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Panny plasma Vs Comcast HDTV, HELP


Hey folks. Need some help here

I got myself a Panasonic 42in plasma, model # TH-42PD50U
I have 2 ways i have been trying to watch the TV

Currently, i have the HD box set up passing HD through the component (comcast HD boxes DO pass 1080I through component)to the plasma. Also, i have the COAX from the HD box connected to the COAX input on the Plasma.

When watching the source through the COAX input, i am unable to get the HD (as expected). When watching standard definition programming i can use the aspect button to switch from Full, Just, 4:3, and ZOOM to find the best way to view the program. on the 4:3 there are grey bars on the sides, and the other 3 methods will stretch the pic in different ways so i can select which is the most desireable.
However, NONE of the menu's will be displayed, i cannot get the channel guide to show up through the COAX input.

When watching the source through COMPONENT, i am able to recieve 1080I signals, everything looks crisp and lush, however, on standard definition channels the picture is broadcast 4:3 aspect to the TV. This results in the black bars on the left and right side.
The TV has an ASPECT button, however, when watching through COMPONENT the ASPECT button DOES NOT WORK. The TV will not go into Zoom, Full, Just, or 4:3 mode.
When watching the HD channels it WILL go 16:9, the 4:3 HD signals will show the grey bars on the side, or some wierd moving pattern with channel logo's and stuff depending on the channel. When watching 16:9 aspect the entire screen is used and works as it should, and i should also add, it looks SPECTACULAR. The channel guide and menu's from the cable box WILL show up.
The biggest pain in the ass is that the SD WILL NOT fill the whole screen, and the ASPECT controls do not work, meaning that if i get a wide-screen movie on demand, then i have black bars on the TOP, BOTTOM, LEFT, AND RIGHT of the screen!!!

So, as a work around, when i am watching an HD channel i watch through the component, and when watching SD i watch through the coax so i can use the aspect mode to fill the screen. When searching the channel guide i have to flip back to the COMPONENT input

My buddy has a Panasonic CRT HDTV with the same box, he uses the HDMI and his TV will broadcast widescreen in widescreen, and his Aspect control WORKS with the SD. He doesent seem to have this problem.

Does anyone have this TV? Have you used it with HDMI?
Im thinking that i might need an HDMI-to-DVI cable in order to be able to use the ASPECT button with the SD in order to fill the screen.

Ugh, i hope this isnt too confusing, but it is complicated to explain.

Basically

Watching from COMPONENT
ASPECT button WILL NOT WORK, SD is broadcast with black bars, without the use of the Aspect i fear i might get burn-in.
The cable guide DOES DISPLAY

Watching from COAX
ASPECT button DOES work, HD does not, and the channel guide DOES NOT SHOW UP.

Is there any way i can have my cake and eat it too? Should i get the HDMI cable? I really dont want to blow another 100 bucks just to find out that doesent work either.

Ugh... why cant i just have 1 input that will show the cable guide, have full use of the aspect button, and get HD?

ALSO, My denon 2900 connects to the Denon 3805 via COMPONENT, then to the TV via component, the aspect does NOT work with the DVD player either.... im starting to think the aspect function will work with coax but NOT COMPONENT, maybe it will work with HDMI?
slappy
nerspellsner
41 posts
 
Does your CATV box also have a aspect control? If it does,set it to full. Make sure its not set to 4:3. If it is set to 4:3 your TV might not display SD in a widescreen stretch mode regardless of the aspect setting on the TV. Make sure the screen type control on the CATV box is set to 16:9 and not 4:3. Send a full signal to the TV and use the TV aspect control to make it look the way you want. Does the CATV box upconvert all signals from the component video outputs to 1080I? If it does your aspect ratio control on the TV will not work. Try not using the coax cable to feed the TV. Use just the component cables or try using 2 inputs with a S video cable and see which one looks better with SD.
slappy OP
903 posts
 
Sorry, ive been gone for a bit, just got back.

