New Sony won't auto switch aspect ratio using scart
 

I decided after many months of vacillating to go HD. I ordered a Sky HD box
and bought a Sony EDL-37EX503. While waiting for the Sky HD box to arrive, I
have connected my old Sky and Sky+ boxes to the new set via Scart.

I cannot find any combination of settings that will implement automatic
aspect ratio switching when watching either of the Sky boxes. It worked
perfectly with my old Toshiba 32" CRT set. I am using the same scart cables
as before, and I find it very unlikely that both the Sky boxes have failed
in the same way at the same time. The new TV must therefore be at fault.

I investigated this subject (auto aspect ratio switching with HDMI) before
deciding on the TV. There were reports of problems with Samsung which put me
off Samsung. A friend has Sky HD and a not very old Sony TV, and he says it
works fine with HDMI, so I went for the Sony.

I was hopeful it would work with HDMI, but would not have been surprised if
it did not. I was never expecting problems with Scart.

I have raised a question with Sony support, but would welcome any comments.


--
--
Chris Melluish

New Sony won't auto switch aspect ratio using scart
 

On 23/05/10 14:03, Chris Melluish wrote:
I decided after many months of vacillating to go HD. I ordered a Sky HD box
and bought a Sony EDL-37EX503. While waiting for the Sky HD box to arrive, I
have connected my old Sky and Sky+ boxes to the new set via Scart.

I cannot find any combination of settings that will implement automatic
aspect ratio switching when watching either of the Sky boxes. It worked
perfectly with my old Toshiba 32" CRT set. I am using the same scart cables
as before, and I find it very unlikely that both the Sky boxes have failed
in the same way at the same time. The new TV must therefore be at fault.

I investigated this subject (auto aspect ratio switching with HDMI) before
deciding on the TV. There were reports of problems with Samsung which put me
off Samsung. A friend has Sky HD and a not very old Sony TV, and he says it
works fine with HDMI, so I went for the Sony.

I was hopeful it would work with HDMI, but would not have been surprised if
it did not. I was never expecting problems with Scart.

I have raised a question with Sony support, but would welcome any comments.



I have the same problem with a new Toshiba (don't have any HDMI devices
- yet), plus two other oddities:
1 Sky News (and only Sky News) has bouts of causing the set to switch
between its various mode - 4:3, 16:9, Cinema etc - in a random pattern
2 a Toshiba HDD/DVD/VHS recorder will switch ratios, but almost always
starts with 4:3 when playing a recording from the Sky SD box off the HDD.

nontech I suspect the inability to detect the SD pixel ratio without a
specific signal /nontech

It annoys me, but the (technophobic) OH doesn't seem to notice (apart
from Sky News) :-)

--
PeeGee

"Nothing should be able to load itself onto a computer without the
knowledge or consent of the computer user. Software should also be able
to be removed from a computer easily."
Peter Cullen, Microsoft Chief Privacy Strategist (Computing 18 Aug 05)

New Sony won't auto switch aspect ratio using scart
 

PeeGee wrote:
On 23/05/10 14:03, Chris Melluish wrote:
I decided after many months of vacillating to go HD. I ordered a Sky HD box
and bought a Sony EDL-37EX503. While waiting for the Sky HD box to arrive, I
have connected my old Sky and Sky+ boxes to the new set via Scart.

I cannot find any combination of settings that will implement automatic
aspect ratio switching when watching either of the Sky boxes. It worked
perfectly with my old Toshiba 32" CRT set. I am using the same scart cables
as before, and I find it very unlikely that both the Sky boxes have failed
in the same way at the same time. The new TV must therefore be at fault.

I investigated this subject (auto aspect ratio switching with HDMI) before
deciding on the TV. There were reports of problems with Samsung which put me
off Samsung. A friend has Sky HD and a not very old Sony TV, and he says it
works fine with HDMI, so I went for the Sony.

I was hopeful it would work with HDMI, but would not have been surprised if
it did not. I was never expecting problems with Scart.

I have raised a question with Sony support, but would welcome any comments.



