Problem with some SD channels with H/HR21

[iwusig]

Ok, so I just upgraded to HD through D* (1 H21 and 1 HR 21) and am loving it, I find myself watching Women's Basketball on Big Ten Network, simply because it's in HD, and god do I love the Smithsonian Channel.

I only have on problem, I am noting something funny on a few of my SD channels that I don't think was there before. The problem is occuring on most SD, but mostly on channels 613, 614 and 615 (Fox Soccer, Gol TV and Setanta) which happen to be the channels I watch the most.

When I was watching a couple of matches today, I was noticing what looked like (this is the best way I can describe it) transparent lines on the extreme left and right of the screen, if something on the screen (person) was in the camera shot that happened to be on that portion of the screen, the object would look a little blurry, and it seems to happen on both of my TVs.

Am I crazy?? Do I perhaps have the settings wrong on my tvs/receivers???

[Davenlr]

I don't subscribe to the channels you mention, however, you should have quite wide bars onn either side of a SD program if you have a widescreen TV. If you are using a stretch mode on the TV, a lot of them will keep the center of the picture in its original aspect ratio, and stretch the outsides, as well as including the "safe area" to make it appear you are getting widescreen. If the far right and left of the safe area is not actually containing any data, the tv will just display nothing. It will also cause objects not in center focus to appear distorted and out of focus. Perhaps this is what you are talking about. I always watch SD is 4:3 (pillarbox) mode to avoid problems such as that.

If your problem is somethng else, I apologize.

[iwusig]

Actually it is something else, but no need to apologize, as soon as I read what I posted I thought to myself, they are going to think I am talking about strectch/"the bars" (as the wife calls them) and I am going to feel like a moron. It's really hard to explain what is going on, and I can't be positive that is wasn't going on with my old receivers and it's not just a trick on my mind

[Earl Bonovich]

It is possible that the edges of your display are stretching an image that doesn't fill the whole frame.

I would check on AVSForum with specific details about the model of your tv.

[boba]

Digital programs refresh the backgrounds and update the action so where movement is occurring the picture is sharper. All three channels you are questioning are sports channels so there is going to be a lot of fresh information in the center and a lot of old background information on the edges of the action. You may now be watching the display using upconversion through a HDMI connection which may bring a line doubler into play that accents the old information.

[iwusig]

thanks everyone, i will check with the folks at avsforum