On an SDTV does HD from an HR24 come out letterboxed like a widescreen DVD or squished sideways making tall and thin? The OP didn't say what type of connection he's using so I can only guess it's either a 480i composite or component connection. On my HR24 I was using an RF Modulator connected to the composite output to feed a second sdtv in the basement that lacked av input. The setting in Menu was for a Widescreen TV. On the second tv SD programming like the Encore channels were correct but HD programming squished instead of letterboxing.