Welcome to the DIRECTV Community Forums

New to the Community? Visit the Community How-To and Guidelines to get started.

Tutor

 • 

9 Messages

Monday, August 22nd, 2011 2:54 PM

Distortion on old analog TV

We've just switched from Dish Network to DirecTV. We have an analog TV (i.e. not digital, not flat screen). The DirecTV receiver is set to 4:3 aspect ratio. On all channels, the picture is slightly distorted: everything is a little tall and skinny. We did not have this problem with Dish Network. How can this be corrected?

 

Thank you.

ACE - Sage

 • 

46.4K Messages

14 years ago

What model Receiver do you have?  Look for the label on the rear panel or behind the front panel access card door. 

 
Try pressing the remote's FORMAT button to cycle the various format size options. 

Tutor

 • 

9 Messages

14 years ago

Thank you for your suggestion.

 

The receiver is Model H25-100.

 

I now see that this problem only occurs on HD channels. The solution is to use the non-HD version of the channels, but there are some that are only available in HD format. The Format button doesn't seem to have any effect on HD channels; it only "works" on non-HD channels. Any ideas how to fix?

 

The long skinny thing is really disconcerting! One of these days, we'll get a 21st century TV, but it's not happening soon.

Expert

 • 

20.7K Messages

14 years ago

The solution you hit on (using the SD feed) is the best you can do.  Along with a lot of other folks you're finding the incompatibilities between HD and SD technology.

Tutor

 • 

9 Messages

14 years ago

dcd, thank you. It's sometimes ironic how wonderful progress is.... Seriously, we'd be satisfied with OTA programming except with this incredible new technology, the hill behind our house blocks all digital signals. So our OTA capability went from all local channels to zero. Humbug!


NEED HELP?