I guess I am coming in to this discussion a little late so sorry for the questions. But, I have more questions!

I think the F1 programming originates in HD. I think the cameras and switching systems are all HD. I also sense that the signal is sent up in HD and Speed receives them in HD. It would be here that the signal is changed from HD to what you are calling SD.

The signal I get on my screen (BUSTED) 32 inches or smaller is great.

If the signal originates in SD, assuming that FOM sends out an HD and a separate SD signal the SD signal would come letterboxed, with a black bar on top and bottom. If Speed were to try to fit this into a full screen 19x9 fake HD the quality if the image would be crappy even on my Sony XBR thing. The image is not crappy so I think the signal they receive is HD and it is Speed that does the down convert, or what ever you want to call it. Why would Speed do that? By my measure, my cable provider gives far more bandwidth to the HD version of Speed then the SD version.

I also watch the BBC programming of F1 and the frame is the same frame as the Speed frame, there seems to be no chopping zooming into a 16x9 frame to simulate the HD format.

So, what is the argument? Is the point of origin not HD? Why not? Is Speed taking a 4x3 letterboxed signal and chopping into the image? Right now with Mr. small TV I am happy, are you saying that things look much brighter for a much better image at some date in the future?

ipso - 03 October 2009 04:43 PM

I wonder: is the “FOM TV Center” in a rolling truck, onsite for races? I presume stewards and FIA officials need local immediate access – and that they have to bring the equipment to each race.

The 'F1 Communications Centre' as its called is very similar to the MotorHomes the teams take to the races. Its taken to each race & put together on-site.

Here is a pic of it:

Blub - 03 October 2009 06:53 PM

I think the F1 programming originates in HD. I think the cameras and switching systems are all HD. I also sense that the signal is sent up in HD and Speed receives them in HD. It would be here that the signal is changed from HD to what you are calling SD.

An FOM employee said a few days ago that they film nothing in HD as of yet. I was told something different last year but whichever is correct no HD feed leaves the FOM TV Centre, the feed that is sent out is SD Widescreen (Not Letterboxed), No HD feed that FOM may have leaves the TV compound.

For there 4:3 broadcast's, SPEED just take the Widescreen 16:9 feed & chop the sides off, on there HD channel they just take the SD feed & Upscale it to 720p.

The Feed BBC & SPEED get is the same Widescreen feed, only difference is that BBC Broadcast it in its native SD resolution (576i I believe) while SPEED upscale that feed to 720p Upscaled-HD.

The Upscaled-HD Broadcast would look better than the SD one, but if you were able to get a Full 720 or 1080 HD version of the same thing you woudl instantly notice the difference between Upscaled-HD & Native-HD.

stefmeister - 03 October 2009 07:16 PM

Blub - 03 October 2009 06:53 PM

I think the F1 programming originates in HD. I think the cameras and switching systems are all HD. I also sense that the signal is sent up in HD and Speed receives them in HD. It would be here that the signal is changed from HD to what you are calling SD.

An FOM employee said a few days ago that they film nothing in HD as of yet. I was told something different last year but whichever is correct no HD feed leaves the FOM TV Centre, the feed that is sent out is SD Widescreen (Not Letterboxed), No HD feed that FOM may have leaves the TV compound.

For there 4:3 broadcast's, SPEED just take the Widescreen 16:9 feed & chop the sides off, on there HD channel they just take the SD feed & Upscale it to 720p.

The Feed BBC & SPEED get is the same Widescreen feed, only difference is that BBC Broadcast it in its native SD resolution (576i I believe) while SPEED upscale that feed to 720p Upscaled-HD.

The Upscaled-HD Broadcast would look better than the SD one, but if you were able to get a Full 720 or 1080 HD version of the same thing you woudl instantly notice the difference between Upscaled-HD & Native-HD.

By upscaled I assume you mean it's virtual line enhancement, which leads to that "shot through a fish tank" effect on some transitions.

Interesting that the limit is 9 due to bandwidth. That being the case HD is going to kill them unless they can find a bunch of new frequencies that will work world wide. Wonder if they ever tried a "Buffer and Burst" method to multiplex the cams?

You would think that they could show the in car feeds online like NASCAR does.

stefmeister - 03 October 2009 07:16 PM

stefmeister – unlike your icon would suggest, I thought I caught from another thread that you were male – but you’re still lookin’ hot to me. Thanks for providing us the detailed inside info!

I noticed in the last race that the Vettel onboard camera was much better quality than the Sutil one. I’ll bet the differences in onboard cameras (a fact that you pointed out) will really jump out at us during the Abu Dhabi race.

Thanks for posting a photo of it. I've always wondered how the place looks like.


Regards,
Althea
Placement financier