MrOctober
join:2008-10-28
Ashburn, VA | Guides, menus on HD channels
When I'm on an hd channel, I can't see the guide or menu or the dvr section on the screen. Isn't there a setting you can change on the box for that? I know you can turn the box off hit menu and change settings, but I' not sure which one. |
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Greg_Z
Premium
join:2001-08-08
Springfield, IL | First things first, how is your tv hooked up to the DVR? As for resolution settings, it is Power off, then Menu.
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I threw out the map a long time ago. Now I follow my own direction! |
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wanger
join:2008-04-20
Reading, PA
 ·Comcast
| reply to MrOctober
Common problem, especially with SIK(Self Install Kits)... You have your TV hooked up to the cable box by using the coax/rf connection and watching the cable on your TV's Channel 4. You will not be able to get a guide or menu while you are on an HD channel, but you will be able to when you are on a SD channel. Need to disconnect the coax from the TV and connect either a component cable to it or another HD cable source. Don't know what box you are using so, I would go with the old stand-by of the component cables and change your TV's input to the reflect it. Then you will be able to watch your HD channels in the proper resolution and regain your guide/menu feature. |
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MrOctober
join:2008-10-28
Ashburn, VA | A tech was at my house for a trouble call, he had to switch boxes. He went to the settings and change something to make the guide visible on hd channels using a coax/rf connection.
I called Comcast and they had no clue about any setting |
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wanger
join:2008-04-20
Reading, PA
·Comcast
| Mr October, what the tech did was change the resolution to 480i or 480p so you can view it... If you have your cable box hooked via the coax then you ARE NOT getting a true 720p or 1080i HD picture. You are only getting a 480i or 480p picture. The only ways to get an HD picture is direct coax to the TV from the wall outlet w/ a Quam TV Tuner, or hd box using component cable, DVI cable, HDMI cable or firewire. So, if anyone thinks they are getting HD resolution from a coax coming from the HD cable box, they are mistaken and need to read their owners manual for their TV and check how to hook up the HD cable box to their TV. This is where people are trying to save a couple bucks and end up taking the chance of getting charged for a trouble call and/or a failed SIK(self install kit) fee, too. I think it pays to have someone else come out and install it for a person and have it hooked up correctly. (well, some areas differ than others in the quality of their techs/contractors) |
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cypherstream
Looking forward to the future of things.
Premium,MVM
join:2004-12-02
Reading, PA
clubs:
| reply to MrOctober
wanger is right. It's refreshing to see someone from my area know how to properly hook up a cable box. Time and time again I've seen them hooked up with just coax, or coax and hd cables, and that also confuses the customer because they could accidently use Ch 3 or 4 instead of the proper input.
The order of quality from best to worst hookup is:
For HD Signals (Supports 720p/1080i High Def)
HDMI Cable - single wire cable
Component Cables - 5 wire cable (Red, Green, Blue, Left/Right Audio)
For SD Signals (No RF interference. Stereo Sound)
S-Video (if Available) (4 pin din connector, almost like a PS/2 keyboard or mouse connector) + White/Red audio wires
Composite video (Yellow, White, Red wires)
For the worst quality
Coax cable - RF Modulated to Ch 3 or 4. No stereo sound, susceptible to RF interference, and grain is superimposed on that great digital picture making it suboptimal. |
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rej4sl
join:2008-07-11
Minneapolis, MN
| reply to MrOctober
Yup we bought our HD TV and we did a self install as we already had a HD DVR box before we bought the tv - and we wondered why we were were getting a crappy picture - read the manuals - read these forums and got neat advice and called Comcast and picked up a component cable - got more advice on how to set up the SA box we have and we get a neat picture - self install uggh ....but at least we got it working eventually would have been much easier to get someone to do it for us |
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andyross
join:2003-05-04
Schaumburg, IL
| reply to MrOctober
To clarify what happens: If the box is configured to output HD (480p (?), 720p or 1080i) on the component/digital outputs, it will NOT output graphics on the non-HD outputs (S-Video, composite, RF) when those HD outputs are actually sending an HD signal. If you configure the box to output 480i for SD channels (even if it's HD for HD channels), you will get graphics on the SD outputs when viewing an SD channel.
As others said, if you have an HDTV, then use the HDMI or component outputs, and the proper input on the TV. To be safe, I would DISCONNECT the RF cable between the box and TV so you never mistakenly view downconverted HD.
You can see the Wikibook for the proper settings. For most HDTV's, the default of 1080i for HD and 480i for SD (4:3 OVERRIDE) is fine. If you don't like the slight delay when changing resolutions, or like stretched pictures, you can try some of the other options:
»en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use···VR/Setup |
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