How does one "zoom" HD channels??

[Johnny Canuck]

Hello. i just got my 42" Panny Plasma and a HD cable box.
A few questions on resolution settings.

If I watch regular or digital channels in 480i or 480p I can go full screen, zoom, just etc with the "aspect" control. How does one get a full screen picture from 720p or 1080i if they are broadcasting a 4:3 picture? If I watch so called HD channels and they are not showing a wide screen program, it will not zoom. As I am breaking in this new TV and do not want black bars on the sides or top/bottom, this is concerning. I have tried HDMI and component. Is this normal or is it just this TV with this problem.

Thanks

JC

[justmegee]

I have the 50" panasonic plasma and figured out
the aspect button on the tv control does not work for
hd channels but the video source button at the bottom of the
cable remote does. I have the time warner cable remote
ur5-8400. give that a try.

justme

[BMXTRIX]

There is no such thing as a 4:3 broadcast on a HD channel. I know you are looking at a 4:3 commercial on your HD channel and thinking to yourself "This guy doesn't know what he's talking about."

Really - I do.

When you see 4:3 programming on a HD channel they are actually broadcasting a full 16:9 HD broadcast. They take the original standard definition 4:3 information, then they put black bars on the sides, then they convert it to 1080i or 720p format, then they broadcast it. So, you actually get a full 16:9 broadcast in 1080i or 720p. Which, most TVs can't manipulate at all.

But, quite often, as said above, the cable box, or satellite box, can still stretch, zoom, etc. with the HD image. But, it is all TV and box dependent. If your TV won't do it, then check to see if the cable/sat box will do it. If neither will, and it is a long show, then switch to the regular definition channel and watch that way. At least until you have your display properly broken in.

I know with my display, the TV does not allow manipulation of HD signals, but the cable box does, so I use the cable boxes aspect controls.

[Johnny Canuck]

is this a Panasonic thing?? I can't zoom HD no matter what I do.

[BMXTRIX]

It is common with many TVs that they don't let you zoom or do other things with HD that you can with regular TV. 480i regular TV is MUCH easier to manipulate than HDTV is.

As said - use your cable or satellite remote's aspect ratio button and see what happens.