Video format / viewing question...

[TiVo_Fanatic]

Grant it I dont have an HDTV yet but I was flipping around my TiVo to see what HD channels my cable company offers. Grant it I cant view them less I add them to my packing but this question is in regards to the information seen when one presses the info button on their remote while on an HD channel.

Ok so when on the SD channel for the discovery channel in the last bit of info thats in the () I see the following.

(Stereo, R, 480i)

Now while thats not a problem because 480i as I understand it is SD content the following is whats making me go WTF.

When on the HD channel for the discovery channel in the last bit of info thats in the () I see the following.

(HD, Stereo, R, 480i)

It's basically the same as whats seen when on the SD channel but has the addition of the HD in the ().

So here's what I'm trying to get at... being on an HD channel why is it still showing 480i in the () ?

[bkdtv]

If you can't view a channel, the TiVo can't display accurate resolution information for that channel because that information is not in the guide data. You'll just see the resolution from whatever channel you tuned previously.

Furthermore, even when you can tune a HD channel, occasionally the INFO dialog will show the resolution from the previously tuned channel. This typically happens when you channel surf; it's a known bug.

[TiVo_Fanatic]

It's on Native with 480i shown in the box to the left.

Edit: So then assuming the channel (HD Discovery) was infact part of my cable package to where I could view it then what I should be seeing in the guide data is this then right ?

(HD, Stereo, R)

Edit 2: My whole concern is that even when I make the HD transition how do I know I'm receiveing HD content aside from the better clarity which can occur from a number of things.

[bkdtv]

Edit: So then assuming the channel (HD Discovery) was infact part of my cable package to where I could view it then what I should be seeing in the guide data is this then right ?

(HD, Stereo, R)The "(HD, Stereo, R)" is part of TiVo's guide data. If you could tune the channel, you would see 1080i too.

You should be aware that a few channels report everything as HD for marketing reasons, even when it's simply SD content upconverted to HD resolution. Those channels include:

Animal Planet HD
CMT HD
Discovery HD
Science HD
TBS HD
TNT HD

With exception to TBS HD, much of what is shown on those channels is actual HD, but you can't rely on the HD tag to tell you that. You might want to bookmark the reference thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=914099) at AVS.

On a decent sized screen, it will be fairly obvious what is HD and what is not.

[TiVo_Fanatic]

The "(HD, Stereo, R)" is part of TiVo's guide data. If you could tune the channel, you would see 1080i too.

You should be aware that a few channels report everything as HD for marketing reasons, even when it's simply SD content upconverted to HD resolution. Those channels include:

Animal Planet HD
CMT HD
Discovery HD
Science HD
TBS HD
TNT HD

With exception to TBS HD, much of what is shown on those channels is actual HD, but you can't rely on the HD tag to tell you that. You might want to bookmark the reference thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=914099) at AVS.

On a decent sized screen, it will be fairly obvious what is HD and what is not.

Thx, I'll check that thread out. But to ask upon soemthing you said. For those HD channels that arent true HD but instead are upconverted SD stuff to a 16:9 format wouldnt that distort the picture of the SD content being upconverted. Also, you say one cant always rely on the HD tag, by that do you mean an upconverted SD show may be labeled as 1080i instead of 480i or whatever.

Edit: After reading that reference thread I'm not even sure if I want go HD any more going by the following for mthat thread.

These channels falsely label everything as HD

Animal Planet HD
CMT HD
Discovery HD
Science HD
TBS HD
TNT HD

Especially since five of the listed channels are ones I watch alot.

[bkdtv]

Thx, I'll check that thread out. But to ask upon soemthing you said. For those HD channels that arent true HD but instead are upconverted SD stuff to a 16:9 format wouldnt that distort the picture of the SD content being upconverted. Also, you say one cant always rely on the HD tag, by that do you mean an upconverted SD show may be labeled as 1080i instead of 480i or whatever.The 1080i only tells you the output resolution. Those channels will all say 1080i, because that's what they output. But that doesn't mean the source content is in HD. The HD tag tells you that, but those channels tag everything as HD, even when they show 480i or 480p SD content upconverted to 1080i.

Edit: After reading that reference thread I'm not even sure if I want go HD any more going by the following for mthat thread.

These channels falsely label everything as HD

Animal Planet HD
CMT HD
Discovery HD
Science HD
TBS HD
TNT HD

Especially since five of the listed channels are ones I watch alot.Don't confuse the false labeling with the lack of HD. These channels offer their most popular shows in HD. They just don't offer everything in HD, and the upconverted SD content is wrongly flagged as HD.

For the most part, all new episodes of all popular shows are in HD. Re-runs from four or five years ago may not be in HD.

[TiVo_Fanatic]

The 1080i only tells you the output resolution. Those channels will all say 1080i, because that's what they output. But that doesn't mean the source content is in HD. The HD tag tells you that, but those channels tag everything as HD, even when they show 480i or 480p SD content upconverted to 1080i.

Don't confuse the false labeling with the lack of HD. These channels offer their most popular shows in HD. They just don't offer everything in HD, and the upconverted SD content is wrongly flagged as HD.

For the most part, all new episodes of all popular shows are in HD. Re-runs from four or five years ago may not be in HD.

I actually re-read that post and made my last edit in haste, it would seem that all channels minus TBS correctly label and leave their shows as is (no stretching etc) assuming I'm not reading to fast again and confusing myself lo.