wide line around the edges is way off the screen, i've tried changeing Hsize etc but can't get it anywhere near coeerct. Does this mean that the picture displayed from dvd,sky is the same and i'm missing loads of the picture?
Also sky looks worse than without the vp30. I'm still waiting on the ABT102 card, so im hoping that will sort that out?

[Roman]

I think if you don't get a picture when you switch the Output Format to XGA (1024 x 768) it means that your TV can't accept native input. In that you case you are limited in the number of output options you can use.

I have the same thing with my Pioneer 436XDE. I use 720p@50hz Output Format for PAL sources such as SKY and UK DVDs (Frame Rate locked at 50Hz) and 720p@60Hz for NTSC sources such as US DVDs (Frame Rate locked at 60Hz). Using HDMI should work fine, it's what I use.

If I'm being honest I also used to think that the VP30 didn't do an awful lot for pictures from SKY, although DVDs were improved considerably. However the ABT102D made a big difference with pictures from my Sky+ box.

With regards to missing bits of the picture, you are probably seeing that your TV has a built-in Overscan. My Pioneer does the same thing and you lose about 5% of the picture. The VP30 can be used to reduce this by selecting selecting Aspect Ratio sub menu from the Output Format menu and adjusting the Underscan setting. I have mine set to 4 and this seems to give me some of the missing picture back again.

[pirgous11]

Typically, the HDMI inputs on Plasma displays accepts only "standard" video resolutions (eg 576P, 720p, 1080i) and not NR video signals and/or computer resolutions. If you use the analog output of the VP30 and use a RGB breakout cable with 5 cables on one end and a VGA lead going into the display you should be able to get NR (assuming you have a VGA input).. only at 60HZ though which will create judder only PAL video-based material like sports. For movies, it should be great.

JJ

[182]

Originally Posted by Roman

I think if you don't get a picture when you switch the Output Format to XGA (1024 x 768) it means that your TV can't accept native input. In that you case you are limited in the number of output options you can use.

I have the same thing with my Pioneer 436XDE. I use 720p@50hz Output Format for PAL sources such as SKY and UK DVDs (Frame Rate locked at 50Hz) and 720p@60Hz for NTSC sources such as US DVDs (Frame Rate locked at 60Hz). Using HDMI should work fine, it's what I use.

If I'm being honest I also used to think that the VP30 didn't do an awful lot for pictures from SKY, although DVDs were improved considerably. However the ABT102D made a big difference with pictures from my Sky+ box.

With regards to missing bits of the picture, you are probably seeing that your TV has a built-in Overscan. My Pioneer does the same thing and you lose about 5% of the picture. The VP30 can be used to reduce this by selecting selecting Aspect Ratio sub menu from the Output Format menu and adjusting the Underscan setting. I have mine set to 4 and this seems to give me some of the missing picture back again.

Thanks very much, you've basically confirmed all the things that i was thinking. like you've suggested i've used the underscan, zoom and shift options, now i've managed to get the test pattern pretty much right and the quality of image through dvd has improved loads, sky too, but still looks pretty bad, i think it's called mosquito effect? and jaggies. especially the football and F1. I really hope the ABT card sorts allot of that out.
Also is it possible to upscale dvd etc to 1080p on the pv500 or on your 436xde? Cos it won't display it for me. Do you find 1080i looks better for dvd?
720p doesn't look as sharp i find.
Thanks very much mate, i was getting really frustrated with it all.

[182]

Originally Posted by pirgous11

Typically, the HDMI inputs on Plasma displays accepts only "standard" video resolutions (eg 576P, 720p, 1080i) and not NR video signals and/or computer resolutions. If you use the analog output of the VP30 and use a RGB breakout cable with 5 cables on one end and a VGA lead going into the display you should be able to get NR (assuming you have a VGA input).. only at 60HZ though which will create judder only PAL video-based material like sports. For movies, it should be great.

JJ

I think your right about it only displaying @60hz, so judder will be a problem, but Roman's suggestions have really helped allot, so i'll see how it goes with the HDMI. Thanks for your help.

[Roman]

Originally Posted by 182

Thanks very much, you've basically confirmed all the things that i was thinking. like you've suggested i've used the underscan, zoom and shift options, now i've managed to get the test pattern pretty much right and the quality of image through dvd has improved loads, sky too, but still looks pretty bad, i think it's called mosquito effect? and jaggies. especially the football and F1. I really hope the ABT card sorts allot of that out.
Also is it possible to upscale dvd etc to 1080p on the pv500 or on your 436xde? Cos it won't display it for me. Do you find 1080i looks better for dvd?
720p doesn't look as sharp i find.
Thanks very much mate, i was getting really frustrated with it all.

I don't think the ABT102 can help with mosquito effect too much as that is a by-product of the digital MPEG encoding used to transmit the picture (though I may be wrong as I'm quite new to all this myself!). I think it should virtually elimnate jaggies and cadence issues though. Since installing the ABT102 I no longer see either of these artefacts. What the 102 appears to do is transform the Sky picture by making it look quite smooth and film-like, without any loss of detail. On my old Sky+ plus box the difference was startling from the outset. Though on my new Sky HD box it's not quite as apparent as I find that the picture quality for SD channels is not as good as the old Sky+ box, even with the VP30 doing its stuff.

I tried both 720p and 1080i output formats and just preferred the look of 720p. For some reason I found the 1080i image seemed a bit more 'artificial'. You may find 1080i looks better to you.

I did try 1080p on my Pioneer TV but it won't accept the signal and so the screen just goes blank. In any case, I believe that the VP30 doesn't necessarily count good 1080p upscaling as amongst one of its many strong points.

Hope this helps.

Cheers, Roman