Direct TV SD broadcasts on Sony KV36HS510

I got the calibration DVD but it didn't help as much as trial and
error. I've got it to where it looks almost "normal", although the
colors are somewhat muted. I also borrowed a progressive scan
DVD-player and it looked awsome, even without being connected through
the compnent inputs. I was going to get one last night at Best Buy but
if I wait for my "reward" points from buying the TV to come in, they
will probably pay for the DVD. (BTW: This Reward Zone is a real scam.
It takes six to eight weeks for you to get your points and they expire
in 90 days so you can't wait around too much to have a whole lot of
points and buy something good. It is only worth it if you plan to buy
something really expensive.)

It will probably be some time. It is not so much the initial $5K but
the $10 a month after that. If you have the Total Choice with the
local channels and an extra receiver, you're already paying around $42
a month and with the HD channels it would be $50 plus I may want to
add an extra receiver so that I can Tivo and watch at the same time
with my old non-DirectTV Tivo. I could drop the local channels and use
the OTA channels but I don't know how good that would work since we're
way out in the country surrounded by trees. That's the one good thing
about cable, you don't have to pay extra for adding TVs as long as you
don't want digital, premium channels or pay per view on the extra TVs,
which is OK by me.

Camuyano

  Most TV's have "scan velocity modulation".  What it basicly does is
outline sharp transitions in the picture by distorting some of the fine
detail geometry.  With an analog signal it doesn't look so bad, but with
digital artifacts it can really make them look blocky instead of soft (due
to the way high MPEG compression works, creating macroblocks of the same
color.    If you want to have a professional TV calibrator disable it and
calibrate your set, that would be best if there is no user-accessable menu
option.  You could also get Digital Video Essentials (at 20 dollars from
Amazon it's a very good value) and the service manual for your set and learn
how to do it yourself, if you are technically inclined at all (there is
plenty of stuff on the net, but you might want to spend a few hours learning
how to do it before you monkey with it, also go through a DVD calibration
disk and calibrate the basics first.  Also make sure you write down every
default setting in any service menus you change, and keep it with the manual
for the set .

  You also want to adjust the sharpness, contrast, and brightness much lower
than the default.  Turn the color temperature to "warm" if possible.
Sharpness basicly is a "high frequency" boost, but if you turn it up too
high, it starts enhancing things, like digital or analog noise, that
shouldn't be enhanced at all- only tweaking it with a good setup image will
let you know what's the right setting on your set (it varies, 0 isn't always
the best, sometimes it's too soft).

  The end result of all this calibration will be a picture that is less
"wow" and maybe even a little soft and plain, but it will handle different
video sources much better and it will give more accurate results.

  A very common reaction.  The "techs" you talk to on the phone are often
totally befuddled by such questions.  Rest assured, there's probably nothing
"wrrong" with your set, but all TV's now days, at least the tube ones, come
to the store with settings totally unsuitable for quality home viewing.

  It might seem like alot, but most HDTV receivers for Direct TV also have
"over the air" capability, and currently this is the best way to get high
definition television (although I think the Samsung receivers, although
pricier, are better).  It will be waiting for you when you decide to take
the plunge.

Use the S-video connection between the receiver and the TV.

That's the area of greatest possible improvement. Calibrating the set with
the help of a DVD such as AVIA or Video Essentials can help a lot. Turning
down the contrast and sharpness very often helps the most. Stock settings
are designed to stand out in a brightly lit display area. Sharpness actually
adds video noise to the picture by edging differing picture elements. Don't
use any video noise reduction or automatic picture controls. Limit the
outside light in the area and manually adjust the picture as outlined in the
calibration DVD.

Pat