My Motorola DCT3416 DVR has a video output option to preserve 4:3 content in 480i or 480p. When I select either of these, I'm getting a stretched SD display on my Samsung LN52B630. When I press the "info" key on the TV remote, the display indicates that I'm receiving a 1080i signal from the DVR. Only if I choose "4:3 with side bars" on the DVR will I get a preserved 4:3 display on the TV.

Does anyone know how I can preserve the 4:3 format while choosing the "4:3 480p" mode on the DVR? I'd like to have the highest quality while preserving the original program format.

Thanks for any guidance.

Your Samsung TV sets and saves the Picture/Size setting separatly for each resolution over each interface connection.
If the TV says it is receiving 1080i content for 4:3 aspect ratio programs then you do not have the 4:3 aspect ratio override setting set properly on your set top box.
Then the TV info button will day it is is receivking 640x480 and you can set the picture/size setting to 4:3.

Your Samsung TV sets and saves the Picture/Size setting separatly for each resolution over each interface connection.
If the TV says it is receiving 1080i content for 4:3 aspect ratio programs then you do not have the 4:3 aspect ratio override setting set properly on your set top box.
Then the TV info button will day it is is receivking 640x480 and you can set the picture/size setting to 4:3.
When I set up the DVR for 480p on 4:3 programs, it seems to convert the output to 1080ii. I guess the TV only will display 1080i as 16:9. The only Cox DVR setting that allows the TV to display a natural 4:3 SD channel is the "4:3 with sidebars" setting, which is equivalent to the "4:3 override OFF" in the hidden DVR menu.

BTW, which DVR do you have and are you satisfied with the SD performance?

I have a Samsung HDTV and I used to have a 3416 but have a newer Motorola model now and never had any problems;
It appears that you still have been able to tell your 3416 to override outputing your standard 1080i resoluiton when receiving 4:3 program content and to output 480p instead.
Do you have a copy of the 3416 users manual:

http://broadband.motorola.com/consumers/products/DCT3400/downloads/DCT3400_User_Guide.pdf