why isn't this full screen?

[rh71]

My parents have Cablevision and I have FIOSTV.

I have: 27" LCD HDTV & 57" Sony HDTV
They have: 42" Samsung Plasma (720p) & same 57" Sony HDTV

I don't know the max resolutions but can look them up if need be. Both my tvs show all the HD channels without the bars on the top/bottom. I understand some channels aren't always broadcasting in HD and I may get sidebars which is fine. I am just trying to figure out why my parents' both tvs always seems to have a bar at the top and bottom (and sides), even on the same HD channels (despite being different services).

Is it a set top box configuration issue with Cablevision? Isn't a true HD broadcast supposed to take up the entire screen? I'm familiar with their 57" and still can't get it to work. The STB will say broadcasting in 720p or 1080i but still have bars. I can set the bars to black so it's not as much of a bother but I'm trying to get the best picture for them and wondering why the difference.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Is the HD content a movie when it's not taking up the whole screen, or a regular broadcast show?

Something like sports or a talk show in HD will be 16:9, but if it's a movie shown in HD, it will probably be in its original aspect ratio, which is likely to be wider than 16:9.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Is the HD content a movie when it's not taking up the whole screen, or a regular broadcast show?

Something like sports or a talk show in HD will be 16:9, but if it's a movie shown in HD, it will probably be in its original aspect ratio, which is likely to be wider than 16:9.

I can always trust a sports broadcast to show full screen on mine... like Yankees or Mets games. On theirs it has bars on the top/bottom, albeit smaller bars than tv broadcasts like FOX HD... which are always full screen on mine. Bottom line, I have yet to see a full screen picture on theirs.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

How big are these black bars? Is it a major aspect ratio / zoom problem, or is it small enough that it could it be an overscan / underscan setting?

 

[rh71]

the aspect ratio seems fine... the picture doesn't look zoomed at all if that's what you're asking. The bars are proportionate around the whole screen for the most part. On the 57", we use "wide zoom" and the Yankee game would have a 1" bar which is smaller than other broadcasts but it's still there (not there on my own wide zoom setting). Is it not possible it's Cablevision doing something different? Or do you believe it's a tv setup improperly with their service?

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: rh71
the aspect ratio seems fine... the picture doesn't look zoomed at all if that's what you're asking. The bars are proportionate around the whole screen for the most part. On the 57", we use "wide zoom" and the Yankee game would have a 1" bar which is smaller than other broadcasts but it's still there (not there on my own wide zoom setting). Is it not possible it's Cablevision doing something different? Or do you believe it's a tv setup improperly with their service?

Have you made sure the video settings of the cable box are configured to output HD and that the cable box is connected via component or HDMI/DVI?

 

[rh71]

^yes, component to both

 

[spidey07]

Also make sure you tell it (set top box) the TV is 16x9. Otherwise what you're describing will occur.

 

[ZetaEpyon]

Yeah, you should definitely not have to use a "wide zoom" setting for actual HD content. Definitely sounds like the box isn't set up right somehow.

 

[s44]

Sounds like the box is set for 4:3 instead of 16:9.