HD Aspect ratios taller then 16:9 on 4:3 TV

[FulciLives]

TNT HD is a channel that doesn't look "right" on my cable system ... and I don't have a problem with other channels.

I mentioned it (the TNT HD problem) in a thread at the AVS FORUM and someone said that TNT HD is just "messed up" apparently for a lot of people though I guess it depends on the cable/satellite company.

So yeah my TNT HD is all squashed looking as well.

In short don't use that channel as a guide!

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[akrako1]

27PT830H -- The upper connector block has "wideband" YPbPr (good for 480i, 480p or 1080i) and VGA (good for 640x480@60 Hz, 480i, 480p, 540p, 1080i when using Powerstrip software from a computer).

Alright, I moved my cable to the upper block (input 4). I switched it with my DVD Recorder which was going into the 'CVI' input, which is also component. The TV still doesn't say '1080i' or anything, and I still have the options to 'compress 16:9', and the 4:3 settings. The picture may look a slight bit better for HD, but I'll need to do some more testing. I'l also need to wait for something close to 1.66:1 to air, and report back.

Thanks.

addendum: damn, read the last post after I posted this. Stupid TNT, I knew they were good for nothin'.

[edDV]

Comcast here doesn't include TNT-HD yet. The others look the same for wide movies: Networks, InHD 1 and 2, Discover HD, HBO, Showtime.

PBS-HD mostly sticks to 16:9 for HD + lots of upscaled 16:9 SD
Most of the nation gets the same off satellite PBS-HD direct feed. Few PBS stations have local HD capablity.

ESPN is all 720p with lots of upscaled 4:3 SD with pillars.

[akrako1]

I've been checking, and I've yet to see a movie broadcast correctly on TNT-HD. What a joke. It seems that all of their movies are cut or scaled to something around 14:9 - which I find impossible to view correctly. I'd complain, but I'm guessing they'd counter that they are the only free-basic cable channel that has a HD counterpart. Long story short, TNT HD is a pile of crap - except some HD tv show reruns (ER, Law & Order, etc).

[edDV]

If we are comparing TV set aspect ratio performance, it's probably best to use PBS-HD since all the stations just pass the same national satellite feed with no local hocus pocus. Although PBS rarely airs 2.35:1 letterbox.

Next best is probably HBO-HD