HDTV problem

[sabotai]

My parents recently got a DELL LCD Widescreen HDTV and upgraded their cable box to Comcast's HD box. I've been trying to help them set it up, but I can't figure out how to display the image correctly.

The problem is it stretches all of the video horizontally. I know with regular TV (4:3 Aspect), on the Standard size setting, it's simply going to stretch the image to fill the screen. However, with HD, DVDs (16:9 Aspect), etc, it's supposed to fill the whole screen. Except it doesn't. It still simply stretches the image left to right and there's still black bars at the bottom. It basically takes the letterbox image you would see on a regular 4:3 TV and stretches horizontally but doesn't "stretch" it vertically to fill the screen.

Anyone ever run into a problem like this? I thought it may be comcast being all crappy like it likes to do, but then I tried playing several 16:9 DVDs (and yes, I made sure they are 16:9 Aspect), and it still does the same thing.

I've searched all over DELL's website and can't really find anything. I'm thinking there might be a wrong setting on the TV or a cable hooked up in the wrong place, but I've looked all over everything and can't seem to find it.

[gstelmack]

There are a couple of things going on here:

Most likely culprit is you not telling the devices you have a 16:9 TV hooked up. The DVD player, the cable box, your game consoles, etc all have a setting where you can tell them the type of TV. My best guess is 9-out-of-10 aspect ratio problems people have with their HDTVs are right here.

Also make sure you are using an HD hookup. If you are running coax or RCA or SVideo cables into the TV, the sender will treat it like it's 4:3. You need to be on component, DVI, VGA, or HDMI to get the 16:9 signal.

As for the TV, many have different ways of handling a 4:3 signal (and many of the sender boxes will as well if they are handling the 4:3 -> 16:9 conversion). You can have them stretch, do some proportional scaling (where they leave the center alone, but stretch more as you reach the edges), zoom in, or put bars on the side. Set those the way you want as well.

[sabotai]

There are a couple of things going on here:

Most likely culprit is you not telling the devices you have a 16:9 TV hooked up. The DVD player, the cable box, your game consoles, etc all have a setting where you can tell them the type of TV. My best guess is 9-out-of-10 aspect ratio problems people have with their HDTVs are right here.

I looked through every menu I could for the cable box and never found a setting for widescreen. You would think that if there was one, the Camcast people who hooked the box up would have set it, seeing as they were hooking it up to a Widescreen TV...but then again, it's Comcast.

Thanks. I'll try to find those settings and see what I can come up with.

[Pyser]

sab, find out what cable box you have, and look it up on wikipedia.

i couldnt believe how many tricks i found for my box on that site, especially since cable companies dont seem to give out manuals anymore

[sabotai]

Thanks Pyser, I'll do that (and no, Comcast didn't give us a manuel, not that it would have likely done any good. The manuel for the TV they got from Dell was horrible. It didn't describe anything.)

And I got it working. Thanks gstelmack. I didn't know, nor did the Comcast people tell my parents, that you needed the Red-Green-Blue components to get the HD working. Hooked them up and it worked like a charm.

[Pyser]

ah, cool.

get more of those same cables to run from your dvd player, too. and youll have to change the output on your dvd player from composite to component.

if you need more cables, the best cheapest ones are at monoprice dot com.

[gstelmack]

And I got it working. Thanks gstelmack. I didn't know, nor did the Comcast people tell my parents, that you needed the Red-Green-Blue components to get the HD working. Hooked them up and it worked like a charm.

It's amazing how many installers think they can get by with the cheap RCA cables and not spring the few extra pennies to give you the correct component / DVI / HDMI cables.

[gottimd]

This is the same problem I am having. I recently upgraded to HDTV and got the HD box from comcast (motorola) but the picture looks the same. My TV is set to auto picture, and I have tried the other settings. It seems to expand the digital display as you said below.

I think I need those cables. I have a Philips 47 (I think) flat screen that I bought from Circuit City last year.

Can someone post a link in this thread of these Red-Green-Blue components that I may need, so I can go pick them up and know what I am trying to find.

Thanks.

[Pyser]

honestly, guys, dont go to a store for these cables

first off, get an hdmi cable if possible. which is $100 at circuit city, and $4 at monoprice dot com

if you dont have an hdmi out or in, then go down to component cables.

the look similar to the composite you are used to (yellow for video, red and white for audio), but instead, the video is broken up into 3 cables - green blue, and red. then 2 more audio, red and white. you cant ever mix them up from composite. 5 vs 3.

