i just got HDTV and have a stupid question

roy_miami · #1 12-14-2006, 05:30 AM

Sorry for this crap thread guys, move it if it doesn't belong here, hopefully I can get a quick answer and it'll be buried.

I bought a 32" samsung LCD HDTV last week and got my HDTV PVR cable box today. I connected it to the TV using a RGB cable. All the normal channels are working fine and I assume are being stretched to the 16:9 wide screen, but the HD channels all seem to be 4:3 ratio. That doesn't make any sense to me at all, on my old CRT TV the top and bottom of the screen would be black bars on the new programs that went to HD. Now on my HDTV the sides are black bars on HD channels. The TV won't let me zoom when I'm on a HD channel also. What am I missing here? Could there be something wrong with the cable box? My 32" wide screen is small enough without losing 6 inches in width.

flatline · #2 12-14-2006, 05:54 AM

HD networks do not always broadcast HD shows. When they broadcast in SD, it appears as you described (bars on the side). Now, if shows like Sportscenter on ESPNHD are showing up in SD, then I don't know.

daveymck · #3 12-14-2006, 07:49 AM

Myabe I am being stupid (or we call stuff different over here) but should you not connect it with a HDMI cable?

Nicholasp27 · #4 12-14-2006, 01:15 PM

rgb/component/ypbr/dvi/hdmi...all are fine for hd

the first thing i would do is check ur cable box menu settings...for some u turn it off then hit menu while it's off to get to settings; others just hit menu when it's on and there is a settings area...make sure it is set up correctly

also, your cable box likely has aspect mode as well as ur tv...