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1080p, 2015, Calibration, DVR, How To
1080p, 2015, Calibration, DVR, How To Entries in How To (17)
Comcast/Xfinity Video Setup
Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 4:19PM Updated December 8, 2015: Charter subscribers report success with similar hardware and technique
If you subscribe to Comcast/Xfinity cable TV service, chances are you have a set top box from the company connected to your television using an HDMI cable. Too many times I've encountered these boxes in a misconfigured state that negatively affected picture quality. Given how expensive a year's worth of HD cable TV service costs, it's worth spending 5-minutes checking some basic settings in that box's 'hidden' menu.
Note: this information applies to regular Comcast/Xfinity set top boxes and not the newer X1 hardware.
Robert's Favorite Home Theater Gear
For this operation, you will need the Comcast/Xfinity remote control and the remote control for your TV. If you haven't already, easily configure your Comcast/Xfinity remote to control your TV and other home theater gear!
Step #1
Turn your TV ON and make sure the Comcast/Xfinity box is OFF.
Step #2
Press the MENU button on the Comcast/Xfinity remote.
At this point, the front of the set top box should display the current video aspect ratio (16:9 or 4:3).
The TV screen should now display the 'hidden' setup menu.
If for some reason the TV Type setting is anything other than 16:9, change it to 16:9 to match the shape of widescreen televisions. Next, I would verify the settings under the Additional HDMI Settings menu.
The configuration pictured above is my recommended setup for all modern HD and UHD televisions. Next, Return to Main Menu and configure HDMI/YPbPr Output to Native or 1080i.
The Native output setting passes the video signal to the TV unaltered. Use of the Native setting enables a sub-menu of Native Mode Settings that needs some attention.
In the menu pictured above, select all video formats that the TV supports. Most modern televisions will accept all of the above listed video formats, but some TVs balk at receiving a 480i video signal over HDMI (leave unchecked if this is the case). An alternative to using the set top box's Native video mode is to configure it for 1080i output. Use of the 1080i output option will have the set top box convert all standard and high definition channels into the 1080i video format. The 1080i format is the maximum resolution currently used by broadcasters, and today's TVs are quite good at processing this video format resulting in terrific picture quality. Not only does 1080i convert almost perfectly into the 1080p format, a 1080i signal containing content originally captured at 24 frames-per-second (most movies and primetime TV shows) is easily processed to recreate the source material's natural film-like look.
Step #3
You are done! Press the Comcast/Xfinity remote's Menu button again to exit. If you decided to use the box's Native video mode, confirm that your TV is configured to eliminate overscan with 720p and 1080i channels. Often, a TV's overscan setting (aka Picture Size) is custom for all video formats so eliminating overscan with 1080i channels like NBC and PBS doesn't automatically eliminate overscan with 720p channels like Fox and ESPN.
For more information about TV settings related to optimal picture quality, I've created a short video that will help clarify what needs to be done.
How to Watch 4K
Thursday, March 12, 2015 at 5:45PM 
Originally posted October 8, 2014
Updated December 1, 2015: added 4K video sources
TVs and projectors with four times the resolution of a high-definition Blu-ray movie are quickly becoming the new standard for larger home theater displays. The sources and selection of video material for this new ultra high-definition viewing experience are expanding as well, but let's start with the basics.
A brand new name
Most of us are familiar with the term "1080p" and its variants such as "Full HD", FHD, 1920x1080 pixels, or the more vague descriptor "high def". To assist consumers looking to experience ultra high-definition (UHD) in the home, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) recently announced that UHD display devices shall use the branding 4K Ultra HD and 4K Ultra HD Connected.
What qualifies as an ultra HD display?
The CEA characterizes ultra high-definition TVs, monitors, and projectors as display devices that meet the following minimum attributes:
- Display Resolution – Has at least eight million active pixels, with at least 3840 horizontally and at least 2160 vertically.
- Aspect Ratio – Has a width to height ratio of the display’s native resolution of 16:9 or wider.
