okay I've been trying for months to get my SD on my Samsung LCD 40" LN-S4041D to look good. And so far I got nothing. SD over HDMI is just completley un-watchable...

So as I was messing with the settings one day I noticed something really weird. When I First go to an HD channel, THEN turn the Motorola STB off and change the 4:3 overide setting to OFF, THEN turn the STB back on to the HD channel, THEN turn the box off again and change the 4:3 overide setting to 480p, THEN turn the box on again to the HD channel, THEN finnally change to an SD channel it is A LOT better. But as soon as I change the channel to another SD channel it goes back to the bad PQ. I found that if I swith back to the same HD channel then go to another SD channel it looks good but thats a pain. And every time I wanna watch TV I got to go through the first steps again.

All of this is confusing my so much. I called Comcast no help, I called a comcast guy out to my house no help, I tried new cables very little help. I need to know what is going on because this is going on 5 months that I have been trying to fix this problem. And I know it can be fixed because I've seen it be MUCH better at other places.

Please someone knowledgeable and smart and knows what there talking about reply and help a poor guy out.

Thanks.

okay I've been trying for months to get my SD on my Samsung LCD 40" LN-S4041D to look good.Set 4:3 Override to OFF and leave it there!

Set 4:3 Override to OFF and leave it there!
Picture looks horrible when its set to OFF

Set it to send 480i to your TV set.

If you set supports 480i input through HDMI, that is the setting to use with 4:3 override. That produces the best picture for 99% of LCD and plasma displays. Note 99% may be a bit of an exaggeration, but the overwhelming majority of newer displays produce a better picture with SD when fed 480i.

With 4:3 override set to 480p, the Motorola drops 20-50% resolution, depending on the content.

Set it to send 480i to your TV set.
when i do that it gets pretty blurry...


If you set supports 480i input through HDMI, that is the setting to use with 4:3 override. That produces the best picture for 99% of LCD and plasma displays.

With 4:3 override set to 480p, the Motorola drops 20-50% resolution, depending on the content.My set does NOT support 480i through HDMI, can you explain to me what exactly is happening when i set the 4:3 overide to 480i, 480p, OFF and Stretch...

can you explain to me what exactly is happening when i set the 4:3 overide to 480i, 480p, OFF and Stretch...From the Motorola manual:

4:3 OverrideSets the display format for 4:3 standard-definition
programming. If the YPrPb Output is set to 1080i, 720p, or
480p, this setting defaults to 480i. If the YPrPb Output is set
to 480i, this setting defaults to OFF and cannot be changed.

Options are: OFF displays non-high-definition programs having a 4:3
aspect ratio in wide screen format. On an HDTV, black
bars display on the left and right of the picture.
Selecting OFF for a 4:3 TV may result in a small picture
with black bars around it. 480i displays non-high-definition programs in their
original 480i format. Some TVs cannot display 480i
format on their component video inputs (YPbPr). Check
the TV user manual for more information. Graphics
overlaying the video are displayed. 480p converts non-high-definition TV programs to a
higher-quality 480p format. Some TVs cannot display
480p format on their component video inputs (YPbPr).
Check the TV user manual for more information.
Graphics overlaying the video are not displayed. Stretch automatically stretches all standard definition
programming to fill your widescreen display. Stretch can
only be selected if you have TV Type set to 16:9.

I am so glad I found this thread! I just bought a Samsung HL-S5687W, and love it. I have a Moto 3416 from TWC. The SD channels were watchable, but very artifacty and ghosty. After reading this thread, I went into the setup--4:3 override was set to off--I switched it to each setting, and once I settled on 480i, the picture is now pretty crisp for SD content. While it's still not quite as good as my 7 year old Samsung CRT it is quite good, and certainly wayyyyyyyyyyy better than when 4:3 override was set to off (and on certain good SD feeds looks very good).

My vote is definitely for 480i :-)

My vote is definitely for 480iYour vote applies only to your specific situation! :eek:

Setting 4:3 Overide=OFF provides the superior image in my (and other) situations.

It also prevents the display from having to re-sync each time the channel is changed from HDTV to SDTV.

Your vote applies only to your specific situation!

Ummmm, I thought that was implied--I certainly was stating fact for every TV and viewer on the planet. If there is one thing that is quite evdident on this forum is that there are varying opinions--Those varying opinions lead to experimentation--This thread led me to experiment with 480i which really works for me, and I was thanking the posters whose input is on this thread--that's all.

All settings stink into my Mits 55819 via component.

So I was having a problem with this too and just want to make sure that I was doing everything right. If you go into the video output menu on my box (my provider is Cox if that matters), mine has different outputs (1080i, 720p, 480p, 480i). And there are sub outputs for the standard definition for each of those settings. Am I best served with 1080i, with a 4:3 output of 480i?

How do I set the 4:3 override to "off" like you guys are saying?


I am prettty sure I have it right because I have the same TV as ultraviolet (50inch model) and tthe setting and description he gave me seems pretty close. Still, the standard definition definitely leaves a lot to be desired.

Hey guys. Just came across this thread using google. I have had my Samsung LN-T3253H for about 2 months now and with this particular dvr. What a shock. I have been using HDMI and dealing with sidebars the whole time. I never even knew about all these other options this box does. They didnt give me a manual or anything. Anyways. Can you guys tell me the optimal settings using this box video option wise with it? The only change I have done since running across this thread literally a few mins ago. Was change to this option here:

Stretch automatically stretches all standard definition
programming to fill your widescreen display. Stretch can
only be selected if you have TV Type set to 16:9.

The only change I have done since running across this thread literally a few mins ago. Was change to this option here:

Stretch automatically stretches all standard definition
programming to fill your widescreen display.:eek:

Why would you do that!? Do you enjoy looking at fat short people!?

Actually I changed it to 480p. 480i the tv said not supported in this mode. At 480p the picture looks great for sd content. Before I was letting the dvr box just upscale to 1280x720. Now im letting the tv scale the 480x720 and it looks worlds beyond better.

:eek:

Why would you do that!? Do you enjoy looking at fat short people!?

Samsung tvs might be an exception. I get a mode not supported when selecting 480i using hdmi. When using 480p sd channels look good. I have the latest 32 inch Samsung. I dont know if its the newer Samsungs that are out that have this issue or what. Maybe the older ones are fine. With mine. If I use component. It will accept 480i without a fuss. But I like my hdmi.

If you set supports 480i input through HDMI, that is the setting to use with 4:3 override. That produces the best picture for 99% of LCD and plasma displays. Note 99% may be a bit of an exaggeration, but the overwhelming majority of newer displays produce a better picture with SD when fed 480i.

With 4:3 override set to 480p, the Motorola drops 20-50% resolution, depending on the content.

Hey! I have an LCD 32" samsung and the Motorola 3412 using component cables. I have to say that 480p works better for me, it looks a lot better than 480i, like it adds resolution to the picture, literally... I have no problem with quality when watching upconverted SD (720p or 1080i), but then I have either black bars in the sides or fat people (no problem with the bars etiher, but I heard they can screw up the screen if displayed constantly, not sure if that's true though)...Anyway, the best thing to do is try every option and choose the one that works best for you. In case someone's wondering, you can change all those settings by turning off the device, then pressing menu in either the remote or in the device itself.

I thought the 3416 only accepted digital content ....

The Motorola 3412 (full name is Motorola DCT-3412) is a digital-tuner only version of the Motorola 6412 HDTV DVR. It is similar to the 6412 Phase III, except that it is unable to tune in analog channels. It is only used on systems that have analog-digital simulcasting (ADS) active.


Perhaps your system isn't using ADS?