Re: How to Use the HDNet Test Pattern to do Basic Calibration

BLWedge09 · ‎05-01-2006

SomeJoe7777 wrote:
I have Motorola boxes, but from my understanding, the internals of the Cisco box are actually identical. Both of them appear to use the reference design from Sigma Designs, the manufacturer of the secure IPTV processor in the boxes. Take a look at the Sigma Designs 8634 development board -- it looks just like the motherboards inside the Motorola VIP1200 and Cisco/SA IPN330. In particular, if you look at the back of both of those STBs, even the position of all the connectors on the back is identical.

Well, I guess I'm having to eat my own words now. I've got the set hooked up via a cheap (and these are actually pretty poor quality) component cables for the moment. Overall, it looks much better now that I'm able to calibrate it more properly. Thanks for that tip. The picture does seem a little softer overall though. It still irks me that I can't get it to work via hdmi though. I checked everywhere for a setting...including the service menu to no avail. I've got a decent set of component cables around here somewhere but I can't find them. If I can't find them soon, I'll order some from monoprice. Seeing as I bought a tv with only 1 hdmi port, I guess I can just reserve that for my PS3 now.

I am an AT&T employee and the postings on this site are my own and don’t necessarily represent AT&T’s positions, strategies or opinions.

randyl · ‎10-25-2007

its only 1080 i as u know fwiw

their opinion

SomeJoe7777 · ‎01-30-2008

randyl wrote:
its only 1080 i as u know fwiw

their opinion

The component video spec is a maximum of 1080i/60. However, there are many devices that will send 1080p/24 out component cables even though it's technically not supposed to be done, and most newer TVs will receive and properly display such a signal even though they're not supposed to.

Besides, there is no 1080p/24 programming on U-Verse, and the U-Verse box couldn't send a 1080p/24 signal if there was. So even if you use HDMI, the maximum you get out of the U-Verse STB is 1080i/60.

showtime48 · ‎01-16-2008

joe i have a few other settings in my menu,saturation,hue,sharpness,noice reduction and under colortemperture are r,g,b gain. gotta it looking pretty good with the brighness and contrast adjustments. just leave the rest alone and just be happy, don't worry...

Dennis

SomeJoe7777 · ‎01-30-2008

Yup, brightness and contrast are the main two adjustments. Most modern TVs these days have pretty accurate color that either doesn't need any adjustment or needs very little.

spd2demun · ‎07-28-2007

Right here, but gotta get an HDTV first! Son won't share.
SomeJoe7777 wrote:
showtime48 wrote:
ok joe, recorded the test pattern saturday, when can you be here to do my FREE calibration?. the 'green free color' on the test pattern is very bright...

Hehe ... are you in Houston? We should have a calibration party ... invite all the Houstonites. Where's spd2demun?

showtime48 · ‎01-16-2008

i also had to go back an readjust the black after the white adjustment...

Dennis

Steve_2 · ‎11-17-2008

I guess I'm having a HDMI issue too. My Samsung 56" DLP looked like CRAP after the calibration with HDMI, but using the TV's own internal calibration, the picture looks great. On top of that, its a few years old, so my only two component spots are being filled by the DVD player and the Wii, so I have to use HDMI to get HD.

As for my new Toshiba 32" LCD, I also use HDMI because I had the cord and my only component cord left is being used for the DVD player with that TV. I tried the calibration, but with this TV, there are too many settings like gamma and omega and other greek BS.... so every time I try to just adjust the main settings, it throws the whole picture out of whack.... so I guess for now, I will settle for the TV's own settings...

Koolkid1935 · ‎07-27-2007

I went ahead and ordered the Spyder3. Will let you know how it goes.

RCSMG · ‎12-10-2007

Steve wrote:

I guess I'm having a HDMI issue too. My Samsung 56" DLP looked like CRAP after the calibration with HDMI, but using the TV's own internal calibration, the picture looks great. On top of that, its a few years old, so my only two component spots are being filled by the DVD player and the Wii, so I have to use HDMI to get HD.

As for my new Toshiba 32" LCD, I also use HDMI because I had the cord and my only component cord left is being used for the DVD player with that TV. I tried the calibration, but with this TV, there are too many settings like gamma and omega and other greek BS.... so every time I try to just adjust the main settings, it throws the whole picture out of whack.... so I guess for now, I will settle for the TV's own settings...

