First time with HD cable

[chr6]

this is my first experience with an hd box from time warner on my westinghouse 42 1080p lcd.

only on a few hd channels i get this weird thin fuzzy line at the top; this is only on some hd channels, the movie hd channels are fine.

any idea what causes this? or how to fix it?

thanks

 

[iRONic]

Originally posted by: chr6
this is my first experience with an hd box from time warner on my westinghouse 42 1080p lcd.

only on a few hd channels i get this weird thin fuzzy line at the top; this is only on some hd channels, the movie hd channels are fine.

any idea what causes this? or how to fix it?

thanks

Which cables are you using? HDMI? Component?

Is the source through an A/V receiver or straight from the STB to your TV?

 

[venkman]

Let me guess, do you see a yellow line when watching NBC? The problem isn't with your TV or cable box, it is with some of the networks. When they send a signal they assume a certain amount of overscan occurring on TVs and the line you are seeing is actually a data feed. The overscan on most TVs would put that line out of view. They Westy TVs do not overscan, they do perfect 1:1 pixel mapping making that line visible. The only way to get rid of it is to switch the zoom mode on the TV.

 

[chr6]

im using an hdmi -> dvi cable.

i think youre right venk, when i changed the tv option to 'fill' the line went away.

go figure. thanks!

 

[biggestmuff]

I see the same thing on a few of my Comcast channels. I have a Samsung HL-S6188. When I first received the set, I entered the service menu and disabled the overscan.

 

[Shawn]

turning on overscan will get rid of it.

 

[Tiamat]

I just wish that the networks, tv manufacturers, and whoever else involved would get with the program and just do away with overscan. Anything but 1:1 pixel mapping just doesn't make any sense to me esp. with fixed pixel displays growing more popular in people's homes.

 

[biggestmuff]

Originally posted by: Tiamat
I just wish that the networks, tv manufacturers, and whoever else involved would get with the program and just do away with overscan. Anything but 1:1 pixel mapping just doesn't make any sense to me esp. with fixed pixel displays growing more popular in people's homes.

That's fine once the majority migrates to HD sets capable of 1:1 pixel mapping.

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: biggestmuff

Originally posted by: Tiamat
I just wish that the networks, tv manufacturers, and whoever else involved would get with the program and just do away with overscan. Anything but 1:1 pixel mapping just doesn't make any sense to me esp. with fixed pixel displays growing more popular in people's homes.

That's fine once the majority migrates to HD sets capable of 1:1 pixel mapping.

Even so, I've noticed several normal tv's (proj, and CRT) cut off parts of CNN's scrolling bar too... So I'm not really sure overscan is really needed/is correct (but I am probably wrong due to my lack of experience).

 

[nullpointerus]

Overscan is part of the broadcast SD spec, IIRC. There's a certain amount of leeway afforded analog transmissions because of the distortion that typically occurs on the edges--especially the topmost lines. Some TV's that you will see--typically those in stores--will also be misconfigured by their owners.

Overscan is also used because the current market is a mess. Every "HD" device supports (physically and/or virtually) different parts of the "HD spec," and the support is shoddy at best. When the typical (ignorant) consumer brings home a Sony HD set and finds that his DVD player no longer works properly (i.e. aspect ratios, overscan), what does he blame? The new HD set. Overscan is a catch-all solution that satisifies the average consumer ATM.

I support aspect-ratio-correct scaling and would love to live in a perfect world where all the devices on the Best Buy shelves automatically worked in any feasible combination with optimal scaling and letterboxing relative to the individual devices' capabilities, but that's just a fantasy for now.