I have the same problem with a new Toshiba (don't have any HDMI devices
- yet), plus two other oddities:
1 Sky News (and only Sky News) has bouts of causing the set to switch
between its various mode - 4:3, 16:9, Cinema etc - in a random pattern
2 a Toshiba HDD/DVD/VHS recorder will switch ratios, but almost always
starts with 4:3 when playing a recording from the Sky SD box off the HDD.

nontech I suspect the inability to detect the SD pixel ratio without a
specific signal /nontech

It annoys me, but the (technophobic) OH doesn't seem to notice (apart
from Sky News) :-)


This could be a number of problems, but I have always found Sonys to be
good on Scart switching.

-You could have the cable wired up incorrectly, eg to a Aux scart on the
Sky box..Does the TV change from internal tuner to scart automatically
when you turn the sky box on? if not you probably have the wrong scart
on the Sky box.

-The Sky box is still not outputting scart switching voltages

-The TV is set somehow to ignore the inputs (no idea if this is possible)

-The voltage acceptance range of the TV for scart switching is outside
the output range of the Sky box. I have seen problems before when
products are incompatible because one or other is out of spec. The TV
should accept all voltages with the standard, the Sky box should output
within it.

Pin 8 output:
Scart off= 0-2v
Wide on = 4.5-7v
4:3 on = 9.5-12v

Pin 16 also controls RGB (AKA fast blanking)
RGB off - 0.-0.4v
RGB on - 1-3v

There is some no-mans land voltages, so if a STB is outputting in these
areas (eg pin 8 = 8v) the response can be unpredictable, but clearly the
output is out of spec. Some equipment may work some may not. Similarly
some TVs may not switch when provided with a 4.5v signal on pin 8.

--
Tony

New Sony won't auto switch aspect ratio using scart
 

On 25/05/10 14:43, Tony wrote:
PeeGee wrote:
On 23/05/10 14:03, Chris Melluish wrote:
I decided after many months of vacillating to go HD. I ordered a Sky
HD box and bought a Sony EDL-37EX503. While waiting for the Sky HD
box to arrive, I have connected my old Sky and Sky+ boxes to the new
set via Scart.

I cannot find any combination of settings that will implement
automatic aspect ratio switching when watching either of the Sky
boxes. It worked perfectly with my old Toshiba 32" CRT set. I am
using the same scart cables as before, and I find it very unlikely
that both the Sky boxes have failed in the same way at the same time.
The new TV must therefore be at fault.

I investigated this subject (auto aspect ratio switching with HDMI)
before deciding on the TV. There were reports of problems with
Samsung which put me off Samsung. A friend has Sky HD and a not very
old Sony TV, and he says it works fine with HDMI, so I went for the
Sony.

I was hopeful it would work with HDMI, but would not have been
surprised if it did not. I was never expecting problems with Scart.

I have raised a question with Sony support, but would welcome any
comments.



I have the same problem with a new Toshiba (don't have any HDMI devices
- yet), plus two other oddities:
1 Sky News (and only Sky News) has bouts of causing the set to switch
between its various mode - 4:3, 16:9, Cinema etc - in a random pattern
2 a Toshiba HDD/DVD/VHS recorder will switch ratios, but almost always
starts with 4:3 when playing a recording from the Sky SD box off the HDD.

nontech I suspect the inability to detect the SD pixel ratio without a
specific signal /nontech

It annoys me, but the (technophobic) OH doesn't seem to notice (apart
from Sky News) :-)


This could be a number of problems, but I have always found Sonys to be
good on Scart switching.

-You could have the cable wired up incorrectly, eg to a Aux scart on the
Sky box..Does the TV change from internal tuner to scart automatically
when you turn the sky box on? if not you probably have the wrong scart
on the Sky box.

-The Sky box is still not outputting scart switching voltages

-The TV is set somehow to ignore the inputs (no idea if this is possible)

-The voltage acceptance range of the TV for scart switching is outside
the output range of the Sky box. I have seen problems before when
products are incompatible because one or other is out of spec. The TV
should accept all voltages with the standard, the Sky box should output
within it.

Pin 8 output:
Scart off= 0-2v
Wide on = 4.5-7v
4:3 on = 9.5-12v

Pin 16 also controls RGB (AKA fast blanking)
RGB off - 0.-0.4v
RGB on - 1-3v

There is some no-mans land voltages, so if a STB is outputting in these
areas (eg pin 8 = 8v) the response can be unpredictable, but clearly the
output is out of spec. Some equipment may work some may not. Similarly
some TVs may not switch when provided with a 4.5v signal on pin 8.