I FOUND THE PROBLEM, and Edsilvia nailed it right on target. He even got the page right. LOL

The aspect controls for the TV only work with sub 1080i/720p signals.
The comcast box sends out a 1080i signal over the coax, regardless to the quality of the picture. So even SD will still be sent in an HD 1080I signal. That is why i couldnt use the aspect function. Apparently, my roomates CRT panny doesent seem to have this problem, might be beause he is using HDMI and not component....

I searched through that cable box 10 times and couldnt find any settings. Turns out, there is a special menu that is not normally available. you have to shut the cable box off, then hit "Menu" and it lets you into an entirly different menu system.

On that it was set to pass 1080I on all signals, basically, i set the box to only put out a 480p signal which is all my TV is really capable of doing.

So, now i CAN use the aspect controls, and my TV is still putting out the best pic it can.

Honestly, the panasonic ED plasma's are the best performance for the price as far as im concerned. I bought the TV at a Soundtrack/Audioking/Ultimateelectroncs store, it was sittin there next to many HD plasma's and LCD TVs... I still think the only flat panel TV in the store that looked as good was the HD version, and i could only tell when i was very close looking at lettering....
It was sure cheaper than the HD models, but that wasnt even really a selling point for me, i could have spend several grand more, i just couldnt fiure out why i would want to when this little EDTV is trashing the competition and it wasnt even HD.... I know not all things are equal in those stores, and i know they jack up the video of them to be bright and vivid as possible, but a lot of the other TV's just couldnt get the realizm that this one got.

I'm loving this TV, and will never look back.

Cinematic,

Ya know, i gotta say something, why does everyone feel the need to point out to me that this is an EDTV and not an HDTV? im pretty sure i made that abundantly clear in the post i put up. Same thing happened on some different forums, instead of helping me fogure the problem they decided they needed to sit there and point out the blatantly obvious.

You even quoted what i had said, as seen below, and where i said i am unable to get HD on coax and then quite clearly in parenthesis i stated "As expected" then decided to show me up by telling me resolution capabilitys of coax....
as that was ever in question....

"When watching the source through the COAX input, i am unable to get the HD (as expected)."

anyways, every single time i see you post on here you seem to have to try and show people up.... you feeling a bit insecure or something?
you miss the point in almost every single thread i have seen you write in.

Why dont you go ahead and analyze my system and tell me how horrible it is while yer at it? Take yer best shot, with what ive seen you post on here in the past, i hold nothing you say with any credit.

man. i dig the tv, i dig my stereo. and im happy with them to the point where i now spend a lot of my time and money pursuing other interests.

Good day.
danlib1
819 posts
 
Slappy-

As I indicated a few months ago in a private email exchange we had, I also think the Panny 42 EDTV is an awesome display. Great contrast ratio, beautiful color rendering, on and on.

Don't be too hard on Sinnamatik_dizplays. His posts all come on a bit strong. With a moniker like cinematic _ displays, he has to know more than us about video.

Enjoy your panel!
chadnliz
3,736 posts
 
Cinematic doesnt get out much, lol
reubent
3,587 posts
 
Slapster,

Good to hear that you found the aspect setting. For my PACE cable box with Time Warner Cable, The "Display" button is right on the front panel of the STB. Can't miss it!

I also own the Panny EDTV model TH-42PD25U. I agree that it is a great Plasma regardless of price. Honestly, considering I don't watch any OTA HD programming, I think the EDTV Panny is an incredible bargain. Amazingly, no other Plasmas have yet matched the feature set of the Pannys. How about integrated speakers, included table stand, NTSC, ATSC, and QAM tuners, cablecard support, HDMI and memory card reader. And that was in the previous version, not even the current one.

I only bought a plasma TV because I needed to increase my viewing distance and having the TV be 20" thinner was the best way for me to do it. Now that I have it, I couldn't be happier.

Enjoy the TV!

TIC
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