Scientific Atlanta 8300HD Settings

darbsrewop

When switching channels from SD to HD and vice versa it seems like I have to hit the # button a lot to switch from normal to stretch on my remote. I have a Sony 50 Inch (KDF-E50A10). Wanted to see if anyone else had Time Warner and a 8300HD box to see what there output and aspect ratio were were. My output formats are set at 720p and 1080i and aspect ratio are at Widescreen (16:9) Stretch 4:3 picture.

I am new to the HD world..many thanks!

Brad

TurboDan

My SA8300HD doesn't stretch non-HD programming, for some reason. It only zooms it, so I just deal with the black bars on either side.

HD content, for some reason, it CAN stretch. Weird.

goober22

Do you know if you are running SARA or Passport software? I believe TW runs a lot of SA stuff with Passport on it. I have 2 8300HDs (SARA) and they stretch SD just fine (although I don't use it, I use my TVs "expand" feature - does a better job.)

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DirecTV = HR20-700x2, HR20-100x2, All Networked, R15-500x1, D12-300x2, Zinwell WB616, OTA=17, TVs=9, Knology Cable = Internet & Phone Only, HD=34, Comcast Cable = Not Currently Subbed, HD=32, Hitachi 65S700 65", Sanyo 30" HD, Sony Home Theatre 7.1 Receiver, Sony 7.1 Speaker System , Harmony 686 x3

TurboDan

The SA8300 that I have is running on Comcast. Not sure of the software. SD programming simply doesn't stretch. But, 4:3 HD programming stretches fine. Very strange.

hdtvjunkie247

My SA8300HD and SA 3250HD both use the SARA software.

goober22

What mode are you running in? (Fixed, upconvert, passthru) Maybe that's why yours does not stretch - its locked to the resoulution. I use either passthrough or upconvert, therefore SD content is shown as SD and it will stretch. If I put it on fixed, then it doesn't seem to stretch the SD channels (when in HD resolution). Of course, it could be a firmware issue as well, a feature "changed" in your particular firmware version.

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DirecTV = HR20-700x2, HR20-100x2, All Networked, R15-500x1, D12-300x2, Zinwell WB616, OTA=17, TVs=9, Knology Cable = Internet & Phone Only, HD=34, Comcast Cable = Not Currently Subbed, HD=32, Hitachi 65S700 65", Sanyo 30" HD, Sony Home Theatre 7.1 Receiver, Sony 7.1 Speaker System , Harmony 686 x3

TurboDan

I'm running pass-through. Sucker won't stretch for anything!

mrpb

I just got Comcast HD and my SA8300HD doesn't stretch anything (neither HD nor SD). Whenever I watch an HD channel, I see gray bars above and below the picture. My Mitsubishi 65" widescreen TV can stretch and expand the picture, but if I can make the Comcast remote do it, I'd prefer that.

Please explain - what does this mean and how do I check it?

paulc

Speaking generically, both my STB (8300HD, passport) and my TV (40" LCD Samsung) have the ability to enter such modes. I know that in some cases one can and the other can't. Honestly, I could care less, there is one and only one "situation" where I'd ever want to use any of them, and that's an SD channel that puts a was image inside a 4:3 box. This is where you get black bars on all 4 sides. I find zoom acceptable in those cases; nothing is distorted and the slight cropping of image content is too small to concern me.

cgking114

Run your setup wizard again and choose 480i 4x3 mode and 480P 4x3 mode. This will automatically switch all SD programming to stretch mode. Don't know if this is what you want but.... when I did this my HD ZOOM button on my remote would stretch.

goober22

Enter the main menu (hit menu twice). Find the picture format option. You should see: passthrough, upconvert1, upconvert2 & fixed. If you run HDMI you will see AutoHDMI instead of Passthrough.

What they do is this: the box will change HD and SD output to match whatever setting you set. for example:

Passthough (autoHDMI): whatever the box gets (1080i, 720p, 480i, etc) the box will pass it on out the same - no conversion.
upconvert1: All HD is converted to 1080i & SD to 480p.
upconvert2: All HD is converted to 720p & SD to 480p.
fixed: All HD & SD is converted to whatever the box is setup for when you run the wizard and pick the initial formats. If you want to switch to another, you have to enter the quick menu (menu once) and scroll down to change it (providing you have more than one setup thru the wizard).

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DirecTV = HR20-700x2, HR20-100x2, All Networked, R15-500x1, D12-300x2, Zinwell WB616, OTA=17, TVs=9, Knology Cable = Internet & Phone Only, HD=34, Comcast Cable = Not Currently Subbed, HD=32, Hitachi 65S700 65", Sanyo 30" HD, Sony Home Theatre 7.1 Receiver, Sony 7.1 Speaker System , Harmony 686 x3

Angus

what determines which setting you should use (Upconvert1, Upconvert2, Passthrough, fixed)?

goober22

You do!

It depends on what you want to see and how your tv handles conversion. Mine supports all popular res and has 7 modes to handle stretching/expanding the feeds. It also remembers different settings for SD and HD content. My bedroom tv on the other hand is cheap and only does 3 things (stretch and 2 zooms).

Since most tvs are more advanced in this area than the settop boxes, it usually makes more sense to let the tv handle the conversion.

So on the main set I use passthrough so my set can see the feed and then it switches to either 1080i or 720p mode to match the feed. On the SD channels, my tv sees the 480i feed and then "expands" it (which keeps the center relatively normal - not stretched) to fill the screen. In the bedroom since it can only stretch, I leave that box on fix and let it output all at 1080i. I can use the boxes stretch feature to stretch SD content if I want or I can enter the quick menu and change it to a 480i setting and it will fill the screen itself.

You can always use the upconverts if you want to have your tv just get whatever it supports (1080i or 720p), such as a CRT vs Plasma.

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DirecTV = HR20-700x2, HR20-100x2, All Networked, R15-500x1, D12-300x2, Zinwell WB616, OTA=17, TVs=9, Knology Cable = Internet & Phone Only, HD=34, Comcast Cable = Not Currently Subbed, HD=32, Hitachi 65S700 65", Sanyo 30" HD, Sony Home Theatre 7.1 Receiver, Sony 7.1 Speaker System , Harmony 686 x3

mrpb

Thanks Goober. Comcast never gave any instruction on how to do this. Their booklet is pretty much useless.

brianwat

Good explanation goober. I think you get a slightly better picture using upconvert. But I use fixed because I need to stretch.