Sky HD

[VectraMan]

For 1., for movies I would expect 1080i, for sports it could be 720p but I have a feeling that Sky did change from their original intention to use 720p and decided to use 1080i.

The resolution is half the story, as in theory 720p50 is better for sport and 1080i25 better for movies. For sport, double the frame rate and no interlacing is more of a benefit than the extra resolution, which is why that format was suggested, not because they're being stingey with bandwidth. Obviously 1080p50 would be even better, but that would require a lot more bandwidth.

For movies the source is 25fps only (speeded up from 24) and not interlaced, so there'd be no benefit to a higher frame rate, and no disadvantage to interlacing, but there is a benefit to a higher resolution.

I thought the BBC and Sky were both going to run both formats, but obviously not. No doubt because of the public perception that 1080 must be better than 720 because it's a higher number.

[VectraMan]

BTW I don't have Sky HD, and am still happy with my 24" WS CRT screen. I suspect half the people that say how much better HD is are comparing it to SD on a huge plasma jobby which does a bad job at upconverting the signal and tends to highlight all the compression artifacts you get on Sky. In other words, much poorer quality SD than I'd get on my decent sensible sized CRT screen.

But that's progress for you.

[Troll]

slightly off topic

Any stand out choices for Blu Ray players ?

[Troll]

BTW I don't have Sky HD, and am still happy with my 24" WS CRT screen. I suspect half the people that say how much better HD is are comparing it to SD on a huge plasma jobby which does a bad job at upconverting the signal and tends to highlight all the compression artifacts you get on Sky. In other words, much poorer quality SD than I'd get on my decent sensible sized CRT screen.

But that's progress for you.

I went from a 33" CRT to 50" plasma
& it really isn't comparable.

SD through SKY HD input is significantly better than on the CRT

[Moscow Mule]

My Sky HD box gives me the option of outputing to the TV at 1080i or 720p, whether or not that's the signal being received though who knows.

And Most HD tellies now should at least be 1080i, only the crappy 'HD ready' tellies you get at Aldi and Lidl are 720p.

That's not correct - There's no point having 1080 at screen sizes under 40".

There's loads of hi-end 720 flat panels (mine for instance).

[scooby]

Had it, didn't like it. Picture and sound is compressed so much that its only marginally better when it pipes it out onto the TV, my TV sits 5m away from the furniture and from that distance it all looks the same anyway.

Compare SkyHD picture to Bluray and you will see the difference

totally agree! Bluray wipes its backside on sky, but then sky is just TV... for tv, its a step up and a good one.

dont be surprised when the new EPG is rolled out in the next 6 weeks or so and your box dies...

[scooby]

slightly off topic

Any stand out choices for Blu Ray players ?

PS3. i've yet to read a review that doesnt really suggest this. plus you get a games console and media centre (a better one than the 360 / MS one!).

[SallyAnne]

We got HD on Sunday - I'm a bit disappointed like.

From a girls perspective:-

1) I didn't realise they would take away the sky plus box (with 3 espisodes of Desperate Housewives and 2 episodes of Prison Break on!! Was never sure what it involved - I thought maybe they'd just tweak something)

2) I had to set all my series links up again...and first had to check that they were on the HD channels. Turns out they're not always on the same time!!! If Channel 4 has something on at 10 on a wednesday, it doesn't actually mean Channel 4 HD will have it on at 10 n a Wed!!! )

3) There are hardly any channels!!! I was expecting a HD channel for every channel!

4) All your inlaws start coming round to watch the golf.

Overall 2/10.

[gingerjedi]

That's not correct - There's no point having 1080 at screen sizes under 40".

There's loads of hi-end 720 flat panels (mine for instance).

Not only that but a native 720P signal will look better on a native 720P screen as theres no upscaling going on, its 1x1 pixel mapping.

Sky are always going to broadcast in a HD format that all HDTV's can display which is 1080i and 720P.

If you can tell the difference between 720P and 1080P on a TV under 40" then you're sitting too close.

[BoredBloke]

We got HD on Sunday - I'm a bit disappointed like.

From a girls perspective:-

1) I didn't realise they would take away the sky plus box (with 3 espisodes of Desperate Housewives and 2 episodes of Prison Break on!! Was never sure what it involved - I thought maybe they'd just tweak something)

2) I had to set all my series links up again...and first had to check that they were on the HD channels. Turns out they're not always on the same time!!! If Channel 4 has something on at 10 on a wednesday, it doesn't actually mean Channel 4 HD will have it on at 10 n a Wed!!! )

3) There are hardly any channels!!! I was expecting a HD channel for every channel!

4) All your inlaws start coming round to watch the golf.

Overall 2/10.

Shouldn't you be cooking or cleaning or somenthing rather than watching your blokes telly?