DTV converter box, screen size-related question

[Ai Haibara]

Probably a rather stupid question, but do all or most DTV converter boxes assume you're using a 4:3 TV?

I've got a cheap RCA box attached to an HDTV - yes, it's capable of receiving the channels itself, and does, but I still wanted to use my old VCR. The RCA box wants to output in 4:3 only, and pseudo-widescreens the DTV signal.

[edDV]

Probably a rather stupid question, but do all or most DTV converter boxes assume you're using a 4:3 TV?

I've got a cheap RCA box attached to an HDTV - yes, it's capable of receiving the channels itself, and does, but I still wanted to use my old VCR. The RCA box wants to output in 4:3 only, and pseudo-widescreens the DTV signal.

Gov't approved DTV converters output only analog composite or sometimes S-Video. They assume a 4:3 analog conventional TV.

"pseudo-widescreens the DTV signal"

You mean letterbox?

[Ai Haibara]

Gov't approved DTV converters output only analog composite or sometimes S-Video. They assume a 4:3 analog conventional TV.

Ah, I thought that might be the case. Guess I'll just have to live with it, then; it wasn't really a big deal.

"pseudo-widescreens the DTV signal"

You mean letterbox?

Yeah - I blanked on that term for a moment. Thanks.

[sambat]

The Zenith gives two settings.
I have it connected to a DVD recorder thence to the TV.
I can't tell the OTA into the TV and the analog from the converter, apart.

[edDV]

Which Zenith model is this?

Are you getting ATSC broadcast for OTA? That NBC logo doesn't match ATSC here.

[usually_quiet]

Some coupon-eligible converter boxes have more than two options for picture size, but only on HD channels. Mine has "normal" for letterbox, "full" for anamorphic, and "Zoom" for full-screen.

[edit] I am watching an ATSC channel now (via converter box) and just saw the same NBC logo pictured. The all-green one is used with the game info, but it appears by itself at times.

[sambat]

Zenith DTT901.
The HDTV OTA feed is from the NBC affiliate in Detroit.

Which Zenith model is this?

Are you getting ATSC broadcast for OTA? That NBC logo doesn't match ATSC here.