[sabotai]

These are component video cables:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?type=category&id=pcmcat71900050025

[gottimd]

honestly, guys, dont go to a store for these cables

first off, get an hdmi cable if possible. which is $100 at circuit city, and $4 at monoprice dot com

if you dont have an hdmi out or in, then go down to component cables.

the look similar to the composite you are used to (yellow for video, red and white for audio), but instead, the video is broken up into 3 cables - green blue, and red. then 2 more audio, red and white. you cant ever mix them up from composite. 5 vs 3.

Sorry for being such a Noob on the matter, but are you saying get the HDMI cable and thats it? You say "if possible", do you mean some don't have this capability so I have to get the cables?

Can I get the HDMI without the component cables or ar both needed?

[Pyser]

hdmi carries both an audio and video signal digitally, which may look best, depending on your set-up. obviously, its cleaner running 1 wire instead of 5.

however, it entirely depends on your set up. your cable box may only support component out (red green blue), or may only support dvi out (which is the same as hdmi, but only carries a video signal, no audio).

and then, again, it depends on your hdtv inputs.

and component vs hdmi is an either/or running from your cable box to your tv. you may find you like the look of 1 more than the other.

but do invest in better cables to run from your dvd player to your tv. the general rule of thumb:

hdmi > component > s-video > composite > coax (old school cable from the wall)

what cable box and tv set do you have?

[gottimd]

what cable box and tv set do you have?

I have a comcast Motorola HDTV capable cable box.

My TV is a Philips flat screen TV, I think 47 Inch. I bought it not even a year ago.

I am hoping that I only need that one HDMI Cable and thats it.

TiVo Series 2 is connected to setup. Not sure if it matters but my wireless router is connected there too with the cable router and D-link for the TiVo and a DVD player.

[Pyser]

the tivo series 2 will fuck you. its not hd compatible

youll either need to upgrade to a series 3 for like 700 bucks, or switch to a comcast dvr, which would be able to record in hd

of course, if you dont care about recording in hd, you can bypass the tivo entirely.

when i have more time tonight, i can check and see which cables work with your cable box and tv

[stevew]

It's amazing how many installers think they can get by with the cheap RCA cables and not spring the few extra pennies to give you the correct component / DVI / HDMI cables.

Yeah, it's even more amazing how people are willing to spend 1500 on a TV, and then balk when it comes to buying the proper wires when you point them out to them. 30 bucks for some monster components or 40 for an HDMI is not that bad in the whole scheme of things. Yes i know you can get them cheaper online, but most average people still don't have those type of skills/knowledge to find them. Or the people that spend 2grand on a TV, but don't want to spend that extra 20 per month to get hdtv from their cable company.

[Pyser]

i hear you stevew, but $100 for an hdmi cable vs $5 for virtually the same thing...theres a difference between balking at a higher price and just flat out being ripped off

[stevew]

the tivo series 2 will fuck you. its not hd compatible

youll either need to upgrade to a series 3 for like 700 bucks, or switch to a comcast dvr, which would be able to record in hd

of course, if you dont care about recording in hd, you can bypass the tivo entirely.

when i have more time tonight, i can check and see which cables work with your cable box and tv

If comcast is like time warner, you have to get the DVR box in order to get the HDMI out.

*edit* at least you did in the past.

[stevew]

i hear you stevew, but $100 for an hdmi cable vs $5 for virtually the same thing...theres a difference between balking at a higher price and just flat out being ripped off

Oh, I agree totally, and I don't push the 120 dollar Monster HDMI unless someone really wants "top quality" and it pains me knowing that the cheap wires are essentially the same. It's actually embarassing to me to try to talk up a wire that expensive so I usually don't bother. I even recommend monoprice to people, depending on how "tech worthy" they may be. Some older people still don't use the internet, so they are going to buy at retail no matter what, so I may as well make some extra money off of them.

[DanGarion]

hdmi carries both an audio and video signal digitally, which may look best, depending on your set-up. obviously, its cleaner running 1 wire instead of 5.


In the scheme of HDMI and component yes, but not in the scheme of composite and component. :)

[14ers]

i hear you stevew, but $100 for an hdmi cable vs $5 for virtually the same thing...theres a difference between balking at a higher price and just flat out being ripped off
What is wrong with all the cheap HDMI cables on ebay? For under $25.00 you can get a nice HDMI cable on ebay.

[stevew]

What is wrong with all the cheap HDMI cables on ebay? For under $25.00 you can get a nice HDMI cable on ebay.

Nothing is wrong with the cheaper HDMI cables, they are all basically the same/work the same.

[ISiddiqui]

I have a comcast Motorola HDTV capable cable box.

My TV is a Philips flat screen TV, I think 47 Inch. I bought it not even a year ago.

I am hoping that I only need that one HDMI Cable and thats it.

