New Samsung Box

[deck]

After having about 3 pace boxes die on me over the last 3 months I was quite relieved to get a swanky looking new Samsung box. It smaller than the other silver boxes I've seen and looks pretty cool.

I was a bit disappointed that it didn't have the stereo outs that the pace's had, I used to listen to the radio thru my stereo. But a few quid on a scart splitter device and the use of the video out socket has sorted that.

Just wondered if these boxes are as good as the paces. The engineer has fitted a "forward path equaliser 4db" thing inbetween the box and the cable anyone know why this is? Also when I set the box to 4:3 letterbox BBC1,2 and ITV1 don't seem to have the 16:9 letterbox effect anymore instead they have much thinner black bars.

[MovedGoalPosts]

These STBs are at least as good as the pace STBs. Yes they may not have the audio out but that's no real hardship.

The path equaliser can be normal practice, and has nothing to do with the STB, more the strength of signal from the cable network. It's not uncommon to have these, or attenuators fitted.

[Tristan]

Originally Posted by deck

Also when I set the box to 4:3 letterbox BBC1,2 and ITV1 don't seem to have the 16:9 letterbox effect anymore instead they have much thinner black bars.

The box is displaying the pictures in 14:9, which is what the broadcaster has specified. The Pace boxes aren't able to do this, so fall back to 16:9*.



* Actually, come to think of it, maybe the 4000s can -- Spiderplant?

[monkey2468]

Originally Posted by deck

After having about 3 pace boxes die on me over the last 3 months I was quite relieved to get a swanky looking new Samsung box. It smaller than the other silver boxes I've seen and looks pretty cool.

I was a bit disappointed that it didn't have the stereo outs that the pace's had, I used to listen to the radio thru my stereo. But a few quid on a scart splitter device and the use of the video out socket has sorted that.

Just wondered if these boxes are as good as the paces. The engineer has fitted a "forward path equaliser 4db" thing inbetween the box and the cable anyone know why this is? Also when I set the box to 4:3 letterbox BBC1,2 and ITV1 don't seem to have the 16:9 letterbox effect anymore instead they have much thinner black bars.

If its the 2110 Samsung, there much better than the pace stb's. They don't have the stereo outs, but they do have a optical stereo out if you have a Dolby amp.

[spiderplant]

Originally Posted by Tristan

* Actually, come to think of it, maybe the 4000s can -- Spiderplant?

They could. But they don't.

[deck]

Thanks for the replies.

This 14:9 thing is starting to bug me a bit tho. It just stays that way all the time on the channels I mentioned and some others even tho a lot of the stuff should be 16:9. Also when you turn to a 4:3 channel, e.g. Paramount. It leaves on the 14:9 lines and they cover up the paramount logo. To get rid of them you have to go to a 16:9 channel then back to the 4:3 and the lines are gone.weird eh?

Sorry if this is a bit confusing, just wondering if there is a problem with the box or something.