- Upconversion – Is capable of upscaling HD video and displaying it at ultra high-definition resolution.
- Digital Input – Has one or more HDMI inputs supporting at least 3840x2160 native content resolution at 24p, 30p and 60p frames per second. At least one of the 3840x2160 HDMI inputs shall support HDCP revision 2.2 or equivalent content protection.
- Colorimetry – Processes 2160p video inputs encoded according to ITU-R BT.709 color space and may support wider colorimetry standards.
- Bit Depth – Has a minimum color bit depth of eight bits.
Learn about: Quantum Dot Color
The CEA defines connected ultra high-definition displays as meeting all of the above requirements as well as:
- Video Codec – Decodes IP-delivered video of 3840x2160 resolution that has been compressed using HEVC* and may decode video from other standard encoders.
- Audio Codec – Receives and reproduces, and/or outputs multichannel audio.
- IP and Networking – Receives IP-delivered ultra HD video through a Wi-Fi, Ethernet or other appropriate connection.
- Application Services – Supports IP-delivered ultra HD video through services or applications on the platform of the manufacturer’s choosing.
*High Efficiency Video Compression Main Profile, Level 5, Main tier, as defined in ISO/IEC 23008-2 MPEG-H Part 2 or ITU-T H.265, and may support higher profiles, levels or tiers.
4K in cinema
The CEA's definition of ultra high-definition displays specifies at least a certain number of pixels, a picture shape (aspect ratio) of 16:9/1.78:1 or wider, and the possibility of richer colors. The use of the term "4K" in cinema production means something slightly different than it does in the UHD video world.
For the cinema industry, the Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI) consortium has defined several 4K formats for various applications that include pixel resolutions of 4096x2160 (1.90:1), 4096x1716 (2.39:1), and 3996x2160 (1.85:1).
DCI also specifies an expanded color palette and advanced compression scheme for these "true 4K" formats that the home user is unlikely to encounter in typical consumer products - at least in the near future. It's understandable that some cinema purists cringe when the terms 4K and UHD are used interchangeably.
Sources of UHD video
Ultra HD video enjoyment is available now albeit with a fairly limited (but growing) selection of content to choose from. How you will experience ultra HD depends on the hardware you own and the services you subscribe to. Here's what you can expect from these current, and soon to be, UHD video providers.
Netflix
Netflix demonstrated its UHD video streaming service at the 2014 CES and has since found its way into new consumer devices including UHD TVs and set top boxes. Looking to the future, Netflix has indicated that they are working toward improving its ultra high-definition streaming service with increased color precision and higher framerates.
Amazon
Amazon's 4K Ultra HD Instant Video streaming service has launched (press release) and is currently available on select LG, Samsung, and Sony TVs. More details are available in the Amazon 4K Ultra HD Guide. Amazon has begun streaming UHD video with high dynamic range (HDR) and select TVs from Samsung, LG, and Sony have been software upgraded to support HDR decoding and playback.
Sony
The Sony FMP-X10 is an Internet streaming appliance that integrates a 1TB hard drive for local storage. Powered by the company's Video Unlimited 4K service, the FMP-X10 currently lists more than 65 feature films that are available for rent or purchase. Sony recently updated the FMP-X10 to be compatible with any display that features an HDMI v2.0 port that supports HDCP v2.2. Read my review of the Sony FMP-X10.
Samsung
Owners of newer Samsung UHD TVs can purchase a compatible UHD Video Pack that is decoded through the M-GO streaming video app - this content includes HDR and wide color gamut (WCG) enhanced videos that are currently unavailable by any other means. Samsung SUHD TVs have also been upgraded to support UHD/HDR streaming from Amazon and UHD streaming from YouTube, Netflix, and other popular UHD video applications.
DirecTV
Satellite television provider DirecTV is currently testing limited UHD video delivery with wide deployment scheduled for 2015-16. Cable and fiber TV providers are also in the early testing phase for deploying UHD video services. It seems likely that all of these TV providers will utilize streaming video technology to delivery UHD content to its subscribers.
