View Full Version : STB Problem
venez68
10-30-2007, 08:04 PM
Tech came out to check something and reset the STB now i can't get the picture to properly display.
I tried accessing the setup wizard on my stb (pressing guide/info keys) but it won't go to the setup screen.
STb is SA 3250HD
Some STBs don't go into the setup screen using guide/info and you need to set the formats another way. Here's the FAQ:
http://www.hdtvoice.com/voice/showthread.php?t=8721
Download the general setup guide (link in the FAQ) and see page 8.
venez68
10-31-2007, 07:02 AM
I've checked it out and this is the screen i'm trying to get to:
The SA3250HD, SA8000HD and SA8300HD have a setup wizard that you go through. See if you can find the page that guides you through the wizard. If you don't have it, follow the instructions below.
1. Turn the STB off.
2. Press the "Guide" & "Info" buttons simultaneously.
3. This takes you to the wizard.
4. If you've got a 4:3 TV the wizard is very simple.
5. If you've got a 16:9 TV, then go into the "advanced" mode (which is still pretty simple)
When i do press those two buttons nothing is happening.
What happened before he reset my box is if i was watching a channel in 1080i then i could stretch it to get rid of the side bars and also zoom it while still in 1080i.
Now when watching the same channel in 1080i, i can't stretch it, instead when i press the # key on the remote to stretch the screen it goes right to zoom mode in 480p.
So i figured i need to go to the setup wizard to select the formats i had before the tech reset my box.
1. Make sure you turn the STB off before pressing guide/info.
2. If you download the general setup guide as I stated in post 2, the setup wizard is not required and you can change the formats without the wizard. This is an alternate method for STBs that don't use the advanced wizard. I can only assume that you didn't actually read the guide, page 8.
venez68
10-31-2007, 10:29 AM
1. Make sure you turn the STB off before pressing guide/info.
2. If you download the general setup guide as I stated in post 2, the setup wizard is not required and you can change the formats without the wizard. This is an alternate method for STBs that don't use the advanced wizard. I can only assume that you didn't actually read the guide, page 8.
I read it several times last night and this morning to see if i missed a step, and made sure the STB was turned off.
Seeing as i couldn't get to the setup wizard as illustrated in page 10, I did change the formats as shown in page 8.
The question i have is why can't i get to the HD setup wizard now, page 10. I did use this method a few years ago when i bought my HD set.
Also why is it bypassing the stretch mode and going directly to zoom mode on HD channels?
Perhaps there was a firmware change. I know that some firmware (Passport) doesn't allow for use of the Setup Wizard.
I'm not sure about your last sentence, however, the STB has a zoom mode - usually enabled by pressing the * key (edit, should be # key) repeatedly, or by pressing the settings button ONCE and scrolling up to a different zoom/stretch mode.
I however recommend the following:
- with 480i enabled and Passthrough enabled, then you should have the TV stretch any incoming SD channels.
- Any HD channels should be forced into the "full" mode of the TV, wherein the true HD (16:9) image will completely fill the screen. Any upconverted 4:3 programming can be watched as 4:3, or you can watch the equivalent SD channel stretched.
- I don't recommend stretching upconverted SD on an HD channel because people often forget to "unzoom" and then miss 1/3 of true HD programming.
See:
http://www.hdtvoice.com/voice/showthread.php?t=1052 Black Bars
http://www.hdtvoice.com/voice/showthread.php?t=1044 Stretch Modes.
venez68
10-31-2007, 12:13 PM
I'm not sure about your last sentence, however, the STB has a zoom mode - usually enabled by pressing the * key repeatedly, or by pressing the settings button ONCE and scrolling up to a different zoom/stretch mode.
Every morning i watch the CW news (viewing in "normal" mode) which is not broadcast in true HD, therefore the side bars appear on the screen.
In the past i'd "stretch" the pic (using the # key on my Comcast remote) to fill the screen, when doing this the format would remain at 1080i. I could also press the # key again to "zoom" the pic which also would remain in 1080i format.
Now when i press the # key once instead of going to the "stretch" mode it goes directly to the "zoom" mode and changes the format to 480p.
So it almost seems as if the "zoom" mode is now the "stretch" mode; so instead of three modes when pressing the # key there are only two.
Sorry if this sounds confusing.
