Regular channels through HDTV "set-up"

[pdtricn]

I have a Sony XBR series CRT (non-projection) 36 inch HDTV, (standard format) via digital cable and DVR set-up.  The HDTV picture of course look tremendous.  I am viewing the standard channels through the same component video lines set up for  the HDTV.  The standard channels really look fuzzy to me, far worse than when I run the standard RF signal, which doesn't make sense to me.  I realize after watching HDTV, standard TV may look blurrier, but this is definitely a degradation, and I would think component video would give a better picture.  

Also, my DVR/converter doesn't allow me to "zoom" the HDTV signals, only conventional, but that is a minor annoyance. It is better to get the full widescreen effect and have letterboxes anyway for HDTV.  But for conventional, if not zoomed, I get a small "square within a square" , when watching conventional  TV, unless I zoom it. It cetainly isn't a big deal, but makes me wonder what the engineers were thinking, because the overall effective screen size is significantly reduced in conventional TV, which is still the majority of channels.

[digdugm]

When the SD signal is coming through the component it is direct without processing. You'd be better of using S-video and just switch inputs when not watching HD material.

[StarvingForHDTV]

Originally posted by pdtricn
But for conventional, if not zoomed, I get a small "square within a square" , when watching conventional  TV, unless I zoom it. It cetainly isn't a big deal, but makes me wonder what the engineers were thinking, because the overall effective screen size is significantly reduced in conventional TV, which is still the majority of channels.

Did you correctly "tell" your DVR the TV's aspect ratio?  4:3 is for squarish shaped sets and 16:9 is for rectangular shaped sets.  Setting your display's aspect ratio  is usually a menu option in these types of devices.

[pdtricn]

I have a Scientific Atlanta AT8400 and I did change the setting to standard aspect, which really isn't a problem then. Getting back to the main issue,I still wonder why a "processed signal" would be better through S-video, as I thought component gave better quality and besides it would eliminate having to change settings on my TV, and potentially my receiver, to switch from high-def to standard stations.

[mred]

Originally posted by pdtricn
Also, my DVR/converter doesn't allow me to "zoom" the HDTV signals, only conventional, but that is a minor annoyance. It is better to get the full widescreen effect and have letterboxes anyway for HDTV.  But for conventional, if not zoomed, I get a small "square within a square" , when watching conventional  TV, unless I zoom it. It cetainly isn't a big deal, but makes me wonder what the engineers were thinking, because the overall effective screen size is significantly reduced in conventional TV, which is still the majority of channels.

I have this same problem with my Samsung TXP3271H HDTV (built-in ATSC tuner).  The problem is many stations broadcast 4:3 programming as 16:9 with black bars on the sides, so even if the tuner knows your TV's aspect ratio, it can't distinguish between 4:3 broadcast with side bars and 16:9.  I don't know why zooming HD isn't a possibility.

[pdtricn]

In Sound and Vision, Feb/Mar 05, it states that standard definition programs can look better on EDTV than HDTV, citing only one processing step is needed, line doubling , to match the native resolution.  This is as opposed  to having two processing steps to view standard in HDTV, line doubling and scaling.  Therefore, this "extra step", can make the "image look soft or smeared". So I think I understand this now, and the first reply was correct!  It is too bad the engineers couldn't figure out a way to sharpen the image, as there are so many more non high-def channels still and most people would assume like I did, wrongly, that the best way to view it is through the HDTV set-up.