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.