Motorola 6416 HDMI stretch HD ??

[damreal]

My TV is a Prima of America it's 2 yrs old and does 480, 720 up to 1080i

When i'm in the digital channels ( i live in Canada , and Cogeco cable is my provider ) i have the option via my TV - 4:3, 16:9, Panorama, Zoom

The Zoom button on the Motorola 6416 ( btw HDMI and component options ) is not enabled ..so any option to increase ratio is done through my TV.

My issue is when view HD channels ( and yes i am aware not all HD channels project HD 24/7 some HD station only do HD with certain TV shows )

Some HD shows are projected beautifully in HD quality but are in a 4:3 format with wide black bars on either side ! Some shos even show the H in the bottom right in the view in TV show ( meaning HD format ) and the D is actually in the black bar ) yet my TV when on the HD channels will only do either 4:3 or 16:9 it won't Zoom to get rid of the annoying Black bars !

Now i tried going in the ridiculous sub menu of these Motorola machine !
( absurd power off than hit setting button to adjust ratio etc ) and nothing helped if anything the picture could only go down in size a la 480 p got smaller option !

Sorry for the long explanation just very at my wits end. Now i had Bell Express Vu at one point and didn't have this issue ! As the Bell's reciever had a zoom option that worked on the remote it came with.

Now my guess is if Cogeco Cable or Motorola had bothered or had a way to be able to activate the zoom option on the receivers remote i'm guessing i wouldn't be having this issue !

enclosed as an example pis i made to show you what i mean about the quality and H in the picture and D in the black bar

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/8342/examplek.jpg

[hugh]

If there is a logo in the right vertical black bar then its 4:3 source material.

Does your TV have a stretch option?

[57]

Many TVs will not stretch incoming HD signals (720P, 1080i), while they can stretch SD. If the STB doesn't have the stretch feature (like the BTV ones do), then you'll simply have to watch the 4:3 programme on an HD channel unstretched, or if the programme is available on an SD channel, watch that SD channel which the TV will stretch.

I'm assuming that the Prima is a plasma, because if it's an LCD, there is no need to stretch. What is the model number? See the following relevant posts:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=76089 Black Bars

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=76068 True HD

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=57741 Useful post - FAQs, Search Tips, Optimization, etc.

The "HD" on the screen simply indicates that you're on an HD channel, the programme you are watching could still be a 4:3 upconvert, as indicated in the "True HD" FAQ.

[damreal]

but it's in HD quality compared to the other digital channels , also my tv does have stretch just not in the HD mode only digital as i mention - also i never had this issue with Bell - i still have one of their receivers and hooked it up and i can zoom these same kind of signaled channels !

Why have a dam zoom button on the Motorola remote if it's not activated !?

[57]

but it's in HD quality compared to the other digital channels

It only looks better because the upconversion done by the affiliate is better than the upconversion done by your TV. If it's 4:3, it's extremely unlikely to be HD, although there are a few exceptions.

my tv does have stretch just not in the HD

I mentioned this in my post and this is typical of some TVs.

i never had this issue with Bell

That is because the BTV STB only outputs one format (say 720P), therefore the STB must do the stretching if stretching is to be done. With the Motorola STBs, you can output 4:3 (SD) programming as 480i, which your TV will automatically stretch, however, it will not stretch the HD channels as you have found out. You therefore have the choice to watch the SD channel stretched or the HD channel unstretched.

Why have a dam zoom button on the Motorola remote if it's not activated

Because these remotes are designed for many different pieces of equipment with many different versions of firmware. There are often functions which are not available, just like the Motorola STB has ports that are not used.

Suggest you take the time to read the links I provided since you couldn't have with the time you responded. Is your TV plasma or LCD?

[damreal]

actually i did your your post and still am reading the links.

I'm just disgruntled that i can't zoom on this receiver ! yet as i mentioned Bell i can on the exact same station and channels with as it's an option on the receiver ( to stretch HD ) this is the first time i experienced this i'm a little shocked these Motorola boxes don't offer the option as i have the 6416 hdmi which is the newest one here in these parts.

These HD channels - i understand not everything will be projected in HD but the option to get rid of the black bars should made available IMO!

as i mentioned above i never had this issue with Bell Express Vu ( Echostar - Canadian version of Dishnet 722 DVR)

where i can zoom not only on digital channels to fit to form or increase viewing size further and or do the same with HD channels - where there is no HD being showed at the time ( black bars /4:3 format )

very frustrating - i'm wondering if a different TV would fix this issue as i notice some have super zoom now

btw my location is in Toronto as well

[57]

Each TV and STB have a different feature set. I'm quite aware of the features of various STBs and TVs. The SA and BTV STBs have a stretch mode while the Motorola Cable STBs may not, depending on the firmware, service provider, etc.

The BTV STBs don't have a passthrough mode for SD format, while SA and Motorola do. There are some TVs that can stretch HD signals, however, this likely doesn't represent a large portion of your viewing, so just watch the upconverted 4:3 as 4:3, no biggie.

You haven't advised me your TV's model number or type (LCD or plasma). I didn't think Cogeco was in Toronto, only areas outside of TO.

[james99]

I didn't think so either. I thought Oakville was the closest location to Toronto.

[damreal]

Edit - Link did not work, but post approved.

Oakville to be exact i was speaking GTA in general

Also due to the fact ever since i have had cogeco the quality has been horrible !

