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Originally Posted by HDpig2
Hi:
My parents baught a Samsung HDTV and received a special offer from Rogers for digital cable on their Scientific Atlanta cable box.
However, after everything is set up, I tuned into channel 508 which broadcasts an HD version of OMNI (it's called HDOM1 in the box). But what I saw on screen was butt-ugly. There are two gray horiztontal bars running top and bottom, and there are two black vertical bars rnning left and right, so the picture is cropped off on all four sides and the resulting picture looks more like a regular TV broadcast. Some of the programs still look kind of pixellated. In other words, it's looks nowhere near as good as the HDTV demo programs that I saw playing on those HDTVs in Future Shop.
Interestingly, during the commercial segments, the left and right vertical black bars disappear and some of the commercials are SURPRISINGLY SHARP, getting to the quality of the HDTV demos I saw in Futureshop, however, the top and bottom gray strips remain and the black bars/pixellation return as soon as normal programming resumes.
Furthermore, according to my Samsung HDTV's display, I'm receiving my HD signals on the "video source" called "AV2", is this the right source to be receiving HD signals??? Shouldn't there be a video source called "HD1" or something???
Anyways, my biggest question is how do I tell if I'm looking at authentic HD definition broadcast? Are the "HD demos" they run at Future Shop looping endlessly on nature and travel documentaries truly HD?
I'm so sooooo confused, any insight would be greatly appreciated.
HDpig2
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if you have the Grey bar on the top and bottom you have the wrong cables period, don't go searching, don't go crazy. You just need to connect the SA box, with HDMI(HDMI to HDMI or HDMI to DVI) or Component cables. That is the only way to watch HDTV. First you need to make sure you have an SAHD box. You should have one if you are even accessing the HD channels but just in case. It would say SA#then HD on the box. If you do not have that you will not get any HD shows. Go to your Cable provider and switch the box, usually for no charge with as long as you are getting DTV already. But as for the the Grey bars on the Left and right, everyone is right about them above. The commercials and some programing is not shot in 16x9 so it goes back to the 4x3 with the Grey bars. Also the SA boxes do not give you an option to change the bars so you will see either black and/or Grey.
One problem to expect also once you get this one solved. You will notice a delay in changing the channel between HD to SD channels. That is the TV processing the signal, you can let the TV do it or the cable box. If you want the cable box to do it and there will not be any delay. Press settings, more settings then output. Set your output to 1080i only and the delay will not happen. But remember that doesn't mean all channels are coming in 1080i like the TV will display.
Good luck man, you have a good TV, but these TV's aren't plug and play anymore so there is a little work before you truly enjoy it.