How does Freesat quality compare with Freeview

On Sun, 3 Aug 2008 18:38:14 +0100, "Brian W"
wrote:


"Mark Carver" wrote in message
...
zumoz wrote:
A previous post mentioned ITV, but in general how do the resolution
and bitrates compare between Freesat (and its Sky equivalent if
different) and Freeview? And cable even. How do these compare with
DVDs?

Personally I am mainly interested in SD at the moment.
I realise this could be a complicated subject as a post above
mentioned that the BBC1 rate is different (presuambly can be lower) in
London.

BBC 1,2,3,4 and C5 use the same resolution on satellite as DTT, 720 x 576

I think BBC bit rates (judged subjectively) are marginally better on
satellite, than DTT, with (in this area, South) the exception of BBC1
which looks better on DTT. C5 is miles better on satellite.

ITV 1 and C4 on DTT broadcast at 704 x 576, but on satellite at 544 x 576.
Their DTT versions look better, but not much owing to lower bit rates.

The extra ITV and C4 channels (ITV 2, 3, E4 etc) are at 544 x 576 on both
platforms, though I think a couple of C4's channels now run at 704 on DTT
?

More4 now runs at 704x576 on Satellite, but they are in the process of
juggling transmissions around, so who knows!


As I say, this is looking at the southern England regional versions, there
might be differences in other parts of the UK with the main BBC
1/2/ITV1/C4 channels.

All of ITV's regional variants use 544x576. They've got space to use 720
though (the BBC can do it on the same satellite!)

Thanks both,that answers my question

IME, FreeSat/FTA is preferable, because there seems to be marginally
less over-compression on the channels that I watch most, BBC1/2/4.

Also, it is *much* less prone to impulse interference, which can be
very common in built up areas. It's so bad where I live, that I don't
usually try and make on Freeview any recording that I might want to
keep.

Because of the stupid bitrates and resolutions, other channels are
variously more cr*p on both.

Neither are as good in SD as DVDs, but note that I've even seen
over-compression artifacts on DVDs, for example shoals of fish in
'Blue Planet'.

On Sun, 03 Aug 2008 08:47:56 +0100, zumoz wrote:

A previous post mentioned ITV, but in general how do the resolution
and bitrates compare between Freesat (and its Sky equivalent if
different) and Freeview? And cable even. How do these compare with
DVDs?

Personally I am mainly interested in SD at the moment.
I realise this could be a complicated subject as a post above
mentioned that the BBC1 rate is different (presuambly can be lower) in
London.