[steve_n_houston]

Will an HD receiver work with a SD TV (obviously, I won't get an HD picture, but will it output an SD signal for SD channels?

I'm going to upgrade one of my TVs soon, so I'm thinking it might be better/cheaper to get an HD receiver now at installation, rather than waiting a few weeks or so until I get the HD TV.

 

[bwaldron]

Will an HD receiver work with a SD TV (obviously, I won't get an HD picture, but will it output an SD signal for SD channels?

I'm going to upgrade one of my TVs soon, so I'm thinking it might be better/cheaper to get an HD receiver now at installation, rather than waiting a few weeks or so until I get the HD TV.

It will work fine...and I support your reasoning.

 

[davring]

It can be set to work with any TV, you will be amazed how good an HD channel looks on an old CRT.

 

[David MacLeod]

I did it for a few weeks. some report that installers won't hook it up but I did my own.

 

[quadmandan97]

I do this on 2 of our tvs. The picture is much better because the signal is not getting compressed like the SD ones do. It's not a HD picture, but it does look good.

 

[goober22]

2 of my 4 HD-DVRs are on SD CRTs. I did this as I plan to replace them with HD sets this Christmas. It will work fine. Just set your preferences to your liking in the setup menus.

 

[mutelight]

Make sure the resolution is set properly in the setup and if you can use the component hookups for the best image quality.

 

[erosroadie]

I did it for a few weeks. some report that installers won't hook it up but I did my own.

Had a similar situation in March when the install guy kept telling me that the HR20 won't work with my RCA CRT TV. He claimed that he would not be responsible for the install if he couldn't check satellite settings through the display. I knew I wouldn't get an HD picture, but using S-Video cables, I was able to get a fine SD picture. He was shocked that it worked!:eek2:

Problem is now moot as oldest son took CRT to college (where I'll probably never see it again in one piece) and I replaced it with a SONY 32" HD 720P LCD. Quite the picture improvement!

 

[JLucPicard]

I would agree - go HD now at installation. You will be paying a $9.99 per month HD Access charge for having HD equipment, but since you will be upgrading the TV soon, I wouldn't worry too much about that.

 

[Arative]

I have an HD receiver on a SD TV. Only thing that happens is I get a little pop up when switching channels to check the resolution for a better picture quality.

 

[Getteau]

After Ike and before I had my power restored, we had a 19" SD TV connected to our HR21-700 (tried to save some watts on the generator). The TV only supported coax inputs, so I grabbed an RF modulator from one of our other TV's and all was good. I also went into the setup on the HR21 and turned off native mode, hard coded the resolution to 480i and set the screen size to 4x3.

 

[bobnielsen]

After Ike and before I had my power restored, we had a 19" SD TV connected to our HR21-700 (tried to save some watts on the generator). The TV only supported coax inputs, so I grabbed an RF modulator from one of our other TV's and all was good. I also went into the setup on the HR21 and turned off native mode, hard coded the resolution to 480i and set the screen size to 4x3.

Actually, all you need to do is set the aspect ratio to 4:3. The S-Video and composite outputs are fixed at 480i.

 

[egould]

I use my old MPEG-2 HD receiver on an analog tv in my bedroom. Because it receives OTA signals, I will be using it as my converter box for OTA signals after the analog to digital changeover in February.

 

[Dolly]

I have an HD DVR on my SD TV and the picture which was good anyway is even better True it isn't an HD picture, but it isn't far off from an HD picture :sunsmile:

 

[AED55]

I too am amazed how much better an HD channel looks on an SD TV. I have a Sony 36" SD TV and have an HD receiver connected through the component input. I thought I was just imagining it when I thought the picture looked better on HD movie channels, but this thread has confirmed I am correct.

I just replaced my old samsung DVD player with a new Sony unit that has the up convert capability. , and it appears to me I am getting a better picture than the old player when using the component outputs. I thought the only way you could benefit from the up convert was to use the HDMI output on the player.

The only problem is that I have to switch cables every time I use the DVD player, because the TV only has only one set of component input jacks. Does anyone know if ther is some kind of switch box avaiable that allows you to use two different sets of output with one input by just flipping a switch. I tried using the S-Video output, but did not seem to achieve the same quality.

 

[Matman]

I too am amazed how much better an HD channel looks on an SD TV. I have a Sony 36" SD TV and have an HD receiver connected through the component input. I thought I was just imagining it when I thought the picture looked better on HD movie channels, but this thread has confirmed I am correct.

I just replaced my old samsung DVD player with a new Sony unit that has the up convert capability. , and it appears to me I am getting a better picture than the old player when using the component outputs. I thought the only way you could benefit from the up convert was to use the HDMI output on the player.

The only problem is that I have to switch cables every time I use the DVD player, because the TV only has only one set of component input jacks. Does anyone know if ther is some kind of switch box avaiable that allows you to use two different sets of output with one input by just flipping a switch. I tried using the S-Video output, but did not seem to achieve the same quality.

Yup. Radio Shack sells em, I got one from Crutchfield a few years ago as well. I think I have even seen them at Walmart. The one I have is from Sony, switches between a max of 6 pieces of equip.

 

[Matman]

Radioshack.com

5-Way Tilting, Auto-Sensing Stereo A/V Selector $32.99
Model: 15-1985
Catalog #: 15-1985
Don't swap cables, just press a button!
Switch between your audio/video components without swapping cables! Make up for limited jacks on your TV with the help of this stereo A/V selector. Adds enough input jacks for up to five components--easily switch between them with the push of a button. Also provides two output jacks.
5 input jacks and 2 outputs--allow you to connect 5 devices with 2 outputs (TV, VCR, etc.)
Two sets of outputs for watching the television while recording to another device
Use the auto-sensing feature to switch to the device that was most recently powered on
Soft-touch switches are backlit with blue LED indicators--makes it easy to see which device is on

And no, I don't work for Radio Shack.....

 

[inourgrave]

My parents moved and did the upgrade through movers connection as they will have an HDTV by Xmas. I figured you could just force 480i out of an hd box which is possible as stated above, but I get a 771 Searching For Sat. when ever I change channels! This happens on every tv in the house. I know the box is good (H21) because I tried it in my setup with no issues. I know at least 1 cable is an RG6 run, I assume the others are RG59. It works fine with any SD box (mostly d-10). Any ideas why I would get this?

 

[dwrats_56]

I just replace my SD DVR with an HR21 DVR attached to a SD TV and the picture improved quite a bit. And, if i am looking correctly and understand how things work, the resolution went from 480i to 480p.

 

[sundude90]

The reason why HD channels look better than a SD channels on old SD CRT TV's is because Directv has down res'd there SD channels because there 101 Satellite (SD Nationals Satellite) is full and was full a long time ago, but they down res the channels to fit even more channels onto it.

I feel Directv should move some of those SD national channels to 110 or another Satellite and give people with 1 LNB round dish a free upgrade to a slimline dish or something like that. And they won't have to down res all those channel and then they can add more SD channels which they have not done much off.

Now that's my opinion, what do you think??