Can't get rid of black bars on all sides

Setup: Signal from Cablevision (northern New Jersey); Scientific
Atlantic Explorer 4250D set top box; Samsung LN40B500 40" LCD TV,
connected to the STB via HDMI cable; Cablevision-supplied Universal
UR2-CBL-CV04 remote.

Problem: Can't get rid of black bars on all four sides.

The Samsung remote has a Picture Size button. If I set the size to 16:9,
the picture fits horizontally, but there are black bars top and bottom
and the picture is distorted (circles are horizontal ovals, instead of
being round). If I set the size to 4:3, there are black bars on all four
sides, with no distortion. If I select Zoom 1, the bars all disappear,
but the material at the top and bottom of the picture (like a scrolling
news ticker at the bottom) isn't visible.

The manual for the Scientific Atlantic box says the # key on the remote
is supposed to also control size, but it has no effect. The manual for
the Cablevision remote says that the # key is reserved for future use.

The STB is definitely tuned to HD channels.

I believe the problem started when we switched from using a component
cable between the STB and the TV to an HDMI cable. This was done to free
up the one and only set of component inputs so they could be connected
to a DVD player.

Any ideas on how to get an undistorted widescreen image with no black bars?

Thanks,

Ray

Ray K wrote:

Setup: Signal from Cablevision (northern New Jersey); Scientific
Atlantic Explorer 4250D set top box; Samsung LN40B500 40" LCD TV,
connected to the STB via HDMI cable; Cablevision-supplied Universal
UR2-CBL-CV04 remote.

There is no such thing as a SA Explorer 4250D STB. There is a model
4250 (which is a SD only STB), and a SA Explorer 4250HD (which is a
SD and HD STB.) The answer to your question differs depending on the
correct model number of your STB. Also, what is the program source
(cable channel) when you're having these problems?

UCLAN wrote:
Ray K wrote:

Setup: Signal from Cablevision (northern New Jersey); Scientific
Atlantic Explorer 4250D set top box; Samsung LN40B500 40" LCD TV,
connected to the STB via HDMI cable; Cablevision-supplied Universal
UR2-CBL-CV04 remote.

There is no such thing as a SA Explorer 4250D STB. There is a model
4250 (which is a SD only STB), and a SA Explorer 4250HD (which is a
SD and HD STB.) The answer to your question differs depending on the
correct model number of your STB. Also, what is the program source
(cable channel) when you're having these problems?

The model number is what I read directly off the face of the STB. Maybe
I missed the H just before the D. The box is over my sister's house, 70
miles away. I'll send her husband an email and ask him to read the model
from the front and the rear label. It is the box that Cablevision
provided (January 2010)when she got the digital TV at Christmas time, so
it should be an HD model. The key point is that I can't find a size
button on the box or its remote to try in combination with the size
button on the Samsung remote.

The problem occurs on all HD channels. Examples: 702 (CBS-HD), 704
(NBC-HD), 707 (ABC-HD).

On Tue, 06 Apr 2010 14:23:40 -0400, Ray K
wrote:

Setup: Signal from Cablevision (northern New Jersey); Scientific
Atlantic Explorer 4250D set top box; Samsung LN40B500 40" LCD TV,
connected to the STB via HDMI cable; Cablevision-supplied Universal
UR2-CBL-CV04 remote.

Problem: Can't get rid of black bars on all four sides.

Try this.

http://www.cox.com/support/digitalca...etupwizard.pdf

Same as cablevision.

Ray K wrote:

Setup: Signal from Cablevision (northern New Jersey); Scientific
Atlantic Explorer 4250D set top box; Samsung LN40B500 40" LCD TV,
connected to the STB via HDMI cable; Cablevision-supplied Universal
UR2-CBL-CV04 remote.

There is no such thing as a SA Explorer 4250D STB. There is a model
4250 (which is a SD only STB), and a SA Explorer 4250HD (which is a
SD and HD STB.) The answer to your question differs depending on the
correct model number of your STB. Also, what is the program source
(cable channel) when you're having these problems?

