I have comcast cable right now (that is until either E* or D* gets locals in my area)...

Anyway, my cable was out for like 6 days and no one could tell us what was wrong. Finally, a tech came yesterday and had to replace my HDDVR. My wife said he told her he "fixed" the gray bars on the side of the TV. I got home and found he had strectched the 4:3 to fill the screen. I fixed that...so, my question really is this:

My TV (TH-50PX75U) or 8300HDC is smart enough to realize what is coming through the source (16:9 or 4:3) and automatically sets the TV to that aspect ratio, right? If so, is there any harm to the gray bars being there?

Thanks,
Kevin

My TV (TH-50PX75U) or 8300HDC is smart enough to realize what is coming through the source (16:9 or 4:3) and automatically sets the TV to that aspect ratio, right? If so, is there any harm to the gray bars being there?

No, the gray bars help prevent image retention (bar lines) on phosphor-based displays. Viewing full-width 16X9 images part of the time, and keeping contrast levels reasonable, minimizes burn in or image retention risks. Converting 4X3 to 16X9 by zooming or stretching, of course, distorts 4X3 images. Used to stretch 4X3 S-video images with my CRT RPTV, but with improved 480i upconversion from cable STBs, I now watch most 4X3 upconverted to 1080i with gray sidebars. Letterboxed 4X3 (top/bottom black bars, too) makes STB (SA8300HD) zooming acceptable here; that is, no significant image distortion. -- John

Thanks John...

Is there a thread here that gives "acceptable"/"preferred" levels for a particular TV? I know preferred is subject to the viewer, but...

Thanks,
Kevin

I would definately be concerned.

SA8300 box

-yesterday I went to get the oil changed and noticed that the picture on their panny plasma in the waiting room had grey bars on the display. Guess what...burn in and the owner freaked when I pointed it out to him . he just purchased the set 2 weeks ago.

-granted the set was on all day and the contrast was a tadd high.

therefore would suggest to turn the contrast down and set the cable box to 1080i wide and change the picture format on the tv during extended viewing with bars...gray or black

I would not want to take any chances and/or risks. I saw it with my own eyes!!! I would have been very upset if it happened to me thats for sure.

All settings on sets are different. purchase a setup dvd, follow the instructions and set up your set appropriately (brightness, contrast, color, tint and sharpness). What are they maybe $25.

Alright Rick...now you got me a little concerned...:eek:

My cable box is currently set to all output formats, not just 1080i. Should I get "rid" of the others and set to just 1080i?

Any suggestions on settings for my set until I get a DVD?

Kevin

For several years after acquiring my year-2000 64" CRT RPTV (still in use) I stretched 4X3 images, on S-video, to fill the 16X9 screen. In part that's because older cable STBs left black side pillars. Newer STBs with gray side pillars greatly reduce the risk of image retention, and most phosphor-based displays, like mine, employ a very slow 4X3 image shift to minimize the sides of 4X3 images being retained on phosphors.

Test DVDs such as the Avia or DVE, with SD and HD versions (or sides), help you set contrast and brightness levels properly. An over-adjusted contrast (intensity) level might create blooming of the lighter pluge test patterns (lighter-to-darker rectangles or circles used to set brightness/contrast properly). If you receive HDNet, they may still be broadcasting a 10-minute string of test patterns Saturdays at 6:30 am ET. The calibration forum here has a thread on using HDNet's patterns (search forum for HDNet titles), with a sublink for use details, plus threads on various levels of display calibration. -- John