New to HDTV,

[DSquare]

Okay, I finally bought a new HDTV set, new HDTV is a Phillips 30PW850H (widescreen), this is replacing a 8yr old 27in CRT in the bedroom. I had basic cable with no convertor box, as soon as tried the new HDTV I noticed right away that some channles look really nice and some channels look like total crap. It seemed to be new tv shows and some of the news (foxnews) looked really nice. But if the footage was of older movies and older tv shows the video in my opinion was better on my old tv set. I ordered BH HDTV package and went and got my Pace box today. The channels I thought looked bad before now even look worse, but on the other hand the HDTV channles are mouthwatering. Another thing I dont understand is that the HDTV channels seem to broadcast everything in ws even though its ment to be fs. For example I was comparing CBS' Price is Right, if I switched between 12 and 610 the HD picture was stretched to fill the screen.

My question is are these problems I mentioned (poor video on std channles, normal non-HDTV shows shown widescreen when it should be fullscreen), do these affect other users or is it just me? Should I call a tech out to take a look?

[bdraw]

Welcome.

You about sumed it up.
Some people actually only watch the HD channels through the Pace box and everything else without, because the SD channels look better without. You might also try to hook the S-Video out of the Pace box directly to your tv for all non HD viewing. Many people have reported better results, but I think it is a pain for casual viewing.
I have never been given a exact answer why, but my best bet is that your new TV is optimized for HD, and you can't be optimized for both.

Personally I don't watch SD any more as a result. But I am more a tech guy than a TV person. I really don't watch anything that isnt HD. I do miss the TechTV though, but I am sure they will come around eventually.

But this does seem to be the case with all HDTV's.

[CANDY76MAN]

not all the programs on the digital (hd) channels are actually HD...thats why some programs and most commercials go back to 4:3 or something close too it....if the program fills the entire screen and it's a channel that does HD then that is usually true HD 1080i, if it doesn't fill the whole screen it is 480p.

[DSquare]

i think an easier solution would be to split the coax. then i would use tv to tune to channels from 2-100, then swith to my a/v port to watch the hdtv