Need help, my set has a setting called Auto 16x9, there are two settings, On or Auto, the problem I have is when I turn on an HD channel (Direct TV H20), the TV's 16x9 feature kicks in, so in order to watch HD, I have to go to the Native Stretch Mode on my Dtv rec.

Is there a setting in the Sony service menu that will allow me to turn this feature "off", My only options now are Auto, or ON.
When in the ON setting, my TV always displays a 16x9 picture, when in Auto, it displays a 16x9 on HD programming, but since my Dtv receiver is already converting it to 16x9, my TV does so as well, so I have to go into my DTV rec, and put it in the "stretch" mode.

I'm not quite sure I understand your question. I have my KV40XBR800 connected to a DirecTV HR20 HD DVR via HDMI/DVI. If the HR20 is set to output 720p or 1080i, the TV automatically kicks into its 16:9 HD mode and properly displays an HD 16:9 image. If the HR20 is set to output 480i or 480p, the TV goes back to 4:3 SD mode. I never need to use my HR20's "stretch" modes.

Don't know how to explain it any better, I have to watch HD programming on Stretch mode (H20), becasue the TV's auto aspect formating is reading the HD signal and turning on, well the H20 is already converting it to a 16x9, so basically the TV is repeating the processing again, and if If I don't turn the H20 to "strecth" the picture geometry is messed up.


Shouldn't I be abled to watch the HD signal with my H20 box set to the Native Letter Box mode?

I wanted to know if there is a way to defeat the TV's Auto aspect ratio function, as of now, the only options are "on" and "auto".

Don't know how to explain it any better, I have to watch HD programming on Stretch mode (H20), becasue the TV's auto aspect formating is reading the HD signal and turning on, well the H20 is already converting it to a 16x9, so basically the TV is repeating the processing again, and if If I don't turn the H20 to "strecth" the picture geometry is messed up.


Shouldn't I be abled to watch the HD signal with my H20 box set to the Native Letter Box mode?

I wanted to know if there is a way to defeat the TV's Auto aspect ratio function, as of now, the only options are "on" and "auto".I don't quite follow the problem your having either. True HD is 16x9, and HD programming should engage the auto aspect feature of your 4:3 tv so that you have black bars on the top and bottom of the 16x9 picture. SD programming should not engage the auto aspect feature and fill the entire screen. If this is not happening then maybe your H20 is setup to upconvert SD programming internally. If this is the case, then you should resolve that by setting your H20 to output 480i for SD programming. I'm not sure what you mean by native letter box mode. Most HD stbs will allow the user to pass HD programming in its native format or convert it to the other HD format. They also allow the user to upconvert SD (4:3) material to an HD (16:9) format by zooming/stretching/mangling it. Setup your stb to NOT upconvert SD. You should not have to defeat anything on your tv.

I don't quite follow the problem your having either. True HD is 16x9, and HD programming should engage the auto aspect feature of your 4:3 tv so that you have black bars on the top and bottom of the 16x9 picture. SD programming should not engage the auto aspect feature and fill the entire screen. If this is not happening then maybe your H20 is setup to upconvert SD programming internally. If this is the case, then you should resolve that by setting your H20 to output 480i for SD programming. I'm not sure what you mean by native letter box mode. Most HD stbs will allow the user to pass HD programming in its native format or convert it to the other HD format. They also allow the user to upconvert SD (4:3) material to an HD (16:9) format by zooming/stretching/mangling it. Setup your stb to NOT upconvert SD. You should not have to defeat anything on your tv.

Guys, you are making this way more difficutl then it needs to be. The H20 is passing through the HD signal to my TV in 16x9 format, the TV's Auto Aspect is rec. the 720p or 1080I signal, and it's Auto aspect is kicking in, and it's messing up the geometry, so I have to go and make sure the H20 is in the Stretch mode on all HD sources. If I can defeat the Auto aspect on my TV, I wouldn't have to do this.

What's happening is the H20 is converting the HD signal to 16x9, and then the TV is taking that converted signal and doing it again, so I end up with letter box bars that are twice as wide as the should be, so I have to go to the H20 and place it in a stretch mode to correct the image.