Pixels , black screens , hiccups are more like full fledged blows to the stomach where signal drops , sounds goes etc !

I would and could forgive that if they can fix the issue but if i wanted to watch things in 4:3 i would not have gotten an LCD. I'm curious that my TV can do this with Bell but not with with Motorola is a very frustrating issue. My matter how it's glossed it won't stretch

I think that is straw that broke the camels back for me. I thin i will be considering other options

[57]

I'm curious that my TV can do this with Bell but not with with Motorola is a very frustrating issue.

Your TV wasn't doing anything with BTV (if the STB was set up properly). The STB was doing the stretching with BTV, as I've mentioned several times in this thread. If the TV was actually doing the stretching, it was because you left the BTV STB in the default 480P (or 480i) output format instead of changing it to 720P or 1080i, in which case you weren't watching HD. On the BTV STBs you press the "*" button to cycle through the various stretch modes on the STB.

With the Motorola STB, the TV will stretch the SD channels (not HD ones) if you set the 4:3 override to 480i/p, instead of "off" or "stretch". If you set the 4:3 override on the STB to "stretch", then obviously the STB will be doing the stretching instead of the TV (for SD).

The BTV STBs save the stretch modes for the SD and HD channels separately since they can only output one format and therefore the TV would not do this automatically, which would be a problem. I'm now repeating myself, but I hope you "get it".

The problem with stretching HD channels, either via the TV or the STB, is that people then forget to unstretch when they switch to a true HD programme and end up missing 33% of the programme. That's why I recommend watching 4:3 upconverts on HD channels in 4:3 mode and only recommend stretching the SD channels, which is possible if you set up the TV and the STB properly - most TVs will remember the stretch modes independently for SD and HD, so switching/stretching is automatic, except for 4:3 upconverts.

The other issues sound like a bad signal, which you can check by looking at the Motorola FAQ. Whenever you switch providers there are going to be some good things and some bad things. You only need to look at the BTV forum to see the issues there - they're just different issues.

if i wanted to watch things in 4:3 i would not have gotten an LCD

Does this mean that you have a plasma? Your link didn't work, so I deleted it and approved the post. Please simply provide the model number exactly or tell me if you have an LCD or plasma.

[damreal]

sorry you had to repeat yourself but as i mentioned i understood you when you posted said links - i was just expressing i don't like the 4:3 ratio in HD , regardless i can't go this awful 16:9 mode with black bars making the feed / picture really 4:3 viewing any longer !

thanx for the recommendation but i think i will be switching back to bell as i mentioned above this is but i minor issue in my long list of Cogeoco issues

[Ratatosk]

thanx for the recommendation but i think i will be switching back to bell as i mentioned above this is but i minor issue in my long list of Cogeoco issues

Can we know what the issues are exactly? I'm sure some people here could help you solve them

ie: If you have pixelization, just call Cogeco and they'll send a tech to adjust the signals etc...

Some things are very easily solved when they are told

[damreal]

well this is a new condo with only 3 condo in a 2 level building - it never cable or anything before. We called Cogeoco about Internet and phone. Gentleman cam and ran a brand new cable from the pool to our condo. Then we opted to get Cable as well. Another man came 1 week later hooked up a splitter on the line so we could have cable in the bedroom and the living room ( as i went and got a 6416 HD pvr and a 6400 HD ) 3 days later phone was getting sketchy and internet was dropping and most of all stations especially HD were drastically pausing , losing signal , losing sound and pixels, and for 10 to 20 secs at a time black screen!

When TV was coming in it would randomly hiccup for 20 secs at a time and the sound would drown in like i was sizzling a freakin steak on high! It was getting drastic. I have since than had 2 tech calls to Cogeoco and the same Tech came out first time he couldn't see anything wrong stayed 10 mins and left.

I called 4 days later and a tech was dispatched again - and by fluke it was the same guy - he tested the line again in the house the pole , cut the end /put a new end on , changed splitter and couldn't see what i was talking about than BAM !

Sound was intense( a major issue i was having when picture was clear save the random hiccups ) like bad feed back. He couldn't figure it out - he called head office they thought it might have been a grounding issue - so i suggested as did he at the same time runing the cable through my 200 dollar power bar with coxal and phone jacks - and freaking VOLIA it worked !

Sounds was perfect , no crazy feed back , no drop in sound picture was perfect - i was finally ! Well that hopeful thought lasted all of 4 days !

Now i'm back to square one !

The black bar issue was just a peeve of mine on top of the issue



BTW

I dropped the ration on the settings to 4:3 i gave it a shot it does Zoom now ...but it only effects the 4:3 on HD channels picture to where it zooms , does 4:3 , 16.9 , panorama etc but only the 4:3 picture within the 16:9 hence it doesn't effect the black bars

[Ratatosk]

If you still have pixelization, please call Cogeco they should be able to send another tech to solve the issue...

just to know your signals' strength : Could you open internet explorer and type : 192.168.100.1 and copy/paste the infos from that page we might find interesting things about the signals there

[manwithanswers]

If you actually have a Motorola 6416 HDMI you are a rare breed. Currently Cogeco doesn't support HDMI, as well does not provide those converters.
The Converters Cogeco currently provides is a Motorola DCT 700, Samsung/Motorola 1800, and the only HD receivers are Motorola 6200HD, and lastly Motorola 6412HD/DVR.