--
Tony


I forgot about the scart switching :-( It's off because it's far more
trouble than benefit. Turning it on has no noticeable effect, other than
auto switching.

--
PeeGee

"Nothing should be able to load itself onto a computer without the
knowledge or consent of the computer user. Software should also be able
to be removed from a computer easily."
Peter Cullen, Microsoft Chief Privacy Strategist (Computing 18 Aug 05)

New Sony won't auto switch aspect ratio using scart
 

PeeGee wrote:
On 25/05/10 14:43, Tony wrote:
PeeGee wrote:
On 23/05/10 14:03, Chris Melluish wrote:
I decided after many months of vacillating to go HD. I ordered a Sky
HD box and bought a Sony EDL-37EX503. While waiting for the Sky HD
box to arrive, I have connected my old Sky and Sky+ boxes to the new
set via Scart.

I cannot find any combination of settings that will implement
automatic aspect ratio switching when watching either of the Sky
boxes. It worked perfectly with my old Toshiba 32" CRT set. I am
using the same scart cables as before, and I find it very unlikely
that both the Sky boxes have failed in the same way at the same time.
The new TV must therefore be at fault.

I investigated this subject (auto aspect ratio switching with HDMI)
before deciding on the TV. There were reports of problems with
Samsung which put me off Samsung. A friend has Sky HD and a not very
old Sony TV, and he says it works fine with HDMI, so I went for the
Sony.

I was hopeful it would work with HDMI, but would not have been
surprised if it did not. I was never expecting problems with Scart.

I have raised a question with Sony support, but would welcome any
comments.


I have the same problem with a new Toshiba (don't have any HDMI devices
- yet), plus two other oddities:
1 Sky News (and only Sky News) has bouts of causing the set to switch
between its various mode - 4:3, 16:9, Cinema etc - in a random pattern
2 a Toshiba HDD/DVD/VHS recorder will switch ratios, but almost always
starts with 4:3 when playing a recording from the Sky SD box off the HDD.

nontech I suspect the inability to detect the SD pixel ratio without a
specific signal /nontech

It annoys me, but the (technophobic) OH doesn't seem to notice (apart
from Sky News) :-)

This could be a number of problems, but I have always found Sonys to be
good on Scart switching.

-You could have the cable wired up incorrectly, eg to a Aux scart on the
Sky box..Does the TV change from internal tuner to scart automatically
when you turn the sky box on? if not you probably have the wrong scart
on the Sky box.

-The Sky box is still not outputting scart switching voltages

-The TV is set somehow to ignore the inputs (no idea if this is possible)

-The voltage acceptance range of the TV for scart switching is outside
the output range of the Sky box. I have seen problems before when
products are incompatible because one or other is out of spec. The TV
should accept all voltages with the standard, the Sky box should output
within it.

Pin 8 output:
Scart off= 0-2v
Wide on = 4.5-7v
4:3 on = 9.5-12v

Pin 16 also controls RGB (AKA fast blanking)
RGB off - 0.-0.4v
RGB on - 1-3v

There is some no-mans land voltages, so if a STB is outputting in these
areas (eg pin 8 = 8v) the response can be unpredictable, but clearly the
output is out of spec. Some equipment may work some may not. Similarly
some TVs may not switch when provided with a 4.5v signal on pin 8.

--
Tony


I forgot about the scart switching :-( It's off because it's far more
trouble than benefit. Turning it on has no noticeable effect, other than
auto switching.


I take you now understand you don't get aspect selection without scart
control, unless both bits of equipment support the signaling within the
video stream.

You may still have one of the above problems, and if you are talking
about the Sky box it may control its 2nd scart input and not the TV output.

What trouble does it cause you? I always use it.

--
Tony

New Sony won't auto switch aspect ratio using scart
 

On 26/05/10 11:54, Tony wrote:
PeeGee wrote:
On 25/05/10 14:43, Tony wrote:
PeeGee wrote:
On 23/05/10 14:03, Chris Melluish wrote:
I decided after many months of vacillating to go HD. I ordered a Sky
HD box and bought a Sony EDL-37EX503. While waiting for the Sky HD
box to arrive, I have connected my old Sky and Sky+ boxes to the new
set via Scart.

