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Panny plasma Vs Comcast HDTV, HELP


Hey folks. Need some help here

I got myself a Panasonic 42in plasma, model # TH-42PD50U
I have 2 ways i have been trying to watch the TV

Currently, i have the HD box set up passing HD through the component (comcast HD boxes DO pass 1080I through component)to the plasma. Also, i have the COAX from the HD box connected to the COAX input on the Plasma.

When watching the source through the COAX input, i am unable to get the HD (as expected). When watching standard definition programming i can use the aspect button to switch from Full, Just, 4:3, and ZOOM to find the best way to view the program. on the 4:3 there are grey bars on the sides, and the other 3 methods will stretch the pic in different ways so i can select which is the most desireable.
However, NONE of the menu's will be displayed, i cannot get the channel guide to show up through the COAX input.

When watching the source through COMPONENT, i am able to recieve 1080I signals, everything looks crisp and lush, however, on standard definition channels the picture is broadcast 4:3 aspect to the TV. This results in the black bars on the left and right side.
The TV has an ASPECT button, however, when watching through COMPONENT the ASPECT button DOES NOT WORK. The TV will not go into Zoom, Full, Just, or 4:3 mode.
When watching the HD channels it WILL go 16:9, the 4:3 HD signals will show the grey bars on the side, or some wierd moving pattern with channel logo's and stuff depending on the channel. When watching 16:9 aspect the entire screen is used and works as it should, and i should also add, it looks SPECTACULAR. The channel guide and menu's from the cable box WILL show up.
The biggest pain in the ass is that the SD WILL NOT fill the whole screen, and the ASPECT controls do not work, meaning that if i get a wide-screen movie on demand, then i have black bars on the TOP, BOTTOM, LEFT, AND RIGHT of the screen!!!

So, as a work around, when i am watching an HD channel i watch through the component, and when watching SD i watch through the coax so i can use the aspect mode to fill the screen. When searching the channel guide i have to flip back to the COMPONENT input

My buddy has a Panasonic CRT HDTV with the same box, he uses the HDMI and his TV will broadcast widescreen in widescreen, and his Aspect control WORKS with the SD. He doesent seem to have this problem.

Does anyone have this TV? Have you used it with HDMI?
Im thinking that i might need an HDMI-to-DVI cable in order to be able to use the ASPECT button with the SD in order to fill the screen.

Ugh, i hope this isnt too confusing, but it is complicated to explain.

Basically

Watching from COMPONENT
ASPECT button WILL NOT WORK, SD is broadcast with black bars, without the use of the Aspect i fear i might get burn-in.
The cable guide DOES DISPLAY

Watching from COAX
ASPECT button DOES work, HD does not, and the channel guide DOES NOT SHOW UP.

Is there any way i can have my cake and eat it too? Should i get the HDMI cable? I really dont want to blow another 100 bucks just to find out that doesent work either.

Ugh... why cant i just have 1 input that will show the cable guide, have full use of the aspect button, and get HD?

ALSO, My denon 2900 connects to the Denon 3805 via COMPONENT, then to the TV via component, the aspect does NOT work with the DVD player either.... im starting to think the aspect function will work with coax but NOT COMPONENT, maybe it will work with HDMI?
slappy
edesilva
768 posts
 
"How do you respond to someone who is incapable of understanding what you write"? Perhaps it isn't Slappy's understanding. Perhaps it is that you don't communicate very effectively. Or, maybe you were just wrong and your 3XL ego won't let you admit it.

Generally, when people say things like:

"The keyword is HDTV and something your TV is not."
"Cake and eat it= +$1000 for an HDTV plasma."
"No master of obtuseness, his tv has the equivalent 1024x1280 resolution, it is a real HDTV. Not compatible like yours."
"Edesilva has the manual and doesn't get it either, you don't have enough resolution to stretch 1080i, 720p and 480p."

A fair read is that you are saying the problem is that his TV isn't HD. That, in fact, is *not* the problem.

PS. I don't, in fact, have the manual. But, some of us sub-100 IQ types have learned how to use this new-fangled internet thing to look up manuals.

PPS. I'm guessing you don't have any smart friends either.
cinematic_systems
282 posts
 
Desilva,

Not fair at all I would say: What about this half?

1. "What resolution is the Component input from the cable box... 1080i? Keep in mind the black bars are generated by the cable box. So to strech an (let me add "SD") image would require more or less resolution than your TV has?, this goes for DVD too......you're out of dots brother, you only have 480x752."

Addressing the Cable box, yes?

2. "When watching the source through the COAX input, i am unable to get the HD (as expected,). When watching standard definition programming i can use the aspect button to switch from Full, Just, 4:3, and ZOOM"

What is the max resolution of the coax input?...285-325 lines

More cable box data, no?

3. "Have no idea why your menu won't pass thru the RF connection. Cable companies can be silly sometimes when it comes to chizzling customers for more money".

Call the cable company...cable box issue? yes

3. "On that it was set to pass 1080I on all signals, basically, i set the box to only put out a 480p signal which is all my TV is really capable of doing.

Gee I didn't know that, wonder who the first person was who brought that concept up."

4. "That is where the difference lies, because my buddys TV retains the aspect controls. probably just some type of logic processor or something that can figure it out, or maybe as the HD box sends it out over 1080i it sends a flag to mark it as SD so his tv enables the aspect controls. That is just a guess, i really dont care how his TV lets him watch SD quality over 1080i and allows him to use aspect."

----->I repeat: Keep in mind the black bars are generated by the cable box. So to strech an image would require more or less resolution than your TV has?" Let me add a finer point; for this feature to actually look any good.

The posting in this style has nothing to do with my ego but more to do with my desire to torture Slappy. The fact is YOU also didn't read my posts completely and while I didn't spoon feed slappy the exact answer I showed him exactly where to look and why! My original post did everything but directly answer his question and gave him the information he needed. Slappy and I go back, and he didn't read his manual so it was payback time.

It's really none of your concern. So don't take it personal.
nerspellsner
41 posts
 
Have you found out why the aspect control does not with the 2900? Does it work if the 2900 is set to interlaced? I wish my monitor aspect control defaulted to full, or did not work, when the DVD player is being used. I leave my aspect control on the monitor set to wide for TV and sometimes forget to change it back to full when watching DVDs.
slappy OP
903 posts
 
Been away for a while.

Well, i really dont feel any need to say anything to cinematic, he has definatly done enough to make himself look like an idiot.
anyways.

Not sure about the 2900, i havent bought any fullscreen material in years because i knew one day i would have a widescreen tv. Really hasnt been an issue for me, ill play around with it later though.
rysa4
266 posts
 
""you don't have enough resolution to stretch 1080i, 720p and 480p. .""

This statement from an above post is not entirely true. 480p on an ED plasma can be zoomed, stretched, justed etc.
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