The model number is what I read directly off the face of the STB. Maybe
I missed the H just before the D. The box is over my sister's house, 70
miles away. I'll send her husband an email and ask him to read the model
from the front and the rear label. It is the box that Cablevision
provided (January 2010)when she got the digital TV at Christmas time, so
it should be an HD model.

Should be? As in "that's what is needed", yes. As in "why would Cablevision
give us a SD STB", SD is digital, too. Was HD ordered?

The key point is that I can't find a size
button on the box or its remote to try in combination with the size
button on the Samsung remote.

To what end? I recommend never setting a TV or cable box to alter the aspect
ratio of any video, be it 4:3 or 16:9.

I don't know what remote your 4250 uses. My Explorer 8240HDC DVR has a
HD/Zoom button that I never use. It's just to the upper right of the
navigation arrows. It "stretches" 4:3 or 16:9 video, plus has two kinds
of "zoom." Wasted engineering, IMO.

The problem occurs on all HD channels. Examples: 702 (CBS-HD), 704
(NBC-HD), 707 (ABC-HD).

Tuning an HD program (16:9) on a SD box (output as 4:3), and displaying it
on a 16:9 screen will result in both horizontal and vertical black bars. The
same program tuned on an HD box and displayed on a 16:9 screen will result
in NO bars. Looks like you have a SD box.


[BTW...did Cablevision in that area change to "Optimum"?]

On CBS, NBC, etc, you should see 16:9 programming especially during
the news and prime time. You should not see any black bars.

First, make sure your TV's aspect ratio setting is right, to 16:9.

Now second, lets try the setup again from the STB. With the STB off,
press on the front panel "guide" and "info" at the same time. You
should see a setup wizard come on the TV. This will walk you through
how to set up different resoulutions and aspect ratios (1080i,720P,
480p widescreen etc). You should see Option A (easy setup) or Option B
( custom). Select Option B. You will then see a choice of screen
resolutions to pick from. Pick all of them.
When your done hit exit and turn on the STB. See if the problem is
solved.
For some reason when I had quirky problems with my STB, this method
worked. Don't ask me why, but when I set it up the long way, it worked.

UCLAN wrote:
Ray K wrote:

Setup: Signal from Cablevision (northern New Jersey); Scientific
Atlantic Explorer 4250D set top box; Samsung LN40B500 40" LCD TV,
connected to the STB via HDMI cable; Cablevision-supplied Universal
UR2-CBL-CV04 remote.

There is no such thing as a SA Explorer 4250D STB. There is a model
4250 (which is a SD only STB), and a SA Explorer 4250HD (which is a
SD and HD STB.) The answer to your question differs depending on the
correct model number of your STB. Also, what is the program source
(cable channel) when you're having these problems?

The model number is what I read directly off the face of the STB.
Maybe I missed the H just before the D. The box is over my sister's
house, 70 miles away. I'll send her husband an email and ask him to
read the model from the front and the rear label. It is the box that
Cablevision provided (January 2010)when she got the digital TV at
Christmas time, so it should be an HD model.

Should be? As in "that's what is needed", yes. As in "why would Cablevision
give us a SD STB", SD is digital, too. Was HD ordered?

The model number definitely is 4250HD. My mistake in reading it the
first time. Too many Easter calories must have fogged my vision.

The key point is that I can't find a size button on the box or its
remote to try in combination with the size button on the Samsung remote.

To what end? I recommend never setting a TV or cable box to alter the
aspect
ratio of any video, be it 4:3 or 16:9.

According to the User Manual the TV has six Picture Size options: 16:9,
4:3, Zoom 1, Zoom 2, Wide Fit and Screen Fit. However, a few minutes ago
I had my sister cycle through P.Size options. Wide Fit and Screen Fit
did not appear. That's strange.

