[RussFor]

Probably a dumb question, but here goes:

I just got the Slimline dish installed and am now getting my locals in what is supposed to be HD. I get it that when a program is not in HD then the broadcast isn't either. But how come on HD channels the screen is pillar boxed automatically when the program isn't in HD.

I have mine on: Native off; 1080i Stretch.

Anyway to get those programs to take up the entire screen like the HR20 does for non HD channels? or am I forced to use my TV to do that with Wide Zoom?

Oops- also forgot - since the installation it takes awhile to change channels - I first get a grey screen. Then the channel comes on.

Thanks!

 

[cybrsurfer]

Probably a dumb question, but here goes:

I just got the Slimline dish installed and am now getting my locals in what is supposed to be HD. I get it that when a program is not in HD then the broadcast isn't either. But how come on HD channels the screen is pillar boxed automatically when the program isn't in HD.

I have mine on: Native off; 1080i Stretch.

Anyway to get those programs to take up the entire screen like the HR20 does for non HD channels? or am I forced to use my TV to do that with Wide Zoom?

Oops- also forgot - since the installation it takes awhile to change channels - I first get a grey screen. Then the channel comes on.

Thanks!

You cant stretch HD locals and certain HD channels. The broadcaster can transmit it native or stretch so it varies, but you the end user have no control.

 

[PoitNarf]

You're seeing the pillarboxed image because that's the way the local station is transmitting it. There are no formatting options for HD channels with the HR20. Even though the station is broadcasting a show that's not in HD, the station is still outputting an HD signal. The stations don't dynamically change their output resolution based on what their current show is.

If you want to zoom in on an HD channel, you'll have to rely on your TVs own formatting options unfortunately.

 

[tstarn]

Funny, but my Hitachi plasma allows me to stretch the HD local feed (when not an HD program), but my Sony plasma (4 year old model, but still looks great) doesn't. It all depends on the manufacturer. I don't think Panasonic allows you to stretch an HD signal either.

 

[RussFor]

What about the long grey screen when switching channels? I didn't have that problem before the 5 LNB was installed. It used to be quicker.

But it seems really slow now. I choose a channel and it sometimes takes 5-10 seconds to come up.

 

[Slip Jigs]

You're seeing the pillarboxed image because that's the way the local station is transmitting it. There are no formatting options for HD channels with the HR20. Even though the station is broadcasting a show that's not in HD, the station is still outputting an HD signal. The stations don't dynamically change their output resolution based on what their current show is.

If you want to zoom in on an HD channel, you'll have to rely on your TVs own formatting options unfortunately.

Does that apply to the resolution settings too? The format button does allow you to cycle through formats and res's, but it doesn't look like it has any affect on the picture. (native is off)

 

[RAD]

What about the long grey screen when switching channels? I didn't have that problem before the 5 LNB was installed. It used to be quicker..

I see the gray screen on my HR20's when switching to a MPEG4 channel, no gray screen with MPEG2 channels, my H20 doesn't do that at all, so I don't think the AT-9 has anything to do with it.

 

[RussFor]

I see the gray screen on my HR20's when switching to a MPEG4 channel, no gray screen with MPEG2 channels, my H20 doesn't do that at all, so I don't think the AT-9 has anything to do with it.

For how long? Mine seems like 10 seconds...

 

[RAD]

For how long? Mine seems like 10 seconds...

Maybe 2 to 4 seconds.

 

[pappasbike]

What about the long grey screen when switching channels? I didn't have that problem before the 5 LNB was installed. It used to be quicker.

But it seems really slow now. I choose a channel and it sometimes takes 5-10 seconds to come up.

When I first got my replacement unit it had the BE update on it. While I was calling to activate it I was able to switch to a few channels and check things out. The channel changing was actually pretty quick, as least as fast as the DTivo unit I have if not faster. While on the phone with Directv the unit got an update ( the one prior to EF, I think it was E3 ), after that update all channel changes got the grey screen for a few seconds, then the audio would come in and then the video. Now after this update-EF- the grey screen has been replaced by a black screen but still with the delay of audio first then a second of syncing with the video and then good to go. It seems like a long time and I haven't actually clocked it but I believe it's no more than 2 or 3 seconds. I've always had native off.

So the delay is normal, mine is now a black screen while yours may still be grey but it is a result of the last couple of updates so may be resolved by a future one. I know it's a bit annoying but I'm used to it now so don't worry about it. There are other more important issues which fortunately I'm not having ( yet! ).
John

 

[RussFor]

Hopefully it will get resolved. I enjoy channel surfing and this makes it harder.

But good to know I'm not the only one with this issue.

Thanks

 

[tstarn]

Hopefully it will get resolved. I enjoy channel surfing and this makes it harder.

But good to know I'm not the only one with this issue.

Thanks

I get the long gray screen too, for all channels. 3-4 seconds. A real drag.