HDTV help?

Discuss the latest video games, other sports, entertainment, movies, and any [OT] stuff.

Moderator: LGB Mods

Post Reply
User avatar
blues22
LGB Booster - White
LGB Booster - White
Posts: 1530
Joined: Thu Feb 20, 2003 7:36 am
Location: Stuck forever in a stuffy room grading papers
Contact:

HDTV help?

Post 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?
Image

abc789987
All-Star
All-Star
Posts: 2003
Joined: Mon Oct 09, 2006 9:00 pm
Location: Indiana?

Re: HDTV help?

Post by abc789987 »

my sony HD tv remote has a "wide" button that I push and it cycles through the tv modes.
...

User avatar
blues22
LGB Booster - White
LGB Booster - White
Posts: 1530
Joined: Thu Feb 20, 2003 7:36 am
Location: Stuck forever in a stuffy room grading papers
Contact:

Re: HDTV help?

Post 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.
Image

negronic
4th Line Mucker
4th Line Mucker
Posts: 50
Joined: Mon Jun 02, 2008 10:40 am

Re: HDTV help?

Post 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?

User avatar
blues22
LGB Booster - White
LGB Booster - White
Posts: 1530
Joined: Thu Feb 20, 2003 7:36 am
Location: Stuck forever in a stuffy room grading papers
Contact:

Re: HDTV help?

Post by blues22 »

It's a component cable, and it comes from the cable box.
Image

User avatar
OS
Hockey God
Hockey God
Posts: 27095
Joined: Thu Feb 20, 2003 10:25 am
Location: Section 301
Contact:

Re: HDTV help?

Post 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.
Image
The Original Sponsor of T.J. Oshie

User avatar
blues22
LGB Booster - White
LGB Booster - White
Posts: 1530
Joined: Thu Feb 20, 2003 7:36 am
Location: Stuck forever in a stuffy room grading papers
Contact:

Re: HDTV help?

Post 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.
Image

User avatar
OS
Hockey God
Hockey God
Posts: 27095
Joined: Thu Feb 20, 2003 10:25 am
Location: Section 301
Contact:

Re: HDTV help?

Post 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.
Image
The Original Sponsor of T.J. Oshie

User avatar
big d note
LGB Booster - Yellow
LGB Booster - Yellow
Posts: 4634
Joined: Thu Feb 20, 2003 10:33 pm
Location: SMP's Posse

Re: HDTV help?

Post 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.
Official Sponsor of Ray Barile
[Dooger] 9:10 am: That David [Backes] is a cool dude.
RIP Pavol Demitra - I hope you are "so hoppy" wherever you are now

Post Reply