VHD box with HDTV problems
 

Hello!
I have replaced my old virgin media set top box with the VHD one yesterday. Set it up and stuff. Connected using HDMI.
For some reason, all channels seem to be stretched (everything is long :D). No matter what settings (720p or 1080p or both wide). I also tried changing the TV settings but there isn't much I could do except change the aspect ratio (Full, wide, 4:3, box). If I change the TV setting to wide, the image isn't stretched anymore, however I cannot see the sides and the menu is completely stretched.
I have a 43" Pioneer PDP-436SXE.

I have connected a PS3 to the TV and it works fine.
I also remember that there was a similar problem with the old set top box. The image would be stretched in height if I didn't select wide on the TV settings. If I selected wide, the image or the menu wouldn't be stretched but I couldnt see the sides.

Help please.

Re: VHD box with HDTV problems
 

Can you set the TV to 'Just Scan'?

Re: VHD box with HDTV problems
 

Do you mean automatically select the aspect ratio?

Re: VHD box with HDTV problems
 

Any particular channels?

When you set "wide" mode it doesn't affect any 16:9 channels but it will convert all 3:4 channels to s-t-r-e-t-c-h-y vision

I notice quite a few channels/programmes on VM are still 3:4 = stretchy vision - notably ITV2 (i watch Judge Judy everyday in s-t-r-e-t-c-h-y- vision)

Your PS3 maybe watching the same channel vis freeview which is in 16:9

Re: VHD box with HDTV problems
 

I guess the problem is with my TV... I need to somehow add those black bars to the top and the bottom so that it doesn't become stretched. The problem is that I can do that when it's connected with scart, but can't do it when it is connected with HDMI...

Re: VHD box with HDTV problems
 

The vhd box is set to 720 or 1080 not 720/1080wide as this will strech the pictures.

Re: VHD box with HDTV problems
 

Nah, you need to stop your TV from stretching the picture and to just display it as is sent.

There's a button on your remote that should do this, looking at the manual for your TV it's near the top of the remote, underneath the 4th input select, a square with two triangles pointing out. Press that and select full.

If that doesn't work, then go to menu, options, auto size, and turn it on.

Re: VHD box with HDTV problems
 

With that button you can change to full, wide, 4:3, cinema etc. All options are available when the box is plugged in with the scart cable and I can view the image without it being stretched (also by changing the scart output options in the VHD box options to 4:3). However, about half of these options aren't available when using the HDMI cable. Setting it to auto will usually make it 'Full', but that makes the image a bit stretched in length. Setting the TV to 'Wide' manually will make the middle look normal but the sides become stretched out. Looks like a magnifying glass...

I can post pictures later if you don't understand what I mean.

Re: VHD box with HDTV problems
 

Which ones are available via HDMI?

Make sure the V HD box is set to 1080, and not either of the wide settings else you'll get stretcho-vision.

Then your V HD box will always be outputting a full 1920 x 1080 frame (with pillar boxing if it's 4:3 content) and then full should just display it as is. If it doesn't then there's some other settings on your tv coming into play somewhere.

Re: VHD box with HDTV problems
 

Wide, Full, Zoom, 4:3 are available when using HDMI.
Cinema, Full 14:9, Cinema 14:9, Wide, Full, Zoom, 4:3 options are available when using the scart cable.

I've tried every mixture of settings and none of them seem to work.
The TV shows the resolution as 750p or 1125i but I've read that it also shows the data lines that's why it's 1125i and not 1080i.

EDIT: Just tried watching a 1080p BluRay movie from my PS3. It isn't full screen like the VHD box, and it isn't stretched because it has black bars at the top and bottom. These are applied because my TV isn't a widescreen, right? Why doesn't the VHD box do that too?

Re: VHD box with HDTV problems
 

Your TV is widescreen.
You'll be watching a 21:9 movie which is wider than widescreen, and that will have bars top and bottom.

Normal widescreen (16:9) should be played fullscreen with no black bars. non-widescreen 4:3 content should be played with black bars left and right.

Re: VHD box with HDTV problems
 

So setting the VHD box to 720p or 1080p wide should work shouldn't it? But it doesn't do anything... Only the menu becomes wider, not the video itself.

Re: VHD box with HDTV problems
 

What channel are you watching? It sounds like it is a widescreen channel but currently showing some 4:3 content with the black bars already added. You probably won't be able to make the bars go away.

The "wide" settings only affect true 4:3 channels. (But as Don says, it's a bad thing as it distorts the picture).

Re: VHD box with HDTV problems
 

ALL channels are stretched when the VHD box is set to 720p/1080p/wide and the TV is set to it's default 'Full'.
Black bars on the side do appear on some reports on BBC news which is weird.
Just noticed that E4 does have black bars along the top and bottom, however the image is still stretched.

