My former employer allows the user a choice regarding resolution conversion with their DVRs. One can either have the STB upconvert all signal to whatever resolution one chooses (720, 1080i), OR set the DVR to switch to broadcast NATIVE RESOLUTION automatically. There IS a slight delay when changing channels if one has native resolution set “on”, but it does allow one to view the channel exactly as the broadcaster intended, with no up or down conversion at the stb. So, in the example of sports and action…….ESPN as broadcast at 720p on my 50″ plasma DOES look better than upconverting it to 1080i (I get artifacts in high-speed and motion sequences).

I think this would be a desired feature by many. Just MHO, but It seems absolutely pointless to me for a broadcaster to transmit in a specific resolution for specific reasons (like sports at 720p) if U-verse is going to convert it to 1080i. A lot of “720p” plasmas are really 768p.  1080i is better left in its native res for full detail.  720p “upconverted” then “downconverted” to 768p looks awful.

Oh, and of course…………calibrate the Display!!!! Even the most basic of calibration disks will help get your TV do it's job right. It DOES make a huge difference. Both White and Blacks are DIFFERENT on U Verse! I would recommend either a direct purchase, or borrow a friends DVE essentials or Avia disk…

Ah; stretch o vision. Perhaps an explanation of what is going on might help some.

For many years, analog TV stations have broadcast in 4:3 aspect ratio. This was the perfect ratio for “square” tube TV's.

Fast forward. Along comes widescreen LCD, Plasma, and LED televisions. WOW The ability to watch a film in 16:9 aspect ratio, as it was originally filmed, and shown in the theaters across the country! But there's a problem. Even at that time, most broadcasters put out 4:3 Aspect ratio. How to show this on a widescreen TV? Well, the broadcasters continue to broadcast to the masses (MOST TV's were still square tubers…..so they broadcast for the majority – 4:3 aspect ratio). So, this shows up on a widescreen TV as a square picture with two black (or grey, or blue) vertical “pillars” on the tv, one on each side of the picture. This view is known as “Pillar Box”. Basically, without stretching out and distorting the 4:3 aspect ratio broadcast picture, one gets “pillar box” view, and unused “real estate” on the TV.

Next, comes HD broadcast. Now this technology confuses people. Primarily because of misleading advertising by the pay tv providers (CATV, Satellite providers). You see, initially…….most HD channels were simply std. definition pictures in 4:3 aspect ratio UPCONVERTED to HD, then broadcast. Some stations saw fit to “fill” the pillar boxes in with their station id / logo info (like CNN does to this day) others chose not to do that. Still others simply upconverted 4:3 aspect ratio pics, placed black pillar bars INTO THE UPCONVERTED PIC, and converted the 4:3 std pic into a 16:9. Here is where the people were confused and upset……Joe consumer finally gets on the bandwagon. He goes to Best Buy, purchases a 2500 dollar LCD TV, comes home, hooks it up to his new HD service provider, and sees PILLAR BARS!!!! Now Joe consumer is upset. He just paid 2500 bucks for a HD TV, and sees unused real estate on his set……..and cannot fix it without zooming on his tv and cropping picture.

Ok, now for today…….very soon the digital transition will be completed. No more analog transmissions for TV signals. I believe that the market penetration of widescreen tv's will push the broadcasters over the edge……..and as they transition to digital signal, they will also transition to 16:9 format broadcast as their standard. Then the real estate will be fully utilized by our widescreen tv's. BUT……..the problem and frustration of pillar bars and distortion will move – to letterbox on the square tv customer's set. The complaining will then be by the folks who have the tube tv's and haven't transitioned to widescreens in their homes. There is no winning for the broadcasters………..

Uverse Guy said:

Nice run down of the history!

One more thing….

Here's the deal:

Many broadcasters are STILL TO THIS DAY upconverting signal to HD resolution from Std. Resolution prior to broadcasting. This is why you'll see a DRAMATIC difference in picture quality between stations. The best “test” stations for viewing TRUE HD content are Nat'l Geographic, Animal Planet, and CNN (when in the studio – their field shots are still being upconverted). Compare these three channels with other HD channels for picture quality. You'll see what I mean.

The quality of an HD broadcast is only as good as it's weakest link. If a show / series / sporting event was not FILMED with HD cameras, it won't be as sharp, nor the colors as vibrant as those that are. I suspect that many customers who complain about UVerse Quality of HD picture do not understand this. The best way to show what a difference a camera can make in the HD process is to watch CNN HD. In the studio, they use HD cameras. Crisp, clear, vibrant colors. when they bring in field shots, those are upconverted std. def. You'll see the difference.

So always remember, though you may have an HD CAPABLE TV / Monitor, the SOURCE is the key. IF the HD picture is not up to snuff, it oftentimes is the original generator of the show “cheaping out” in their HD process. It may not be your provider, but the source they get the feed from.