Aspect Ratios on Samsung

ntl.wotcha · 05-04-2005, 17:09

With my old Pace box I had it set to 4:3 letterbox mode as I have a large 4:3 set and had no problems, the Pace would switch between 4:3 full frame and letterbox 16:9 no problems.

Have now got a Samsung (due to 2mb upgrade) and have used the same 4:3 letterbox setting. Trouble is that it doesn't work properly or is trying to be too clever.

Sky one, C5 and C4 are all fine and switch from full frame to 16:9 as they should, but BBC1 & 2 Itv etc. are all stuck in 14:9. Is there anyway to force it to 16:9 ????

spiderplant · 05-04-2005, 17:45

It's working correctly. The BBC usually only put active content in the 14:9 region, and this is what the STB is showing you. (It is maximising the useful picture area). The older Pace boxes aren't capable of doing this so gave you the inactive bits of the picture, together with more black.

Take a look at page 22 of http://www.dtg.org.uk/publications/books/afd.pdf. The Samsung box is doing what is shown in the top line. The Pace box has to make do with the second line.

You may be able to work round it by setting the STB's output to 16:9. Or this may just give you a distorted picture. It depends on your TV.

Jumborat · 11-04-2005, 11:13

Thanks for that, spiderplant.

I had a Samsung fitted on Thursday for the upgrade and had the same question so did a search of the forums here before contacting NTL.

whuds · 11-04-2005, 18:59

I posted this on another thread but I've lost all wide screen due to the samsung. It is distorted and cuts the part of the picture off.

It got better when I unplugged the box and reset it, but after a while it gets worse.