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HDTV help?

Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 2:55 am
by blues22
Okay, I've done a brief google search, but apparently, I'm using the wrong keywords, because my results suck.

Anyway, my parents just bought a 40-inch Sony HDTV. The HD channels look fine, but the "normal channels" don't look as good. The tv is taking what should be 4:3 and expanding it to 16:9. I have a Westinghouse at home, and my 4:3 channels stay that way, just with bars on both sides. I know some people are fine with the expanded screen, but I think that it looks retarded. I actually looked at the instruction booklet, and there is a place where you can change that, but it's not selectable. According to the booklet: "Normal is not available when you are watching a 720p, 1080i, or 1080p source from a component video input..."

Does anyone know a work around? Or do I just have to cringe everytime I watch their tv?

Re: HDTV help?

Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 8:40 am
by abc789987
my sony HD tv remote has a "wide" button that I push and it cycles through the tv modes.

Re: HDTV help?

Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 10:12 am
by blues22
abc789987 wrote:my sony HD tv remote has a "wide" button that I push and it cycles through the tv modes.
This one has the button, but it still won't give me a 4:3 screen when I cycle through.

Re: HDTV help?

Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 12:55 pm
by negronic
what type of cable is used to send the cable/satellite to the TV? does it go through a receiver or does it come right from the source?

Re: HDTV help?

Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 6:49 pm
by blues22
It's a component cable, and it comes from the cable box.

Re: HDTV help?

Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 9:31 am
by OS
blues22 wrote:It's a component cable, and it comes from the cable box.
My settings to handle that are actually in my DirecTV receiver. Look for settings your cable box that define what to do with the SD channels.

Re: HDTV help?

Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 11:08 am
by blues22
OS wrote:
blues22 wrote:It's a component cable, and it comes from the cable box.
My settings to handle that are actually in my DirecTV receiver. Look for settings your cable box that define what to do with the SD channels.
That makes sense. I'll have to mention that to my parents. They can ask the cable people the next time they accidentally hit the "input" button and don't know what to do. Yes, they are really that clueless about technology.

Re: HDTV help?

Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 12:52 pm
by OS
blues22 wrote:
OS wrote:
blues22 wrote:It's a component cable, and it comes from the cable box.
My settings to handle that are actually in my DirecTV receiver. Look for settings your cable box that define what to do with the SD channels.
That makes sense. I'll have to mention that to my parents. They can ask the cable people the next time they accidentally hit the "input" button and don't know what to do. Yes, they are really that clueless about technology.
Oh trust me... I know the feeling. My grandparents live about 10 houses from me, so I get regular calls about everything from their TV remote to turning on their computer monitor.

Re: HDTV help?

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 11:27 am
by big d note
blues22 wrote:According to the booklet: "Normal is not available when you are watching a 720p, 1080i, or 1080p source from a component video input..."

Does anyone know a work around? Or do I just have to cringe everytime I watch their tv?
If the booklet is correct, it sounds like you need to use an HDMI cable for the input to make it work. I believe that component video is analog, so the TV might not be able to change the aspect ratio of that signal, but with the HDMI digital signal it can display it in 4:3 ratio for SD signals. It probably can't tell what's SD or HD coming through the component video.