Says "1080i, 16:9" but what is it really?
 

I have Comcast HDTV with a cable card in a Sony 42" rear
projection LCD. I keep the picture option on "normal" rather
then "zoom" or "stretch". The info diplayed every time I
change a channel shows something like "1080i, 16:9" or
"720i, 4:3" or whatever. I thought 16:9 by definition would
fill the screen. However, frequently it says "1080i, 16:9"
but the picture doesn't fill the screen. What's up with
that?

TIA,

Keith Runfola
www.JazzDrummer.com
www.GreenOakArts.com

Says "1080i, 16:9" but what is it really?
 

On Mon, 17 Jul 2006 16:03:40 -0400, keith runfola wrote:

I have Comcast HDTV with a cable card in a Sony 42" rear
projection LCD. I keep the picture option on "normal" rather
then "zoom" or "stretch". The info diplayed every time I
change a channel shows something like "1080i, 16:9" or
"720i, 4:3" or whatever. I thought 16:9 by definition would
fill the screen. However, frequently it says "1080i, 16:9"
but the picture doesn't fill the screen. What's up with
that?

It's the station broadcasting an SD picture over an HD feed. IOW's it's
normal operation. 80% of what's broadcast OTA is still SD. Most prime time
is HD, but not all. I don't think there's any daytime OTA HD here yet.
Still, the SD over HD is better than analog.

--
Want the ultimate in free OTA SD/HDTV Recorder? http://mythtv.org
http://mysettopbox.tv/knoppmyth.html Usenet alt.video.ptv.mythtv
My server http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/cpu.php
HD Tivo S3 compared http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/mythtivo.htm

Says "1080i, 16:9" but what is it really?
 

On Mon, 17 Jul 2006 20:23:23 GMT, Wes Newell
wrote:

On Mon, 17 Jul 2006 16:03:40 -0400, keith runfola wrote:

I have Comcast HDTV with a cable card in a Sony 42" rear
projection LCD. I keep the picture option on "normal" rather
then "zoom" or "stretch". The info diplayed every time I
change a channel shows something like "1080i, 16:9" or
"720i, 4:3" or whatever. I thought 16:9 by definition would
fill the screen. However, frequently it says "1080i, 16:9"
but the picture doesn't fill the screen. What's up with
that?

It's the station broadcasting an SD picture over an HD feed. IOW's it's
normal operation. 80% of what's broadcast OTA is still SD. Most prime time
is HD, but not all. I don't think there's any daytime OTA HD here yet.
Still, the SD over HD is better than analog.

Thanks for the reply. So when, if ever can I believe the
on-screen read out concerning aspect ratio and resolution?
I see aspect ratios that to my untrained eye look lke they
might be 4:3 (full screen top to bottom with black bars on
the side) and just lately, "letter boxed" but with black
bars on top and bottom. I do understand that there are many
different types of aspect ratio.
If an image does not fill the screen but the read out on the
TV says, 16:9, is the TV lying to me (I was under the
impression that the Sony would "know" what kind of image it
was recieving) or is the image actually being transmitted
with extra (blank) data on the sides and/or top and bottom.
If so, it seems like a big waste of bandwidth.
Boy this question sure sounds stupid but I've only had the
set for about 2 weeks and I have no shame about asking
questions about something I don't understand. :)
Thanks again.

Keith Runfola
www.JazzDrummer.com
www.GreenOakArts.com

Says "1080i, 16:9" but what is it really?
 

On Tue, 18 Jul 2006 01:56:06 -0400, keith runfola wrote:

On Mon, 17 Jul 2006 20:23:23 GMT, Wes Newell
wrote:

On Mon, 17 Jul 2006 16:03:40 -0400, keith runfola wrote:

I have Comcast HDTV with a cable card in a Sony 42" rear
projection LCD. I keep the picture option on "normal" rather
then "zoom" or "stretch". The info diplayed every time I
change a channel shows something like "1080i, 16:9" or
"720i, 4:3" or whatever. I thought 16:9 by definition would
fill the screen. However, frequently it says "1080i, 16:9"
but the picture doesn't fill the screen. What's up with
that?

It's the station broadcasting an SD picture over an HD feed. IOW's it's
normal operation. 80% of what's broadcast OTA is still SD. Most prime time
is HD, but not all. I don't think there's any daytime OTA HD here yet.
Still, the SD over HD is better than analog.

