Can't get my HD TV to view correctly.

[IMADVDNUT]

Okay this is driving me buggy -

Samsung TV - HL-R6167W

Scientific Atlanta cable box - Explorer 8300HD

On TV options - Picture - Size - 16:9, Panorama, Zoom1, Zoom2,4:3 (no settings for 1080i or 720p on the TV that I can see)

Cable box - Settings, Advanced settings has the following

Output formats - Has 720p selected also has 1080i, 480i, 480p (all can be dotted but only that one is)

Aspect ratio - 16:9 with sub options of sidebar,stretch or zoom the 4:3 picture then has a 4:3 option with sub options of letterbox, squeeze or zoom 16:9.

The problem is I pick 16:9 on both TV and cable box with sidebaring 4:3 and the 4:3 still shows as stretched. If I set 4:3 on the TV no matter what I can't get 4:3 to show without all 4 bars around the picture and wide screen does NOT fill the screen.

How in the heck do I get this TV to display 4:3 programming with just a sidebar and not top and bottom bars AND to atuomatically go to Widescreen when wide screen programming comes on?

I don't like 4:3 showing on a 16:9 cause the faces look fat and unhuman and I hate how small widescreen looks in 4:3 cause its a waste of space. I was hoping there wa one setting and I didn't have to fiddle with the remote for every darn program I pick to get it looking right.

Anyone with any thoughts on how to get this all working without manual intervention all the time?

[edDV]

720p 16:9 HDMI/DVI is the correct connection setting for 8300HD -> that TV.

Stretched 4:3 is a TV problem. Call Samsung customer support.

[IMADVDNUT]

4:3 isn't stretched in itself....

4:3 has a problem that when widescreen comes on it does not go to 16:9 and fill the screen instead it not only side bars but top and bottom bars as well.

16:9 setting is what stretches the 4:3 so the heads look misshapen (as I assumed it would).

[pegcity]

its a limitation with widescreen hdtv's. Use the panorama setting in 4:3 mode, makes the picture look more normal.

[edDV]

4:3 isn't stretched in itself....

4:3 has a problem that when widescreen comes on it does not go to 16:9 and fill the screen instead it not only side bars but top and bottom bars as well.

16:9 setting is what stretches the 4:3 so the heads look misshapen (as I assumed it would).

Are we still talking about HD channels?

What you are seeing is 4:3 letterbox from the 8300HD. It needs to be in HD 16:9 mode. If the TV is in HD 16:9 mode as well it will see sidebars only when they go to 4:3 upscale. I think you don't have the 8300HD set correctly. You may not even be getting HD. Does the TV indicate 720P mode?

I assure you it can be set correctly but I'm on a motorola here.

Most of these boxes have separate settings for HD and SD channels (e.g. 720p for HD and 480p for SD). Today, much of what comes over the HD channel is upscaled SD. If properly set, 480i stuff will show full height and with black sidebars. If the SD channel is showing letterbox (e.g. HBO SD channels) then you will see black on 4 sides unless you use the TV zoom function. This is the way it is.

[jliles]

Hi there...

I have the non-DVR version of this box, the 3250HD, and this problem drove me absolutely bananas as well. This thread will save your sanity, and as a bonus give you other tips and tricks for your box:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=471859&page=1&pp=30

Basically, these boxes get shipped from the factory with 1080i enabled using a "fixed" video setting, meaning it ALWAYS sends a 1080i signal to your TV even when the content you want to watch is actually 4:3 standard definition material. Since your TV thinks it's getting an HD signal, it locks into widescreen mode, and 4:3 material is distorted.

The link describes a hidden menu you can access to enable and disable specific resolutions for your TV. The second thing you'll want to do is set the General Settings to Pass-Through. Press the Settings button twice and scroll to Set:Picture Format, select Pass-Through. This means that the box won't try to upscale a standard definition signal. 480i gets sent to your TV as 480i. Now you can either use your TV's own stretch modes to handle the 4:3 material as you like it or you can set the cable box to pillarbox 4:3 material and your request will be honored.

Give it a try, it worked for me.

Julie

[jliles]

Oh, and of course 16:9 HD material will automatically fill the screen correctly without you needing to do anything.