V HD VHD box with HDTV problems - Page 2

skylinefx · 22-08-2011, 00:15

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.

TheDon · 22-08-2011, 01:19

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)?

skylinefx · 22-08-2011, 13:57

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

SCART: (4:3 Normal in the set top box options)

TheDon · 22-08-2011, 14:32

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?

skylinefx · 22-08-2011, 15:59

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.

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.

spiderplant · 22-08-2011, 17:01

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)

skylinefx · 22-08-2011, 17:35

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.

TheDon · 22-08-2011, 17:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by skylinefx

Yes the 4:3 is stretched, but the image looks normal, whereas the 1080p everything looks long?

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:

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 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by skylinefx

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.

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

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

skylinefx · 22-08-2011, 18:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

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.

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)?

TheDon · 22-08-2011, 19:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by skylinefx

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)?

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

skylinefx · 22-08-2011, 19:40

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

carmad · 22-08-2011, 19:56

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.