Thanks for the reply. So when, if ever can I believe the
on-screen read out concerning aspect ratio and resolution?

I'd believe it every time.

I see aspect ratios that to my untrained eye look lke they
might be 4:3 (full screen top to bottom with black bars on
the side) and just lately, "letter boxed" but with black
bars on top and bottom. I do understand that there are many
different types of aspect ratio.
If an image does not fill the screen but the read out on the
TV says, 16:9, is the TV lying to me (I was under the
impression that the Sony would "know" what kind of image it
was recieving) or is the image actually being transmitted
with extra (blank) data on the sides and/or top and bottom.
If so, it seems like a big waste of bandwidth.
Boy this question sure sounds stupid but I've only had the
set for about 2 weeks and I have no shame about asking
questions about something I don't understand. :)
Thanks again.

Keith Runfola
www.JazzDrummer.com
www.GreenOakArts.com

I could be wrong but I think you're confused by the black bars on the side
when you see them and it's saying the picture is 1080i 16:9. It is 1080i,
16:9, and the black bars are actually part of the picture since it 's a
converted SD picture to start with.

As an example. I get a 1080i 16:9 picture all the time from most of the
stations here. I've never heard of stations changing their broadcast
resolution, so if it's 1080i on one show, all the shows you get on that
channel are likely 1080i 16:9. Now when they play a real HDTV program,
you have a full screen, but when they play a non-HD program, you will only
get the center box. The outside edges are filled with normally just a
solid color. Also, I watched a movie not long ago that was converted to
1080i from some superwide format. On it, there were bars on the top and
bottom. So you really shouldn't be concerned much with what they are
sending, just adjust your set to the way you like it. I don't have your
problem since all my monitors are 4:3 normal and I leave my set to fill
mode which always (except in that superwide movie) gives me a full screen
of picture. If the show is HD and I want to watch it in widescreen mode
then I have bars at the top and bottom.

--
Want the ultimate in free OTA SD/HDTV Recorder? http://mythtv.org
http://mysettopbox.tv/knoppmyth.html Usenet alt.video.ptv.mythtv
My server http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/cpu.php
HD Tivo S3 compared http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/mythtivo.htm

Says "1080i, 16:9" but what is it really?
 

It might be analogous to a TV station broadcasting in MTS stereo. A little
light would inform you that a broadcast was in stereo, whereas if the station
was sending a mono signal over both audio "carriers" the red light would still
come on

--
All the Best
Richard Harison
"Wes Newell" wrote in message
news:[email protected]
On Tue, 18 Jul 2006 01:56:06 -0400, keith runfola wrote:

On Mon, 17 Jul 2006 20:23:23 GMT, Wes Newell
wrote:

On Mon, 17 Jul 2006 16:03:40 -0400, keith runfola wrote:

I have Comcast HDTV with a cable card in a Sony 42" rear
projection LCD. I keep the picture option on "normal" rather
then "zoom" or "stretch". The info diplayed every time I
change a channel shows something like "1080i, 16:9" or
"720i, 4:3" or whatever. I thought 16:9 by definition would
fill the screen. However, frequently it says "1080i, 16:9"
but the picture doesn't fill the screen. What's up with
that?

It's the station broadcasting an SD picture over an HD feed. IOW's it's
normal operation. 80% of what's broadcast OTA is still SD. Most prime time
is HD, but not all. I don't think there's any daytime OTA HD here yet.
Still, the SD over HD is better than analog.

Thanks for the reply. So when, if ever can I believe the
on-screen read out concerning aspect ratio and resolution?

I'd believe it every time.

I see aspect ratios that to my untrained eye look lke they
might be 4:3 (full screen top to bottom with black bars on
the side) and just lately, "letter boxed" but with black
bars on top and bottom. I do understand that there are many
different types of aspect ratio.
If an image does not fill the screen but the read out on the
TV says, 16:9, is the TV lying to me (I was under the
impression that the Sony would "know" what kind of image it
was recieving) or is the image actually being transmitted
with extra (blank) data on the sides and/or top and bottom.
If so, it seems like a big waste of bandwidth.
Boy this question sure sounds stupid but I've only had the
set for about 2 weeks and I have no shame about asking
questions about something I don't understand. :)
Thanks again.