TiVo Series 2 is connected to setup. Not sure if it matters but my wireless router is connected there too with the cable router and D-link for the TiVo and a DVD player.

It depends on the Motorola box, IIRC. The one I have has a DVI output, so I needed to buy a DVI-HDMI cable, and then seperately attach the audio cables. I think the new ones have an HDMI connection. Look on the back of your box. It should be labeled.

I should get the newest box, but I have a lot of crap on my DVR I have to watch before making such a switch (and who knows if you can trust Comcast to bring the right box).

[DanGarion]

If it's a Motorola HDTV box it probably has HDMI, mine does.

[ISiddiqui]

I have DVI on mine and it's a Motorola as well ;).

6412's have DVI. 6416 (IIRC) have HDMI.

[gottimd]

If it is HDMI, all I need is that one cable, I don't need the 5 other cables, correct?

[gottimd]

Mine has a DVI-D out connection on the back, so no HDMI for me?

Or is this the only cable I need (or something like)
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=6733154&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat69400050020&id=1087340589488

Sorry for asking so many questions, I just want this to be a one trip deal to the store.

My comcast box looks similar to this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DCT6412

I will just stick with Series 2 TiVo until the price comes down for series 3.

Is there a possibility that my Cable Box is only DVI and not HDMI and my TV is vice versa?

[Bee]

Mine has a DVI-D out connection on the back, so no HDMI for me?

Or is this the only cable I need (or something like)
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=6733154&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat69400050020&id=1087340589488

Sorry for asking so many questions, I just want this to be a one trip deal to the store.

My comcast box looks similar to this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DCT6412

I will just stick with Series 2 TiVo until the price comes down for series 3.

Is there a possibility that my Cable Box is only DVI and not HDMI and my TV is vice versa?

If your cable box is DVI and your tv is HDMI you need a cable like this:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7750034&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat69400050020&id=1140394359520

or the less expensive version from monoprice. You'll also need audio cables since your cable box is DVI only. The main difference between DVI and HDMI is HDMI also carries audio where DVI is just the video signal.

[Bee]

BTW, I highly recommend monoprice. Great service and the cables I've gotten have been very good (including some pretty long runs for my home theater).

[gottimd]

If your cable box is DVI and your tv is HDMI you need a cable like this:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7750034&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat69400050020&id=1140394359520

or the less expensive version from monoprice. You'll also need audio cables since your cable box is DVI only. The main difference between DVI and HDMI is HDMI also carries audio where DVI is just the video signal.

Stupid question, but if I just get the DVI cables and not the audio cables, will there be no volume or will the audio just not be as "crisp"?

[stevew]

Stupid question, but if I just get the DVI cables and not the audio cables, will there be no volume or will the audio just not be as "crisp"?

No volume. DVI only carries video.

[gottimd]

Thanks all for your help. Now I just gotta go to the store after I find out my TV's capability. I know its HDTV ready, but not sure if back is DVI or HDMI.

I hate the fact that its mounted on the wall above the fireplace so its not easy to tell early in the morning before I leave for work without taking it off the mount....and that I already had professionals come and cut out a portion of the wall so the wires can be snaked through. These additional wires will now have to be snaked as well...boooo!

[Capital]

I have used monoprice numerous times and have been very happy.

As for the Comcast question, I have their boxes on 2 tvs, one with the dvr (HDMI) and one just HD (DVI/HDMI). My DVR box hooked to a 40 Samsung HD TV looks great with a either a HDMI cable or the Comcast component's cables.

However, the HD quality using Comcast's cables on my new 23 Sansung office HDTV looks terrible. I can only get a great picture using a HDMI cable. Comcast doesn't really know why and still thinks it should look fine using their cables (their technicians have been to my residence twice - I had to take matters into my own and purchase the cables,)

Easy fix at monoprice.com for $15 each.

[gstelmack]

A couple of points:

1) The two HD receivers I've been set by DirecTV both came with all the cables in the box. It's just the cheap cable company installers that are forcing you to go buy those cables. The cable installer should have hooked up everything correctly for HD to begin with. The only time you should have to buy cables is with certain retail purchases, but even most of those come with at least component cables.