I cannot find any combination of settings that will implement
automatic aspect ratio switching when watching either of the Sky
boxes. It worked perfectly with my old Toshiba 32" CRT set. I am
using the same scart cables as before, and I find it very unlikely
that both the Sky boxes have failed in the same way at the same time.
The new TV must therefore be at fault.

I investigated this subject (auto aspect ratio switching with HDMI)
before deciding on the TV. There were reports of problems with
Samsung which put me off Samsung. A friend has Sky HD and a not very
old Sony TV, and he says it works fine with HDMI, so I went for the
Sony.

I was hopeful it would work with HDMI, but would not have been
surprised if it did not. I was never expecting problems with Scart.

I have raised a question with Sony support, but would welcome any
comments.


I have the same problem with a new Toshiba (don't have any HDMI devices
- yet), plus two other oddities:
1 Sky News (and only Sky News) has bouts of causing the set to switch
between its various mode - 4:3, 16:9, Cinema etc - in a random pattern
2 a Toshiba HDD/DVD/VHS recorder will switch ratios, but almost always
starts with 4:3 when playing a recording from the Sky SD box off the
HDD.

nontech I suspect the inability to detect the SD pixel ratio
without a
specific signal /nontech

It annoys me, but the (technophobic) OH doesn't seem to notice (apart
from Sky News) :-)

This could be a number of problems, but I have always found Sonys to be
good on Scart switching.

-You could have the cable wired up incorrectly, eg to a Aux scart on the
Sky box..Does the TV change from internal tuner to scart automatically
when you turn the sky box on? if not you probably have the wrong scart
on the Sky box.

-The Sky box is still not outputting scart switching voltages

-The TV is set somehow to ignore the inputs (no idea if this is
possible)

-The voltage acceptance range of the TV for scart switching is outside
the output range of the Sky box. I have seen problems before when
products are incompatible because one or other is out of spec. The TV
should accept all voltages with the standard, the Sky box should output
within it.

Pin 8 output:
Scart off= 0-2v
Wide on = 4.5-7v
4:3 on = 9.5-12v

Pin 16 also controls RGB (AKA fast blanking)
RGB off - 0.-0.4v
RGB on - 1-3v

There is some no-mans land voltages, so if a STB is outputting in these
areas (eg pin 8 = 8v) the response can be unpredictable, but clearly the
output is out of spec. Some equipment may work some may not. Similarly
some TVs may not switch when provided with a 4.5v signal on pin 8.

--
Tony


I forgot about the scart switching :-( It's off because it's far more
trouble than benefit. Turning it on has no noticeable effect, other than
auto switching.


I take you now understand you don't get aspect selection without scart
control, unless both bits of equipment support the signaling within the
video stream.

Interestingly, the Toshiba recorder feeds direct to the TV and has
switching physically disconnected (as, otherwise, it switches when it
powers up to record :-( ) and though it starts with 4:3 for 16:9
recordings from the Sky box, it switches after a short while
(10-30secs). The implication I take from that is that the sky box
includes video stream signalling but has it permanently on!


You may still have one of the above problems, and if you are talking
about the Sky box it may control its 2nd scart input and not the TV output.

With the previous VHS system I had, the TV switched when the recorder
was playing through the Sky box, but the box itself did not cause the TV
to switch (as switching was off). The signal from the recorder was also
needed to enable the pass-through, hence the separate lead on the new
recorder.


What trouble does it cause you? I always use it.


The very fact it switches and, thereby, causes the OH to miss part of
her soap (or more, depending on whether she can remember how to correct
things :-) ) when I (remotely) turn it on to watch sport/natural
history/science progs in another room. Strangely, she is quite happy
with the need to manually select the sky box!

--
PeeGee

"Nothing should be able to load itself onto a computer without the
knowledge or consent of the computer user. Software should also be able
to be removed from a computer easily."
Peter Cullen, Microsoft Chief Privacy Strategist (Computing 18 Aug 05)