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toddjb
Last reply · posted in DISH Network Support Forum
I'm sure this is an easy fix, but I looked through the Hopper menus and couldn't find any tips...

With my 722s, the program...whatever program, would expand to fill my 16x9 wide screen. Now that I have Hoppers, the HD programs do fill the picture, but the SD programming does not. There are black bars on the side on 4:3 programs and on SD widescreen broadcasts there is a black bar all the way around. Very annoying.

I hit the format button on the Dish remote and it does nothing "it only shows NORMAL"
If I hit the format button on an HD program it'll give me options.

ALSO - on 3 different TVs (2 hoppers, 1 joey) the screen is slightly cut off on the sides. You can see this easily on the guides where the image is clipped up until the text of the menu starts to show. If I use the screen settings to zoom out to show everything on the sides, it then gives a small black bar at the top.

This is also an new problem as with the same TVs, on the 722s it would just fill them, completely, no wasted pixels.

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance for any tips.
43 Replies · 16794 views
Jim S.
The Hopper's expansion of SD programs has been broken for the last several software versions. Dish has been notified countless times, so we're all mystified as to why they don't fix it. (Although, many of Dish's SD channels really don't have sufficient resolution to look good when blown up, in my opinion. Moving to MPEG4 was a big help, but I really feel sorry for anyone stuck with MPEG2. Some of them don't look good even if you DON'T blow them up!)
Elita
The Hopper's expansion of SD programs has been broken for the last several software versions. Dish has been notified countless times, so we're all mystified as to why they don't fix it. (Although, many of Dish's SD channels really don't have sufficient resolution to look good when blown up, in my opinion. Moving to MPEG4 was a big help, but I really feel sorry for anyone stuck with MPEG2. Some of them don't look good even if you DON'T blow them up!)
I loved the old DISH VIP receiver, except for certain aspects of it. Like the DVR recorder had a mind of it's own. Aside from that though, I loved that I could adjust the bars at the sides of my screen by going to FORMAT and just adjusting the bars for the screen to expand, w/o any bars, by clicking the FORMAT button. When we upgraded to the Hopper and I asked the DISH tech that came out, where was the FORMAT button on the remote, like the VIP receiver had, and that by clicking FORMAT the black bars could be adjusted? He said that the feature was no longer on the remote, because the Hopper receiver only had "one size," fits all for the screen. So now on some channels we are stuck with black bars on the sides. UGH!!
Bobby
I loved the old DISH VIP receiver, except for certain aspects of it. Like the DVR recorder had a mind of it's own. Aside from that though, I loved that I could adjust the bars at the sides of my screen by going to FORMAT and just adjusting the bars for the screen to expand, w/o any bars, by clicking the FORMAT button. When we upgraded to the Hopper and I asked the DISH tech that came out, where was the FORMAT button on the remote, like the VIP receiver had, and that by clicking FORMAT the black bars could be adjusted? He said that the feature was no longer on the remote, because the Hopper receiver only had "one size," fits all for the screen. So now on some channels we are stuck with black bars on the sides. UGH!!
On your 54 remote: Press Options, Display Format (6) and you can make those adjustments just fine.
TheKrell
On your 54 remote: Press Options, Display Format (6) and you can make those adjustments just fine.
The question of the hour is... Why would anybody want to do that? Maybe if you stretched in two directions the aspect would still be OK. But then you'd be chopping off the top and bottom.
Elita
The question of the hour is... Why would anybody want to do that? Maybe if you stretched in two directions the aspect would still be OK. But then you'd be chopping off the top and bottom.
I totally agree, but apparently Elita doesn't.... that's why I posted the fix.
I didn't necessarily say that I wanted to chop any part of the picture or make it fatter with the Hopper receiver. I said that I was able to do the adjusting of the screen by clicking on the "Format," button when we had the DISH VIP receiver and that it worked just fine.
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TheKrell
I didn't necessarily say that I wanted to chop any part of the picture or make it fatter with the Hopper receiver. I said that I was able to do the adjusting of the screen by clicking on the "Format," button when we had the DISH VIP receiver and that it worked just fine.
I am happy if you are happy. I just don't understand how you can be happy with a 4:3 picture (the one with grey bars on either side) stretched to 16:9 so that there are no grey bars visible. You don't find all the people on the resultant picture wider than they are in real life? Perhaps I don't understand what picture you are starting with. Or maybe I don't understand what you are watching the picture on. Are you watching HD channels on a 4:3 Tv?
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joegr
My father-in-law was the same way. It didn't matter how distorted the picture was (or what was missing from the top and bottom), it had to fill the whole screen no matter what.
Elita
My father-in-law was the same way. It didn't matter how distorted the picture was (or what was missing from the top and bottom), it had to fill the whole screen no matter what.
Let me make it clear to you and
I am happy if you are happy. I just don't understand how you can be happy with a 4:3 picture (the one with grey bars on either side) stretched to 16:9 so that there are no grey bars visible. You don't find all the people on the resultant picture wider than they are in real life? Perhaps I don't understand what picture you are starting with. Or maybe I don't understand what you are watching the picture on. Are you watching HD channels on a 4:3 Tv?
The tv I'm watching the programs on is very big, 50 something inches. I'm happy with the solution Bobby posted and there is NO disttoting whatsoever. So, I AM happy. Thanx!
-Elita
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Elita
I am happy if you are happy. I just don't understand how you can be happy with a 4:3 picture (the one with grey bars on either side) stretched to 16:9 so that there are no grey bars visible. You don't find all the people on the resultant picture wider than they are in real life? Perhaps I don't understand what picture you are starting with. Or maybe I don't understand what you are watching the picture on. Are you watching HD channels on a 4:3 Tv?
Hi again. In answer to your questions, I start out with the normal size picture, which is fine, but when I go to the Western channel, the old black and whites have a black bar on both sides. That bugs me. Guess it could be my ocd (obsessive-compulsive disorder), our tv is 52 inches wide. I don't know what 4:3 tv is. And yes, watching HD channels.
-Ella
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Nebugeater
Hi again. In answer to your questions, I start out with the normal size picture, which is fine, but when I go to the Western channel, the old black and whites have a black bar on both sides. That bugs me. Guess it could be my ocd (obsessive-compulsive disorder), our tv is 52 inches wide. I don't know what 4:3 tv is. And yes, watching HD channels.
-Ella
A 4:3 TV is the ratio of the width to the height. IT is the standard that was used for old tube TV's and some early ones as Tube TV's were starting to be replaced. The ratio that is used on new TV's is 16:9 THis is much closer to the ratio of a movie screen as an example