If you are happy with those settings then you are making the right decision. Some tvs don't come with their own calibration settings, so it looks like you are ahead of the game in this instance. Enjoy.

lrdiver · ‎12-18-2008

A lot of TV's will process the full range of 0 to 255 so an explicit range setting is not required.

SomeJoe7777 · ‎01-30-2008

lrdiver wrote:
A lot of TV's will process the full range of 0 to 255 so an explicit range setting is not required.

Yes many TVs will properly process 0-255 data, but the U-Verse STB is not properly negotiating this with the TV over HDMI. Thus, the need for explicit range setting on those TVs that don't default to 0-255 RGB.

If you happen to have a TV that defaults to 0-255 range processing, then you will get a very good picture over HDMI, but that doesn't change the fact that the U-Verse STB is still out of compliance with the HDMI negotiation process.

Menghsiu · ‎10-29-2008

Hi Joe,

I used the test pattern and wasn't able to see the black (10) no matter what I do. It's very bad when black is involved in the picture; you can't see any detail within the black. Do I have to change to component cable? My husband doesn't want to abandon the HDMI.... By the way, I have panasonic 50pz700u.

lrdiver · ‎12-18-2008

Menghsiu wrote:
Hi Joe,

I used the test pattern and wasn't able to see the black (10) no matter what I do. It's very bad when black is involved in the picture; you can't see any detail within the black. Do I have to change to component cable? My husband doesn't want to abandon the HDMI.... By the way, I have Panasonic 50pz700u.

If you cannot find some setting on your TV that allows the TV to display the values below 16, you will be stuck with this using HDMI. The solution is to use component.

With all of the hype concerning the advantages of HDMI, I really don't see an advantage. In fact in my case, the component picture looks better to me. FWIW In addition to the black level issue, I see other shading issues that cause slight banding in the picture. This may also be a consequence of what is actually going on with the black level issue. It looks to me that there is more to it than simply an offset of 16.

There have been two new hardware revisions of the Cisco box identified. I have not seen any confirmation at this point that the changes in these revisions address the HDMI issue. It is quite possible that they do. The newest revision reported is HW v2.2.0.3. You might call AT&T tech support and complain about the HDMI issue and ask them if the new box will fix it.

mibrnsurg · ‎07-15-2008

Menghsiu wrote:
Hi Joe,

I used the test pattern and wasn't able to see the black (10) no matter what I do. It's very bad when black is involved in the picture; you can't see any detail within the black. Do I have to change to component cable? My husband doesn't want to abandon the HDMI.... By the way, I have panasonic 50pz700u.

You should be able to find a black level setting on the TV remote picture menu: menu>picture>scroll up to Advanced picture>Black Level Light>exit

Then make sure you are following the directions later in the thread when he states he has found a solution for HDMI. I can't see the 10 either,but I don't have any problems w/'crushed blacks' and have a great picture on my TH42PZ80U. I have my 'Custom' picture set up like this: Picture 61, Brightness 49, Color 37, Tint 0, Sharpness 73, Color Temp Normal, Color mgmt. on, x.v Color Auto, Under 'Advanced Picture'-Video NR off, MPEG NR on, Black Level Light, HD Size Size 1. Your set may not have all of these or may have others, look in the TV instruction book for any info on others. I agree that I'd want to keep HDMI also as my component picture is not as good.

Chris

I want Good weather w/radar & 6 day forecast -maybe coming sometime!
I want CBET Channel 9 Please NO SD stretch-o-vision HD Channels
1-800-983-2811 to avoid Mr. Voice Recognition

jackel123 · ‎01-24-2010

I'm appreciative to everyone here who took the time to post. I was disappointed on how my picture was compared to the other service I gave up. I recorded the HDNET test pattern this morning and went to calibrate. I like others mentioned here did not see a 10 on the black end of the gradiant. I switched to component and it was like the wizard of oz going from black and white to color. I have the 'depth' back in my picture. I went back to the HDNET test pattern and lo and behold there was the 10. I didn't have the problem with the TV upstairs but the I remembered that it is old and has a DVI hook up so when they wired it they wired component in the first place.

This may or may not be mentioned elsewhere, but does anyone know if this issue is being worked on? I don't plan on switching but this does knock back how everything else is hooked up to the TV and I can see where it would cause problems for others. Just curious..

