4:3 HDTV signal blues

[rob_fed]

Hello,

My name is Rob, I am new to this forum, but I have read many interesting posts and the information is great!

I have a Samsung HPP5071 Plasma TV and I recently started renting the HDTV cable converter from Comcast (DCT6200).

The output(s) from the DCT6200 are connected to the TV through the component video connections.

Here is my problem, for example, when viewing the HD NBC channel, and the local news is broadcasted, the broadcast is in 4:3 format with the black vertical bars. Is there anyway to force HD channel 4:3 formatted programs to fill the entire screen? I am just afraid of burn-in from the vertical bars. Obviously, when a movie or TV program is in 16:9 format, I have not issues.

Also, when viewing analog signals, the TV is capable of stretching the image.

From the DCT6200 side, I have tried all combinations of the intial setup to see if I could always have a wide picture.

I have set the following two parameters

YpBrBp OUTPUT = 1080i 720p 480i 480p
4:3 OVERRIDE = 480i 480p OFF

I tried all combinations of each, but anything broadcasted on a HD channel in 4:3 format stay in 4:3 format.

I would of thought that the 4:3 OVERRIDE setting of OFF would of accomplished what I want, but it does not seem to make a difference if it is OFF or 480i.

I am probably missing the point somewhere. Can anyone help me?


Thanks,

Rob
Sacramento, CA

 

[Unregistered]

The tv probably has a setting called 'zoom' or something similar that will do what you want.

 

[Unregistered]

You likely will not be able to do it.

Some displays allow you to zoom in on 1080i material. But, if your plasma will not do aspect ratio control on 1080i stuff, then you will not be able to go into zoom or letterbox mode.

The deal is that you are never looking at a 4x3 image on a HD station. You are looking at a 16x9 image that is made up of a 4x3 image in the middle and black or some other color on the edges to fill it up to 16x9. The receiver 100% is receiving 16x9 HD broadcast from NBC/ABC/CBS and has no way to know that the content shown is really only 4x3.

Motorolla boxes are some of the best out there, but they can't deal with what you are asking of them. If your TV also can't handle the issue, then you can just watch the channel on a non-hd station if it worries you.

 

[djoxygen]

If Comcast is similar to TimeWarner, you're out of luck because that signal really is 16:9 and your set is already set to "fill" or whatever terminology it uses to describe correct display of anamorphic source material.

 

[rgriffin25]

If you are that concerned with burn in, watch the news cast on its analog channel. The only HD box I have seen that will do what you are asking is a LG LST 4200. It is a OTA HD box that is supposed to decode cable channels as well. (Although I doubt any cable company will ever support it.)

In my area COX only offers ABC for my local HD channels. So I bought the LG box to get the other channels. Mainly for Football and Baseball in HD on FOX and CBS.

 

[rob_fed]

Thanks for all of the information. For now, I will have to alternate between the HD box and analog cable signal.

 

[docferdie]

NBC, CBS and I think the WB automatically pillarbox their 4x3 content and broadcast it as 16x9 1080i that is why you can not rely on any automatic 4:3 detection algorithms because the picture is not actually 4:3.

 

[rob_fed]

Thanks for articulating this issue. After experimenting the last couple of days, I actually understand!

This forum and others like this are great!