[Kevin Bracker]

I recently purchased a Hughes HIRD-E86 HD DirecTV receiver. While I am mostly satisfied with it, I do have a question regarding image size if anyone else owns this model. When watching a 4x3 image with the HIRD-E86 in Full mode for my 16x9 TV (Pioneer SD-532HD5), according to the owner's manual I should experience no loss of content (just a stretched image.) However in watching some NASCAR and NFL preseason I noticed that a significant amount of their onscreen image is chopped off. I have emailed Hughes about this, but was wondering if anyone else has experienced this problem. Thanks in advance.

 

[rudolpht]

Unlike Dish (which "blows up" the picture cropping top & bottom about 10% (5+5), the DST-3000 actually does very well preserving the 4:3 verticle within the rframe.


Which "mode" are you using on the STB, Stretch, Partial Zoom, or Zoom?


Tim

 

[Kevin Bracker]

Quote:

Which "mode" are you using on the STB, Stretch, Partial Zoom, or Zoom?

Tim,

The Hughes box has Full, Cropped, and Letterbox (or Side Panels). I'm using Full (probably equivalent to STRETCH on the DST), but even in this mode it seems to crop a significant part of the picture. It does the same thing when it preserves the 4x3 with side panels. I seem to lose about the top 2" of the screen.

 

[rudolpht]

Kevin,


Sorry, I was using my Dish terms. (I think it's unfortunate that Hughes used Full as it confuses some sets term for "enhanced for widescreen" setting).


With the Tosh (Hughes equivalent) I had to go into the service settings of the set to get proper geometry calibrated and reduce overscan (this also made the menus go correctly edge to edge - or a little less).


Here's an excellent recsource, but heed the warnings, damage can be done to the set.
http://www.keohi.com/keohihdtv


Tim

 

[Luckyj]

I have the Hughes E86 and the Toshiba CW34X92 16:9 Direct View TV. I lie to the E86 and tell it have a 4:3 TV and use my TV to go to Theater Wide. This way, very litle is cut off and the picture is sharper. This is for NTSC material like DirecTV. When I switch to HDTV, I tell the E86 that I have a 16:9 TV. I know it is a lot of switching, but this gives the best picture.


Jim

 

[Kevin Bracker]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I'll take a peek at the service menu, but don't know if I have the guts to mess with that or not. Right now I'm using the S-Vid output and switching to SD on the Hughes for NTSC signals. This seems to be working out as I can plug the SD/HD switch into my channel macros for my Pronto. That one took me awhile until I figured out that the SD/HD switch is discrete and not a toggle.