HD channels and cable guide/info

[MDS]

I got the Toshiba 52LX177 this morning and so far so good although I've yet to do any calibration.

I have Time Warner cable and have 16 free HD channels plus HBO and Cinemax HD because I pay for those premium channels. I've noticed a strange behavior with the Guide and Info features of the cable box and was wondering if anybody else has an HD cable box with the same behavior.

Normally the guide shows the current channel picture in a small square at the upper right. When the current channel is HD, the guide comes up fine but the preview window is black. Likewise when you hit info the info bar comes up at the bottom of the screen but the picture goes black until you dismiss the info bar. Non-HD channels work the way they always have.

Maybe it's just a limitation of the Scientific Atlanta 3100HD box I have.

 

[Adam]

Are you sure that the screen is black? Isn't it green? After all, you did buy a Toshiba. Just kidding, MDS!

 

[nick1000000]

I would make sure your box is set for an HD tv. When I got my cable box I had to change some settings on it to show the correct size picture on the TV. There should be a setting for 1080p TV's or something like that.

 

[MDS]

Ha, I've been looking intently for green where it shouldn't be. I thought maybe there was a hint of green in Alton Brown's hair on the Food HD channel but it was probably just the fact that there was a green grass background and you're seeing through the wispy hair on the top of his head.

So far things mostly look very good. The default Sports picture mode is WAY too bright and actually hurts my eyes.

I went round and round with the decision of size and I think 52 was probably the right choice but even at 11 feet viewing distance the HD channels look like they are zoomed in and the whole screen is in your lap. I can't imagine having a 73" TV at my seating distance like Greg Gable but who knows, over time I may start to feel it's too small.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Ha, I've been looking intently for green where it shouldn't be. I thought maybe there was a hint of green in Alton Brown's hair on the Food HD channel but it was probably just the fact that there was a green grass background and you're seeing through the wispy hair on the top of his head.

So far things mostly look very good. The default Sports picture mode is WAY too bright and actually hurts my eyes.

I went round and round with the decision of size and I think 52 was probably the right choice but even at 11 feet viewing distance the HD channels look like they are zoomed in and the whole screen is in your lap. I can't imagine having a 73" TV at my seating distance like Greg Gable but who knows, over time I may start to feel it's too small.

I wonder how you would feel with a 114" at about 13/14ft then
Your personal IMAX

 

[MDS]

I would make sure your box is set for an HD tv. When I got my cable box I had to change some settings on it to show the correct size picture on the TV. There should be a setting for 1080p TV's or something like that.

It turns out that my cable box converts everything to 1080i and there is no setting to change anything. It even converts the analog channels that I know are 4:3 and 480i to 1080i.

The Toshiba does auto aspect detection and will display 4:3 in its 'natural' mode that has pillar boxes on the left and right but fills the screen from top to bottom. They actually don't look too bad using the Theater Wide 1 mode that stretches it to fill the screen.

I think I'm going to ask Time Warner if they have other HD boxes that would offer more control. Based on the SciAtlanta website, the next model up from the one I have can be configured to send a fixed resolution, like mine, or pass through the signal in its original resolution.

 

[MUDSHARK]

I also have a Scientific Atlanta Hd DVR with Brighthouse. There are several menus in the cable box to adjust the resolution to the types your Tv accepts as well as audio, aspects, etc... The tV should have menus as well to adjust the picture in regard to aspect (zoom1, zoom 2, etc...), brightness, contrast, mode (cinema, sports, standard).

One item however is the cable connection. I had nothing but trouble with the HDMI so I'm using component instead routed through my Marantz receiver. Others have also mentioned the problem. Something to do with a handshake or something.

 

[Lightning Steve]

I also just picked up a HD PVR and believe it's the Scientific Atlanta. My upper right picture while in Menu is okay on both HD and SD channels. I also had trouble with the HDMI not working, Componet is okay. The install book never even mentioned the box having a HDMI, found it on back and just tried using it.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Ha, I've been looking intently for green where it shouldn't be. I thought maybe there was a hint of green in Alton Brown's hair on the Food HD channel but it was probably just the fact that there was a green grass background and you're seeing through the wispy hair on the top of his head.

So far things mostly look very good. The default Sports picture mode is WAY too bright and actually hurts my eyes.

I went round and round with the decision of size and I think 52 was probably the right choice but even at 11 feet viewing distance the HD channels look like they are zoomed in and the whole screen is in your lap. I can't imagine having a 73" TV at my seating distance like Greg Gable but who knows, over time I may start to feel it's too small.

I would like to comment on this but my computer screen is too small for me to really read what you said

 

[MDS]

I guess I am just weird. I'm actually wondering if 52" is too big for an 11-12' seating distance and I would have been happy with 46".