Comcast HDTV - DVI Hookup Question

sammy5gs · 02-11-2005, 12:56 PM

Hey Guys...

First, I will ask for patience and understanding, as this may be portrayed as noobie question. Also, since I am not home, I do not have the "specifics" as may be required, so here goes:

I have Comcast Digital Cable with HDTV Receiver (do not know what the receiver model number is), along with a Zenith 27" HDTV (Model C27V36). I just recently upgraded from Component Cables to DVI from the cable box to the TV. Even though I think I see the difference between DVI and Component Cables, whenever I am watching channels, the DVI picture does not take the whole screen of the TV? There seems to be black borders around the whole picture. For example, there appears to be a 2" black border on the sides of the picture to the end of the screen, and a 2-3" border on the top and bottom of the picture?

Is this normal? Am I missing something? I did not have this problem with Component Cables.

Anyway, thanks for dealing with my ignorance in this regard.

Sam

kdog044 · 02-11-2005, 02:20 PM

Does your TV have different settings for each input (i.e. component, DVI)? If so, it may be a setting on the display. The STB settings are the same for DVI and component so it can't be anything in the STB programming.

mike191 · 02-13-2005, 08:28 AM

Did Comcast set up the receiver? You also need to be sure the cable box is set to deliver 720p or 1080i. You can change the output of the cable box to suit your display. Check your display settings as well.

SLedford · 02-14-2005, 01:23 PM

I have Comcast cable with the HD TV receiver and am using the DVI cable provided by Comcast. Here is what I have learned:

(1) The standard def digital pictures do not fill the screen and do not look as good as I had hoped. The DVI cables seem to override the settings on the tv, which can be told to "stretch" non-HD pictures to fill the screen when using component cables.

(2) The HD picture is OUTSTANDING using the DVI cables, much better than using component cables, and the picture does fill the whole screen. Both my tv and the cable box are configures for 1080i.

(3) The analog channels do fill the screen, although I had to play around with the cable box settings some to get this to happen. This may contradict what I said in (1) above about the DVI overriding the tv. Or not. I am new at this stuff too - have figured out what works, butt cannot always say why.

(4) I did have problems using the DVI cable. Sometimes when I turned on the TV, I got a "copyrite protection" message (and a black screen), with the message to use component cables. I get around this by leaving the tv on all the time and turning the cable box off and on (which blacks out the tv screen like it was off). Don't know why it works, but it does.

None of this may be useful for you, but if you are not seeing a noticable difference between component and DVI, you may be seeing a standard def picture. Your cable box may not be set up correctly. Try calling Comcast, and if you don't get someone who can help, hang up and call again. Comcast's techs range from clueless to very knowledeable. Keep calling till you get the right one.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

02-11-2005, 12:56 PM	#1
sammy5gs Man With The Plan Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA Age: 37 Posts: 1	Comcast HDTV - DVI Hookup Question Hey Guys... First, I will ask for patience and understanding, as this may be portrayed as noobie question. Also, since I am not home, I do not have the "specifics" as may be required, so here goes: I have Comcast Digital Cable with HDTV Receiver (do not know what the receiver model number is), along with a Zenith 27" HDTV (Model C27V36). I just recently upgraded from Component Cables to DVI from the cable box to the TV. Even though I think I see the difference between DVI and Component Cables, whenever I am watching channels, the DVI picture does not take the whole screen of the TV? There seems to be black borders around the whole picture. For example, there appears to be a 2" black border on the sides of the picture to the end of the screen, and a 2-3" border on the top and bottom of the picture? Is this normal? Am I missing something? I did not have this problem with Component Cables. Anyway, thanks for dealing with my ignorance in this regard. Sam

02-14-2005, 01:23 PM	#4
SLedford HD Fan Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Little Rock, Arkansas Posts: 1,023	My Comcast DVI experience I have Comcast cable with the HD TV receiver and am using the DVI cable provided by Comcast. Here is what I have learned: (1) The standard def digital pictures do not fill the screen and do not look as good as I had hoped. The DVI cables seem to override the settings on the tv, which can be told to "stretch" non-HD pictures to fill the screen when using component cables. (2) The HD picture is OUTSTANDING using the DVI cables, much better than using component cables, and the picture does fill the whole screen. Both my tv and the cable box are configures for 1080i. (3) The analog channels do fill the screen, although I had to play around with the cable box settings some to get this to happen. This may contradict what I said in (1) above about the DVI overriding the tv. Or not. I am new at this stuff too - have figured out what works, butt cannot always say why. (4) I did have problems using the DVI cable. Sometimes when I turned on the TV, I got a "copyrite protection" message (and a black screen), with the message to use component cables. I get around this by leaving the tv on all the time and turning the cable box off and on (which blacks out the tv screen like it was off). Don't know why it works, but it does. None of this may be useful for you, but if you are not seeing a noticable difference between component and DVI, you may be seeing a standard def picture. Your cable box may not be set up correctly. Try calling Comcast, and if you don't get someone who can help, hang up and call again. Comcast's techs range from clueless to very knowledeable. Keep calling till you get the right one. Good luck, and keep us posted.

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02-11-2005, 02:20 PM	#2
kdog044 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 437	Does your TV have different settings for each input (i.e. component, DVI)? If so, it may be a setting on the display. The STB settings are the same for DVI and component so it can't be anything in the STB programming.

02-13-2005, 08:28 AM	#3
mike191 A couch and an HDTV to go please. Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: DFW Posts: 10	Did Comcast set up the receiver? You also need to be sure the cable box is set to deliver 720p or 1080i. You can change the output of the cable box to suit your display. Check your display settings as well.