Blu-ray
The Blu-ray Disc Association indicated at IFA Berlin 2014 that UHD Blu-ray technology will reach consumers by the end of 2015 (likely 2016).
YouTube
YouTube also has a growing selection of UHD videos available for streaming, however, not every UHD TV supports UHD YouTube playback at this time and are limited to 1080p streaming quality.
M-GO
The video streaming service M-GO now offers a growing selection of 4K UHD movies and TV shows. The M-GO app is also used for playback of content purchased on secure storage (with compatible UHD TVs).
Ultraflix
Ultraflix is another source of streaming UHD programming that's available on select 2015 Sony, Samsung, Vizio, and Android TV-powered UHD TVs.
Downloads
Here are a few sources of 4K UHD video material that you are free to explore and download for playback.
Tears of Steel (2012) - a group of warriors and scientists attempt to rescue the world from destructive robots
Sintel (2010) - a woman's search for a dragon that she had once nursed back to health
Big Buck Bunny (2008) - a day in the life of a big bunny named Buck
Demo UHD 3D - a source of various 4K UHD and 3D videos
Ultra Video Group - test sequences
houkouonchi.jp - a directory of 4K UHD material
Robert's Favorite Home Theater Gear
Not all UHD is created equal
Resolution is only one component of video picture quality. A still picture that is JPEG encoded can be compressed by an arbitrary amount while maintaining the original pixel resolution. Increasing picture compression produces a smaller file size but fine details become increasingly softened and blurred. Likewise, a lightly or uncompressed image will exhibit more detail and clarity along with a larger corresponding file size. The same concept applies to video.
The datastream of Blu-ray video can peak at 40Mbps enabling it to reproduce even the most detailed, quick-moving video imagery with very few compression artifacts. Likewise, 1080p video from Internet streaming services reaches a maximum average bitrate of 5-7Mbps. The current library of Netflix UHD videos average 16Mbps - less than half of Blu-ray's maximum bitrate yet with four times the pixel resolution. Improvements in video compression technology help make HD and UHD video delivery possible, but there is no substitute for pure bitrate to maintain video quality.
Bitrate is king
For the quality conscious home theater enthusiast, video compression is only part of the story. Blu-ray supports multichannel lossless audio at up to 27.7Mbps (48Mbps total for audio and video data) providing a "like you are there" listening experience that is unmatched by any Internet streaming service or DVD video. If you believe that quality audio is at least half of the home theater experience, streaming services have a ways to go to catch up to good ol' Blu-ray.
UHD is a work in progress
Plenty of pitfalls remain for early adopters of UHD gear. A major issue relates to the need for HDCP v2.2 support between an external UHD video source device and UHD display. HDCP v2.2 is a complete break from previous versions, and this means that the entire video pathway must support HDCP v2.2 in order for UHD playback to occur - older gear will most likely not be upgradable to the new HDCP spec. The good folks at Audioholics wrote up an excellent article detailing the current mess that is HDMI v2.0 and HDCP v2.2 and how it relates to current and upcoming home theater gear, and I encourage anyone interested in this subject to give it a careful read.
TV Picture Setup Guide
Monday, January 26, 2015 at 7:25PM Television manufacturers carefully calibrate the picture quality of its products before they leave the factory. These calibrations include optimizations for a variety of common viewing scenarios:
- to make a TV's picture quality stand out in a crowded store shelf
- an energy efficient setup as the default 'home' mode
- a color and detail configuration that closely adheres to the HD video spec
I'm less interested in the extensive research and time manufacturers have invested in perfecting a TV's ability to grab a potential owner's eyeballs by sacrificing detail to increase brightness, exaggerating color saturation, and tweaking white balance to be as blue as possible.
