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If Your HDTV Doesn't Make You Say "WOW!"... The definitive, one-stop, everything-you-need-to-know, do-it-yourself, High Definition checklist and self-help! THE HDTV troubleshooting resource! How do I get the best HDTV picture quality? NOTE: This list is intended to help the average home user as well as installers and industry professionals. It is designed to be general enough to help the greatest number of people, and it specific enough to make you say WOW!!! To see High Definition on your HDTV, you should do these things! Work your way through this list. MANY OF YOU WILL IMPROVE YOUR PICTURE AND/OR, EVEN SEE High Definition AT HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME!
#1. What do I need for HDTV? or The High Definition Sources This is the number 1 general reason that people with HDTV's are "starving" for HD! Your new HDTV MUST BE FED a High Definition diet! It MUST INCLUDE, one or more of the following High Definition sources! (NOTE: Some HDTV's can't use an antenna without help! HDTV Monitors and HDTV-ready TV's cannot use an antenna. For these, they need a digital "friend" (HDTV Tuner) to use an antenna! An HD digital conversion box will be required for monitors and "HD Ready" TV's.) HD sources include:
#2. Cables & Connections or How To Connect Your HDTV! This is the number 1 reason many people are "starving" for High Definition from an external video source. Not all cables will transfer high definition picture to your TV. Some cables or connections will pass a lower resolution picture but it is not high definition. Connect to the HDTV, from your antenna, through coaxial cable into the RF connection (antenna) on your TV. Use the TV's User Menu options to scan for digital channels. If you only use antenna, go to #3, below. If you want to add an antenna click here! If you also feed your HDTV the other HD sources, continue...
Ever try to eat soup with a fork? You can never get more than a "taste". You can feed your TV more than a "taste", using HDMI or component cables, only! ONLY - to display High Definition content on your TV from HD receivers or other video source. For Dish Network, click here to see the connections.
NOTE: If you are using component cables, you will also need to use audio cables for sound. Using common RCA cables (The ones that are three cables together, Red, White, and Yellow), connect the Red and White ends into your TV or Audio/Visual (Surround sound) system. To hook up multiple pieces of equipment, go to the CEA Connections Guide! #3. TV - Settings & Enhancements For your HDTV to properly "process" the HD source, you should check it's settings or enhancements, and the "Picture" controls in the TV's user menu. When it comes to settings and enhancements, I recommend that you begin by turning off all noise limiters, motion adapters, edge enhancement, and any other enhancements on your TV. If you cannot calibrate for some reason, DON'T use "Vivid" or "Dynamic" settings for your picture. The "Normal" or "Standard" settings will give the most accurate color rendition - short of calibration. #4. Color Calibration - TV - Why does my SDTV look so bad? From the beginning, HDTV owners have been asking "Why does the standard definition programming look so bad on my TV?" And from the beginning, we've all been told that it is out of our hands because of either: 1. The Dilution Theory - This says simply that the lesser information provided by an SD signal has been "spread out" over a larger area (larger screen) and is therefore diluted as a drop of red food color will lose its bold color when it is dropped into a gallon of water. And the resulting advice? We are told, "Too bad, but that's the way it is and you can't do anything about it...SD just looks bad on HDTV." WRONG. Another digital deception. 2. The Compression Theory - This theory says that the compression methods used by broadcasters and satellite companies are responsible for the poor or lesser quality HDTV and SDTV. And the resulting advice? We've been told, "Too bad, but that's the way it is and you can't do anything about it." WRONG. Another digital deception. This is the truth about picture quality for both SDTV AND HDTV. An un-calibrated, or poorly calibrated television, will probably give you decent HDTV, and likely, horrible SDTV. The "secret" to good quality SDTV and "WOW" HDTV is color calibration. Calibration is as important to "WOW" HDTV as having HDTV content. HDTV is all about detail. Anything that compromises detail, compromises HD picture. The "WOW" of high definition picture depends on the TV's ability to produce realistic, true-to-life picture. It is impossible to produce realistic picture if your TV is not adjusted properly. Color calibration tells your TV how to mix the colors to present the image it has received. The reality of its substance and texture comes from very subtle differences in color which can not be achieved without proper adjustment of the color mixing controls that determine your picture. Accurate reproduction of life-like material requires that your TV is color calibrated. Furthermore, since all TV's have their settings perverted for the bright store environment, you will need to re-adjust your TV for your home. When I discovered the potential value of color calibration, I decided to purchase the Spyder Pro Colorimeter and calibration software. I calibrated many TVs using the Spyder Pro Colorimeter when I noticed that even though the picture had improved substantially, there was still too much red when I was finished. So after I would do a calibration I would end up going back every time to "tweak" the picture "by-hand". Soon I found that I could calibrate quicker and more effectively than the Spyder Pro and I haven't used it since. I calibrate by eye and after many calibrations, have uncovered a pattern to these settings. My hope is that these settings will provide a solid starting point for those who can't afford an ISF certified calibrationist and the "do-it-yourselfers". Calibration after calibration, I am still amazed to see "WOW" SDTV picture quality on large flat screen TVs! Furthermore, the Lord has given me the grace to see a definite pattern in the color settings that should give everyone a 'fighting chance' at good color calibration without dropping $250.00 for an ISF certified calibrationist.
