Virgin VBOX poor picture on new plasma tv

[DLN]

Hi there,

Im new to the site, however after a good search round i have found some fantastic information already that has helped.

Sorry for this question, i understand it has been asked a thousand times before, however i would lke some advice...

"how do i improve the picture from my VBOX to my new plasma tv?"


I have just bought a Samsung 42PB450 4 series TV, not the best plasma ever but im on a budget, and what ive seen so far it has a brilliant picture for my xbox 360, dvd player (via HDMI lead) and the built in digital channels.
The problem comes when i view my virgin channels.

I've set up the VBOX to RGB and search for scart on, which has improved the picture a little...but its still not quite as good as the built in digital.

I have a PACE VBOX, and the signal to the TV is via a scart cable (the one that came with the box).

The only other alternative connection from the PACE box is via what looks like a PC terminal, and i know you can get PC to HDMI leads.

What would be the best sollution to get a better picture..... a good quality scart lead, or a PC to HDMI lead?

Or is there something else i could try?

Thanks.

Dan.

 

[mr-monday]

I'd upgrade to a V+ box. That has an HDMI output which will give a much nicer image.

 

[drunken_prozac]

Might not make much difference but go into the vbox settings and change the output to RGB or composite and see if it make the image any better.

I think I had mine on RGB, but the scart lead needs to be in 'scart 1' on the tv

Darren

 

[DLN]

Hi Darren,

Yea, i have already changed the VBOX settings, and it has made a little differance...i still think its not at the best possible picture quality wise though.

Theres only 1 scart socket btw

 

[DLN]

I'd upgrade to a V+ box. That has an HDMI output which will give a much nicer image.

I think eventually i will, but not yet...so i need to improve the picture with this somehow.

 

[drunken_prozac]

hmmmmmmm...

Don't really know how to help then.

maybe a better quality scart lead.

When I had normal virgin on my new tv all the images looked 'cartoony'

I fixed this with the image settings on the tv. I had to put the image smoothing on low, and sharpness low etc....

I had to play around for abotu 15-20 mins until it started looking better.
I would just have a play with the tv settings.

I have V+ now and am so glad I did, but in the mean time just try playing with the settings or a better quility scart (not £100 scart or anything but I found a £5-£10 one was better than the £2 one i had)

Darren

 

[Marklarg]

I found with my VBOX it sometime comes out of widescreen mode making the picture not as good. To check its in widescreen mode I go to BBC NEWS channel and check the banner at the bottom. If not in widescreen I have to go to setup menu and toggle either RGB-composite OR widescreen. To force back to widescreen mode.

Is it all channels that are poor or just some specific channels. I find some are more pixelated than others.

 

[DLN]

Its not totally unwatchable at all, i would say the picture is ok/good...but not quite as good as the built in digi channels....there are no channels worse than others.

I think an uprated scart lead would deffo help, but i dont want to be spending out on more cables if say the pc terminal to hdmi lead works better still....if you see what i mean.

 

[dante01]

I think an uprated scart lead would deffo help, but i dont want to be spending out on more cables if say the pc terminal to hdmi lead works better still....if you see what i mean.

There's no other outputs on the box apart from RF and scart. I'm not too sure what you are mistaking as PC to HDMI, but the Pace box has no digital output what-so-ever, not unless you mean the ethernet port which isn't capable of transmitting video or audio. There's also a USB port, but again, this will not transfer any form of audio or video!

What is the interface you are referring to labelled as?

 

[yorkyred]

Its not totally unwatchable at all, i would say the picture is ok/good...but not quite as good as the built in digi channels....there are no channels worse than others.

I think an uprated scart lead would deffo help, but i dont want to be spending out on more cables if say the pc terminal to hdmi lead works better still....if you see what i mean.

Don't bother wasting money on an expensive scart lead. In my opinion Samsung Tv's can look awfull with a less than perfect picture and always look great playing games. As someone else has said change to a V+ box using a HDMI cable and be amazed with the difference it makes

 

[paulntia]

the pc socket is a serial socket nothing more.

 

[DLN]

Ah, thanks for the advice people.....i was told the PC to HDMI cable for the Pace box would work fine as an upgrade....from a guy in Comet!!!


Like ive said before, its an ok/good picture, but not perfect and not what i know the tv is capable of....like ive said before also, its an awesome picture on the standard digital freeview.

I think V+Box is probably the best way to go....i will live with it until then.

 

[herosrule]

I have the suspicion that the black level on a standard v box is at ire 7.5 so more of a dark Grey than a black (im just guessing mind it but certenly seams that way). if that's the case then no wonder the picture sucks! I had to boost the black level on my Samsung to compensate with i didnt want to do as im not a huge fan of picture enhancements.

Also i wonder are virgin feeds realy poor I.E didgital tv is sent at a lower bit rate than sky or is it just poor decoding from the standard v box?

 

[drunken_prozac]

Well I guess it is the vbox.

I have the V+ box and the picture is outstanding!
Obviously HD is great but ITV and BBC has some of the best picture I have seen on a tv.