How to make sure you are watching the Super Bowl in HD
By Ben Drawbaugh 
posted Jan 31st 2007 12:17PM
posted Jan 31st 2007 12:17PM
The big game is almost upon us and Engadget HD readers know all too well how many people out there have HDTVs, but aren't watching HD and since many of us will be at Super Bowl parties, it is our duty to make sure the HDTVs are setup properly.If you think the HDTV is setup properly it doesn't hurt to double check and here are some rules that should go without saying, but we're not going to let that stop us.
- Just because you have an HDTV, doesn't meant you are watching HDTV.
- Just because you have an HDTV STB, doesn't mean you are watching HDTV
- And just because you have an HDMI or component cable connecting your HD STB to your HDTV, doesn't mean you are watching HDTV.
- Try to get to the party a little early, most won't appreciate you adjusting the TV during the big game so get it all checked out before hand.
- Make sure the HD STB is connected to the HDTV via either component or HDMI and look at what input you are plugged into, many HDTV have multiples of each.
- Check the STB and verify that it is set to the appropriate output resolution for the HDTV, most TVs will be 720p or 1080i consult the manual for supported resolutions on each input, some STBs can be configured with the remote like a TiVo, others will have a resolution button on the front of the box. Most cable boxes like Motorola and Scientific Atlanta are less than intuitive, so be prepared to download the manual for the STB. For example some of the Motorola DVRs requires the STB to be in the standby state to configure the output resolution.
- After you're sure the STB is configured correctly, double check the HDTV to make sure that the correct input is selected.
- The last thing is make sure that all the stretch modes are turned off. Both the HDTV and the STB will have stretch modes so you need to double check both of them, since many installers leave them on so customers don't call and complain about black bars. Most of the time the button on the remote to set the stretch mode will be plainly marked, but in same cases like the remote Bright House Networks gives out for their SA STBs it is the # key, we're not sure how anyone could ever figure that out other wise, but hey what do you expect?
Now that everything you have verified that everything is setup properly you can finally enjoy the game in HD!
**Update** One last thing, make sure you are on the right channel!
Oh man. Last year I get screwed out of HD Super Bowl because Charter in STL doesn't carry Fox in HD. Then just a few months ago Charter and the local CBS station couldn't come to an agreement over the price of carrying the station so Charter dropped CBS HD from the lineup. So another year of SD Super Bowl. Maybe I should have got the built-in tuner...
Eable117:
My antenna picks up CBS wonderfully in Belleville.
perhaps you should consult EBAY or Newegg for an ATSC tuner, and just cut out Charter. I'd be much happier if I could get rid of them for internet as well, but I don't have SBCdsl option.
This really should be for the host. If anyone came into my house and said let me make sure you set everything up right, I would kick them out. Don't do this, if they have an HD set, then they most likely have it set up right. If not, watch it on your own HD tv, or get a job so you can afford one.
uh, jeff and palooz, its a bit of a joke, see?
anyway, when i rushed over to my parents house recently for a family gathering inconveniently scheduled during the eagle play off game, i was dismayed to find a roomful of adults watching my parents HDTV on the SD channel in stretch mode. I probably wouldnt want to risk a punch on the nose by trying to hijack someones set up per the above directions....but i certainly wouldnt want to sit in someones house watching in SD like a yahoo. I'd probably just pretend to be allergic to the cat or something and leave...
Don't forget to make sure you're on the right channel. All will fail if your STB is set to the standard CBS affiliate broadcast instead of their digital broadcast. This might be the most common mistake I see people make.
Does this really even apply to those of us that get our HD via OTA with an ATSC built in to the TV? I know ATSC integrated tuners is more of a recent feature for HDTVs but I'm just kind of surprised that the owner of said TV wouldn't check the connections before having guests over, I know I would!
Yeah, VJ, you're right. I see people tuning into the old digital cable channels when they should be tuning into HD channels. With Comcast, you just prefix the old channel with 8 to get HD. So CBS SD is 4, HD is 804. SD Fox is 25, HD fox is 825.
With the Motorola STB, at least from Comcast, all you do to change the picture output is turn the box off, press the Menu button on the front of the box (you can't use the remote), and a configuration menu will appear on your TV where you can set the output parameters.
The SD to HD channel conversion for Comcast probably varies from area to area the way all the channels do. In my area, there is no simple algorithm - CBS and Fox are 29 and 25 for SD, respectively, and 214 and 213 for HD.
Now, OTA people are covered provided they are on the right channel. But if you know about OTA HD then odds are you don't need help.
It is necessary, this actually happened to be at a New Years party last month. The guy was thrilled that I "fixed" his TV, he didn't know how to turn the stretch off his STB.
This has got to be one of the dumbest things I've ever seen or heard of.
To make sure I'm watching an HD station, I use my freaking eyes. I look at it. If these stupid football fans can't tell the difference between 480i and 1080i, then they sure as hell won't care whether or not they are actually watching the Super Bowl in HD.
Wow, I truely am baffled that someone would have to "make sure" they are watching something in HD ... you'd think that since "HD" is such a big hyped up mess, people would know the difference.
Out of luck for me this year also. No CBS HD though Dish locals and no OTA CBS in my area. Digital channel in my area... just not HD yet. :(
Eagle117, I am screwed also because of the Charter/KMOV feud! It is a good excuse to buy a new HDTV, which I am picking up tomorrow.
I just recently purchased a 1080p 71" Samsung DLP TV and got the Comcast HD DVR. I've been hearing anecdotes that suggest that 720p is better than the 1080i... Is this so? Should I change my output on the DVR down to 720p?
Wait LISTEN TO THIS:
Cox, in my area, new orleans, wants CBS(aka WWL) to give them the hd channel for free, since cox doesnt charge customers for their hd channels.
Well, cox also has a special channel for CBS that broadcasts thier local news channel(WWL) around the clock 24/7.
But since CBS(WWL) wont give cox the hd channel for free. Cox is saying they will drop CBS(WWL) and thier 24/7 around the clock local news from thier lineup by jan. 31st,2007.
And that cox will find a new partner to have for thier 24/7 around the clock local news.
Man, i agree with cox on this one, because CBS is broadcasting free over the air, but to just straight up get rid of CBS entirely.
wow, cox neworleans has balls. and alot of people are going to get the wrong idea about what cox is trying to do.
meh. What else is on?