Letterbox and or/bars.

**ndcoop** · 02-28-2010 04:04 PM

Is it normal for some HD stations on Dish to have pillarboxes or letterboxes? My friend has a 50in tv, as do I, and he gets cable vs. dish. On the same HD station, mine will have bars while his does not (he is not in zoom format). I noticed that I do get more stations in HD than he does, but many of mine have bars and don't look that much different than that SD station. I'm thinking maybe I have something set wrong or need to make some kind of a modification. Any suggestions or comments? Thanks.

**KAB** · 02-28-2010 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by ndcoop

Is it normal for some HD stations on Dish to have pillarboxes or letterboxes? My friend has a 50in tv, as do I, and he gets cable vs. dish. On the same HD station, mine will have bars while his does not (he is not in zoom format). I noticed that I do get more stations in HD than he does, but many of mine have bars and don't look that much different than that SD station. I'm thinking maybe I have something set wrong or need to make some kind of a modification. Any suggestions or comments? Thanks.

Do you have your receiver set to 16x9? Even if so, yes it is normal. Not every program on an HD channel is HD. Some channels, very little if at all. Nothing is different between cable and Dish if the program is originated in SD. Both Dish and cable merely pass along what the channel is sending.

**lakebum431** · 02-28-2010 04:16 PM

Be more specific about a specific channel or event. Most likely your friend doesn't realize that he has a zoom or stretch feature set on his TV or cable box and doesn't realize it. For instance my Pioneer plasma has an option where when black bars are detected it will automatically zoom the picture (I personally don't have this enabled because I don't like it, but the default was on).

**sam_gordon** · 02-28-2010 04:20 PM

Just to make sure....

Hit the * button on your remote control until you see the HD format go to "normal".

**ndcoop** · 02-28-2010 04:28 PM

Originally Posted by lakebum431

Be more specific about a specific channel or event. Most likely your friend doesn't realize that he has a zoom or stretch feature set on his TV or cable box and doesn't realize it. For instance my Pioneer plasma has an option where when black bars are detected it will automatically zoom the picture (I personally don't have this enabled because I don't like it, but the default was on).

The channel was ESPNU. At his house, the basketball game filled the full screen. I came home and found pillar boxes on my set. While at his house, I checked to make sure he had his set to "normal" aspect ratio. I checked mine at home as well. I have a panasonic and he has a samsung, both plasma tv's. My panasonic does not have the auto zoom, but his might... I will check it out. Thanks.

**ndcoop** · 02-28-2010 04:29 PM

Originally Posted by KAB

Do you have your receiver set to 16x9? Even if so, yes it is normal. Not every program on an HD channel is HD. Some channels, very little if at all. Nothing is different between cable and Dish if the program is originated in SD. Both Dish and cable merely pass along what the channel is sending.

Yes, it is set to 1080i and 16:9 ratio. I have a 1080, he has a 720... could that make a difference?

**KAB** · 02-28-2010 04:30 PM

Originally Posted by ndcoop

Yes, it is set to 1080i and 16:9 ratio. I have a 1080, he has a 720... could that make a difference?

No. If it really was the EXACT same program, it had to have been zoomed one way or another.

**ndcoop** · 02-28-2010 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by KAB

No. If it really was the EXACT same program, it had to have been zoomed one way or another.

Thanks.

**ksbuie** · 02-28-2010 06:25 PM

Dish does not carry ESPNU in HD.

**lakebum431** · 02-28-2010 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by ndcoop

The channel was ESPNU. At his house, the basketball game filled the full screen. I came home and found pillar boxes on my set. While at his house, I checked to make sure he had his set to "normal" aspect ratio. I checked mine at home as well. I have a panasonic and he has a samsung, both plasma tv's. My panasonic does not have the auto zoom, but his might... I will check it out. Thanks.

Well, that answers it. Dish does not have ESPNU in HD. Hopefully we'll get it on Dish soon!