Robert's Favorite Home Theater Gear
However, I am interested in evaluating a carefully tuned (hopefully) preset picture configuration that will enable the most accurate and faithful video reproduction. Many TVs feature these quality visual presets, and the video below shows the steps that I perform with a new or recently reset TV before evaluating its factory calibrated picture quality.
in 1080p, 4K UHD, Calibration, How To, LCD
1080p, 4K UHD, Calibration, How To, LCD Update: Why Overscan is Bad
Wednesday, September 10, 2014 at 10:54AM 
I recently updated an article that I wrote a few years ago about a scourge of video detail degradation: overscan! This unnecessary throwback to a bygone display era persists in the latest HD/UHD televisions, and I want you to have a better understanding of what it is and how to deal with it. So please check it out now! As always, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact me.
Check Today's Audio and TV Sales!
Cord Cutting Guide
Sunday, September 7, 2014 at 3:54PM 
Updated February 15, 2015: added more premium streaming options.
If you have ever thought about canceling an expensive cable, fiber, or satellite TV subscription in favor of receiving your favorite video programming via the Internet or local broadcasts, aka "cutting the cord", this article is for you. Times are changing, and there are more options for getting the content you desire at prices that can save you a small fortune.
If you are poised to become newly minted cord cutter and are looking for encouragement, then just do it! Remember that you can always return to the old ways if you really need to, but nothing speeds up the adoption process like total immersion.
The benefits of cutting the cord are numerous and almost always result in an improved viewing experience: unedited and often commercial-free programming, uncropped video presented in the correct aspect ratio, and extensive libraries of new and archived content.
Live TV Options
Cord cutting does not mean giving up the live television experience! Two ways to enjoy free live TV are by receiving local broadcasts using an antenna connected to a tuner and online streaming.
Every HD/UHD TV has a built-in over-the-air (OTA) digital TV (DTV) tuner, and the type of antenna you will need to receive digital broadcasts depends on many factors including your distance from the broadcast towers.
The TV Fool website is an excellent resource for finding what stations are transmitting digital TV goodness in your area, and I always suggest starting with the least expensive antenna option and upgrading only if needed. If you have a set-top TV antenna (aka "rabbit ears") laying around, then try it first! If there is a giant old-school antenna on the roof that is still wired up and ready to go, it may prove to be an excellent reception option.
I'm fortunate to have relatively unobstructed views of my local broadcast towers here in Northern California. Using a quality indoor antenna from WallTenna, I'm able to receive dozens of channels - many broadcasting in HD formats.
The main drawback of using a TV's built-in OTA tuner is its inability to record programs for later playback or to provide multiple tuners for viewing one channel while recording another. The Samsung HU8550-series UHD TV (read my review) actually has a built-in DVR app, but this feature is factory-disabled for North American markets - sad. Options for adding a digital video recorder (DVR) include building your own custom home theater PC and set-top recorders like the excellent dual-tuner Channel Master DVR+ (read my review) and multi-tuner Tablo (read my review).
Video Streaming Gear
Take inventory of the cord cutting gear that you may already have! A new TV, AV receiver, Blu-ray player, HD game console, or other Internet-enabled device may feature music and video streaming services that you can use right now. Explore the feature sets of any such devices and try using them to access available services.
Dedicated streaming devices like the Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, and Roku 3 are affordable options for adding popular apps to a TV that may have limited or no built-in streaming functionality.
YouTube makes it easy to pair your smartphone or tablet to a connected TV also running the YouTube app. Once paired, you can queue up YouTube videos through the app on your mobile device that will then playback in order on the connected TV.
Video Streaming Sources
ABC, AMC, CBS, CW, Fox, NBC, PBS, and other broadcasters now provide some free TV viewing through a web browser or mobile app. However, many broadcasters restrict online access of the latest episodes of popular shows to only those viewers with a current cable/fiber/satellite TV subscription by requiring them to login with valid account information in order to watch the selected program.
This article assumes that the cord cutting individual has no cable/fiber/satellite TV subscription, and thus no related account login information. However, you may know someone willing to share their account information with you, and some video streaming services like HBO Go and Netflix have indicated that limited account sharing is acceptable.
Blu-ray Movies for Less Than $10!
