Why are the HDTV channels squeezed?

[darrinps]

I just got a new Zenith HD-SAT520 yesterday. I hooked it up to my Toshiba TN50X81 (a 4x3 conventional..not wide screen, TV) and set everything up. All seems to work well except for two problems (the second of which I think I can correct).

The big problem (at least I think it is a problem) is that when I view an HDTV (1080i) channel, I was expecting to see a letterbox format (bars on top and bottom). What I am seeing instead is a squeezed frame (with bars on the left and right sides).

Is this the way it is supposed to work on a 4x3 TV screen?

I tried every output format the Zenith has (1080i, Native, etc.). All the non HD channels are fine (take up the whole screen). It is just the 1080i output that squeezes like this. There are no adjustments that I can find on my TV to correct this.

Any hope for me to see HDTV in letterbox?

Thanks!

[darrinps]

I just spoke with a Zenith Technical support guy (got through REALLY fast...seemed knowledgeable) and he said that the squeeze was normal on a 4x3 TV and that I'm out of luck.

Time to start looking for a widescreen I guess.

[spaceman_spiff]

Why not try different STBs? I am not familiar with any STBs other than my own. People with other STBs can probably comment on this one.

[darrinps]

If what the Zenith tech guy said is correct, then I wouldn't know if another STB would help or not (unless it converted to a 4x3 image internally somehow).

Do you use a 4x3 TV, and if so, do you see HDTV signals in letterbox (top and bottom bars) instead of pillarbox (side bars)?

[gibhunter]

Look in the FAQ. When they encode an original 4/3 format into HDTV, they add the bars on the sides because HDTV is natively widescreen. So what happens, is that you're receiving a widescreen signal that includes the two bars on the sides as a part of the broadcast, then your 4/3 TV stretches it or can view it in letterbox as a box inside the TV. I also have the 4/3 TV, but I have a zoom mode which I could use in this case to zoom into that image and that would get rid of all the bars on the top and on the sides.

[darrinps]

I take it this "zoom mode" you are talking about is on your TV, not on the STB you use?

Talk about being disapointed. I can barely (and that is probably a stretch) tell the difference between the quality of the HDTV signal over the SD this way. If it were letterboxed, I'm sure that I would see an improvement, but not the way it is now.

[dmlove]

I have a 4:3 TV (36" JVC). On regular cable channels (not the 5 HD channels), everything is full screen SD. On the 5 HD channels, the stuff that's actually being broadcast in real HD (ex. Jay Leno, Law & Order) is letterboxed (top and bottom black bars). On the same 5 channels, the stuff that's being broadcast that ISN"T real HD shows up with black bars all around (i.e. its still 4:3 but smaller than full screen). No problem at all though with the real HD and the quality is super (especially PBS, but how many travelogues without dialog can you watch?)

[darrinps]

Doh!

A poster from another forum mentioned that I might really be seeing upconverted SD (even though the Zenith was reporting 1080i...I guess it was just upconverted 1080i).

I think you are probably correct and that there isn't really a problem with anything, it is just the way the signal comes (with black bars attached) when the stations upconvert from SD.

Tonight I plan to watch somehting I KNOW is in HD (like Leno) and see what happens.

[dmlove]

Here's a link to a site that lists each day's HD programming:

http://www.hdtvgalaxy.com/broad.html

[halveb]

I have a HDTV Toshiba 4:3 and a Toshiba STB. It can show the high def signal in letterbox with grey bars at top and bottom. It can also show the high def signal streched to fill the screen (attractive if you like really thin people). Best of all for those SD signals where they have added the bars on either side it can show those full screen 4:3 so you get a bigger picture.

[darrinps]

What is the model number of your Toshiba?

[darrinps]

Last night I watched HD channels, and I did NOT get the pillarbox (except during some commercials).

The image coming from my TV sure looked good!

The only problem is that it is still strectched! Yes, the whole screen from top to bottom has the image instead of it being letterboxed to keep the 16x9 format.


An aspect ratio adjustment is available on the remote but there is a kicker:

If the signal is HD (720P or 1080i) then the STB will NOT adjust the format. It pops up a message saying that the image cannot be adjusted.

If I force all output to 480 then I can adjust away to my heart's content.

BUT I WANT HD!

Arghhhh! Maybe I could return my Zenith (got it over the Internet, so shipping will be a pain) and try another STB, but I want to know before I go to this hassle that another STB will help out....I'm not so sure.

[gibhunter]

How did you hook up the STB? If you connect it with anything other than component cables (Red, Green, Blue) than your TV will not be able to change the viewing mode. If you want to view the show in letterbox mode, than you have to change it on the TV as it's the TV that usually stretches the signal and not the STB itself.

Ps. I also have a Toshiba 4/3 HDTV though I'm not sure which model Halveb has. Mine is the 50H72.

[darrinps]

I hooked it up with just the component cables first, then tried adding S-video for the fun of it.

I just called Toshiba. There is no adjustment on the TV. The guy said that it is up to the equipment sending the signal (like a DVD player or STB) to send out what the TV needs.

My DVD player does this, and my old STB could do this, but my new Zenith cannot.

If I knew that the new Toshiba DST3100 had this ability (the Toshiba guy said he didn't have the specs on it) then I'd ship the Zenith back and wait on the new box.

[halveb]

I think the STB is DST3000 and I forget the model of the TV. Both are more than a year old. I don't mess around with the settings on the TV all my adjustments are done with the STB.

Last night I checked just to be sure and there are three settings, letterbox, full screen, and clipped (or something like that). Regular stations coming in from cable ignore these settings so they are unaffected. The Highdef signals show letterbox if it is setup letterbox and full screen (cutting off the edges) if it is in the clipped setting.

Didn't check to see what standard definition channels do related to those settings.

[twonami]

When I get a squeezed image on my 4:3 samsung hdtv I use the format function on my SIRT160 box, I can select between 4:3 full, 4:3 zoom, and 4:3 letter box. 4:3 zoom always took care of anything with black bars on the side that the network would send. It would fill the screen and no lost info. If a 16:9 image is sent I make sure the SIRT160 is set to 4:3 full and I adjust the image on the TV using the P.Size button on the TV remote. This takes the image which looks stretched vertically with no black bars on the side. It compresses the image but still retains the 1080 lines by line compression. When using Samsung equipment just make sure all correct formats are selected during set-up and you should be fine.