Settings on a MPEG4 box...

[davemich]

...when powering a standard definition 4x3 TV. What should you set the format to to to get the best picture. Under the HD settings you can obviously set it to 4x3 option 1 and 2 and 16x9. I realize 16x9 is not the correct setting here but what is the difference between the 2 options under 4x3? Also, what format settings give you the correct picture using the format button (*) on the remote? A friend just got E* and received a MPEG4 722K for her standard def Toshiba and she cannot get her picture to look "normal". She lives in Indiana and received the Eastern Arc box. Thanks in advance.

 

[47HO]

Did she also set the resolution on the 722k to 480i?

 

[Mojo Jojo]

...when powering a standard definition 4x3 TV. What should you set the format to to to get the best picture. Under the HD settings you can obviously set it to 4x3 option 1 and 2 and 16x9. I realize 16x9 is not the correct setting here but what is the difference between the 2 options under 4x3? Also, what format settings give you the correct picture using the format button (*) on the remote? A friend just got E* and received a MPEG4 722K for her standard def Toshiba and she cannot get her picture to look "normal". She lives in Indiana and received the Eastern Arc box. Thanks in advance.

We are using 4 X 3 #2; I think that is the one if the TV does not have vertical compression or something like that. We do not get anything when pressing the * for SD channels. On 4 X 3 #1, the TV picture looks too tall and skinny. For the * on HD channels, we get options, but we leave it on normal. The HD channels are in widescreen to make up for it not being a 16 X 9. I am not 100% positive about the terminology I am using, but I know that is what works for us. I hope that helps. We also locked out the HD channels that have SD duplicates. We like the way the SD channels look over the HD channels unless the HD channels are 16 X 9 HD.

 

[Mojo Jojo]

Did she also set the resolution on the 722k to 480i?

We have a 222k. The installer (although really good) tried hooking the box up to the TV via component cable, but it had a double image and would not work due to the resolution being set on 480p (the default). He then tried to use the AV cables, but I noticed the sound quality was not great although the picture was not horrible. However, I told him to wait before pushing the furniture back, and I wanted to try changing the resolution to 480i. Sure enough the box worked via component cable. The picture and sound are really great. The only thing is some of the HD channels that do not show HD content; that is why we locked out any HD channels that have SD duplicates. Otherwise, we have the HD only channels in the list like Palladia, HD Theater, etc. Channels like Centric and Logo never seem to show real HD content; so, it looks scrunched in the middle. However, you can temporarily use the format options so it fills up the screen. The thing to remember is to change it back to normal when done viewing the channels. We just never change the format and just let it be so no one forgets to change it back. Right now I am the only one in the family that seems to get all the options for the box and remote.