Can't control aspect with HD box

jennymcc

I just had Comcast install Digital HD cable yesterday. I have a Panasonic 42" TH42PD25 plasma tv. They gave me a SA3100 HD box.

Here is the I/O setup:
HD Box to TV Comp 2 input (component cables)
HD Box to TV Ant. A (coax cable)
DVD to TV Comp 1 (component cables)

Question 1: When viewing through Ant A, I can change the aspect ratio. However, when viewing from HD box through Comp 2, I cannot control the aspect. This is fine for HD 16x9 stuff, but I want to view 4:3 programs in JUST mode. Any ideas? Should I use a different hook-up?

Question 2: The tech said the SA3100 was an old model, but unless I wanted to use DVI, it would be fine. I have heard that DVI would only marginally improve picture and probably not worth the $$ for the cable, with my TV. Is this true? The HD channels look FANTASTIC right now!

Thanks for any help!

slowmo

As long as you have the 3100 box, you're stuck with the black bars when viewing non-HD channels. That box has a fixed resolution output at 1080i and "adds" the bars to 4:3 programming in order to output a 16:9 image.

Your Pany probably defaults / locks to a full aspect setting which is appropriate for 16:9 material but this material includes the bars in that scenario.

Solutions:

1. Keep the 3100 box and use the composite or S-video output as a simultaneous output. Just switch Pany inputs when you go from non-hd to hd channels and vice versa.

2. Check to see if Comcast carries a better Scientific Atlanta box. (I first had the 3100HD box when I added Charter HD service. I have a Pany 42PWD6UY and had the exact same issue you're experiencing.) See if they carry a 3250HD box. It has variable output settings that you can change via the menu. You can select a fixed setting (480, 720 or 1080), a pass-thru setting (outputs at the content's native resolution), or 1 of 2 different "upconvert" settings. In addition, I noticed much better picture quality with the 3250 (the 3100 seemed washed out on HD channels) and more reliable 5.1 sound (the 3100 skipped). I connected the 3250 to my Pany via component only to Video 1. I set the Pany's aspect for Video 1 to "justify" (best job of stretching 4:3 for my plasma) and set the 3250 to "pass thru". For non-HD channel, the 3250 outputs at 480i 4:3 and the Pany stretches with the "justify" setting. When I changed to a HD channel, the 3250 output at 720 or 1080 16:9 (depended on network's format) and my Pany defaulted back to "full". Works very well though there is a slight delay when the 3250 changes output. If you surf alot, just use the fixed setting and then adjust the actual output (480, 720, 1080) once you decide on which channel you're going to watch for a while.

In addition, the 3250 allows you to stretch and zoom the aspect itself with the punch of a remote button. However, the stretch is not as good as the Pany's options.

Find your local payment center and just take your 3100 there and see if they have the 3250, etc. (They may have a 8000HD which is similar but with HD DVR - I recently upgraded to this). If you call customer service they probably won't be helpful. Charter's customer service (call-in service) is lukewarm but the payment center folks have been great when trading equipment.

jennymcc

Wow! Thanks for the great info, Slomo! I did notice that the HD channels had a slightly washed-out look, but didn't know that it was the HD box that was causing that.

When I had inquired about an upgrade on the box, the Comcast phone rep told me that I couldn't switch boxes at the local office and that I would have to make another appointment to have a tech come out (which, as we know, means hours of sitting at home waiting!) I will take your advice and bring the box into the call center ASAP and ask for the 3250 or 8000.

The folks on these boards are the BEST! After the frustration of dealing with Comcast, it's SO nice to know that there are friendly, helpful people out there who can help make sense of these things!

slowmo

glad to help. Good luck on trading boxes.

