OT: TiVo Series 3 and 480i TV...

[SKYLANE]

I bought a TiVo S3 before the holidays and have it hooked up to my existing Toshiba TheatreView 50" rear projection 480i TV (sometime soon to be replaced with HD-TV). I use the TiVo S3 with Digital Cable Cards from Charter and was curious about the following:

I was watching a broadcast from a network channel in 480i and a broadcast from the same network channel in 1080i (or 720p), both viewed on my 480i big screen using component video connectors. Why would the 1080i (or 720p) broadcast be displayed on the 480i TV in more vivid brilliant colors than the 480i broadcast?

My guess to the question is that even though the 1080i (or 720p) is being down-res'd by my TiVo for 480i viewing that the signal was digital from creation all the way to my TiVo before being processed and put on the component output. I am further guessing that the 480i broadcast was being delivered to the Cable Company via analog thus losing digital clarity and then being converted back to digital signal for delivery over cable to my TiVo. I am concluding that the analog conversion being in the process between creation of signal and my TiVo for 480i broadcast is what causes the lack of vivid color in the 480i broadcast over the 1080i broadcast.

Am I right or wrong? (or, did that even make sense at all???)

[Gareth]

I can't say if you're right or wrong, but I had the same theory about my broadcast channels. The 480i SD broadcast channels have always looked bad and been subject to analog interference on my digital cable (Comcast, now Time Warner). The 1080i, HD versions are much better on my 480p set.

[SKYLANE]

Before the TiVo S3 was in the setup with the Toshiba 480i TV, I had a Charter Digital Reciever. I thought my TV was going bad, dark pictures with bad clarity, etc. When I installed the TiVo S3 with Digital service, I was astounded by the picture clarity on my old Toshiba 480i. I concluded that it was the SA (Scientific Atlantic) Digital Reciever from Charter Communications that was a piece of junk (perhaps that particular box had issues...)

Prior to the TiVo S3, all was hooked up via S-Video, maybe not fair comparison.

[ADent]

You are using real confusing terminology.

Can you distinguish the 480i digital signals from the NTSC Analog (some people refer to it as 480i) signals in your post?