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domwild Guru Joined: 16/12/2005 Location: AustraliaPosts: 873
Posted: 11:13pm 09 Feb 2011
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Hi,
My satellite TV problems were fixed through this forum and whirlpool, a coms forum. Thanks for that.
Just bought a 32" Sony LCD TV, which I set to 16:9 Aspect ratio and get a full 32" screen this way. Cannot remember which aspect ratio I set the Sat decoder to. Faces are Burt Newton moon face like. So I set the aspect ratio on the TV to 4:3 and the faces are correct BUT the picture is no longer the full 32". And it says in the manual not to let the TV work in this aspect ratio as it is harmful to the screen!?
As the TV 'only' cost me $450 at Dick Smith I wonder if I got what I paid for and this could be a warning to my friends on this forum not to get ripped off like I did
OR
I am simply doing something wrong again?
As most of you live in remote places and use sat TV, is this a peculiarity of sat TV that the pictures are transmitted in 4:3 aspect ratio or has it something to do with the sat decoder set to 4:3 and the TV set to 16:9??
Thanks.
Taxation as a means of achieving prosperity is like a man standing inside a bucket trying to lift himself up.
Winston Churchill
RossW Guru Joined: 25/02/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 495
Posted: 12:24am 10 Feb 2011
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It's a big, confusing mess :)
There are a heap of variables - there's no "one" answer for you.
A program may be produced in 4:3, or 16:9 (or close to). Most of the older stuff is 4:3
When you receive stuff, either directly on a digital-capable TV, or through a STB (satellite receiver is functionally similar to STB in this regard), and pass it to a 16:9 screen for display, a 4:3 image clearly doesn't "fit" properly. The only options are:
1. Display correctly, a 4:3 image stuck in the middle of the screen, with blank edges
2. Display a chunk of the 4:3 image, zoomed in so the width fits the 16:9 screen
(which necessarily means you crop the top and bottom off the image)
3. Display a stretched image, so the height is right, but the width is much wider
(looks terrible, as you say)
4. So-called "progressive" fit, that shows the middle bit of the 4:3 image properly,
but stretches the sides out even worse to "fill the screen". This looks even worse
It's very annoying, but option 2 is generally the most "viewable" - unless of course it has subtitles etc, which are frequently off the bottom of the screen.
Added confusion is that most TV/displays can do this zoom-to-fit stuff, AND most of the STB/receivers can do it too. Don't try to outsmart them. I find setting the monitor to display just exactly what it gets without zoom/crop, and setting the STB to say it has a 16:9 display fitted works best. Then, when you get a program thats in the wrong format - adjust ONE - whichever one works out to be easier - to suit. (Eg, on one of my TVs, the aspect ratio setting is down several menu levels, so I change on the STB which has a single button for aspect ratio, but another TV has a single button and the STB is a pig to adjust!)
Good luck
domwild Guru Joined: 16/12/2005 Location: AustraliaPosts: 873
Posted: 10:09am 10 Feb 2011
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Ross,
Thanks for your reply. I will follow your instructions and I hope I can keep the wife happy; she is most unhappy about the moon faces!
May I ask one more question? The cable from the LNB goes to the sat decoder, then I guess I have a choice to
1. Loop the antenna cable from sat decoder to the TV, or
2. Connect the TV via the Component cable, which is supposed to be the best solution?
Which way would you choose?
Thanks.
Taxation as a means of achieving prosperity is like a man standing inside a bucket trying to lift himself up.
Winston Churchill
RossW Guru Joined: 25/02/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 495
Posted: 10:47am 10 Feb 2011
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The cable from the LNB is an intermediate frequency, and no use to you at all for your TV receiver.
Your sat receiver may have an RF out, which you can connect to the TV - but this is the least preferable of ALL your options. It's the lowest quality and got the most dramas setting it up.
Composite Video (a single RCA or BNC connector) is the next-lest-bad option, you'll need L+R audio as well.
Component video is your best option, if its availale to you. You'll still need L+R audio as well, but it'll give you your best option of the three.
If your decoder/receiver has HDMI or any of the other fancy standards, and your TV also supports them, then fine. But the component or even composite are fine for all bar the most fussy viewers.
domwild Guru Joined: 16/12/2005 Location: AustraliaPosts: 873
Posted: 10:31pm 10 Feb 2011
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Thanks, Ross.
Taxation as a means of achieving prosperity is like a man standing inside a bucket trying to lift himself up.
Notice. New forum software under development. It's going to miss a few functions and look a bit ugly for a while, but I'm working on it full time now as the old forum was too unstable. Couple days, all good. If you notice any issues, please contact me.
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