Using HD mode when signal not HDTV

[pdtricn]

I was wondering if what I noticed tonight was just my imagination. I'll explain.  The HD mode on my TV (cable )is only used for "true" HD signals, otherwise it is pointless in my opinion as then the actual screen size is reduced by what appears to be at least 20% and the image is not high def anyway.  Well tonight my wife was switching between football (she is a bigger fan than I) and "Average Joe".  The football was obviously high-def, but Average Joe wasn't, as it was in the usual "reduced box" image seen when regular programming is on through the HD signal. But tonight ,even though it wasn't widescreen, it was almost as clear as the high-def!  I have been watching high-def to know the difference, and this looked like an upgrade to the standard picture. I checked Titan TV and this program is definitely not high-def. So anyone else see this phenomenon, is it an "intermediate" resolution signal between standard and high-def, or just my imagination?

Brian
SOny XBR true-flat tube HDTV, Pioneer tuner (cable)

[Joel S]

I think it may look pretty good because it is passed through in digital as oppossed to analog.  I have noticed the regular shows on say ch 504 look much better on 504 than 4.  I however don't watch that tier unless in HD because I don't have a good stretch mode on my TV when watching non-hd via the HD mode.

[oz]

I agree. The 500 series channels look much better than 4, 5, 6, and 12, even when non-HD stuff is playing. The regular channels look terrible on my 55-incher, but quite good on my 13-incher.

[Gregg Lengling]

You also have to remember that when the stations are showing SD programming on the digital channel that you are outputting 480p instead of 480i.  This gives you twice the scan rate than the analog channel gives.  I'm not sure if the networks are sending the programming to them in 480p also, but they might be on their HD satellite channels.  Just think how much better your 480p DVD's look than VHS or Beta Tape or even LaserDisks.

[StarvingForHDTV]

I think a lot of the non-HD shows are up converted at the Networks to 1080i or 720p.  They have to "build" the picture with those black sidebars in because 1080i and 720p are 16:9 ratios and the original non-HD show is 4:3 ratio.

I think the up converters at the Networks are very high quality.

If somebody knows differently, please speak up.

Starving