Start with the "values" below. I say "values" because each TV has generally the same color adjustments but they have different ways of displaying the "value". For example, some settings read positive and negative values, some have scales of 0 to 100, and still others have different scales. For our purposes, we will look at each scale as 0 to 100, making the middle line of any scale 50. The scales used for color, brightness, contrast and the like, are designed so that the center of the scale is near the correct value. Turn off all enhancements as described in "Settings and Enhancements", then adjust your picture controls as follows:
Next, select a few good HD channels for comparison. I prefer OTA channels because they have the best quality. HD channels are not created equal and there is a fair amount of variance from one broadcaster to another. Some channels will always have a heavy red push and calibrating your TV on one of these channels will make the rest of the channels look washed out and bland. There is always a good chance that a movie might be too dark for calibrating for color, so I avoid movies until the finest tweaks. I will return to a darker movie to help fine tune your contrast and brightness. If you have The Food Network, Discovery HD, or Equator, you can also use these channels for your comparisons. If you are on antenna, make sure that are a couple of HD broadcasts for comparison.
TV's are adjusted to sell in the store. What this means is that they have moved contrast to the top of the scale. This makes the TV very bright. Bright catches the eye and sells! But a TV that is too bright will (contrast too high) will not provide the subtle details that shading produces. You will lose textures and the "real-ness" of the HD picture. High contrast is high or large "differences". Remember that HD is about detail. We don't want large differences because detail comes from subtle differences. Do lower the "Contrast" to between 50 and 60, where most TV's look best. Lower the contrast to 55 and then gradually increase the contrast. You will be looking for an appropriate level of brightness, which will depend on the ambient light in the room. You will want the contrast to be only high enough for comfortable viewing and for the detail to emerge. If your contrast is too high or low the details which come from subtle shadows and shading, will not emerge. Don't be fooled by the brightness that sold you the TV! Do lower brightness to for the same reasons as above. Too dark and dark areas of a show will not show any detail. Too bright and the same applies for light areas.
NOTE: I also use two other criteria - food and nature. Again, these two subjects are inherently familiar to us. We know what real food looks like and we know what "outside" looks like so these are good content for evaluation. Avoid commercials, sports, fast action and movies when you are calibrating or checking the adjustments you've made. You don't have to be an artist to make color adjustments. We all perceive skin tone and easily separate one race from another. We are familiar with skin tone and KNOW what a persons skin tone and complexion should look like. When you can see the fair skinned redhead, the tanned jock, and the ethnicity of the actors, you will be very close on with color. Here's the key to adjusting the red related to the "Color" or "Picture" adjustment on your TV. Finer adjustment than overall skin tone requires special attention to the actors lips. If there is too much red, men and women alike, appear to be wearing lipstick. If you see the "lipstick" on the men, then you need to lower the red. Always be sure to continually compare several HD channels before making any changes. Everyone will have a couple of channels that will STILL look too red and if you calibrate to one of those channels, the rest of your channels will be washed out lacking "WOW".
