[Gerald C]

I'm trying to decide which new STB to get, and I really need to have simultaneous SD & HD. (I use the SD outputs to feed a VCR and house distribution to 4:3 sets).


But the note below, found in both the TS-360 and DTC-210 user manuals cautions that SD output may be distorted/cropped. I don't want to be flipping output resolution switches. Can anyone elaborate on this? How bad is it? Also, how does the guide appear when viewed from the SD outputs?

Quote:

"Note: If you connect your TV to the VIDEO OUT, S-VIDEO OUT, or TV OUT jack, and you view a high-definition program with the HD Receiver’s RESOLUTION SELECT switch set to either 720p or 1080i, the picture will be slightly cropped at the top and bottom (the very top and bottom edges of the image will not appear on the TV screen). To avoid this problem, set the RESOLUTION SELECT switch to the 480p/i position if your TV is connected to one of the composite video outputs."

~Gerald C

 

[mjones73]

I can tell you on my HTL-HD it squeezes the SD output so the whole 16:9 ratio image fits in the 4:3 screen, I would expect it's something similiar with those two. I had to switch to 480i output and stretch it which chopped off the sides of the image to get it to fit my screeen correctly when using a 4:3 TV.

 

[Andrew Hornfeck]

my 160 had a button to quickly change the AR. I have it set for 16:9 on my main PJ and Pillar Box 4:3 material. When I watch 4:3 shows elsewhere in the house they're squeezed with bloack boxes on the sides (because that's what I said to do on the main pj). It's noticible, but claiming resolution loss is just their way of saying you may not get EXACTLY the same image on each output. If this bugs you then switch to 4:3 FULL mode. I guess it could be a problem if you have 4:3 and 16:9 sets around your house on the same cable feed...


My advise: You're OK

 

[Gerald C]

Thanks for the input. The SD/HD behavior seems to be very specific to STB model, so I'm still curious if anyone with a 360 or 210 can confirm how they behave. (Especially since their user manuals have that warning statement).

 

[mskreis]

Gerald, did you ever get an answer? I have the same concerns about the 210.

 

[Gerald C]

Quote:

Originally posted by mskreis Gerald, did you ever get an answer?

Not a very good one. Gary Whittaker had a response over on SatelliteGuys (bottom of thread), but I have a hard time understanding his lingo.


In the in sticky thread in this forum, a poster said that there was not a problem with SD source material, but the question is still open for how HD source material appears when viewed from downrez'd SD connections.


I can't believe that someone on these forums can't answer this question! Surely there are still people who record NTSC or view SD channels on NTSC TVs.


What we really need are some screen shots. Those would put all the questions to bed, including the question about how the guide looks in SD.


~Gerald C