~met~

Datalyss · ‎11-13-2009

Not sure if anyone is monitoring this entry, but I just stumbled across it. Is the time/channel still correct? On my Guide screen, that time slot shows as "Smallville"

randyl · ‎10-25-2007

elliswl wrote:
Not sure if anyone is monitoring this entry, but I just stumbled across it. Is the time/channel still correct? On my Guide screen, that time slot shows as "Smallville"

Day and Time (ET/PT)	Program Information
Sat, Jul 4 - 8:00 AM ET 5:00 AM PT	HDNet Test Patterns Wonder how your home theatre is doing? Wish you had test patterns to help set it up? Well, HDNet is here to help. This short program will help you get the most out of your home theatre setup by providing you with the same professional test patterns HDNet uses to set their gear.
Sat, Jul 11 - 8:00 AM ET 5:00 AM PT	HDNet Test Patterns Wonder how your home theatre is doing? Wish you had test patterns to help set it up? Well, HDNet is here to help. This short program will help you get the most out of your home theatre setup by providing you with the same professional test patterns HDNet uses to set their gear.

Datalyss · ‎11-13-2009

Many thanks!

MarkShadid · ‎09-27-2007

Thanks Randy!

rbell219 · ‎01-19-2009

Menghsiu wrote:
Hi Joe,

I used the test pattern and wasn't able to see the black (10) no matter what I do. It's very bad when black is involved in the picture; you can't see any detail within the black. Do I have to change to component cable? My husband doesn't want to abandon the HDMI.... By the way, I have panasonic 50pz700u.

My head was stuck in HDMI mode as well, but I got over it and switched to component. Like the other post said...night and day. Have your husband try it out...he won't be disappointed. Everything was improved...channel changing, system response, etc - not just the picture quality. BTW - you'll only get 5.1 sound out of the optical out, not the hdmi cable, so really there is no difference between it and the component.

SomeJoe7777 · ‎01-30-2008

rbell219 wrote:

My head was stuck in HDMI mode as well, but I got over it and switched to component. Like the other post said...night and day. Have your husband try it out...he won't be disappointed. Everything was improved...channel changing, system response, etc - not just the picture quality. BTW - you'll only get 5.1 sound out of the optical out, not the hdmi cable, so really there is no difference between it and the component.

The latest update that is being pushed out now (THDVR phase 2) is now enabling 5.1 audio over HDMI as well. However, the HDMI audio is still Dolby Digital 5.1 @ 384 kbps, which is the exact same quality as the optical connection, so you don't gain anything by switching from optical to HDMI.

Message Edited by SomeJoe7777 on 06-30-2009 09:56 AM

rbell219 · ‎01-19-2009

Cool - I actually moved and UVerse isn't available here, so I had to give it up. A lady here at the office got the update, but she is unsure what it involves. Did they get the Media Extender portion working?

Menghsiu · ‎10-29-2008

Oh yeah. I forgot to update the result. Yes, we switched to component and it's so much better now from HDMI. Our setting for the TV using the HDnet test pattern is:

Picture Mode: standard

Picture: +13

Brightness: +10

Color: - 2

Tin: 0

Sharpness: 0

MyersF · ‎07-31-2009

The Test On Hdnet is now at 5am to 510am. Just a heads up.

deesmac · ‎05-18-2008

What time zone?

scandaloussc · ‎07-08-2009

deesmac wrote:
What time zone?

That was PT. I recorded it this morning and I got it at 6am MST.

deesmac · ‎05-18-2008

Got it, thanks.

Dean_Gullberry · ‎10-12-2009

SomeJoe7777 wrote:

The latest update that is being pushed out now (THDVR phase 2) is now enabling 5.1 audio over HDMI as well. However, the HDMI audio is still Dolby Digital 5.1 @ 384 kbps, which is the exact same quality as the optical connection, so you don't gain anything by switching from optical to HDMI.

Message Edited by SomeJoe7777 on 06-30-2009 09:56 AM

I found this thread after noticing the "crushing black" effect on one of my LG TVs connected via HDMI.

In case anyone else needs to know, the RGB range issue is fixed on these TVs by changing "Black Level" from the default low to HIGH.

Thanks for the info.

SomeJoe7777 · ‎01-30-2008

Take this rumor for what you will, but I believe it to be accurate.

I have been told from an unnamed, but reliable source, the following regarding the HDMI RGB range issue that is causing the crushed blacks on HDMI:

1. Microsoft has been informed, and is aware of this issue.

2. The issue is in the early stages of evaluation/discovery, being worked by Microsoft engineers -- it is not at a stage where any Mediaroom customers (like AT&T) are involved yet.

3. The earliest possible time frame for deployment of a fix to the U-Verse platform is mid-2010.

As with all rumors, salt applies.