Pinger

Adelphia is using the HD3250 here in our city.. It does has three choices for picture sizing.. Normal which fills the screen but only for HD progamming, for SD viewing it allows Zoom or Stretch... Stretch seems to work best of eliminating the bars.. I found though I get better Pic Quality using S-video option and letting my Samsung DLP's Panorama Aspect.. Also I use DVI connection when viewing HD, much better pic then component cables...

slowmo

Your 3250 should also allow you to vary the output. In the initial setup, you choose the various output settings (480, 720, etc.) supported by your tv. Then via the settings menu, you can vary the output as described above and use your monitors aspect choices. I’ve found that SD output at 480i via the component gave a better picture slightly than a simultaneous output via Svideo.

I agree that the “stretch” setting on the 3250/8000 is crude however.

jennymcc

UPDATE: The pay office couldn't exchange my HD box (told me they don't even carry them there). So I made another appointment for tech to stop by. Turns out our Comcast doesn't have the SA3250, so they gave me a Pace box which was supposed to solve my issues. It has the aspect options and a DVI output. HD quality with component cables from the Pace box is awful! I went out and bought a DVI-HDMI cable for $120 and the HD picture is better but not as good as the SA3100 with the component cables! The HD is washed out in both cases, but the picture was sharper with the SA3100. Plus the SD and analog channels look worse than with the 3100. I am tempted to ask for the SA3100 back!! Arghhh!

On top of these problems, the tech told me that our signal was weak. Some of our channels fade in and out (little boxes dancing around screen). He said that they would have to do some work outside to find the problem. That was last Friday, still no change. I called Sunday to make sure that they would fix the problem and they said that there was no record of him reporting the problem and that someone would get right on it. Yeah, right!

QUESTION: Will my HD picture quality be better if they fix the signal strength?

QUESTION 2:They do have the SA8000 model for Digital VCR subscribers. Is it worth it to upgrade to this service for and extra $10/month? If I can get a better HD picture along with being able to record HD shows, then I may think about it (though I hate giving them any more money for poor service). Any advice?

I wish I could just buy my own HD box!

[sigh]

slowmo

If the 8000 box is the 8000HD box, go for it. Same functionality as the 3250 plus HD DVR service. I'm an old Tivo freak but was unwilling to pay $1000 for a HD DirectTv Tivo; thus I was happy to pay the $10 fee (vs. $12.95 for Tivo) for a free HD DVR. So far I'm happy.

My cable signal is supposedly weak. Original tech who installed digital (pre HD) claimed I needed an amp. Got an cable amp after I added HD and had noticed bad reception with NBC HD channel. No improvement. Charter then speculated that problem was further down the line (off my property). Never could get a resolution despite many calls / emails.

Since then they've added two HD channels (ESPN and Fox) and service has improved on all HD channels except for the NBC. I later added an OTA tuner and finally realized the NBC problems are with the affiliate / network as I see same problems via cable and antenna source!

Long story short. The techs are often mediocre especially with respect to HD (some have literally said, "I don't know...I don't have HD myself"). Call center is worse. Also, you'll typically note some problems with new HD channels as they are added to a given frequency range.

Try the 8000HD.

jennymcc

Great advice! I guess I'll give the 8000HD a try. And I won't hold my breath for the improved signal.

Thanks slomo! You are my personal HD guru!!

jennymcc

Slomo,

A few more questions (if you don't mind): I don't have any DVR or TIVO experience, but from what I can decipher it looks like you can set upthe DVR to digitally record shows that you select the cable guide. Do the DVR-saved shows look as good as the original broadcasts? Also, can you watch one thing and tape another?

It says that the 8000HD can store up to 30 hours of regular and 15 hours of HD programming. If you want to keep something, can you then record it to VCR? How is the quality when transfered to tape? Is it better than recording analog signal to VCR or the same? (I guess if I want digital quality recordings, I have to by a DVD recorder, eh?)

Jenny

esoh

I just switched my SA 3250HD from component to DVI using Time Warner in NYC. The HD and non-HD picture looks marginally better, but now my menus (channel guide, info screens, etc.) look terrible. They were crystal clear before and now they look blurry. Do I need to switch any settings?

Thanks.

Ed

PS. I'm using a Panasonic TH-42PD25