On a side note, I am sure your TV is not 52" wide. A TV is measured diagonally. Meaning, for example, from bottom left to top right corner.
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Bobby
On a side note, I am sure your TV is not 52" wide. A TV is measured diagonally. Meaning, for example, from bottom left to top right corner.
Don't be so quick to judge. I don't know of any TV that is 52" diagonal, there are 50s and 55s. His might be a 60"er. To give you an example, my TV is 75" diagonal but 66" wide.... ;)
Scott Greczkowski
Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU! Cutting Edge
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!

So let the game continue!

The last song was added by Bobby who posted...

One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters

CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!

Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game

Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.

Example:

Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow

Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio

Another example:

Ride the Lightning -- Metallica

Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne


Get it?


An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
68631 Replies · 2678982 views
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H
PEOPLE Are Strange-The Doors
harshness
Still Loving You - Scorpions
Bobby
PEOPLE Are Strange-The Doors

You're Still A Young Man - Tower Of Power
No Match, back to:
People Are Strange - The Doors




Isn't Life Strange - The Moody Blues
FTA4PA
Strange Days - Nazareth
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gms49ers
Dancing Days - Led Zeppelin
dishstaller
Dancing in the Street - Van Halen
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
· posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network
0 Replies · 5 views
TRG
TRG
Pub Member / Supporter
Last reply · posted in Local Radio Discussion
20 Replies · 585 views
dishdude
It's probably been 2 decades since I've listened to an AM radio station. Very rarely listen to FM any more.
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Jimbo
I am 1 that wants the AM to Stay ....
That said, since '08 I have had Sat radio available to me ... I think I have turned on AM 3 or 4 times, just to see if its still there.

Fwiw, if theres a Major disaster or bad weather or whatever, the chances of me finding out about it by going to the AM side of the radio is SLIM and None.
Even FM, I haven't really had on since '13ish, I may turn it on from time to time, just to see if its still there.
harshness
Fwiw, if theres a Major disaster or bad weather or whatever, the chances of me finding out about it by going to the AM side of the radio is SLIM and None.
Automation has seen to that. You can't get evening drive traffic reports where I live, much less disaster reports.
dishstaller
Very rarely listen to FM any more
That goes for a lot of people. I've been advertising on radio for more than a decade now and am very familiar with this subject. While it is still a valuable tool, it has far less impact than it did just a few years ago. The best reaction I get is from a local Country music station....they play a mix of older and newer music and have a very big footprint.
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Jimbo
That goes for a lot of people. I've been advertising on radio for more than a decade now and am very familiar with this subject. While it is still a valuable tool, it has far less impact than it did just a few years ago. The best reaction I get is from a local Country music station....they play a mix of older and newer music and have a very big footprint.
Do you do any Ad's on Satellite ?