I think you may be correct that the fimware has changed. That is the only reason i can see for not being able to access that setup wizard screen.
kahanabob
10-31-2007, 03:27 PM
Do you have all 3 modes if you do it with the TV remote? If so I would call Comast tec service maybe they can walk you thru a fix since their tec guy seemes to have mucked something up.
Sorry, should have said # key. If it goes to 480P, then you may not have 720P or 1080i enabled. It doesn't sound as though the STB is set up properly yet.
venez68
10-31-2007, 03:55 PM
Sorry, should have said # key. If it goes to 480P, then you may not have 720P or 1080i enabled. It doesn't sound as though the STB is set up properly yet.
I think they are enabled becuase when i tune to ESPNHD it shows 720p, and other HD channels display as 1080i. It's only when i attempt to stretch the HD broadcast that it goes back to 480p.
I really don't want to have to resort to calling Comcast again, because most of the people i speak to over there are clueless.
I can get better info/answers from this site. :)
Are you saying your TV shows 720P or 1080i for various HD channels via an info or similar button? Or by repeatedly pressing the # key and seeing what it is when you get back to normal?
venez68
10-31-2007, 04:39 PM
Are you saying your TV shows 720P or 1080i for various HD channels via an info or similar button? Or by repeatedly pressing the # key and seeing what it is when you get back to normal?
When i repeatedly press the # key to get back to normal mode.
When you get back to "normal", is the HD channel like ESPN-HD at 720P, because the "actual" format is only displayed in the normal postion? When in the zoomed/stretched postions, the format is usually upconverted on this STB.
For example, an SD channel would show 480i on normal, but some upconverted format (usually 1080i if enabled) when stretched.
venez68
10-31-2007, 05:20 PM
When you get back to "normal", is the HD channel like ESPN-HD at 720P, because the "actual" format is only displayed in the normal postion? When in the zoomed/stretched postions, the format is usually upconverted on this STB.
Before the tech came ESPN-HD would be at 720p in all three positions(normal, stretch, zoom) at least that's what was indicated in the lower right corner of my set. These are the three modes i get from pressing the # key on the Comcast remote. The same also occured for 1080i channels as well, everytime the # key was pressed the format stayed the same.
What about for SD channels? What did it do "then". What does it do now. - I added a question to my previous post, which you likely missed while typing your response.
Also, perhaps you can confirm what it does now for HD channels.
Does your TV have an "info/status/or similar" button to display the incoming formats, or perhaps a display pops up when you change formats/inputs?
venez68
10-31-2007, 07:00 PM
What about for SD channels? What did it do "then". What does it do now. - I added a question to my previous post, which you likely missed while typing your response.
Also, perhaps you can confirm what it does now for HD channels.
Does your TV have an "info/status/or similar" button to display the incoming formats, or perhaps a display pops up when you change formats/inputs?
The SD channels stay the same (480i) throughout the three different modes.
The HD channels go form 1080i to 480p after changing screen modes.
It looks like it's doing the opposite of what it did pre tech visit.
I'm not sure but i don't think i had 480i enabled before the tech came to visit.
I think i may have had only 480p,720p,and 1080i enabled.
Could this have anything to do with the format of HD channels when stretching the pic?
The set only displays the format in the lower right corner after repeated pressing of the # key. When switching from channel to channel it does not display format.
As long as you're getting the correct format when in normal mode, all should be OK. Are you getting 720P on 720P channels like ESPN-HD, ABC? If not, then you'll have to enable 720P.
venez68
11-01-2007, 06:48 AM
As long as you're getting the correct format when in normal mode, all should be OK. Are you getting 720P on 720P channels like ESPN-HD, ABC? If not, then you'll have to enable 720P.
Yes 720p channels are showing in the correct format.
Yeah i was thinking the same thing that if i'm getting the correct format in normal mode it should be ok.
But say i didn't enable the 420p, or 420i formats then what format would the SD channels and the HD stretched screen be displayed as?
I just find it starnge that when i'm "stretching" an HD channel it's going back to the 420p format.
venez68
11-01-2007, 07:31 PM
when i chose the formats as shown in page 8 of the SA Explorer setup guide did it matter what order i chose them?http://www.scientificatlanta.com/Ex...ed/4003114B.pdf
i selected each one as shown on the page.
I normally enable the following:
480i STANDARD
720P
1080i
No others... (I don't enable 480i Widescreen, 480P Standard or Widescreen)