Re: VHD box with HDTV problems
 

Then 'Full' is not the right setting to use. Tune to a full-time widescreen channel (such as any of the HD ones), and get that looking right. The 4:3 channels will probably be correct then too.

That will be content that was filmed in 4:3. Often old or foreign material. The BBC are adding the black bars and you can't remove them.

The bars top & bottom will have been added at source. I can't see them at the moment on Friends, which is a full-frame 4:3 programme.

Re: VHD box with HDTV problems
 

That's the problem... I can't get the HD or any of the channels looking right with the HDMI cable. I can with scart.

Re: VHD box with HDTV problems
 

Can you take a picture of the channel looking right with scart, and then one with how it is set to 1080 (not the wide one)?

Re: VHD box with HDTV problems
 

I guess it's with the TV... Tried using the HDMI with my laptop. Image is a bit stretched, just like with the VHD box. Played a game with my PS3, image is also a bit stretched. I'm sure this isn't how it's supposed to be, is it?

EDIT: Some games allow me to change the aspect ratio. The default on my laptop is 16:9 which looks normal. Now on the TV this looks stretched in height. In a game, I tried changing the aspect ratio to 16:10 and the screen isn't stretched anymore. The laptop screen is stretched in length now.

---------- Post added at 12:57 ---------- Previous post was at 11:11 ----------

HDMI: 1080p
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2011/08/14.jpg

SCART: (4:3 Normal in the set top box options)
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2011/08/15.jpg

Re: VHD box with HDTV problems
 

Looks to me like the 4:3 one is stretched (as it would be).

Look at the position of the DOG, it's in the right place on the 1080p picture, but on the 4:3 one there is no dog, because the left and right of the frame are cropped off and the center 4:3 area is being stretched to 16:9.

It'll be easier to see if you could pause the same image on screen.

Could you pause an on demand program and take the pictures again so they both show the same frame?

Re: VHD box with HDTV problems
 

Yes the 4:3 is stretched, but the image looks normal, whereas the 1080p everything looks long?
9
EDIT: It's difficult to get a good picture... Looks more normal when I take the photo. This is from my laptop (1920x1080). Spot the difference now?

Default - Like the VHD box in 1080p.
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2011/08/12.jpg

Custom aspect ratio - Similarly to the VHD box with scart, but you can see the sides here. This is also how it looks on my laptop's screen.
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2011/08/13.jpg

Re: VHD box with HDTV problems
 

I agree with Don. The 1080 picture is correct; the SCART one isn't. As a definitive test, watch the BBC HD "Preview" when the test card is on. Is the circle circular?

Not sure what point you are trying to make with your two PC pictures. I can't see a difference between them. (Compare where the car door pillars meet the edges of the screen)

Re: VHD box with HDTV problems
 

The top image is with the default settings. It fits perfectly on screen. But it is stretched out to fit the screen. The second image, I have added the black bars to the top and bottom. The second image isn't stretched. Look at the faces.

Re: VHD box with HDTV problems
 

I think the problem here is you're used to seeing a 4:3 image being stretched to widescreen.
So when you see the normal image everything looks "long" because you're used to seeing them short and fat.

If you look at the circular logo on the back of the car in the 1080p pic it's a circle and not elongated like it would be if it was stretched.

As for the ones from your laptop, I've overlayed them and can see what you mean, this is the pictures resized so the screen is the same size, then aligned with the top of the car's rear windscreen. You can see that the one is definitely stretched:

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2011/08/11.jpg

Now, the cause of this though is going to be setting a custom aspect ratio though, your TV is 16:9, setting an aspect ratio to anything but that is going to force the TV into stretching the image.

---------- Post added at 16:50 ---------- Previous post was at 16:44 ----------

The first image isn't stretched. The 2nd image is squashed.

Look at the play button, one is round, one is squashed.

Re: VHD box with HDTV problems
 

Then how comes it's like this on my new laptop even though it has a full hd screen? And on my other TV (not HD)?

Re: VHD box with HDTV problems
 

Your picture is fine on the 1080p picture though. It's not stretched at all.

Re: VHD box with HDTV problems
 

The picture is different on my laptop's 1080p screen and my TV screen. Its like I showed in the last two images.

Re: VHD box with HDTV problems
 

Set the VHD box to either 720 or 1080 (not wide) and set the TV to either WIDE or 16:9 (depends on Make/Model)
Use HDMI
YOU will then see all the programs as they were intended 4:3 will be 4:3 16:9 will be 16:8 etc.
On a large screen TV this is the best way.
There is no need to keep changing the settings.