If Not, why not, because it's not Local ?
dishstaller
Do you do any Ad's on Satellite ?

If Not, why not, because it's not Local ?
No, just regular FM stations. One is the country station I mentioned and the other is a Talk Radio station which used to get fantastic results but honestly, since the death of Rush Limbaugh, talk radio just doesn't do as well. There were two guys who had an early morning show which was hugely popular here in the southeast but one of them retired a couple years ago and the show just doesn't garner the same numbers as it used to.
TheForce
Supporting Founder Pub Member / Supporter
Last reply · posted in The Phone & Tablet Zone
Apple Fall Hardware Event takes place today, September 9, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET. It marks the debut of new CEO John Ternus and the expected reveal of Apple's first foldable phone.
135 Replies · 1641 views
comfortably_numb
Can't remember if I've posted this yet..


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfL5seXJyWU
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Foxbat
IFixIt has published their Teardown and they had some positive things to say about the iPhone Duo. It still showed some dust ingress into the hinge assembly but seemed otherwise well-sealed.
​

But with a considerable number of reports of the main screen dying with similar failures, AppleCare+ should be a no-brainer for this phone.
S

most carriers do. that's why they send updates that slow phones down!! i buy unlocked phones no effect to me
S
IFixIt has published their Teardown and they had some positive things to say about the iPhone Duo. It still showed some dust ingress into the hinge assembly but seemed otherwise well-sealed.
​

But with a considerable number of reports of the main screen dying with similar failures, AppleCare+ should be a no-brainer for this phone.

hope you have apple care a screen job is 1000.00 :oops:. can we say over priced garbage!!!
harshness
Gone are the days when Apple "perfects" what debuted years earlier on an Android phone.
comfortably_numb
Gone are the days when Apple "perfects" what debuted years earlier on an Android phone.

Or better yet, innovate something "completely revolutionary!"
SkyWatcher57
Pub Member / Supporter
Last reply · posted in Free To Air (FTA) Discussion
Hello folks, well my luck ran out last week with a nasty thunderstorm and after 39 years here, finally took a hit. Now, the FTA receivers I had for some years worked great until now. Recently picked up a fairly cheap receiver, online, KOQIT and seems to be good, but for the life of me, I cannot get the HDMI output to work with 3 of my Samsung monitors. I can hook it up to my Samsung TV and its HDMI input and it works fine. The 2 receivers I lost also worked fine with them, so am I going crazy? anyone have come across this or have any suggestions? And, since this is a somewhat cheap unit but works, what is everyone out there using for receivers these days? without breaking the bank? I enjoy watching FTA TV, so I will invest more if needed, what is a really good, detailed unit these days. I'm so use to watching a few of them HD channels. Right now I'm down to composite hookups, yuck! Any help or info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Frank :rolleyes:
47 Replies · 1297 views
(((Garyd)))
Hello folks, well my luck ran out last week with a nasty thunderstorm and after 39 years here, finally took a hit. Now, the FTA receivers I had for some years worked great until now. Recently picked up a fairly cheap receiver, online, KOQIT and seems to be good, but for the life of me, I cannot get the HDMI output to work with 3 of my Samsung monitors. I can hook it up to my Samsung TV and its HDMI input and it works fine. The 2 receivers I lost also worked fine with them, so am I going crazy? anyone have come across this or have any suggestions? And, since this is a somewhat cheap unit but works, what is everyone out there using for receivers these days? without breaking the bank? I enjoy watching FTA TV, so I will invest more if needed, what is a really good, detailed unit these days. I'm so use to watching a few of them HD channels. Right now I'm down to composite hookups, yuck! Any help or info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Frank :rolleyes:
Take the cover off, show me pics of the board of the bad one and also the bottom of the board. I'm an old hardware electronics tech plus a satellite dealer; I fixed a lot of FTA and regular receivers. I may be able to fix it for you. And yes, they got hit by lightning; it's best to email me the pics at diamondsatellite@snet.net or call me at 203-232-8888. I give you a 50-50 chance of fixing it; I do have spare parts. my phone is a fliptop phone
Gary
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S
Hello folks, well my luck ran out last week with a nasty thunderstorm and after 39 years here, finally took a hit. Now, the FTA receivers I had for some years worked great until now. Recently picked up a fairly cheap receiver, online, KOQIT and seems to be good, but for the life of me, I cannot get the HDMI output to work with 3 of my Samsung monitors. I can hook it up to my Samsung TV and its HDMI input and it works fine. The 2 receivers I lost also worked fine with them, so am I going crazy? anyone have come across this or have any suggestions? And, since this is a somewhat cheap unit but works, what is everyone out there using for receivers these days? without breaking the bank? I enjoy watching FTA TV, so I will invest more if needed, what is a really good, detailed unit these days. I'm so use to watching a few of them HD channels. Right now I'm down to composite hookups, yuck! Any help or info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Frank :rolleyes:
a good surge protector will help to.
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SkyWatcher57
Take the cover off, show me pics of the board of the bad one and also the bottom of the board. I'm an old hardware electronics tech plus a satellite dealer; I fixed a lot of FTA and regular receivers. I may be able to fix it for you. And yes, they got hit by lightning; it's best to email me the pics at diamondsatellite@snet.net or call me at 203-232-8888. I give you a 50-50 chance of fixing it; I do have spare parts. my phone is a fliptop phone
Gary
Hi Gary, still working on getting you those
Hi Gary, just saw this, ok, I'll grab some pics tomorrow and post them. thx
Still working getting you those pictures, nice weekends means yard work and fall prep, thanks
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k4otl
Anybody know how to add "hidden" audio channels like for 101 W Ku or 105W C band on these recvr's? I've exported the database file but don't have anything that will read or edit it.
cyberham
For 105W C, you scan in the Westwood tp normally. Then select the audio channel you want. Not necessary to manually enter. On 101W, you must manually enter.
k4otl
For 105W C, you scan in the Westwood tp normally. Then select the audio channel you want. Not necessary to manually enter. On 101W, you must manually enter.
Seems like I remember that now, with my V9 I manually entered anyway on 105, easier for me to pick the channel later :)
T
Last reply · posted in Free To Air (FTA) Discussion
IS Amiko MIRA 3 any good ???
Can you recommend the best to cover all bases. NO BEEPS on certain channels 101w (NEWSMAX ,NEWS NATION), a clock that keeps working STEADY for timed recording ,solid unit with good lifespan. My Amiko died AND my Linkbox has NO Favorites Button and BEEPS on many channels. Picking up 105 west with a NEW SHED IN THE Way with 6 foot Cband ..95 percent quality ...unbelievable.
10 Replies · 272 views
T
Have you tried a new power brick on your Amiko?