2) The key to home audio / video bliss: know what inputs your TV and audio receiver (if you have one) take, and pay attention to that when buying other components. Then check what cables the components come with, and buy new ones if needed. Connection types to be aware of:

HDMI - includes digital audio (5.1) and video (HD support) on one cable. For most home theater setups, it's a waste because you want to run the audio into your receiver and then on to your speaker setup, not run it into the lousy TV speakers. But becoming common.
DVI - digital video interface, true digital HD video (pretty much equivalent to the video part of HDMI). Because it's digital, you don't need to worry about signal loss or interference. Same as on your computer video card and LCD monitor.
Component - analog video, can do true HD. Breaks the video signal into R,G,B (roughly) separate components for reduced interference, and is the best consumer-level analog signal you can provide.
SVideo - analog video can handle higher-quality SD signals.
Composite - so-called because it combines multiple signals on a single line, which leads to interference and reduced quality. This is that yellow RCA jack that usually has a red and a white jack attached also (for stereo audio). Only does SD.
Coax video - your typical cable line with multiple channels rolled in.
Coax audio - stupid manufacturers rusing names for different things, looks like an RCA jack but is a 5.1 surround-sound audio signal.
Optical audio - a fiber-optic connection for Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound.
RCA audio - your typical red/white big male plugs that go into the giant round circles for stereo audio.For example, here is my home theater setup:

Sony 5.1 surround-sound receiver with a 5.1 speaker setup (subwoofer, center channel, 2 front, 2 rear speakers)
Sony 34" CRT HDTV (the precursor of the Wegas)
DirecTV HR10-250 TIVO-based HD DVR
Xbox 360
Sony 400-disc DVD/CD changer
V.Smile (kid's el-cheapo learning video game)My Sony receiver has the 3 optical audio inputs + 1 coax audio input + several RCA inputs. It also has SVideo and composite video inputs, but since I'm HD I ignore the video switching it provides and sticking with the audio.

My Sony TV has 1 DVI input, 2 component inputs, 3 composite inputs, and 1 coax input.

Connections:

Optical Audio from 360, DVD, and DVR into appropriate inputs on the receiver (I had to buy these cables, few devices ship with them)
Component video from 360 and DVD into appropriate inputs on the TV (each came with correct component cables)
HDMI -> DVI cable from DVR to TV (DVR has HDMI, TV has DVI, DVR came with correct cable)
Composite video / RCA audio from V.Smile into front ports on TV (again, came with cables)
Logitech Harmony 68x (forget exactly which one) remote to set everything up correctly with one button press for whatever activity I want to do. One remote to rule them all...

[Logan]

I remember saying this in another thread...but there are few feelings worse in a man's life than when he buys a shiny new piece of electronics and he can't figure out how to get the best use out of it.

Just a completely helpless feeling.

Can you tell I've been there before?

[gottimd]

Ok, so I finally got my TV Specs...
http://www.flattv.philips.com/img/large/37PF7320A_port.jpg

but my Cable box is DVI.

So I will have to buy the DVI to HDMI chord and thats all? The converter handles the sound as well?

[Pyser]

dvi to hdmi is video only.

run digital audio in if you have a surround sound set up.

if not, you can get away with the red and white audio connectors.

[gottimd]

dvi to hdmi is video only.

run digital audio in if you have a surround sound set up.

if not, you can get away with the red and white audio connectors.

No surround sound. So I have to buy this:
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Customer-reviews-for-Belkin-PureAV-HDMI-Interface-to-DVI-Video-Cable-AV5240008/sem/rpsm/oid/127449/rpem/ccd/productDetailReview.do#tabs
and this:
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/PureAV-S-Video-Audio-Cable-Kit-AV2210103/sem/rpsm/oid/116042/catOid/-12887/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

[Travis]

Haven't had to use the conversion cable, but the dual hdmi input is great to have. Got my hdpvr hooked up through one and the ps3 to the other, the only wires running into my tv (no surround sound system as of yet) and it's great.

[ISiddiqui]

No surround sound. So I have to buy this:
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Customer-reviews-for-Belkin-PureAV-HDMI-Interface-to-DVI-Video-Cable-AV5240008/sem/rpsm/oid/127449/rpem/ccd/productDetailReview.do#tabs
and this:
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/PureAV-S-Video-Audio-Cable-Kit-AV2210103/sem/rpsm/oid/116042/catOid/-12887/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

On the second, you don't need to have the S-Video attached to it. Just the red and white cable.

[Pyser]

yep, thats pretty much it, though id bet you have the rca cables lying around the house aleady somewhere (the red and white audio ones)

and again, please please please dont spend anywhere near that much money for those cables as the links you just showed

[gottimd]

yep, thats pretty much it, though id bet you have the rca cables lying around the house aleady somewhere (the red and white audio ones)

and again, please please please dont spend anywhere near that much money for those cables as the links you just showed

Not going to, I just wanted to make sure I know what I need to get.

Thanks all for the help!

[stevew]

Since you have the cable card slot, I would consider possibly getting one of those from the cable company. you can't order ppv, but it works like digital cable otherwise.