I had Charter Communications deliver a hdtv cable reciever while only my wife was home, they wouldn't hook it up to my tv for whatever reason. When I got home late last night, I hooked it up, and I'm having some problems. I have a Vizio P50HDTV, and the cable box is an old Motorola - don't know the model #, but it is silver and it has USB 1.1 connections on the front and back!

First, whenever I go to a non-HDTV channel, everything looks fine, other than the poor quality of sdtv, but it completely fills up the screen. When I go to the exact same hdtv version of that channel (ABC to ABCHD, for example), the picture comes up with black bars at the top and bottom, or black bars on all 4 sides. The cable box is set to 16:9, my tv is set to 16:9. If I change the tv to "zoom", the screen gets filled, but the image aspect ratio looks funny, stretched inward.

I called Charter's tech service, and a really nice guy who was very friendly, but wasn't any help. Par for the course with Charter, either you get someone who's friendly but doesn't know much, or you get someone rude that thinks they know everything, but don't.

I think it's probably a setting on the cable box, but I tried everything that I could think of, like changing the output from 720 p to 1080i, aspect ratio from 16:9 to 4:3, but nothing fixes it. I either have stretched looking pictures, or black bars on 2 or 4 sides.

Can anyone offer any solutions? Thanks!

How is the stb and tv cabled to one another? HDMI/DVI or component video are the only format that supports HD signals. The stb should be set to 16:9 and 1080i or 720p (depending on which is most compatible with your set and/or looks best). Setting 4:3 override to 480i allows your set to handle the upconversion/zoom of SD content. This works best for me.

IMHO, it is best not to have any other connection between the cable stb and set because it may become confusing as to which input must be selected for proper/full HD operation. My neighbor had this very issue with his Moto 6200 stb and Vizio.

Since I'm at work and can't look at the reciever, I think it is a Motorola 6412, I know it has USB 1.1 and DVI, no HDMI component.

Well, since it was so late last night and I hadn't eaten dinner yet (11 pm!) I didn't want to fool with lifting up the plasma since it's mounted to the wall and try to connect the component cables, so I just hooked up the coax that was already connected to the tv, to the stb. Maybe that's my problem! I had really hoped that the stb would have a HDMI connection, because that component cable (RGB + audio) is huge, it's almost 2" wide! It's going to be really ugly because I haven't had the wires installed in the wall yet.

Anyway, thanks for the help.

Also, since I just found out that the stb is a DVR (Which is what I didn't want because it's much more expensive than the standard HD box), can I transfer anything that I record to my computer? Thanks!

I suspect that what you're seeing is due to not every program is filmed in HD (and thus won't be displayed as 16:9), even though it may be broadcast/transmitted by your provider in HD. Case in point is older programs (e.g. re-runs) like Seinfeld), or in my case, the local news, which will show up on the HD local channel w/ black bars...

.....I didn't want to fool with lifting up the plasma since it's mounted to the wall and try to connect the component cables, so I just hooked up the coax that was already connected to the tv, to the stb. Maybe that's my problem! ....That is absolutely the problem. RF coax output from the stb is incapable of supporting HD resolutions. Actually, of the available options, its the worst performer by far. An HDMI/DVI cable should work just fine. Component works very well also. Of course, for both options, you'll need a stereo audio cable.

Since I'm at work and can't look at the reciever, I think it is a Motorola 6412, I know it has USB 1.1 and DVI, no HDMI component.

Well, since it was so late last night and I hadn't eaten dinner yet (11 pm!) I didn't want to fool with lifting up the plasma since it's mounted to the wall and try to connect the component cables, so I just hooked up the coax that was already connected to the tv, to the stb. Maybe that's my problem!

Also, since I just found out that the stb is a DVR (Which is what I didn't want because it's much more expensive than the standard HD box), can I transfer anything that I record to my computer? Thanks!

yep that's the problem-no way you're getting an HD signal.

double check the model#-if it's really a Moto 6412 it should have HDMI. if not it's an older model.

as far as downloading video to your computer-could work IF the cable box & computer have Firewire ports. I believe the Moto 6412 does. the USB port may be enabled & if so that might work. I doubt it tho.

need to know for sure which Moto box you have.

I suspect that what you're seeing is due to not every program is filmed in HD (and thus won't be displayed as 16:9), even though it may be broadcast/transmitted by your provider in HD. Case in point is older programs (e.g. re-runs) like Seinfeld), or in my case, the local news, which will show up on the HD local channel w/ black bars...

Thanks for the input, but I don't think so. Like I said, if I look at the SD version of an ABC show like I was last night, it fills up the screen like it's supposed, it just has a poor picture quality (due to it only being SD), but if I changed immediately to the ABC HD channel with that same show on, black bars.

It is actually a Motorola 6200, I just knew it looked like that other model, but obviously older with the USB 1.1 port!

I went ahead and hooked up the RGB + audio cables last night, and problem solved. looks great! Thanks' for everyone's help!