So again, I need to defeat the Auto Aspect feature on the TV to avoid going through extra signal processing that I don't need. I don't want to bannter back and forth about this and that, my question is simple, is there anyway to access this in the service menu and defeat it?

Guys, you are making this way more difficutl then it needs to be. The H20 is passing through the HD signal to my TV in 16x9 format, the TV's Auto Aspect is rec. the 720p or 1080I signal, and it's Auto aspect is kicking in, and it's messing up the geometry, so I have to go and make sure the H20 is in the Stretch mode on all HD sources. If I can defeat the Auto aspect on my TV, I wouldn't have to do this.....Not to be argumentative but a case could be made that you're making this difficult. ;) I firmly believe this to be a H20 problem that is best resolved in the H20. Now, I'll admit up front that I don't know much about the H20 and don't have a 4:3 set but the fact remains that HD programming is 16x9 and the H20 should not need to process or stretch HD programming. Is the "auto aspect" feature you refer to, actually the 16:9 enhanced feature in the setup menu?

.....What's happening is the H20 is converting the HD signal to 16x9, and then the TV is taking that converted signal and doing it again, so I end up with letter box bars that are twice as wide as the should be, so I have to go to the H20 and place it in a stretch mode to correct the image. .......Again, the H20 should not have to perform ANY conversion to the HD programming, which is already 16x9 (except maybe from one HD format to another). This 16x9 HD signal should engage the auto aspect feature of your 4:3 set, which shrinks the raster vertically to a 16:9 window. BTW, does the H20 have a TV type setting (4:3/16:9)? If it does, then I would suggest trying this setting at 16:9 but make sure you passthrough the SD channels as 480i.

......So again, I need to defeat the Auto Aspect feature on the TV to avoid going through extra signal processing that I don't need. I don't want to bannter back and forth about this and that, my question is simple, is there anyway to access this in the service menu and defeat it?I like to banter about.:rolleyes: It often results in everyone involved learning a few things and problems being solved.;)

Not to be argumentative but a case could be made that you're making this difficult. ;) I firmly believe this to be a H20 problem that is best resolved in the H20. Now, I'll admit up front that I don't know much about the H20 and don't have a 4:3 set but the fact remains that HD programming is 16x9 and the H20 should not need to process or stretch HD programming. Is the "auto aspect" feature you refer to, actually the 16:9 enhanced feature in the setup menu?

Again, the H20 should not have to perform ANY conversion to the HD programming, which is already 16x9 (except maybe from one HD format to another). This 16x9 HD signal should engage the auto aspect feature of your 4:3 set, which shrinks the raster vertically to a 16:9 window. BTW, does the H20 have a TV type setting (4:3/16:9)? If it does, then I would suggest trying this setting at 16:9 but make sure you passthrough the SD channels as 480i.

I like to banter about.:rolleyes: It often results in everyone involved learning a few things and problems being solved.;)

That would be great, but you obviously dont' have a clue about what I"m talking about. Unless you can tell me how making an adjustment on my H20 is going to defeat the Auto Aspect feature on my TV? The probelm is with the TV's processing, not the H20. The TV is taknig a 16x9 signal, and then applying the TV's processing to it and squeezing the picture down. I'm well aware of how to set up my H20, and the problem is not with the H20. I'll make it simple, do you know how to defeat the Auto Aspect feature on the TV? If, not you can't help me.

That would be great, but you obviously dont' have a clue about what I"m talking about. Unless you can tell me how making an adjustment on my H20 is going to defeat the Auto Aspect feature on my TV? The probelm is with the TV's processing, not the H20. The TV is taknig a 16x9 signal, and then applying the TV's processing to it and squeezing the picture down. I'm well aware of how to set up my H20, and the problem is not with the H20. I'll make it simple, do you know how to defeat the Auto Aspect feature on the TV? If, not you can't help me.Have you tried setting the H20 for a 16:9 tv type? I reviewed the setup information on the H20 and that is an available setting. Reconsider litzdog911's post above. He has the 40" version of your set and has no problems. Humor me.:p

It is my belief that the automatic vertical compression feature of your set is functioning correctly. When it detects a 16:9 HD signal or an anamorphic SD signal, the vertical compression feature should engage.