Keith Runfola
www.JazzDrummer.com
www.GreenOakArts.com

I could be wrong but I think you're confused by the black bars on the side
when you see them and it's saying the picture is 1080i 16:9. It is 1080i,
16:9, and the black bars are actually part of the picture since it 's a
converted SD picture to start with.

As an example. I get a 1080i 16:9 picture all the time from most of the
stations here. I've never heard of stations changing their broadcast
resolution, so if it's 1080i on one show, all the shows you get on that
channel are likely 1080i 16:9. Now when they play a real HDTV program,
you have a full screen, but when they play a non-HD program, you will only
get the center box. The outside edges are filled with normally just a
solid color. Also, I watched a movie not long ago that was converted to
1080i from some superwide format. On it, there were bars on the top and
bottom. So you really shouldn't be concerned much with what they are
sending, just adjust your set to the way you like it. I don't have your
problem since all my monitors are 4:3 normal and I leave my set to fill
mode which always (except in that superwide movie) gives me a full screen
of picture. If the show is HD and I want to watch it in widescreen mode
then I have bars at the top and bottom.

--
Want the ultimate in free OTA SD/HDTV Recorder? http://mythtv.org
http://mysettopbox.tv/knoppmyth.html Usenet alt.video.ptv.mythtv
My server http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/cpu.php
HD Tivo S3 compared http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/mythtivo.htm




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Says "1080i, 16:9" but what is it really?
 

"keith runfola" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 17 Jul 2006 20:23:23 GMT, Wes Newell
wrote:

On Mon, 17 Jul 2006 16:03:40 -0400, keith runfola wrote:

I have Comcast HDTV with a cable card in a Sony 42" rear
projection LCD. I keep the picture option on "normal" rather
then "zoom" or "stretch". The info diplayed every time I
change a channel shows something like "1080i, 16:9" or
"720i, 4:3" or whatever. I thought 16:9 by definition would
fill the screen. However, frequently it says "1080i, 16:9"
but the picture doesn't fill the screen. What's up with
that?

It's the station broadcasting an SD picture over an HD feed. IOW's it's
normal operation. 80% of what's broadcast OTA is still SD. Most prime time
is HD, but not all. I don't think there's any daytime OTA HD here yet.
Still, the SD over HD is better than analog.

Thanks for the reply. So when, if ever can I believe the
on-screen read out concerning aspect ratio and resolution?
I see aspect ratios that to my untrained eye look lke they
might be 4:3 (full screen top to bottom with black bars on
the side) and just lately, "letter boxed" but with black
bars on top and bottom. I do understand that there are many
different types of aspect ratio.
If an image does not fill the screen but the read out on the
TV says, 16:9, is the TV lying to me (I was under the
impression that the Sony would "know" what kind of image it
was recieving) or is the image actually being transmitted
with extra (blank) data on the sides and/or top and bottom.
If so, it seems like a big waste of bandwidth.
Boy this question sure sounds stupid but I've only had the
set for about 2 weeks and I have no shame about asking
questions about something I don't understand. :)
Thanks again.

Keith Runfola
www.JazzDrummer.com
www.GreenOakArts.com

You are getting a 16:9 picture. The bars on the side are not produced by
your TV, rather they are transmitted by the station. You will notice that on
CBS the side bars are often gray, instead of black. I have even seen red.

Tam

Says "1080i, 16:9" but what is it really?
 

Wes Newell wrote (in part):

I've never heard of stations changing their broadcast
resolution, so if it's 1080i on one show, all the shows you get on that
channel are likely 1080i 16:9.

I have, and it wasn't pretty. My PBS station broadcasts PBS-HD, which
is 1080i, on one subchannel. But they have no ability to upconvert an
in-house analog/SD picture to 1080i as most stations do, so they used
to actually switch to 480i to do a station ID (which said they were
broadcasting in HD). The switch back and forth threw my receiver for
a loop every time. Sometimes it would recover on its own, sometimes I
would have to change channels and back again. I haven't seen their ID
in a long time, so I guess they thought better of it.

I've read that some PBS affiliates broadcast PBS-HD at night but
switch to multiple SD subchannels during the day. That can cause
problems with scheduled recordings because the subchannel map changes.

Del Mibbler