Panasonic DMR-EZ28K Weird 4:3 16:9 problem

[vatkat234]

The local NBC channel in Boston does not broadcast in 16:9 but broadcast in anamorphic.

When viewing all local broadcast and the Panasonic DMR-EZ28K is set to 16:9 I still get a 4:3 picture. I'm getting the same feed that they give out for cable and directTV and dish. Now when a NBC show like the "Office" it shows up in 16:9.

ABC, CBS, FOX all play fine in 16:9

The other problem is with the local NBC is the commercials. When Panasonic DMR-EZ28K is playing a 4:3 and a 16:9 commercial show things in the picture are to tall. This also happens when watching the "office" that comes in at 16:9 and a 4:3 commercial comes in everything is to short. so to see the commercials right I have to use the TV remote and go back and forth from normal to wide setting.

The tuner in the Panasonic DMR-EZ28K seems to not like http://www1.whdh.com/

I found out that the local NBC station http://www1.whdh.com/ broadcast in anamorphic when I hooked up a converter box from Radio Shack.

Digital Stream Digital-to-Analog Converter w/ Pass-through
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3150939

Once the Digital Stream was set to anamorphic the local NBC station broadcast fine.

But the weird thing is why does the Panasonic DMR-EZ28K crop the picture to a 4:3?

[orsetto]

There is probably nothing you can do about this. All the recorder mfrs have had huge problems integrating ATSC tuners into their machines: all of them have various hiccups like this with some stations. For whatever reason, the ATSC tuners built into televisions and converter boxes work better and more consistently than those built into recorders. Since you have a Digital Stream box, just connect it to your EZ28 line inputs and set the recorder to "line" when you need to record that channel. If it makes you feel any better, the NBC flagship station here in NYC is no picnic either: they can't make up their minds minute to minute whether they're 16:9 or 4:3 (very annoying). Overall, the EZ28 tuner has fewer reported issues than many other ATSC recorders (Sony and Toshiba are much worse).

[vatkat234]

Thanks orsetto

I called Panasonic and they said they will look into the problem. If more people call Panasonic 1-800-211-PANA (7262) there is a better chance of the problem getting fixed with a firmware update.

[vatkat234]

The the problem

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1007613&page=16

Originally Posted by vatkat234 View Post
Channel 7 Boston that is in HD 7-1 NBC. All local broadcast comes in 4:3. But when I switch to my HDTV tuner that is built into my TV I get the 16:9 picture.

rperlberg http://www.avsforum.com/ Member
The problem is Active Format Description. AFD is a code embedded in the video which identifies the format. In this case, it is identifying the video as being an SD source upscaled to HD with side pillars. Many receivers, like the Panasonic EZ recorders, use this signal to automatically zoom the picture. Unfortunately, NBC has chosen to abuse this feature and identify most, if not all, of their HD programming as pillarboxed so that it will appear without letterbox bars on an SD set. The real problem is that many receiving devices, like the Panny's, do not give you the option of overriding this function.

AVS Forum thread: Anyone with a converter being "denied" letterboxed output?

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1148095

Wikipedia article on Active Format Description

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_Format_Description

[vatkat234]

Okay guys we need to write to the FCC and file a complaint. Click on the FCC link.

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumers.html

Click on "File a Complaint"

The pick "Broadcast (TV and Radio), Cable, and Satellite Issues" click next.

Now pick "DTV issues"

Now click on "ONLINE FORM" in the yellow banner. Tell the FCC how NBC is abusing the Active Format Description (AFD) or any other channel.