[1953]

While watching a recorded program tonight we were also recording a TruTV HD program and a OTA SD channel 33-2 low resolution show. When the HR24 is on channel 33-2 the DirecTV guide, menu and all other overlays look horrible yet the show image, be it HD or SD looks outstanding. Seemingly at random when changing to another recorded show, while still recording the above shows, the guide, etc. returns to perfection. Power for both the AM21N & HR24 runs to the AM21N on throuh to the HR24 (the HR24's power cable is connected to the AM21N).

I think this issue falls into the weirder than really weird category. Really looking forward to your replies. What in the world could be going on?

 

[Go Beavs]

Do you have your receiver set to "Native On"? That may be what's going on.

When Native is on, the guide and menus will be displayed in whatever the resolution of the current channel is. Watching a 480i OTA sub channel? The entire GUI will be displayed at 480i. Watching a 1080p PPV? The GUI will be in 1080p. If you want the menus to always look good, try turning Native Off and set the resolution to 720p or 1080i.

 

[TomCat]

Beavs has it.

Here's why:

When the GUI was SD, it was a simple overlay for SD shows, and an upscale for HD shows. Now that it is HD, it is a simple overlay for HD shows, and a downscale for SD shows. The upscale quality is easier to pull off than the downscale quality when done on an existing cost-cutting consumer DVR which was built very likely without this future issue squarely in mind.

Your 33-2 is a digital broadcast, SD though it may be, and especially since most SD is now produced with HD equipment as well as pushed through a signal chain which is mostly if not all digital, the SD quality is typically better than analog SD of old (that is if 2008 can be considered old). So that quality will trump the downscaled GUI quality by a mile.

But then it is an HD DVR, after all, and SD has become a secondary afterthought in most cases. And we watch the programs, not the GUI, so it is mostly a minor issue for most of us.

But Beavs has good advice; if you fix the output to an HD resolution you will never have to see the downscaled GUI ever again, and since you are probably watching on a HDTV, it will not degrade either HD or SD.

So with that workaround, this is really only an issue for the millionth of a percent that are watching an HD DVR on a SD set, but they need to be dragged into the current millennium kicking and screaming anyway.

 

[joed32]

Beavs has it.

Here's why:

When the GUI was SD, it was a simple overlay for SD shows, and an upscale for HD shows. Now that it is HD, it is a simple overlay for HD shows, and a downscale for SD shows. The upscale quality is easier to pull off than the downscale quality when done on an existing cost-cutting consumer DVR which was built very likely without this future issue squarely in mind.

Your 33-2 is a digital broadcast, SD though it may be, and especially since most SD is now produced with HD equipment as well as pushed through a signal chain which is mostly if not all digital, the SD quality is typically better than analog SD of old (that is if 2008 can be considered old). So that quality will trump the downscaled GUI quality by a mile.

But then it is an HD DVR, after all, and SD has become a secondary afterthought in most cases. And we watch the programs, not the GUI, so it is mostly a minor issue for most of us.

But Beavs has good advice; if you fix the output to an HD resolution you will never have to see the downscaled GUI ever again, and since you are probably watching on a HDTV, it will not degrade either HD or SD.

So with that workaround, this is really only an issue for the millionth of a percent that are watching an HD DVR on a SD set, but they need to be dragged into the current millennium kicking and screaming anyway.

You can add another "millionth" of a percent for people who use DVD recorders. On Monday I installed $250 worth of Component to composite converters and Component splitters for 5 units and that did the trick. I no longer have any problems except a slightly lighter wallet.

 

[1953]

Beavs has it.

Here's why:

When the GUI was SD, it was a simple overlay for SD shows, and an upscale for HD shows. Now that it is HD, it is a simple overlay for HD shows, and a downscale for SD shows. The upscale quality is easier to pull off than the downscale quality when done on an existing cost-cutting consumer DVR which was built very likely without this future issue squarely in mind.

Your 33-2 is a digital broadcast, SD though it may be, and especially since most SD is now produced with HD equipment as well as pushed through a signal chain which is mostly if not all digital, the SD quality is typically better than analog SD of old (that is if 2008 can be considered old). So that quality will trump the downscaled GUI quality by a mile.

But then it is an HD DVR, after all, and SD has become a secondary afterthought in most cases. And we watch the programs, not the GUI, so it is mostly a minor issue for most of us.

But Beavs has good advice; if you fix the output to an HD resolution you will never have to see the downscaled GUI ever again, and since you are probably watching on a HDTV, it will not degrade either HD or SD.

So with that workaround, this is really only an issue for the millionth of a percent that are watching an HD DVR on a SD set, but they need to be dragged into the current millennium kicking and screaming anyway.

Ours is a 2006 Sony HDTV soon to be relaced by a 2012 Sony KHL-46HX750. Thanks to all for the advice.