hdtv in toronto (rogers)

[Houghts]

Rented a Scientific Atlanta hd3100 box from rogers. Have a Panny ct36hl43 hdtv (4:3). When I watch tsn,Sportsnet or Discovery the picture comes out at approx 24in (from top left to bottom right corner) in the middle of the screen. Phoned support and he said this is normal and it is a result of the way the company is transmitting the signal.
When I look at the test screen it looks fine but in 16:9 format.
Is he correct or is there a way of viewing the signal in full screen?

I am thinking of buying a Samsung sir ts160 or Sony HD300. Am I still able to receive the hd tv from rogers even though I do not use one of "their" boxes?

Thanks

Houghts

[57U]

TSN, SN & Disc have very little true HD programming, so you'll see a lot of 4:3 programmes on these channels. Same goes for a lot of the HD channels, depending on the time of day. The SA3100HD has no settings to change.

Perhaps your TV has some settings that will allow you to watch these channels "fullscreen" instead of "windowboxed (postage stamped)", but perhaps not.

Check your operating manual, it would probably be near the section that talks about "vertical compression" that's used for true HD programmes and widescreen DVDs on 4:3 TVs.

This is one of the issues with purchasing a 4:3 TV. See the FAQ on "4:3 vs Widescreen". See also the FAQ on "Black Bars".

All true HD programming is 16:9.

You cannot use STBs, other than those supplied by Rogers. The OTA boxes will not work on Rogers Cable.

Note that this forum has special sections for Rogers Cable and for Regional discussion - Toronto. Go see the posts there.

http://www.hdtvoice.com/voice/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=418

As for what's available in HD, see the FAQ section post on "HDTV programming guides". There's also lots more information in the FAQ for you.

[Houghts]

57U

Do you have any idea why a consumer could not use a different stb than the one rogers distributes.

thanks for the first reply. You saved me some money.

Houghts

[57U]

Because they are not compatible.

OTA uses 8VSB, Cable used QAM. Also, the cable company needs to "authorize" your STB, so, even if you purchased an SA3100HD from someone other than Rogers, they may not "authorize" it. Just the way it is for now. Rogers should have the SA3250HD (a better box) available "soon."

[Houghts]

Are the black bars (on r & l) of the screen because the feed is coming in at a 4:3 aspect ratio? The pbs channel and the preview channel come in great(full screen) but tsn, sportsnet and the us channels come in with black bars on either side of the picture. Thanks again for answering my questions. You have been a great deal of help.

Houghts

[57U]

As I stated in my first post, a lot of the programming is still not HD. SD programming is 4:3, so when they "upconvert" the 4:3 programming you get the black bars on these channels.

You'll notice that even PBS have some black bars at "pledge breaks" on the hour when they are not showing widescreen programming. (You'll notice that some PBS programmes much sharper than others. The sharper ones are HD, while the less sharp ones are simply widescreen upconverted programmes.

If you get KSPS from Spokane on the timeshift HD channels, you'll notice a lot of upconverted programmes. Some of it is done well, some of it is not. You'll also notice that they upconvert & stretch almost all programming (what was originally 4:3 is now all 16:9). They do a pretty good job of this.

You'll get used to all of this variation in time.