With the most recent 2.1.16 firmware update, deinterlacing of 1080i video (not film) content was improved over the prior firmware however there is still significant blockiness relating to the algorithm being used. At this time, the 4 tuner Tablo cannot properly deinterlace 1080i video content. While this does not typically affect prime time TV, the deinterlacing problems are obvious if you watch sporting events including NFL football or a TV game show on a 1080i channel.
I agree. I have noticed too when I walk closer to my television that the deinterlacing still isn’t right. You can sometimes see significant jaggies on what should be straight lines. It seems to me this technical problem was solved years ago, so I wonder why this is proving to be such a barrier with this device?
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but there still is a problem with how 4 tuner Tablo handles 1080i video (not film).
I tend to agree. I’ve been paying closer attention since Tablosupport posted above. This is most noticeable to me when I watch the 11 o’clock news on my local CityTV Toronto station. The way the fast moving logos at the beginning of the program look live on my television is not the same as it looks recorded on the Tablo. It looks jaggie and choppy on the Tablo.
The way the fast moving logos at the beginning of the program look live on my television is not the same as it looks recorded on the Tablo. It looks jaggie and choppy on the Tablo.
Unfortunately, this will be a problem regardless of 1080i or 720p or any sort of deinterlacing in-between. I think of this using my experience transcoding high bitrate content using Handbrake (BD->MP4). If you want a really good encoding, with minimal loss of quality, you start really slowing down the encoding process. You may even need to use a two-pass encoding process to get good quality. My BD transcodes typically run at 8-12 FPS on a 3.2GHz Core i7.
It is possible that what we are seeing are limitations of the device and/or the current firmware and not specific deinterlacing issues. I am satisfied with the picture quality Tablo provides. I’ve just been more aware of it since the whole deinterlacing problem and discussion came up.
@cedarrapidsboy - You bring up some interesting points and you may be correct that the Tablo has insufficient power to do a high quality re-encode? Watching sporting events with lots of motion tends to be the most difficult for the Tablo and unfortunately the picture quality is reminiscent of HD YouTube feed. One question thats unclear is why does the 4 tuner model seem to be more affected? You don’t hear much feedback on these issues from 2 tuner Tablo owners. What is different about the hardware in the 4 tuner model?
@7up - I just got my 2-tuner Tablo set up yesterday and the problems that you mention are very evident even on the 2-tuner model. I noticed it just watching the local news broadcast and Jimmy Fallon last night. I can’t imagine what it does with a sports broadcast.
@TabloTV - What I don’t understand is why you bill this product as “Unleash Your HDTV.” The fact is that every single network in my area broadcasts in 1080i. I feel like I am now in a box and am not sure that I can keep this product because it does not deliver true HDTV. Down-scaling the recordings to the recommended 720p did not seem to help the issue either. In fact it seemed to make the overall quality of the stream worse. The biggest reason that I got this device is so I can cancel DirecTV and still watch NASCAR races that are broadcast on the networks. Granted I haven’t seen a race broadcast through the Tablo but based on my initial experience I have serious doubts that the motion of the races will be accurately represented.
@TabloTV Please indicate whether this is a limitation of the hardware or the software. And if there is a plan to let users stream at 60 FPS in the future? Or is the problem not related to FPS at all? Why is there not a 1080i setting to record at? This is very important to me. I don’t have a problem laying down $150 for a lifetime plan with you guys if I know that this is something that can or will be addressed but if I don’t feel that it can be addressed I will have to return the device as it doesn’t seem to deliver true HD content out of the box.
I’m using a 2-Tuner Tablo, v2.1.20, Hardwired - gigabit, AppleTV (1080p) w AirPlay from iPad Mini Retina, going to a 47" Vizio LEDTV (1080p)
I don’t seem to have these problems with any other content on the AppleTV and I’ve played with and tweaked just about every setting I can find on all of the devices in use but please chime in if anyone feels I’m missing something.
Thanks!
@okcgeoff, it has a lot to do with the clients that the Tablo are supporting. Roku, Appletv, tablets, and phones only support progressive content and are limited to a max of 30 FPS.
@snowcat Thanks for the info. I didn’t know that. But I still feel based on what I’ve seen that the issue has to be with encoding the 1080i content. I’ve watched a lot of 1080p content on the AppleTV that doesn’t seem to struggle with motion at all at 30 FPS.
Also since I am new to the cord-cutting game I have a question for you. You mention that you can use an antenna directly connected to the tv if you want. Do you have an additional antenna? Or do you split yours off to different rooms to your house? In reading the handbook for my antenna it states that you need an amplified antenna if you plan on running it through a splitter. My antenna and tablo are right next to my splitter but my antenna is not amplified. How is yours set up?
Also since I am new to the cord-cutting game I have a question for you. You mention that you can use an antenna directly connected to the tv if you want. Do you have an additional antenna? Or do you split yours off to different rooms to your house? In reading the handbook for my antenna it states that you need an amplified antenna if you plan on running it through a splitter. My antenna and tablo are right next to my splitter but my antenna is not amplified. How is yours set up?
You don’t necessarily need an amplified antenna… just a good antenna and then you can put a line amplifier close to your antenna, before the splitter.
Good information on amplifying a signal: http://www.swhowto.com/VideoLoss.htm
@snowcat Thanks for the info. I didn't know that. But I still feel based on what I've seen that the issue has to be with encoding the 1080i content. I've watched a lot of 1080p content on the AppleTV that doesn't seem to struggle with motion at all at 30 FPS.
Also since I am new to the cord-cutting game I have a question for you. You mention that you can use an antenna directly connected to the tv if you want. Do you have an additional antenna? Or do you split yours off to different rooms to your house? In reading the handbook for my antenna it states that you need an amplified antenna if you plan on running it through a splitter. My antenna and tablo are right next to my splitter but my antenna is not amplified. How is yours set up?
I have an antenna running through coax the length of our house. Antenna had to be on the west end due to the electric stuff on the east end, trees and so on. I run through all that coax through the attic, down through a wall to our basement. In the basement I have a 1 to 8 splitter. I take cables from that 1/8 splitter to the kitchen, which is another 20’ from the first splitter. I run 2 cables from that 1/8 splitter up the walls a few inches into the front room. At each “cable outlet” in the front room is another splitter. Where the TV sits one cable goes from the dual jack to the TV, another to a DVD recorder. Then the other wall jack with splitter has a cable that goes to the Tablo.
If you want to split your antenna to multiple HDTVs then get yourself a distribution amplifier.
Thanks for all the helpful tips!! I will experiment so I have the option of watching live events in native format.
I do have two antennas in my living room, but both are small. My Mohu leaf connects to the Tablo, and Tablo gave a free one to all the original pre-order buyers, which I use to connect to my TV.