How come I can see HD channels on my SD TV.

[STRONGBADF1]

How come I can see HD channels on my SD TV.

I got Fios installed. (TV, internet & phone) I wanted the multi-room DVR so I had to get an HD DVR. HD channels come with the deal I got but I don't own a HD TV (yet) and the programs are there. I get that I'm not seeing 1080i but I thought they wouldn't show at all...

What am I missing?

 

[Rickster71]

I think....(just my guess)
Stations had to transmit an HD signal by a certain date.
I don't think they had to 'stop' transmitting SD by a certain time.
We have Dish Network and I still have both SD & HD versions of many shows.

 

[Adam]

What am I missing?

High definition.

I believe that your DVR is converting the signal for you. It's probably just like when I'd watch over-the-air HD signals using my digital converter box connected to my CRT TV.

I think....(just my guess)
Stations had to transmit an HD signal by a certain date.
I don't think they had to 'stop' transmitting SD by a certain time.

My understanding is that they had to transmit in digital by June 12, but they didn't have to transmit in HD. It was the means of distributing the over-the-air signal, not the content, that was the directive - that's my understanding, but I wasn't keeping up with all of it.

 

[cjsiv]

I have a multiroom hd dvr with dishnetwork and tv 1 is hd signal via hdmi. Tv 2 is routed via standard coax so not high def. All the high def channels are viewable on tv2 because the sat receiver (or in your case the fios dvr box) downconverts the signal to standard 480i.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

Thanks guys.

I didn't know that the hd box would down convert.

 

[Adam]

I didn't know that the hd box would down convert.

It does, but it's so much work for it. It won't complain, but I'm sure it's getting tired. Get a new TV and let it relax.

Yeah, now that I've finally gotten a new TV, it's my duty to push you into it.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

It does, but it's so much work for it. It won't complain, but I'm sure it's getting tired. Get a new TV and let it relax.

Yeah, now that I've finally gotten a new TV, it's my duty to push you into it.

I've been waiting for this...peer pressure.

 

[highfigh]

How come I can see HD channels on my SD TV.

I got Fios installed. (TV, internet & phone) I wanted the multi-room DVR so I had to get an HD DVR. HD channels come with the deal I got but I don't own a HD TV (yet) and the programs are there. I get that I'm not seeing 1080i but I thought they wouldn't show at all...

What am I missing?

How is the SD TV connected? I knew that the audio was a lot better on HD channels than the
SD channels a long time ago, so when I asked Time Warner if the HD box would send composite video on those channels and got their standard "No, sorry" answer, I asked for one anyway. It worked fine and HD cable, sat and other systems usually have output from all, if not most, of the output types. If it's connected via composite video, it's able to convert to at least four formats and if you go to your menu, you can go through the setup to see which are enabled. If you have a TV that does 1080, you only need to set it for that output. It also speeds up correct video during channel changes because the receiver doesn't need to change it's output.