YOU WERE RIGHT. IT IS WORKING NOW WITH 2X AMPS !!

DAN
primestar31
Have you tried a new power brick on your Amiko?

YOU WERE RIGHT. IT IS WORKING NOW WITH 2X AMPS !!

DAN
That's great!

Many people have all sorts of power bricks laying around. Provided the plug fits, and it's the right polarity and same voltage and the same OR higher amps, why not try another one IF the device you want to try it on doesn't seem to work right.
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JFOK
That's great!

Many people have all sorts of power bricks laying around. Provided the plug fits, and it's the right polarity and same voltage and the same OR higher amps, why not try another one IF the device you want to try it on doesn't seem to work right.
primestar31,

Could you explain to me what a power brick is ?
Thanks,

John
primestar31
primestar31,

Could you explain to me what a power brick is ?
Thanks,

John
Some people just call them power supplies (which really isn't a good fit in this case), some call them "wall adapters" but it's an external power supply or AC adapter that converts (AC) from a wall outlet into low-voltage (DC) that an electronic device needs to run.
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T
[Give us a summary of what you receive with a 6-footer. I'm very curious.]

Right now on C band getting 105w, a Mexican channel with 95% quality and I am near Detroit! I'm recording a TECHNO MUSIC FESTIVAL today from Mexico ..if you can believe it.....and yes that SHED is partly in the path so I'm puzzled. There are also christian channels on 105w.
cyberham
...Right now on C band getting 105w, a Mexican channel with 95% quality...
105W has some very strong transponders. I received more than four transponders using a 41-inch dish recently. See here.
k4otl
[Give us a summary of what you receive with a 6-footer. I'm very curious.]

Right now on C band getting 105w, a Mexican channel with 95% quality and I am near Detroit! I'm recording a TECHNO MUSIC FESTIVAL today from Mexico ..if you can believe it.....and yes that SHED is partly in the path so I'm puzzled. There are also christian channels on 105w.
The Westwood One Mux on 105W would likely be receivable, has some good music channels on there. It does scan in, but it's more convenient to manually enter the PIDs, check out Lyngsat for the channels: EchoStar 105/SES 11 at 105.0°W - LyngSat

I use a 10 footer (only C-band dish I have), but it's very strong.