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4 Chapter 1
Introduction
Chapter 1 5
Chapter 1: Introduction
Resolution and interlacing
Two of the elements that determine the quality of a TV picture are resolution and interlacing.
• Resolution: For TV equipment and broadcasts, resolution is dened by the number of horizontal lines displayed
to make up each frame of a video image. The more lines of resolution used to draw each frame of video, the more
detailed and sharp the picture will be. Standard TV resolution uses 480 horizontal lines to make up each frame of
video. HDTV uses either 720 lines or 1080 lines to make each video frame.
• Interlacing: When TVs display video, they display a new video frame at a rate that is faster than your eye can see
(from 24 to 60 frames per second, depending on the TV and broadcast). Interlacing refers to whether each of those
frames contains all of the lines of video for each frame or every other line. Interlaced signals take every other line
from 2 frames of video (each lasting 1/60th of a second), and combine them into one frame lasting 1/30th of a second.
In non-interlaced video, (referred to as progressive scan video), video frames are displayed every 1/60th of a second
containing all of the lines of video information for each frame.
The specications for video resolutions are usually stated by giving the number of horizontal lines, followed by either the
letter i, for interlaced video, or p for progressive scan video. Most standard TV broadcasts are 480i (480 lines of interlaced
video resolution). Some DVDs and non-HDTV digital TV broadcasts use 480p. The ATSC specication for HDTV broadcasts
and equipment requires either 1080i or 720p.
Video output options
The DIRECTV
®
HD Receiver is able to receive broadcasts in any of the resolutions mentioned above. It can also display
programs on TVs or monitors capable of displaying any of those resolutions. To set up your HD Receiver to handle the
combinations of incoming video formats and TV display capabilities, set the RESOLUTION SELECT switch on the front
panel (see page 69 for more information) to match the highest resolution your TV or monitor is capable of displaying. (If
you’re not sure about your TV’s resolution, see your TV’s manual for this specication.) The HD Receiver will then do the
appropriate conversion from input signal format to display format.
The table below details the results you get with each combination of input signal format and TV display format.
For 1080i, 720p, 480p or 480i signals
With the RESOLUTION SELECT
switch set to:
The Component, RGB and DVI
jacks will output:
The Video Out, TV Out and
S-Video jacks will output:
1080i 1080i 480i
720p 720p 480i
480p/i 480p 480i
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Note for DVI Output users: If you've used the DVI output to connect the HD Receiver to your monitor, you can use
the Auto Resolution feature to get the best resolution supported by your monitor automatically, without having to
set the RESOLUTION SELECT switch (see page 65 for instructions on turning Auto Resolution on). The Auto Resolution
feature may not work with all monitors.