It is the H20 that is inappropriately modifying the HD signal prior to output. It may be doing this if you have the H20 set for output to a 4:3 tv type.

Have you tried setting the H20 for a 16:9 tv type? I reviewed the setup information on the H20 and that is an available setting. Reconsider litzdog911's post above. He has the 40" version of your set and has no problems. Humor me.:p

It is my belief that the automatic vertical compression feature of your set is functioning correctly. When it detects a 16:9 HD signal or an anamorphic SD signal, the vertical compression feature should engage.

It is the H20 that is inappropriately modifying the HD signal prior to output. It may be doing this if you have the H20 set for output to a 4:3 tv type.

Yes, I have tired the H20 on the 16.9 format, the problem is, the H20 processes the HD signal in the 16.9 format, when my TV rec the HD content, it's auto aspect activates and compresses the picture, so I have to make sure the H20 is in the "stretch" mode. Believe me, I've tried every configuration the H20 offers. The problem is the set further processes a signal that it doesn't need to.

Good gravy.

Set your dish box to output 480p when you want to watch 4:3 programming. Am I misunderstanding, too?

Good gravy.

Set your dish box to output 480p when you want to watch 4:3 programming. Am I misunderstanding, too?

Here's the thing, if I set the H20 to 16.9 mode, my TV does all the processing, and on HD programming, the HD signal isn't effected by toggling through the H20 formats, so I've solved the issue of both the H20 and the TV repeating the processing. So let me ask this, would I be better off letting my TV do the processing (set the H20 to 4.3) or letting the H20 do the processing (set to 16.9)?

Here's the thing, if I set the H20 to 16.9 mode, my TV does all the processing, and on HD programming, the HD signal isn't effected by toggling through the H20 formats, so I've solved the issue of both the H20 and the TV repeating the processing.......So, the problem with HD programming has been solved by setting the H20 to 16:9 tv type, correct? Your welcome.;)
.......So let me ask this, would I be better off letting my TV do the processing (set the H20 to 4.3) or letting the H20 do the processing (set to 16.9)? IMO, your Sony 4:3 set "knows" how to handle standard SD and HD inputs by presenting SD on the entire tube and presenting HD with the vertical raster compression engaged. Therefore, IMO, it would be best to set your H20 to a tv type of 16:9 and have the H20 output unprocessed HD for HD programming and unprocessed SD for SD programming.

Evidently, when the H20 is set to tv type 4:3, it attempts to do inappropriate things to the HD programming. I'm not sure what it was doing but maybe something like taking the 16:9 HD frame and converting it to 4:3 by adding bars but then converting it to an HD resolution for output.:confused:

BTW, the vertical raster compression should also be engaged when viewing anamorphic (16:9 enhanced) DVDs (SD480i). The DVD player, tv type 16:9, embeds a flag in the video signal that tells the set that it is anamorphic video and the compression engages. Some DVD players may not set this flag and the 16:9 enhanced ON setting allows the owner to force it to engage.

So, the problem with HD programming has been solved by setting the H20 to 16:9 tv type, correct? Your welcome.;)
IMO, your Sony 4:3 set "knows" how to handle standard SD and HD inputs by presenting SD on the entire tube and presenting HD with the vertical raster compression engaged. Therefore, IMO, it would be best to set your H20 to a tv type of 16:9 and have the H20 output unprocessed HD for HD programming and unprocessed SD for SD programming.

Evidently, when the H20 is set to tv type 4:3, it attempts to do inappropriate things to the HD programming. I'm not sure what it was doing but maybe something like taking the 16:9 HD frame and converting it to 4:3 by adding bars but then converting it to an HD resolution for output.:confused:

BTW, the vertical raster compression should also be engaged when viewing anamorphic (16:9 enhanced) DVDs (SD480i). The DVD player, tv type 16:9, embeds a flag in the video signal that tells the set that it is anamorphic video and the compression engages. Some DVD players may not set this flag and the 16:9 enhanced ON setting allows the owner to force it to engage.

Thanks for you help, and sorry if I came across as ungreatful.