Extreme Pixelization

[kdbdallas]

Hello, I live in Phoenix, Arizona and have Cox digital cable with HD.

I am getting extreme pixelization on shows, both HD and not, but more on HD. It is so bad that TV is unwatchable.

I have had service person after service person out and no one can fix it.
I am on my 3rd set top box, replaced cables, and still nothing.

What is also strange is it is not 100% constant.
A lot of non-HD shows will come in fine, and every now and then a HD show will come in fine.

I have always figured it was the cable service, but tonight my HD shows playing from my AppleTV are all pixelated. I checked the video on my computer and it plays fine, so I know its not a problem with the video.

I am wondering if it could be my TV?
I have a Panasonic Tau HDTV.
It is about 3 or 4 years old.
Could this be a problem with my TV?
Is there a way to check?

Would connecting with HDMI instead of component help?

I am really at a loss because now I can't watch normal TV or from my AppleTV....

Any help would be appreciated.

[Shane]

What shows are you watching on your AppleTV. Last I heard, none of the programs you could buy through iTunes were any better than 480p. You shouldn't see pixelation though, but they will not be in high definition.

- Shane

[kdbdallas]

I have my AppleTV setup to play basically any video file, therefore I have HD TV shows I have downloaded that I am playing.

As for shows on cable, it happens with any show.
Anything from CSI (HD) to Mythbusters (non-HD)

[kdbdallas]

So it seems the problem with the content coming from the AppleTV was a bad file transfer. I noticed the size was different so I re-transfered the file and so far so good.

However... my question still exists with all the problems I am having with Cable.
Could that be my TV?
Would HDMI be better then component?
etc, etc.

Thanks!

[Richard]

Forget HDMI or component - that has nothing to do with your problem. It sounds like your cable company.

I have had service person after service person out and no one can fix it.

Sometimes the only solution is to tell them you will cancel the service and get satellite if they can't figure it out soon and of course follow through on that if they don't so you can move on.

Another is contact your county commissioner to complain about the monopoly that has been provided to your cable company that allows them to provide shoddy products and services yet still get paid.

The only good news with the big three is one of the them, cable, Dish, or DirecTV will get it right.

[Rodolfo]

kdbdallas,

If I would be you I would try playing back on the same TV and using the same input, some content you can control, like DVD, preferably Hi Def DVD if you have one.

In theory, if it is your TV, the DVD playback should pixelize as the SD content from your cable company.

If it does not then try to play back the same content on the other TV inputs. If it works well then at least you know that 480p works well with controlled content but not from your cable company.

If you have the chance it would be a good idea to try the ATSC tuner over the air, if your TV has one, with a indoor antenna that you can quickly set up and see what you can pickup.

If the image does not pixelize then you have determined that SD with DVD quality and now HD via over the air are both handled well by yor TV.

At which point I would get another type of set-top-box, and would ask the service man to check the signal level entering your house.

If after all that you determine that is the cable service, but not your controlled content or ATSC OTA, in other words, not your TV, maybe is time to get serious with the cable company.

Best Regards,

Rodolfo La Maestra