psugold
@comcast.net
|  Can you change aspect ratio on HD box?
Is there a way to change the aspect ratio on the cable box settings instead of through the TV? My father and I have the same LCD TV, set up the same way, and his TV has the non HD channels full screen while mine show the black bars on the sides. Both are set up 16:9 on the TV. I duplicated settings and mine still had the black bars, his doesn't. Can I change this through the cable box? I use the motorola HD DVR connected via HDMI. Thanks. |
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MacLeech
The one and only
Premium,MVM
join:2001-07-14
SoCal | Power off the box and press the menu key to access the aspect ratio settings. |
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cypherstream
There's no place like 127.0.0.1
join:2004-12-02
Reading, PA
clubs: | reply to psugold
My settings in the Power off , Menu screen are:
TV Type: 16:9
DVI/YPbPr OUTPUT 1080I
4:3 OVERRIDE STRETCH
And it does exactly what you want. |
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pennstatejim
join:2007-10-10
Reading, PA
 ·Verizon Online DSL
 ·Comcast
| said by cypherstream  :My settings in the Power off , Menu screen are: TV Type: 16:9 DVI/YPbPr OUTPUT 1080I 4:3 OVERRIDE STRETCH And it does exactly what you want. Cypher,
I did this yesterday for the first time and I love how the guide now stays 4:3 instead of being stretched and there is no "pause" when going from HD to SD channels, but I can't get the 4:3 to stretch across the screen and eliminate the pillar boxes... |
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Catwoman
Premium
join:2003-06-11
Normal, IL
edit:
July 2nd, @10:55AM
| In my opinion I would have the 4:3 override set to off. (if you have a 16:9 tv) I have a 50 inch screen and I am used to the bars. I think the picture is better if it is not fiddled with. I think if you have a small screen then maybe you would want to set it to override stretch because you would have less viewing area on your screen with the bars on the sides.
I had mine on stretch for awhile and then changed to override off and it looks better to me. Just my 2 cents for what it's worth. |
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pennstatejim
join:2007-10-10
Reading, PA | I prefer to not have the 4:3 aspect with the pillar boxes, simply because I don't want the burn in on my plasma. I have on occasion watched a pillar boxed channel and then changed it to a full screen channel and had tbe pillar box burn in. |
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Catwoman
Premium
join:2003-06-11
Normal, IL | Well that's not good, I can see why in your situation you would want that setting. I thought they were getting better with plasma tv's as far as burn in. I guess my next purchase will be LCD. |
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pennstatejim
join:2007-10-10
Reading, PA | They are getting better with it, and it's not nearly as bad as it used to be, and the burn-in is under warranty except for Video Game burn-in, but I still don't want to deal with it... |
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cypherstream
There's no place like 127.0.0.1
join:2004-12-02
Reading, PA
clubs:
 ·Cingular Wireless
edit:
July 2nd, @01:36PM
| reply to psugold
There are times where the girl of the house falls asleep on an HD channel. You know as well as I, late night programming on an HD channel is almost ALWAYS 4:3. So yes, the next day I do notice darker area's at the sides of the screen on full screen material. It's not so much 'burn-in' per say, but known as Image Retention (or I.R.). After a half hour of any full screen content, the screen washes itself back to normal. Burn In wouldn't be correctable, whereas I.R. goes away after awhile.
Just to be on the safe side and prevent potential burn in, I like to stretch all material. I understand about being a purist and not wanting to mess with the aspect ratio, but I want to protect my screen and also get full use out of the screen I paid for and not waste a good percentage of screen real-estate.
My TV has a zoom mode called Wide Fit which will stretch 4:3 content in a 16:9 signal to fit the screen, eliminating pillar bars for SD content on an HD channel. I mapped this Samsung zoom remote code to the HD Zoom button on the Comcast remote so I no longer have to juggle two remotes for this function.
Why did I get a plasma then? Well first and foremost, from viewing a lot of different TV's, I was much more impressed with the overall image quality of the Plasma. The contrast ratio (15,000:1) was much better, and I also thought SD material looked a little better. Let's face it, 90% of all programming is SD. At least in today's world your still going to want a fair SD performing TV. Maybe in a few years that won't matter so much. So Contrast Ratio, Color quality, SD quality, HD quality and Price led me to a Samsung plasma TV.
LCD is getting better and better (as with any technology). I would highly consider some top end LCD's with LED back lighting in the future. |
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Catwoman
Premium
join:2003-06-11
Normal, IL
| I understand better now why you would want to do that with a plasma. I'm just weird when it comes to having the picture in the correct aspect ratio. I have and ancient samsung dlp and I really like it,but I want to get something I can put on the wall. I would maybe want a 52 or 54 inch to gain some of the screen real-estate back. It looks like I will be going with an lcd though.
I'm sure my husband will love to hear of all these new ideas I have in mind!! He probably thinks this old dlp is just fine, but I really really want to have a tv I can mount on the wall. I'm sure he will also be very happy when I tell him I also want someone to come in and install new surround system in the walls or ceiling to conceal them. He calls me a high maintenance woman lol |
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pennstatejim
join:2007-10-10
Reading, PA
·Verizon Online DSL
·Comcast
| said by Catwoman :I'm sure my husband will love to hear of all these new ideas I have in mind!! He probably thinks this old dlp is just fine, but I really really want to have a tv I can mount on the wall. I'm sure he will also be very happy when I tell him I also want someone to come in and install new surround system in the walls or ceiling to conceal them. He calls me a high maintenance woman lol I wish my wife thought that way! LOL |
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cypherstream
There's no place like 127.0.0.1
join:2004-12-02
Reading, PA
clubs: | reply to Catwoman
I was going to say you sound like the perfect wife!!! |
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Catwoman
Premium
join:2003-06-11
Normal, IL
edit:
July 2nd, @10:29PM
| Ha Ha Ha, I don't know if he thinks that sometimes. It is strange because I really enjoy computers and all electronics. He could care less. He just doesn't understand. He can barely use the remote lol. So we are an unusual couple.
I am the official installer of all of my families new HD TVs and surround sound systems. I also do all my families' computers. (that gets a little old,being tech support) I can do most everything except something like putting the speakers in the wall.
Oh and by the way, I am not some tomboy woman lol (nothing against tomboys just not my thing)
I like makeup and nails,the latest clothes and of course I have to have my hair done every 8 weeks. lol That's the stuff he says cost lots of money and makes me high maintenance. Oh I forgot I like the occasional new piece of jewelry on my birthday or Christmas.
One other thing and I'll shut up cause I know I am way off topic here. I cannot cook a thing to save my life, every time I attempt to cook something I either get burned or stabbed with something. Needless to say we eat out allot. Now you all know more about me than you wanted to!!! |
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Steve C
@comcast.net
| reply to psugold
If you have a Samsung tv it's simple to fix. When you set the aspect ratio it's for each specific signal type. if you have the box set at 1080i and 4x3 override turned on don't use stretch.
When you are on an HD channel set your tv to 16x9. all HD stations will then show in widescreen. Go to an SD station that is 4x3 and set the television psize to 4x3 or you can zoom it if you like. After you do that it will remember on the television to switch between 4x3 and wide automatically.
If you have a newer plasam then burn in should not be a problem as long as you have the burn in protection features turned on |
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