Internal Scaling...Please Clarify

[modman]

I have my new Panasonic 50PHD8UK, and I was told that it automatically scales up any SD signal to match its native resolution -- thus filling the screen. But I have my SA cable box (8300 Explorer) going to the display using component cables...and I'm not getting auto scaling. SD images appear in 4:3, with sidebars, and I have to manually tell the cable box to stretch or zoom the image.

What's wrong? Does scaling only work on the DVI input (which I will soon be switching to)? Do I have to set something in setup to get auto scaling? (The display manual is less than helpful) Theoretically, the box has some setup features that will do the scaling automatically, but #$%%^& Time Warner apparently did not include this programming in their SA boxes...plus, I suspect that the scaler in the Panny will be of better quality.

Any suggestions? I'm gettin' tired of switching back and forth between HD and SD material.

Thanks

 

[AVRat]

The Panny is upscaling, the sidebars are part of the whole picture. Set the aspect mode to FULL on the Panny and you should be fine. Pg 19

 

[BMXTRIX]

(my educated guess) Your SA cable box is not outputting native resolution. That is, when you are on 'standard definition' ABC your cable box is upconverting internally from 480i to either 720p or 1080i. Most often, this upconversion is to 1080i. This means that your Panny is seeing a 1080i HD signal. It does not see a regular 480i standard def image.

Now, when you switch to HD ABC your cable box will likely also convert that to 1080i output.

In the setup of your cable box, you have to change the output resolution in the menus to 'native' instead of 'fixed'. This will cause some flickering on the plasma as you switch from an HD channel to a SD channel as your set has to resync with the different formats and those cheap SA boxes slowly change their output resolution.

 

[ned]

SA 8300 allows you to let your Plasma do the scaling which is superior to your cable box. I think you have to press info and guide button on the cable box simultaneously (check with your manual) and go through all the resolution. On settings menu under Video output, you need to change it to native output.

 

[modman]

Box Won't Cooperate

Ned -- SA has clear instructiona on line about how to do the setup by pressing GUIDE and INFO buttons at the same time. Problem is....when I do that, nothing happens. SA has a caveat in their instructions that says that the local provider may not include certain programming provisions. So, apparently, I have to go to $%^&*#$ Time Warner customer service and ask (for the hundredth time) why they want to screw me. Stay tuned.

 

[Geno]

Ned -- SA has clear instructiona on line about how to do the setup by pressing GUIDE and INFO buttons at the same time. Problem is....when I do that, nothing happens. SA has a caveat in their instructions that says that the local provider may not include certain programming provisions. So, apparently, I have to go to $%^&*#$ Time Warner customer service and ask (for the hundredth time) why they want to screw me. Stay tuned.

Hey, when did Time-Warner add all those extra characters to their name?