New V+ Box Owner - HELP!

Sonynut · 27-02-2008, 14:04

Hello everyone

This is my 1st post on here so here goes.

I had my new V+ box installed yesterday, I had it connected to my new 32" sony bravia and i must say i'm dissapointed with what i saw. The engineer rushed through the set up instructions so i couldn't see what he was doing and after a 1 min demonstration he was gone. What i'm left with is a worse picture than my old virgin box, the picture and menus look really blurred and blocky, i'm gutted, the wife only agreed to me getting one because i told her the picture quality would be better.

The engineer has set the box to use the HDMI cable and removed the scart, he has set the box to 1080 wide. I have a KDL-32S3000 bravia with 1366x768pixels with a 1080i resolution and not 1080p true HD so has it been set up properly? Have the rest of you noticed the menus are really blured?

I tuned into channel 108 BBC-HD last night to watch some proper high def stuff and wasn't blown away by it as i thought i would, the picture is sharper than SD but not as much as the hype would make you believe, maybe this is a side affect from the above problem.

Also one last thing, the box makes a whirling noise when turned on, is this normal? And the engineer told me to turn the plug off at night to save energy, is this what everyone else does.

Sorry for all the questions but i am a little deflated here today.

sniper007 · 27-02-2008, 14:14

No I don't turn mine off to save energy. They are probably told to say that. My engineer didnt say that to me.

My picture quality is perfect - I have an old 28inch CRT Sony TV. Check in your settings menu and play around with the settings. Check that RGB/Composite bit and the HDMI connector etc.

My menu/epg looks sharp and fine.

My box makes a slight noise when on. Barely noticeable to me, and Im picky with things like that. Got to remember, it has a HDD inside so will make some noise.

**Rob** · 27-02-2008, 14:19

There are various resolutions for the output from the V+ box. You need to choose an option you know your TV can support. There is a lot of debate as to which in fact is better, 1080i or the 720p. Sports type and fast moving images may fare better with a p setting. The V+ STB does not do 1080p.

Remember that if you are watching the V+ via HDMI lead the output is being upscaled even for SD programmes. As to how good that is will depend on your TV and the V+ and how well they work together. If your TV is trying to enhance an already enhanced picture there might be a case of over complication? You'd only really appreciate that there is a lot of improvement with true HD, if you swap between scart (which is SD) and the HD equivalent, rather thean the upscaled versions.

There is no reason why you can't reconnect your scart lead. It's just that if you have HDMI on, then scart output from the V+ is disabled, except for the archive to VCR/DVD.

As for noise, there have been some complaints. Try resting the STB on some cushioned rubber feet.

To be able to record correctly the V+ needs to be on or in standby. Either way that is using power. Switching off won't do any real harm to the STB, but you need to remember to switch it on well before your next recording.

ShadowTD · 27-02-2008, 14:20

Right. There is a bug in V+ that makes the menus quite blurry. If this annoys you, switch the output res to 720.

I would avoid using the 'wide' options as this will stretch a 4:3 picture to 16:9 and make people look very fat.

Let us know how you get on.

Sonynut · 27-02-2008, 14:31

Thanks for your help, will try switching between 1080 and 720, maybe i was just expecting to be blown away by it all. Thanks will update tomorrow.

Cammy · 27-02-2008, 14:34

I've noticed the noise, its like leaving a pc on overnight. It's annoying. Then if you put it in standby its no different sound wise whatsoever

Apart from you now get an annoying green glow in your room

I hope virgin will introduce some standby mode than will spin down the hard drive and only boot it up when/if it needs to record.

Paranoimia · 27-02-2008, 17:28

I have a Bravia KDL-32D3000 and the picture and menus are fine, whether in 720 or 1080. SD channels are better than my old SDTV, and BBC HD is even better still.

Could be an issue with your V+ box, I reckon.

nicke261192 · 27-02-2008, 18:30

Try 720 i find that on my Samsung Plasma the 720 looks better than the 1080 even though i do have a 1080p tv

Sonynut · 28-02-2008, 12:29

I have managed to change the setting to 720 wide and the menus look much clearer now, the only trouble i have is that there seems to be a bit of motion blur, not sure if it the tv or V+, does anyone own a sony KLD32S3000? if so what setting have you got on your?

Cheers for the help.

nicke261192 · 28-02-2008, 16:00

I would say its motion blur as some LCD TV's have a lower refresh rate

ShadowTD · 28-02-2008, 16:34

Motion blur is almost definitely down to your TV. Try turning off/down any picture processing (Digital this, Natural motion the other).

Sonynut · 29-02-2008, 13:07

Quick update.

Changed the setting to 720 wide and played around with some of the TV's settings and am very pleased now, the picture is pretty good and BBC-HD now looks stunning, so thanks to those who gave out some useful adive.

P.S. wish Virgin Media could give me some more HD channels.