HD channels - Jagged and stairsteped edges
texneus
Newbie

Noticed in the past week or so that several (but not all) 1080i HD channels appear as if they were poorly upconverted SD channels, are missing scan lines, or the interlaced fields are sent in reverse order.  Very obvious on channel logos which appear jaggy or and have dark lines through them, but also quite easy to spot as a stair step pattern on any diagnal line in the picture.

Sample images can be found here:  It appears this is a nation wide phenomena (I'm in zip 75077, many others in this link are in the northeast):

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r29304099-Bad-aliasing-sharpening-certain-channels

Another person in PA apperently reported this in the programming forum with no followup:

http://forums.verizon.com/t5/FiOS-TV-Programming/Science-Channel-HD-video-problem/td-p/703732

Channels that are affected that I have observed (all 1080i HD):

Animal Planet

BBC America

Science Channel

Discovery Channel

There may be others that I don't regularly watch or do not recieve.

Thank you!

0 Likes
15 Replies
johnnyzero
Enthusiast - Level 3

I've noticed the exact same thing for about the last 2 weeks. I Googled it and came across this post & several others regarding the same issue.

I'd call it "stair-stepping" or "aliasing"; perhaps a problem with improper interlacing/upscaling. It's most noticeable with white text on a dark background, and especially on the little channel logo in the lower-right corner of the screen.

As others have mentoned, it appears to only occur on 1080i TV's; the same channels look fine on my 720p TV.

One other channel to add to the list: DestinationAmerica HD (channel 668 on my system).

It's amazing that Verizon hasn't addressed (or even aknowledged) this problem. Heaven knows we pay enough for FiOS every month to have access to alleged "HD" channels.

Come on Verizon - get it together!

0 Likes
johnnyzero
Enthusiast - Level 3

As of today (7/9/14), this issue seems to be resolved. Verizon must have fixed it on their end.

0 Likes
eddiealb
Newbie

This problem is still present on long island (VHO5) and it's still just as annoying.

0 Likes
JBP07079
Newbie

I am seeing this exact issue on BBCA and Discovery hd in northern NJ, zip 07079. Glad I searched, I just got VMS/quantum and thought it was a hardware issue, which would have put me over the edge to return quantum until they get more of the bugs worked out. Are others still seeing the aliasing as of today, 7/18? Thanks!

0 Likes
jllogan
Newbie

I am seeing the same thing in Northern, VA FiOS, as of today. It seems to only affect channels owned by Discovery Communications. A Google search turned up the same problem at other cable companies: the interlaced lines are reversed. See https://support.dish.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=10174 for more.

What's the best way to report this with the least amount of effort so it gets fixed?

[Edit: I also see this on BBC America, so it's not only Discovery Communications' channels. It does not happen on the majority of 1080i broadcasts, though.]

0 Likes
SG231
Enthusiast - Level 1
I am the OP of the other thread referenced earlier in this thread. Just posting here to say I still have this problem here outside Phila. PA.

Most people don't notice the problem because they just don't notice it or can't see it on their equipment or have their sets adjusted to soften edges or whatever.

There are similar reports on other carriers, as noted above on Dish and here also:
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r29337717-TV-Discovery-Channels-Interlace-Issue

0 Likes
SG231
Enthusiast - Level 1
This problem is still not resolved for me. No change.
0 Likes
johnnyzero
Enthusiast - Level 3

I spoke too soon in my earlier post. Still happening here in NY metro area (Hudson Valley).

I hope Verizon straightens this out at some point. I just got done writing out another $170 monthly check for all this wizz-bang FiOS "HD" programming.

0 Likes
SinCara
Specialist - Level 2

This isnt just a Verizon issue. Brighthouse customers are seeing the same problems so it is a network issue from Discovery Communications.

0 Likes
jllogan
Newbie

Something occurred to me. Does everyone who is having this problem own a Tivo? Tivo released a new version a few weeks ago and maybe the problem lies in that software release.

0 Likes
SG231
Enthusiast - Level 1
It's happening on my Motorola DVR, the slave Motorola box in the bedroom and on my HTPC which tunes with an HD Homerun Prime. It's upstream. Discovery Networks are non interlaced and Verizon and some of the other carriers are deinterlacing the stream (or vice versa). At least that is what it looks like.
0 Likes
SG231
Enthusiast - Level 1
Just did my weekly check of Science and Discovery and this problem has been fixed. Hopefully it does not come back as some others have reported.
0 Likes
SG231
Enthusiast - Level 1
This problem has returned but only on Discovery and TLC. Science, Travel and Animal Planet are fine.
0 Likes
jllogan
Newbie
The problem comes and goes on the same set of channels. I noticed the jaggies today on Discovery and yesterday on BBC America. Maybe fixing one channel breaks another?
0 Likes
SG231
Enthusiast - Level 1
This problem does come and go but it is always present on at least 2 of 5 channels for me. The Verizon support people who work the DSL reports forums tried to tell me it is my equipment, even after I told them it is the same on two different set top boxes and my HTPC/HDHomeRun Prime.

Today I have the problem on Animal Planet, Science, Discovery, TLC but Travel is fine. 4 of 5 bad. Not a good day.

This has gone on so long I am seriously considering going back to Comcast after 4+ years with VZ.
0 Likes