TV Guide using the SA8300 HD DVR?

[ctl11]

When using this DVR and my sony 51" widescreen whenever I hit the guide button it goes back to the normal 4:3 ratio. Then back to 16:9 when I go back to any channel.

Does anybody know how or if it's possible to set the box so it stays widescreen?


Thanks in advance.


Still waiting for ABCHD and FOXHD TW :(

[TheCableGuy]

The OSG is a feature of the STB and there is no way to change the aspect ratio of the OSG. However, if your STB was connected properly, you should have both composite and component cables (or HDMI) connected to your TV, you should be able to view the OSG on your composite inputs and see that it fills the screen fully. You only see the letterbox format when viewing on an HD channel, and that is as it should be, it's a SD format and cannot be full screen on an HD input.

[ctl11]

I just have it hooked up with component cables. Now I don't have to change the source on the tv to watch hd. But if I use both component and composite inputs won't I have to switch back and forth each time I want to watch reg. tv and hd? I guess I have to deal with one thing or the other?

Thanks for the help.

[TheCableGuy]

If you have both the component and composite cables connected, you should be using your component inputs to watch HD channels only, and your composite inputs for digital and analog channels. Most of the time this is a cumbersome issue for people that don't like switching inputs, but if you want your TV to handle the formats as they were intended to, you will find the clarity of analog and digital channels looks better on composite inputs oppossed to the component or HD input. In order of appearance analog channels look best:
#1. straight to the TV (split the wire one to the STB the other to your RF input)
#2. composite or S-video input
#3. component or DVI/HDMI input

The screen size, the type of connection you are using, the proximity to your screen, the type of format you are viewing all contribute to good, better, or best viewing options. Let's be realistic, an analog signal was never intended to viewed in a 16:9 setting. The distortion from stretching the picture makes a less than desirable image of an already inferior signal type. Then on top of that blow the picture up to a 60" screen size and view it from less then 8' away, what do you think of the PQ? Not as good as it looked on a 36" CRT TV right? I've preached this philosophy over and over through the "HD years", right input, right channel, don't expect miracles out of analog signals, but they should look pretty good. You can play the same game with the HD channels, watch them on your composite inputs. Aside from the gray bars at the top and bottom of the screen, does the picture look as crisp as it did on your component input?

[ctl11]

I didn't know that about picture quality with using component cables. I'll get a spliter and run it to the tv for the digital and analog channels then just switch sources if I wanna watch HD(which isn't too often)

I also knowticed that UPN analog is pretty crappy, so I just watch it on HD and since it's not HD I just stretch the picture using the cable box. It looks alot better but is just kinda a pain in the butt. Gotta watch King of Queens everyday from 7 to 8 on UPN.

[seibu1]

Yeah, I just started using my analog ins for analog/digital channels and it makes a big difference. For one, I get black sidebars through the analog inputs (rather than the grey sidebars through the HDMI connection), and the non-HD channels actually look better with the analog inputs.

Also, since I'm using the analog inputs I can use my TVs "super zoom" which combines a slight stretch of the image with a slight zoom to fill my 16:9. Looks pretty decent this way.

[TheCableGuy]

Gotta love it when it all comes together :D

[rossl]

How is the analog PQ when using a Cablecard and without a STB?

I haven't bought a set with Cablecard yet but I'm interested in it.

[TheCableGuy]

The analog PQ with the CC is no different then if you plugged the coaxial cable directly into the TV. Hands down the CC provides the best of both worlds, but I would caution you to not rush out and buy a CC TV if you don't really need to replace your TV. The current TV's are only 1-way compliant and the 2-way version is on the horizon. Current versions do not allow access to PPV/IPG/or MOD so you would need a STB to get those services. As for how soon the 2-way version will be avialable to the general public???? I know they are being tested, but they have not made any formal or informal announcements as to when they will be available.