Panasonic TH42PY800

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Panasonic TH42PY800

jaredmc

19 posts

Geek

#28195 22-Nov-2008 09:54

Hi guys I would've posted this in the old thread but it has been locked.

I have a few questions about this TV. I recently bought it from Harvey Norman and it works great for PS3 and movies. However I use a normal RF aerial to watch TV as I don't watch much NZ TV.

Does anyone else use a normal aerial to watch TV? I have problems with the sound and picture aspect.

The sound is a lot quieter compared to the PS3. I use a hometheatre but if I was using just TV sound I would need to put it up to at least 30 for channels 2, 3 and C4, or 50 for channel One to be able to hear properly. If I connect the TV via optical cable to the stereo the difference between TV and PS3 sound gets even greater. Using optical it is so quiet!

I set up optical for the TV but I don't even use it as it is so quiet. I currently have the PS3 connected via optical and the TV connected using red and white aux cables (sorry I don't know what they are called).

It's annoying having to adjust the sound when changing inputs. I have tried using volume correction in the Sound menu but it doesn't seem to make a difference.

Also the TV cuts off at least 1cm of program no matter what aspect ratio is chosen. It is especially noticeable during game shows that have timers or if there are subtitles. It even cuts off the channel logos in the top right!

I'm assuming these problems are just because I use a TV aerial instead of a digital input. Is there anyone else experiencing the same problems? I'll write a complaint letter to Panasonic but doubt I will get a response.

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#179374 22-Nov-2008 10:09

jaredmc:
Also the TV cuts off at least 1cm of program no matter what aspect ratio is chosen. It is especially noticeable during game shows that have timers or if there are subtitles. It even cuts off the channel logos in the top right!

This is because analogue TV is transmitted in 4:3 and not full 16:9 - all the analogue FTA channels in NZ now use what is known as centre cut. They take the digital 16:9 feed and simply chop the left and right off the picture to transmit it as 4:3.

This means you will miss the left and right of the picture. Many TV shows are filmed with what is known as a "4:3 safe area", where all onscreen graphics are positioned so that when a centre cut is performed they are still visible for somebody using a 4:3 TV. It's the same with channel logos, if you watch Freeview, TCL cable or Sky you will see the channel logos are all quite a way in from the right of the screen in the 4:3 safe area. On analogue TV they are on the far right after the centre cut is performed.

If you want good picture quality you do need a digital decoder. Analogue TV will eventually be shut down in around 5 years time anyway so you will have to eventually get a digital box of some sort of a TV with built in digital decoder after this date.

The fact you are missing the channel logos at present however does indicate you are setting your TV to the incorrect aspect ratio. Depending on your TV analogue broadcasts should only fill up part of the screen with black bars on both sides. If you stretch or zoom the picture you run the risk of chopping off even more of the picture. I'm not sure what zoom/stretch modes these new Panasonic's have but somebody else may have some advice for you.

jaredmc

19 posts

Geek

#179375 22-Nov-2008 10:28

The aspect options are very limited and I have tried them all and none let me see the whole picture which is annoying. You would hope that a new TV should be able to provide an option where you can see the whole program...

I was hoping to wait until the PS3 freeview (PlayTV?) was released. The only thing I really watch on NZ TV is the news so I can probably wait.

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#179381 22-Nov-2008 11:17

jaredmc: The aspect options are very limited and I have tried them all and none let me see the whole picture which is annoying. You would hope that a new TV should be able to provide an option where you can see the whole program...

You have a 16:9 TV and analogue broadcasts are in 4:3 so you are seing the whole picture that is being transmitted. You can't fill the screen without stretching the picture sideways which results in "fatovision" and everything appears to be fat.

There should be an option somewhere in the aspect ratio settings to give you 4:3 analogue TV. This means that the analogue 4:3 picture will take up about 2/3 of the screen centered in the middle. The remaining 1/3 wil be evely split on each side as black bars.

If you want to see the whole program in 16:9 you need to either buy a Freeview STB or TV with built in digital tuners. I'm guesing you got your existing TV for a good deal - in part because Panasonic are clearing out all their old stock as all their new PY850 series TV's have built in digital tuners.

Dingbatt

6754 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#179383 22-Nov-2008 11:45

If the PY800 has a setting for overscan in the setup menu try turning that off.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

jaredmc

19 posts

Geek

#179385 22-Nov-2008 11:50

Yeah I got a good deal but I think it's reasonable to expect that you should see all of a channel from a TV that was only released around July or August...

