Travis McClain

I almost put this in the tech forum, but it seemed more of a home theater issue. (If I'm wrong, please relocate this thread.)

I have a DirecTV D11 standard def receiver. I have it connected to a Phillips HDTV that is widescreen. The cable networks that broadcast in widescreen are coming through just fine, but pretty much everything from the local networks are coming in as 4:3. What gives? Is there anything I can do about this?

Spiky

Can't you upgrade for free or almost free? Get an HD receiver, man.

I believe there are embedded codes even in TV signals that set AR and anamorphic. Channels are all over the place on what aspect ratios you can get, even HD channels with an HD receiver, sometimes. You may not be able to get everything perfect.

BravesMG

I've got two HD-DVRs and one SD receiver and when I tried to see what it would take to upgrade the SD to HD they were absolute bitches. They basically said first there's no way to do it without extending the contract another 18 months, and even with that the lowest fee they would charge is $75.

And this coming from an account that basically purchases every UFC monthly PPV at $55 and subscribes to both NFL Sunday Ticket and MLB Extra Innings. I tried to see if all that bought me any kind of discount or contract flexibility and all I got on the other end of the line was basically 'fuck you, we have a lot of people that buy a lot of products.'

Travis McClain

Even if DirecTV were more accommodating about upgrading, I don't think I'd spend the money to upgrade to HD. I mean, other than baseball, I only really watch two shows regularly (Burn Notice and Psych). I don't care to pay to have shows and channels I don't care about in HD.

BASISON

Anything that is sent in standard definition will be in the 4:3 ratio. Your only choice is if you want to stretch out the picture or not. I hate the way that looks personally, so I rarely watch anything that is in standard def. If you want to take advantage of the widescreen and HD, you should get an off air antenna. That way you can get the locals in HD and take advantage of that tv that you bought.

As for DirecTV, I am a loyal subscriber and have every HD channel that they offer. The picture is truly better than cable. They are a 100% digital signal and you can see it in the quality. I have 3 HD DVR's, 2 HD receivers and 1 regular DVR. My only complaint is that you can't watch a show from another DVR in the house (like AT&T's Uverse). Other than that, I am happy with the service.

stevevt

I'm glad you touched on this important point. Cable, for example, only transmits 70% of the HD signal in digital, with the remainder being made up of smoke signals, rotary phone dialing noise, and ground up low-quality meats and cheeses.

Chew

Well, that certainly explains things then!

Spiky

That's BS. Looks like they're being dicks again. It'll probably change by the end of Nov. For awhile. You have to time these things, unfortunately.

You are sure paying a lot just for some baseball and 2 shows.

The thing is, some 4:3 channels show up stretched horizontally and some show up pillarboxed. (actually, it can be specific enough to change from one show to the next, and even commercials) And then it is up to your receiver and TV to have the ability to get you what you want for stretching/squeezing/zooming. Which may or may not be possible. And will probably look even worse than SD normally looks unless you have a great scaler.

And I didn't even mention when they do something really stupid, like stretch or squish HD shows. Here's one. I'm watching volleyball in HD right now. One of the graphics they put up is apparently stretched horizontally before getting into the HD stream. So the athletes' pictures look like Stewie. Everything else looks fine.

Travis McClain

I forgot to mention that we do watch The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson.

cpgator

I believe he meant that some cable providers, like Comcast, still use analog for a lot of their channels.

BASISON

That is exactly what I meant. Many of Comcast's channels are transmitted as analog, then upconverted to HD much like an upconverting DVD player. My parents had Comcast for years and when they upgraded to the HD package, the HD-DVR box they got didn't even have an HDMI output! The installer hooked it up to their TV using the component cables. Now the picture is still OK, but it is still not 100% digital. In fact, the local channels come in clearer of their off air antenna. That is why they immediately switched over to satellite.

On top of that, Comcast is on the Top 10 Customer Service Hall of Shame AGAIN. This year they are ranked #3 below Sprint and Bank of America.

stevevt

This is what I thought you meant. And you were wrong, and still are wrong, assuming you're talking about the actual HD tier channels.

If anything, take what I wrote earlier as me simply having an issue with the idea that "100% digital" is some kind of gold star of quality. Digital can still be compressed as hell, which is generally what I see from my Comcast HD. But saying that the HD channels are transmitted in analog somehow and then converted -- that's just not how that stuff works.

BASISON

Take it easy Stevie. I know you're Mr. Hall of Fame and everything, but I wasn't trying to insult your precious Comcast. All I was saying is that Comcast is still one of the only providers left that still trasmits an analog signal. Some of those signals are then upconverted to digital and broadcast on the digital HD channels. 100% digital is not the end all be all, but it is still much better than any analog signal that you will receive. Hopefully by the end of the year Comcast will finish transitioning over to be 100% digital so they can compress the hell out of that too.

My brother works for them here in Chicago and even though he can get Comcast for free, he is a Dish subscriber just because he says the picture quality from Comcast sucks. He does however, have the rave about the high-speed internet and the VOIP service.

So I guess YOU are the one that's wrong, and are STILL wrong.

cpgator

Comcast still transmits some of their channels in analog, but all their HD channels are transmitted in digital. To transmit an HD signal in analog would take a huge amount of space.

I will agree that Comcast does indeed, suck.

Blu Man

Why would you hook up a standard def reciever to an HD TV/ SD stuff on an HD display looks horrible. Definetly upgrade to an HD DVR, then you'll get HD channels (if you purchase them) and your be able to record shows. I haven't watched a single show live since I got a DVR.

Travis McClain

Why have SD on an HDTV? A little thing called "money." You might not have heard, but it's in short supply for a lot of folks.