[Rgb]

I know the 4:3-native vs 4:3-sideboxed-in-16:9 issue has been discussed often here, but I want to make a special plea to SE Michiganders to hammer UPN50 to start transmitting all the standard def and 1080i upconverts in 4:3 native rather than 4:3-sideboxed-in-16:9.


Since receiving a PLV60 early this week, I've been putting the DTC100/PLV60 combo through its paces.


Native HD like tonights CSI, the Agency, or the PBS demos and shows have been incredible.


Even SD stuff like the West Wing are tolerable scaled to the full 16:9 panel, using the aspect ratio controls of the DTC100 on the 4:3 NBC feed over 45-2 (45-1 is 4:3-in-16:9).


Jedi on FOX 480p 16:9 on 58-2 even looked darn good compared to the 4:3 58-3 feed.


BUT... Enterprise on UP50's 14-1 DTV feed was stuck using a tiny 16:9 area in the middle of my PLV60 LCD panel, since Enterprise is 16:9 letterboxed in a 4:3 frame from UPN, which is then sideboxed in a 16:9 frame by UPN50!


Can't use the DTC100 aspect ratio controls to fill the 16:9 projector, since the DTC100 only enables aspect control with 4:3 signals.


Can't use the PLV60 aspect controls, as they are locked out for 720p or 1080i input signals, since Sanyo designers never imagined the shortsightedness of digital broadcasters...


Two expensive devices with aspect ratio controls, and neither can be used to fix these inane 4:3 sideboxed broadcasts from UPN50 (or WXYX ABC for that matter).


So, fellow Michiganders, email and/or call UPN50 to let them know your dissatisfaction with this sideboxing business and do the right thing like WDIV or FOX (for a change!), and either change the single feed to true 4:3 or add another feed on 14-2 (or-3) for the 4:3.

 

[Matt L]

I guess I agree, but then we get gray bars on all the 4:3 stuff, vs black bars now. The grey doesn't bother me too much but it drives many here up the wall. My simple solution is just to watch ch 50 on ch 50 and forgo the digital feed. I have a stranger problem, WJRT ch 12 in Flint just went digital on ch 36 and they stretch EVERYTHING! I flipped past Rosey this afternoon in this mode, not a pretty sight!

 

[Rgb]

re: "but then we get gray bars on all the 4:3 stuff"


The DTC100 lets you choose gray or black side bars for 4:3 signals.


So, if UPN50 sent 4:3 digital, just set your HDTV STB to show black sidebars instead of gray, and you'd have the same look as the forced 4:3-in-16:9 that UPN50 sends.


But now it would be *your* choice, and not someone else's.