[TelstraClear] Digital Decoder TV Aspect Ratio

Forums › Vodafone New Zealand › [TelstraClear] Digital Decoder TV Aspect Ratio

rsclio

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

# 22342 24-May-2008 16:10

Is there any means to expand the 4:3 broadcast to fill the screen on a widescreen TV using the options under the TV aspect ratio of the Telstraclear Digital DVR? I've tried every combination of this, but any 4:3 broadcast remains with black bars on either side - I'd prefer to have it fill the screen. The STBis connected to the TV by RCA and the DVR by S-Video - doesn't make any difference. The FTA channels all fill the screen as per the old analogue decoder (tuned in through the RF output). It also makes no real difference if I alter the TV's screen settings from normal to wide zoom or zoom - the 4:3 ratio remains that. The STB options indicate that if it is set to 16:9 (which it is), then 4:3 should fill the screen - it doesn't. What's the point of the options then?

Any help appreciated because I've changed to digital and my wife isn't happy watching "small" pictures in the centre of a widescreen TV!

sbiddle

28278 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

# 133033 24-May-2008 16:44

The STB is displaying the picture correctly and I don't think there is any way to get around this. Most channels are transmitted in fulltime 16:9 with the 4:3 picture enclosed in a 16:9 frame.

Off the top of my head the only thing that may work is to set the TV shape to 4:3, then centre cut that and then stretch it using the TV's zoom function.

IMHO there is nothing worse that fatovision TV - I far prefer borders that watching everything stretched sideways!

BarTender

2858 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

# 133180 25-May-2008 20:10

I agree on the "not likeing fat-o-vision". However food TV is particularly bad a fat-o-view, perhaps it is due to eating too much, or just because it seems sky stretch the 4:3 picture into a 16:9 feed (checked on Mother in laws Sky, and it looks the same :(..).

On the NZ 1/2/3 channels they are all transmitted in 16:9, with a good dose of the content with black bars on either side to keep the 4:3 picture looking right.

You could always force the STB into Panscan mode 4:3, then set your TV the same, that way you would be watching everying in fat-o-vision... however kinda defeats the purposes of having 16:9 content ;)

Spyware

2327 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

# 133183 25-May-2008 20:55

Food TV is a 4:3 feed, i.e.,output looks no different if decoder set to 4:3 letterbox, 4:3 pan/scan or 16:9.

Ross

Spark FibreMAX using Mikrotik CCR1009-8G-1S-1S+

Speed Test

rsclio

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

# 133625 27-May-2008 18:27

Many thanks for the info - I was just a little perplexed as to why the STB had the options when they make no difference to any channel - that is, if the channel is broadcasting in 4:3 it still remains that way with black bars to either side (no matter what setting the TV is set to - in fact, my feed from the DVR is through HDMI into a Denon 3808 receiver back to the TV and the Denon handles the "ratio" of the screen better than the Sony TV does. Actually, the most infuriating thing about the STB is the electronic programme guide. With the analogue STB, it had 16 program slots to set up on a daily/weekly/single time recording setting (change channel). With the stupid EPG, you have to set each night up each week - what are you meant to do when you are away the following week and want to record the channel? It's all rather laborious and tedious - so much for unattended recording! I can't tune in the free to air channels with a panasonic DVR - it can only find prime through the RF connection- so even using this as an option won't work. About time that Telstraclear added some extra functionality to their decoders!

cyril7

6978 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

# 133636 27-May-2008 19:01

Just to clarify, there is nothing going wrong here. All NZ FTA broadcasters (ie TVOne/2/3/4/Prime) on digital platforms (FreeView, Sky, TCL cable) are broadcasting in 16:9 fulltime. Therefore any 4:3 material before transmission is ARC'd (aspect ratio converted) to fit into the 16:9 widescreen frame that these broadcasters transmit in at all time. These broadcasters have removed all concept of 4:3 and only transmit in 16:9, any material they recieve in 4:3 they show in 16:9 frames in pillarbox format (bars to the side).

Therefore as far as the STB is concerned the flags tell it the material is 16:9, albeit a 16:9 frame with a correctly proportioned 4:3 frame within. Therefore your TV cannot rescale it as it is quite conviced its 16:9 (which it is) but a 4:3 image in a 16:9 frame.

The answer, just live with it. It is the current internationally accepted method of transisiton from 4:3 to 16:9.

Channels such as Sky Movies etc change aspect ratio as they move between movies and adverts so your display may see various material flagged as 4:3 or 16:9. Only if material is flagged as 4:3 will a widescreen TV let you manipulate the image, if a 16:9 display sees the channel as flagged 16:9 then it will default to show it in full 16:9. Anything else will be fatsovision, which is wrong, if you or your family have trouble with this then you will just have to get over it.

I payed big bucks the other day for this painting, but the wall I want to put it on is not quite the same shape/size as the painting, do you think the artist will be p1ssed if I get someone to do a stretch and tuck job on it to fit????

By the way, the TCL decoders have very flexible AR control, far more than any FreeView or Sky STB allows, I think its a matter of get over it. sorry if it sounds blunt, welcome to the new world!

Cyril

TelstraClear

566 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

TelstraClear

# 133738 28-May-2008 09:27

Thanks for your kudos on our set top box aspect ratio functionality! This functionality will be improved further with

'on-the-fly' user aspect ratio switching, with a new code release expected in the next couple of months. This will make

setting the aspect ratio even more flexible on a per-channel basis.

Regards

Jeff Doyle
Market Manager - InHome Services

BarTender

2858 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

# 133748 28-May-2008 09:56

TelstraClear: This will make setting the aspect ratio even more flexible on a per-channel basis.

That is a very cool feature! Nice one!

rsclio

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

# 133932 28-May-2008 19:00

TelstraClear: Hi

Thanks for your kudos on our set top box aspect ratio functionality! This functionality will be improved further with
'on-the-fly' user aspect ratio switching, with a new code release expected in the next couple of months. This will make
setting the aspect ratio even more flexible on a per-channel basis.

Regards

Jeff Doyle
Market Manager - InHome Services

Jeff - any improvements on the ability to program the decoder for recording programme positions similar to the analogue decoders (see my last post)?

TelstraClear

566 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

TelstraClear

# 134084 29-May-2008 10:38

Hi rsclio,

Yes, we have had several requests for the 'repeating reminder' feature which is available on Analogue TV. I can confirm

that with the upcoming set top box software release that 'repeating reminders' will be added to the digital set top box.

I will post a full list of new features at a later date, when I confirm full "User Acceptance Testing" is completed.

Regards

Jeff Doyle
Market Manager - InHome Services

rsclio

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

# 134224 29-May-2008 18:27

TelstraClear:
Hi rsclio,

Yes, we have had several requests for the 'repeating reminder' feature which is available on Analogue TV. I can confirm
that with the upcoming set top box software release that 'repeating reminders' will be added to the digital set top box.

I will post a full list of new features at a later date, when I confirm full "User Acceptance Testing" is completed.

Regards

Jeff Doyle
Market Manager - InHome Services

That's great news - look forward to the new software release!