View Full Version : Aspect Ratios and Settings - Rogers STB.
Teesang
01-09-2007, 10:19 PM
Hi everyone. New here and I have a new TV. I'm having a problem that is a little hard to explain, but I'll try.
When I first got my tv, everything worked fine. My HDTV channels were perfect 16:9 and any regular non-hd channels automatically went into "just" aspect ratio so that it filled the screen. Well, I went on vacation, came back, changed nothing, but my regular channels no longer stretch to the "just" aspect ratio.
So, I changed the aspect ratio to "just" and my non-hd channels are ok now, BUT, now it also stretches my HD channels so the HD channels are stretched off screen. On top of things, when I shut off the tv and turn it back on, it goes back to regular mode where HD works and non-HD has the black borders.
Basically, in brief, the TV no longer seems to know if it's HD or not and just stretches according to my setting on the tv. :headb: :headb:
TV Model: Panasonic TH-42PX600
Box: Rogers HDTV (non-pvr)
Please help.
Your Rogers STB has probably somehow changed the settings and it's now set to "fixed" instead of "passthrough" and therefore everything is being sent as 1080i instead of 480i for SD and 720P/1080i for HD.
Press settings twice and go to set picture format - select passthrough.
If that doesn't affect the output format (look at the format when you press the # button repeatedly - when you're in normal (unstretched) mode the little box displays the output format - all stretched formats are usually 1080i, while the SD channels should show 480i) then run the advanced setup wizard again.
See the Digital Home FAQ (under help) "Tips for SA STBs".
Also realize that there is a firmware rollout currently being implemented in Ontario by Rogers for all STBs.
You may also wish to check out the HDTV FAQ "what you need to do to your new HDTV".
Teesang
01-10-2007, 11:43 AM
Thanks 57U, that was really helpful. I'll be sure to check that when I get home. One thing I did try was the settings on the STB. I changed it from fixed to Auto DVI and Upscaling 1 and 2. But I didn't see no Passthrough option. I'll check again when I get home, but I'm pretty sure I didn't see that option anywhere.
AutoDVI is the same as passththrough. If you're not getting 480i (perhaps there's also an "info" button on the TV that confirms input format), you may need to run the advanced setup wizard again, enabling 480i STANDARD, as recommended in the FAQ.
Teesang
01-10-2007, 02:35 PM
Ok, so Auto-DVI it is. I'll try it when I get home and check again. When I check the "info" on the tv, no matter what channel I'm on, it says 1080i, Vivid, Full.
1. Using the information provided above and in the FAQ "tips for SA STBs" will allow you to send 480i for the SD channels.
2. Get that TV off vivid!!! Read the FAQs
- What you need to do to your new HDTV
- Burn in.
Teesang
01-10-2007, 03:22 PM
1. I couldn't find the 'tips for SA STBs" section you are referring to. And what does SD stand for? Standard?
2. TOTALLY read that after your first post and plan to change that when I get home.
Tips for SA STBs is also an FAQ:
http://www.hdtvoice.com/voice/showthread.php?t=8721
SD - Standard Definition.
http://www.hdtvoice.com/voice/showthread.php?t=1131
Teesang
01-10-2007, 07:01 PM
WOOHOO! It's working.
So I ran the STB set up wizard, and it's working now.
I also try to calibrate the tv, and I'm seeing too much red it seems, but I think I might be crazy now. LOL
Teesang
01-10-2007, 07:41 PM
Thanks 57U for all your help.
skatterball
06-21-2007, 01:29 PM
Teesang,
It's a problem with the Rogers HD box, not the TV. I've gone through three HD boxes and still having problems with having to reboot the box at least once a day. Rogers won't say this but they are still ironing out some issues with their HD service. When I became frustrated I called Sony under the strength of my warranty and their tech guy came out and tested my set - nothing wrong at all. He did say that they see many many Rogers HD cable boxes with problems. He recommended to go exchange it yet again and when satisfied with the performance I should connect using an AVI to HDMI cable instead of the RGB cable Rogers supplies.
Hope this helps
Skatterball
If you've gone through that many boxes, it's not an issue with the box. It's probably something specific to your setup or a signal strength and/or S/N ratio issue. See:
http://www.hdtvoice.com/voice/showthread.php?t=8721
The component video cables actually cause the fewest problems and always work (I do setups for people in the GTA). DVI or HDMI sometimes have handshake issues, depending on the TV, cable not inserted well, etc.
http://www.hdtvoice.com/voice/showthread.php?t=1440
AlenK
09-06-2007, 04:32 PM
Here's a different question that fits with the title (hence I didn't start a new thread):
Is it possible to get an HDTV channel out of the SA3250HD's S-video port (downconverted, obviously) that occupies the full SD raster (i.e., is meant to be displayed at 16:9, popularly called anamorphic)? Since I don't have the PVR ($25/month is too steep for me!) it would be nice to be able to have the option to record on a DVD recorder for later viewing. Sure, it's not HD but 16:9 SD would be better than letterboxed SD, which is what the box outputs now. I'm aware that recording the S-video signal in the first place requires that the STB not apply Macrovision - I haven't checked that, but I suspect if it isn't applied all the time then it would depend on the channel.
A few answers.
1. You cannot get anamorphic downconverted HD on the S-video cable, only downconverted HD.
2. If you had a DVD recorder that had component video inputs (which are always limited to 480i on consumer devices) and set the STB to 480i widescreen on the CV outputs, you may get anamorphic SD recorded to a DVD recorder. You then need to rerun the advanced setup wizard each time you make this change and back to watching TV in HD...
I cannot guarantee the anamorphic nature of 480i widescreen via CV, but I thought I remember this working, although very few people would bother - partly because of the trouble of running the wizard all the time and partly due to the cost of CV input DVD recorders and it's STILL only 480i, albeit 33% sharper, due to the anamorphic recording...
3. Digital STBs don't have macrovision, but CGMS-a. Some DVD recorders have been prevented from recording some programmes (mostly recent movies) by CGMS-a - in Canada.
http://www.hdtvoice.com/voice/showthread.php?t=28640