More Movie and TV Streaming Options
Netflix is an obvious choice for streaming TV shows and movies with high quality 1080p and some 2160p content now available. If you are an Amazon Prime member, then you also have full access to the ever-growing Amazon Instant Video collection. For network TV junkies, a Hulu Plus subscription for $8 a month gives you current season access to shows like Glee, Family Guy, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The Colbert Report, New Girl, and Modern Family. Hulu Plus also offers all episodes from every season of past popular shows including The X-Files, Arrested Development, Desperate Housewives, Battlestar Galactica, Monk, Saturday Night Live, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Ugly Betty, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and dozens more - explore the Hulu Plus lineup.
Dish Network introduced Sling TV at the 2015 CES that enables a no-contract/cancel anytime streaming subscription to live TV and sports programming. The basic $20/month channel package includes ESPN/ESPN2, TNT, TBS, Food Network, HGTV, Travel Channel, Adult Swim, Disney Channel, El Rey Network, Cartoon Network, and Maker. There are also three additional packages available for $5 each: Sports Extra, Kids Extra, News & Info Extra. Sling TV streams content to all Amazon Fire TV devices, Roku LT and higher, iOS 7+ devices, Android 4.0.3+ devices, OSX Snow Leopard 10.6+ , and Windows 7+. Sling TV's limitations are that not all channels can be paused DVR-style, and content can be streamed to only one device/platform at a time. Sling TV includes a 3-day replay feature for select channels (not ESPN/ESPN2), and Sling International customers have an 8-day replay on all international channels.
The online database CanIStream.It will tell you if a particular movie is available for online streaming, what services offer it, and what you can expect to pay.
Sports
Subscription cable/fiber/satellite television services make it easy to receive all of the live sports a fan can afford, but OTA TV often includes some live sporting events such as baseball, basketball, bicycling, football (all kinds), mixed martial arts, motor sports, tennis...all free to enjoy. Options for streaming live sports are as varied as sports themselves and include app and browser-based viewing options. Here are some good places to start:
FansChoice.TV - various motorsports
NBC Sports - includes Sunday Night Football and Formula 1
Sometimes the patient are rewarded. I've found that some streamed sporting events that require a valid cable/satellite login for live viewing can be rewatched later without a login after the live game completes.
Paid Sports Streaming Options
Paid streaming sports options exist, and professional baseball fans have an easy choice with MLB.tv. The MLB.tv service allows you to stream non-local live games and all completed games commercial-free and in good HD quality. I also appreciate MLB.tv's alternative audio/video options including radio and stadium sound audio feeds.
If ice hockey is your professional sport of choice, the National Hockey League (NHL) has taken a cue from MLB.tv by offering fans the GameCenter LIVE subscription service. GCL streams live out-of-market games and on-demand full-length replays in HD quality. GameCenter LIVE can be accessed online through a web browser or an app is available for viewing on Android, iOS, Apple TV, Roku, HD game consoles, and other popular platforms.
Professional motorcycle racing fans can get their fix with a subscription to MotoGP that features 720p live and archived streaming content.
American football fans have a couple of paid streaming options to try: NFL Sunday Ticket and NFL Game Pass. The latter is not available in the U.S. or Mexico, but...
Bypassing Location Limitations
If your streaming options are limited by your location, consider a service like Unlocator. Unlocator is a Danish company that provides smart DNS services that make it simple to enjoy the streaming services that you pay for no matter where you live. Setup is easy and the service is transparent and fast. Unlocator offers a 7-day free trial, and more information about supported devices and services can be found on its website.
Feedback is Welcome
I plan to update this regularly update this document, and I encourage everyone to send me information about their favorite cord cutting gear and services so I can evaluate them for possible addition. For more information about cutting the cord, I recommend exploring these resources:
RabbitEars.info - DTV technical information
The Green Button - Windows Media Center and beyond!
/r/cordcutters - Reddit's cord cutting sub-Reddit
Also, check out Robert's favorite home theater gear for more recommended cord cutting gear!