(Perhaps the TV was not tuned to a 1080 or 720 program when she cycled
P.Size. The manual says that Screen Fit and Wide Fit are only available
on those resolutions. It also says "you should view the TV in 16:9 mode
as much as possible.") I suggested she call Cablevision and have them
tell her what to try, after trying the procedure that Mkepier suggested
in his 6:46 a.m. April 7 post.

I don't know what remote your 4250 uses. My Explorer 8240HDC DVR has a
HD/Zoom button that I never use. It's just to the upper right of the
navigation arrows. It "stretches" 4:3 or 16:9 video, plus has two kinds
of "zoom." Wasted engineering, IMO.

The model number of the remote is given in the Setup paragraph of my
original message.

The problem occurs on all HD channels. Examples: 702 (CBS-HD), 704
(NBC-HD), 707 (ABC-HD).

Tuning an HD program (16:9) on a SD box (output as 4:3), and displaying it
on a 16:9 screen will result in both horizontal and vertical black bars.
The
same program tuned on an HD box and displayed on a 16:9 screen will result
in NO bars. Looks like you have a SD box.


[BTW...did Cablevision in that area change to "Optimum"?]

Can't say for sure. Both I and my sister live in Cablevision
territories, but separated by 70 miles. I use them strictly for
internet, and they call it Optimum, as suggested in my email address
(optonline.net). As I recall, the USPS mail I receive from them offering
their three-way package (TV, Internet, phone), they do use the Optimum term.

On Tue, 06 Apr 2010 22:00:50 -0700, UCLAN wrote:

Ray K wrote:
....
The key point is that I can't find a size
button on the box or its remote to try in combination with the size
button on the Samsung remote.

To what end? I recommend never setting a TV or cable box to alter the aspect
ratio of any video, be it 4:3 or 16:9.

I don't alter the geometry either, but when I receive material in SD
signal ratio of 4:3 with the content in 16:9 letterbox (which still
happens now and then), I use a 4:3 zoom mode (i.e. keeping the
geometry of the content) to fill my 16:9 screen.

I don't know what remote your 4250 uses. My Explorer 8240HDC DVR has a
HD/Zoom button that I never use. It's just to the upper right of the
navigation arrows. It "stretches" 4:3 or 16:9 video, plus has two kinds
of "zoom." Wasted engineering, IMO.

The problem occurs on all HD channels. Examples: 702 (CBS-HD), 704
(NBC-HD), 707 (ABC-HD).

Tuning an HD program (16:9) on a SD box (output as 4:3), and displaying it
on a 16:9 screen will result in both horizontal and vertical black bars. The
same program tuned on an HD box and displayed on a 16:9 screen will result
in NO bars. Looks like you have a SD box.

I don't think it is even possible to tune in an HD signal on an SD
box.

But you're right that many /most? boxes have the capability to convert
a received 16:9 signal and output as a 4:3 signal with the content in
letterbox. This is useful if the TV can only display in 4:3 geometry.
/Jan

Ray K wrote:

The model number definitely is 4250HD. My mistake in reading it the
first time. Too many Easter calories must have fogged my vision.

If you are getting vertical and horizontal bars when viewing a HD signal
through a HD STB on a 16:9 screen, your STB is set to output as 4:3.
Change it to 16:9 or "as in the program" and you should not get these
bars. 4:3 programming through box will get vertical bars. These can be
dealt with by the TV's picture size options.

Jan B wrote:

I don't alter the geometry either, but when I receive material in SD
signal ratio of 4:3 with the content in 16:9 letterbox (which still
happens now and then), I use a 4:3 zoom mode (i.e. keeping the
geometry of the content) to fill my 16:9 screen.

When that happens to me, I change channels.

I don't think it is even possible to tune in an HD signal on an SD
box.

Perhaps not. I never had a SD box on a HD system. I was going by my
experience of recording HD on a HD-DVR, dubbing onto a VHS VCR, and
playing back on a 16:9 screen. YUCK!