HDTV on stardard TV. It works great!

[Pioneer4x4]

I was reading the specs on HD receivers, and they mentioned output all the way down to 480i. So I figured that they would work on my 36"JVC the same as my DVD player. I went to Comcast and picked up a HD Cable Box. I hooked it up with SVideo cable, and went straight to the HD Channels. They cam in fine, and looked pretty good. Then by fumbling around, I found if you hit the menu button on the box itself while it is still turned OFF, a menu will show up on the TV. You can set the output for 16:9, 4:3 letterbox, 4:3 Pan&Scan. I put it on 4:3 letterbox. There was also a setting for output of 480i,480p,.....

If you have it set to 4:3 letterbox;
Widescreen shows are perfect.
Fullscreen shows have a box around all 4 sides. (but still look correct)
If you have it set to 4:3 Pan&Scan;
Widescreen shows are cropped (left and right are missing)
Full screen shows are perfect.

The problem is, I haven't found a way to change it by the remote. You have to turn it off, and go into the menu from the box itself.

Once I figure out how to get GBPVR to tune the new HD Cable box, I will try recording directly from it. I am currently using girder and a serial cable for my current box, the new one has everything but serial. Ethernet,USB,firewire, an IR blaster jack... I'd love to get info on all of it!

[ydekmekji]

it would seem to me that you would lose some quality by doing this?

[GoodGuys]

There is an aspect ratio command - F7 I think. Give it a try. If it works, you'll need to reprogram irremote.ini so that some button on your remote will generate it.
Check the documentation again, to be sure it's F7.
GGF

[Pioneer4x4]

it would seem to me that you would lose some quality by doing this?

Lose quality from what? I don't have a HD TV, so if anything I am gaining quality. I am getting a 480i digital picture instead of broadcast analog. The picture doesn't look a whole lot better, but it does work, and look good.
Plus I am able to get the HD channels that I couldn't before. Some of them are unique programming.

And the best part is, it is free. (the HD box doesn't cost any more to use than the old one)


I wonder how many people have HD TV's with boxs setup like this, and aren't getting the full potential of theirs? I think it was set to 16:9 480i by default.