Joe McKeown
Stunt Coordinator
- Joined
- Apr 19, 1999
- Messages
- 138
Comparing a DirecTiVo to either a Replay or a Standalone Tivo isn't exactly fair. The data coming from the dish is compressed (MPEG-2 I believe, but may be wrong) a DirecTiVo simply saves the stream. Therefore plaing back should be identical to ehat was seen live. (assuming the same path from the dish to the display is followed.)
A standalone unit needs the converter box to expand and decode the signal so that it can encode and compress it again. This actually creates problems that even the best encoders can't fix. everyone is using lossy compression, data from the original source is simply tossed away. The theory is that the tossed date will be inperceptable to the human eye, and they are pretty much right. The problem is that the encoder in the standalone unit's encoders are affected by the lost detail.
There are some specific artifacts that occur from compressing-decompressing-recompressing even in pure digital, so like I said the standalone units are at a disadvantage. I couldn't begin to guess how a standalone pulling off a dish compares to a standalone pulling off a digital cable box.
Anyone interested in giving me a research grant??
A standalone unit needs the converter box to expand and decode the signal so that it can encode and compress it again. This actually creates problems that even the best encoders can't fix. everyone is using lossy compression, data from the original source is simply tossed away. The theory is that the tossed date will be inperceptable to the human eye, and they are pretty much right. The problem is that the encoder in the standalone unit's encoders are affected by the lost detail.
There are some specific artifacts that occur from compressing-decompressing-recompressing even in pure digital, so like I said the standalone units are at a disadvantage. I couldn't begin to guess how a standalone pulling off a dish compares to a standalone pulling off a digital cable box.
Anyone interested in giving me a research grant??