Need help with Comcast HD channels

higgledy · 12-07-2008, 02:58 PM

I bought a Panasonic 720p plasma from Costco. I have my Comcast DVR connect to the TV via the S-connector. Many of the HD channels do not fill the screen, not even letter-box. Like ABC Family HD has a black frame around the entire image. and the image looks distorted.

I am also wondering if my Comcast DVR is whacking-out on me since starting last, the channel guide does come up. The only way to change the channel is by the Channel +/- button.

Thank you for an advice.

Loves2Watch · 12-07-2008, 04:23 PM

An HD DVR would have both component and HDMI connectors which are required to view HD. Since you are using S-Video you are not getting HD.

JPL · 12-07-2008, 07:49 PM

Loves2Watch is exactly right. If you're hooked up with S-Video then you're not getting HD. S-Video can't support HD - the S-video output will get downconverted to SD. You'll need either HDMI or component video cables to get HD. If you need to buy an HDMI cable, don't go to your neighborhood Best Buy or Circuit City. They'll rip you a new one for one of those cables. There are lots of great sites on line - monoprice or firefold are both great sites.

Now... why are you seeing those black bars all around the picture? I'll try to explain this, but without the ability to draw it out, it's a little tough. You're basically going from 16:9 to 4:3. When you watch an SD program on an HD channel, or when you watch an SD channel, you'll get black bars on the sides. However, in both of those cases the source of the black bars is different. With the SD channel, it's your TV that puts in those black bars. With an SD broadcast on an HD channel, it's the channel itself that's putting in those black bars. In other words, those black bars are part of the feed.

Think about watching a 16:9 show on a standard def TV. You get black bars on the top and bottom, right? That's because the picture is cut down vertically so it can fit horizontally. But what if part of that picture includes black bars on the sides? Technically, for an HD channel showing an SD broadcast, those black bars are part of the picture. Well, your TV will still stretch the picture to make it fit a 4:3 screen - it'll put the black bars on the top and bottom. But because the side black bars are already part of the image, they get displayed too. Very funky, I know. Point is, get yourself an HDMI cable, and this issue goes away.

higgledy · 12-07-2008, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPL

Loves2Watch is exactly right. If you're hooked up with S-Video then you're not getting HD. S-Video can't support HD - the S-video output will get downconverted to SD. You'll need either HDMI or component video cables to get HD. If you need to buy an HDMI cable, don't go to your neighborhood Best Buy or Circuit City. They'll rip you a new one for one of those cables. There are lots of great sites on line - monoprice or firefold are both great sites.

Now... why are you seeing those black bars all around the picture? I'll try to explain this, but without the ability to draw it out, it's a little tough. You're basically going from 16:9 to 4:3. When you watch an SD program on an HD channel, or when you watch an SD channel, you'll get black bars on the sides. However, in both of those cases the source of the black bars is different. With the SD channel, it's your TV that puts in those black bars. With an SD broadcast on an HD channel, it's the channel itself that's putting in those black bars. In other words, those black bars are part of the feed.

Think about watching a 16:9 show on a standard def TV. You get black bars on the top and bottom, right? That's because the picture is cut down vertically so it can fit horizontally. But what if part of that picture includes black bars on the sides? Technically, for an HD channel showing an SD broadcast, those black bars are part of the picture. Well, your TV will still stretch the picture to make it fit a 4:3 screen - it'll put the black bars on the top and bottom. But because the side black bars are already part of the image, they get displayed too. Very funky, I know. Point is, get yourself an HDMI cable, and this issue goes away.

Thanks. I connected the DVR using a component cable now things are looking better.

12-07-2008, 02:58 PM	#1
higgledy High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 37	Need help with Comcast HD channels I bought a Panasonic 720p plasma from Costco. I have my Comcast DVR connect to the TV via the S-connector. Many of the HD channels do not fill the screen, not even letter-box. Like ABC Family HD has a black frame around the entire image. and the image looks distorted. I am also wondering if my Comcast DVR is whacking-out on me since starting last, the channel guide does come up. The only way to change the channel is by the Channel +/- button. Thank you for an advice.

12-07-2008, 04:23 PM	#2
Loves2Watch Did I Do That? Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Omicron Persei 8 Posts: 16,608	An HD DVR would have both component and HDMI connectors which are required to view HD. Since you are using S-Video you are not getting HD. __________________ Friends don't let friends buy Korean brand TV's or Blu-ray players. Main HT Room - Panasonic PT-AE4000U, Draper Premier 119" 16:9 Projector Screen, Panasonic TH-85PF12U Plasma TV, 6 Conrad Johnson LP275M Amps, Anthem Statement D-2 Pre/Pro, 6 Thiel SCS4 Speakers, 2 REL T-1 Subs, Infinity Interlude 120S Sub, Simaudio MOON Orbiter Universal Disc Player, ELP Laser Turntable, 2 Dish Network ViP 622 DVR's, Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Player, Onkyo DV-HD805 HD DVD Player.

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12-07-2008, 07:49 PM	#3
JPL High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: West Chester, PA Posts: 1,492	Loves2Watch is exactly right. If you're hooked up with S-Video then you're not getting HD. S-Video can't support HD - the S-video output will get downconverted to SD. You'll need either HDMI or component video cables to get HD. If you need to buy an HDMI cable, don't go to your neighborhood Best Buy or Circuit City. They'll rip you a new one for one of those cables. There are lots of great sites on line - monoprice or firefold are both great sites. Now... why are you seeing those black bars all around the picture? I'll try to explain this, but without the ability to draw it out, it's a little tough. You're basically going from 16:9 to 4:3. When you watch an SD program on an HD channel, or when you watch an SD channel, you'll get black bars on the sides. However, in both of those cases the source of the black bars is different. With the SD channel, it's your TV that puts in those black bars. With an SD broadcast on an HD channel, it's the channel itself that's putting in those black bars. In other words, those black bars are part of the feed. Think about watching a 16:9 show on a standard def TV. You get black bars on the top and bottom, right? That's because the picture is cut down vertically so it can fit horizontally. But what if part of that picture includes black bars on the sides? Technically, for an HD channel showing an SD broadcast, those black bars are part of the picture. Well, your TV will still stretch the picture to make it fit a 4:3 screen - it'll put the black bars on the top and bottom. But because the side black bars are already part of the image, they get displayed too. Very funky, I know. Point is, get yourself an HDMI cable, and this issue goes away.