Now that your TV has the digestive juices flowing, lets make the final check and adjustments to be sure that nothing is choking your HDTV. #5. Receiver Settings - Set Top Box The receiver in an HDTV System is the means of feeding everything but antenna to your HDTV. If you have a set top box, satellite, cable, or other:
(The number 1 reason that Dish Network customers aren't watching HD) Tell your Dish Network VIP 622, VIP 211, 722 receiver, what size the "bits" of food should be! Here's how! GET YOUR Dish Network remote control, get in front of your TV, and turn it all on. Put your TV on the HD Food channel, or Discovery HD, or Equator, then... Press "Menu" on the remote, then press the number key "6", or select "System Setup" from the menu on the screen, then press the number "8" on the remote, or select "HDTV Setup" from the new menu, and if it says "480p", change that 480p setting to "1080i" (If you know that your TV's resolution is 720, you may choose that setting.) And if you are using an antenna for locals, make sure the analog type is "Off-Air". Next, find a comfortable place to sit, or fall down, then Select "Done" and exit the menu. Enjoy!
Look in the satellite receiver's user menu, and "enable" ALL of your "Native Resolutions" This is very important to your HD quality.
Look in the User Menu of the Cable box, DVD, or other and look for output, resolution, and format settings. Look in areas like "Setup" or "Installation". Set resolutions ABOVE 480 to receive HD. (720 or 1080)
The up-converting DVD players can really look good but be sure to check all of the settings! In addition to the correct format (16:9 or 4:3) and resolution (480, 720, or 1080), be aware that these players may have their own color calibration settings. It won't matter if your TV is calibrated when using one of these if the player has NOT been calibrated. #6. Signal and HD Quality - What you won't hear anywhere! What no one (except the engineers and I) will tell you is that the digital picture quality can be compromised by low signal strength, poor signal quality, or slow data - low bitrate.
This is not applicable to satellite if your dish delivers strong signal to your receiver. This may happen if your satellite system's signal is low, even though you may still have a "signal lock". If you are regularly experiencing pixilation and drop-outs, your signal may be low. There are other causes of pixilation and drop-outs but most often, these are related to signal strength. To get the best signal - Super Signal! This does not apply to your OTA antenna if it delivers a strong, clean signal! This may be happening on some or all of your channels depending on signal strength and/or signal quality. If your signal is at or near signal lock level, then your picture quality problem may be due to your signal strength. To get the best signal - OTA Alignment Nearly everyone in the business will say that if you've have the digital picture, that what you see is what you get and its quality can not vary. They say that either you will have the best quality picture, or it will pixelate and you will lose signal altogether. They will definitely say that digital picture quality will not vary due to signal strength. This is NOT true. HD televisions and HD receivers (digital systems) are capable of producing a stable but lower quality picture. This effect of lessening the detail of your HD, may be happening if your system loses signal easily or often, or you repeatedly see pixilation, and/or artifacts. Pops and clicks in audio are likely indicators, as well. At this level of performance you may be watching HDTV, but not "WOW" HDTV. Digital picture is not all the same! Caution: If you have determined that you are watching a compromised picture due to signal strength, you must be aware that nearly every satellite and cable guy in the industry will tell you that you are wrong, and that your picture couldn't possibly be affected by signal strength. If nothing else is found to be out of order, they are likely to say that the signal doesn't make any difference in HD quality and, as long as you have lock, your signal is fine.
For a detailed explanation of how signal affects digital quality click: Signal and HD Quality - What you won't hear anywhere! Here are a couple more good ideas: Do...
Don't...
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You have a right to an antenna! The rule prohibits most
restrictions that: (1) unreasonably delay or prevent installation, maintenance
or use; (2) unreasonably increase the cost of installation, maintenance or use;
or (3) preclude reception of an acceptable quality signal. Over-the-Air Reception Devices Rule Send questions or comments about this web site.Copyright © 2009 WOWVision! Ministries Last modified: 01/16/10
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If you have a Vizio, the "Standard" picture setting is very
close and usable. For better picture quality, drop the
"Color" adjustment 3-4 "clicks" or points, and increase the
"Tint" (toward the green) 1 or 2 "clicks". Set sharpness
around 30 and you should have some "WOW" HDTV. Hooray
for Vizio!
