While searching for a VP I read that I should choose a satellite receiver that allows me to switch between 480i, 720p, and 1080i so that the VP will do the scaling.

The Direct TV HD DVR does allow manual switching to the native rate. Any out there with automatic switching to native rate?

Then I read this in the HD forum:

There are two HD signal types: 720p and 1080i. DirecTV [and Dish] broadcasts the full 1280x720p signal sent by 720p networks (like Nat'l Geographic Channel HD, ESPNHD, etc.), while they downresolve the 1920x1080i signals from 1080i networks (such as HDNet and CBS HD) to 1280x1080i or 1440x1080i, depending on the situation. On most TVs, the 1440x1080i signals can look just as good as the 1920x1080i sources.

This is apparentlly called "HD lite." It seems there is no 1920x1080 from a satellite.

No wonder OTA HD looks better.

I'm sure this won't be news to many of you but it was to me. Guess I ought to get out more.

Oh well.