I have tried every aspect option including 4:3 and it still doesn't show all of the program.

If you watch TV One now can you see all of the One logo because I can't.

jaredmc

19 posts

Geek

#179387 22-Nov-2008 11:57

Dingbatt: If the PY800 has a setting for overscan in the setup menu try turning that off.

Wow that actually worked! I had seen that before in the manual but thought it must be for the other model (TH50PY800) as I had never seen it in the setup menu because it doesn't show up unless you are in 16:9. But it has fixed that particular aspect option so thanks!

Now I just need to sort out the quiet sound which is probably just due to the aerial input...

Nety

2584 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#179391 22-Nov-2008 12:10

jaredmc:
Yeah I got a good deal but I think it's reasonable to expect that you should see all of a channel from a TV that was only released around July or August...

I have tried every aspect option including 4:3 and it still doesn't show all of the program.

If you watch TV One now can you see all of the One logo because I can't.

I think you might be missing the point being made. Your TV will show all of the screen BUT NOT using analogue. Analogue does not support widescreen TV's and never will. As mentioned it will in fact be getting shut off in a few years. You have purchased a old model TV which is now being replaced by one that has a digital tuner built in. It will not be long before all TV's have digital tuners but for now there is a mix. However it is not a issue it just means that you have to get a external digital tuner.

I would suggest getting a cheap digitel set top box. That will give you the picture you are looking for and once Sony release the PS3 addon you can flog the STB on trade me.

Media centre PC - Case Silverstone LC16M with 2 X 80mm AcoustiFan DustPROOF, MOBO Gigabyte MA785GT-UD3H, CPU AMD X2 240 under volted, RAM 4 Gig DDR3 1033, HDD 120Gig System/512Gig data, Tuners 2 X Hauppauge HVR-3000, 1 X HVR-2200, Video Palit GT 220, Sound Realtek 886A HD (onboard), Optical LiteOn DH-401S Blue-ray using TotalMedia Theatre Power Corsair VX Series, 450W ATX PSU OS Windows 7 x64

Equinox IT

Cloud spending continues to surge globally, but most organisations haven’t made the changes necessary to maximise the value and cost-efficiency benefits of their cloud investments. Download the whitepaper From Overspend to Advantage now.

cyril7

9058 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#179398 22-Nov-2008 12:49

Just to reiterate, most if not all new TV programs are captured in 16:9, and while some effort is made to make them 4:3 safe (ie not have too much important stuff happen out of the 4:3 centre) that is not always the case in particular captions often get cut off. Broadcasters now only think in 16:9, but before these 16:9 tranmsissions are sent to the old analog transmitter network they are cropped down to 4:3, ie the sides get lopped off, then you with your 16:9 TV stretch that centre crop out over the full 16:9 width and wonder what the hell happened. Well for 10-15% of what you paid for your PY800 you can have it sorted, proper 16:9 digital transmissions designed for your TV, this is based on a DTT STB for around $300 assuming your UHF reception is upto it, or a dish and DTH FreeView sat decoder.

Yeah I got a good deal but I think it's reasonable to expect that you should see all of a channel from a TV that was only released around July or August...

If you have a 16:9 TV then you need to use a digital transmission chain for it, the analog tranmission chain you are currently watching was introduced 50yrs ago so dont expect it to get your 2008 TV to up and hussle, get with the program, upgrade to FreeView.

Cyril

Dingbatt

6754 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#179490 22-Nov-2008 20:37

jaredmc:
Dingbatt: If the PY800 has a setting for overscan in the setup menu try turning that off.

Wow that actually worked! I had seen that before in the manual but thought it must be for the other model (TH50PY800) as I had never seen it in the setup menu because it doesn't show up unless you are in 16:9. But it has fixed that particular aspect option so thanks!

Now I just need to sort out the quiet sound which is probably just due to the aerial input...

You're welcome. Turning the overscan off might even improve how blu-ray movies will look from your PS3.

Just to re-iterate the advice above, to get the best out of your beautiful FULL HD TV you really need to feed it digital sources. If you get a terrestrial FreeviewHD tuner you will wonder why you ever put up with analogue (that's if you can receive Freeview HD where you live). Hopefully digital (terrestrial) recorders like they have in Aussie will be here soon.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996