Help!

I have a client who has the latest Direct TV DVR and is now getting Black Bars on the sides of his SD Content. Prior to upgrading his Direct TV Receiver he alway had a 16:9 picture regardless of content. He is running his video through a DVDO Scaler and that appears to be working normally. Is there a way to change the setup in the Direct TV Receiver to eliminate the black bars so the scaler will convert the image to 16:9.

What are the settings and do I have to reset the receiver after making the changes?

David Groves

Only way someone is getting SD content that wasn't orginally 16:9 that is 16:9 is stretch-o-vison which sucks. Either everyone looks fat or he's missing out on some of the picture on the top and bottom. Not sure why people find that kind of picture "better". Personally I prefer seeing the WHOLE picture as it was intended. So you're client doesn't have anything "wrong" with his DVR.

Try the format button on the remote..

Try the format button on the remote..

From this guys comments, he seems to be an installer/retailer. I wonder if he ever thought of checking the manual, or better yet, trying to show his customer that 4x3 isn't a bad thing sometimes. I agree, the customer is always right, but at least try and educate them. That would mean educating yourself first though.

Yes! I am a custom installer, but not a Direct TV Dealer or Customer so I thought it best to turn to this forum for possible answers and help without the hour plus waits one has with Direct TV.

I've tried the format button on the Direct TV Remote and the SAT Receiver says it is displaying 1080i.

Yes! I am a custom installer, but not a Direct TV Dealer or Customer so I thought it best to turn to this forum for possible answers and help without the hour plus waits one has with Direct TV.

I've tried the format button on the Direct TV Remote and the SAT Receiver says it is displaying 1080i.

There are different 1080i settings. Cycle through them.

Pressing the format button repeatedly steps through 3 modes for each resolution you have turned on. There is a stretch mode for when watching SD channels with the output resolution set to 1080i.

You can also go into the set up and pick which output resolutions you want the box to output in the first place.

I don't know the exact steps off the top of my head, I'm not near my TV. You can find them by poking around in set up or checking the manual which is available online at directv.com if you don't have one.

For those that gave me the directions I now have the problem resolved. Thanks to all of you!