Smart Little Lena,

Thanks for the info. The satellite receiver is an RCA DRD450RG, which isn't HD compable (not quite there yet) but does support DD via an optical output. I'm starting to suspect the dss receiver and I never had this problem with my old Sony SAT-A55.

p.s. Sorry all about the double post. It was either internet being flaky or user error. Yeah flaky internet ... that's my story and I'm sticking with it..