X800 HDTV Screen Size Too Small

[KIP69]

X800 w/Catalyst 6.2, XP, Sony 34" Tube HDTV running DVI, AMD 64 and a Abit MB either AV 6 or AV 8 (not at home right now). Had to dumb down the Catalyst from 6.4 That cleared up most of my issues but now using S-Video from my cable box, I am unable to size screen to fit the 16:9 monitor when viewing the HD channels. It works fine with the digital channels and the analog channels but the picture has a lot of black at the top and bottom. Picture is more like a 16:7 or 6 than a 16:9.

[5lab]

s-video doesnt support hd - you're only getting an sd signal

[KIP69]

OK then is there another way of getting the HD signal into the DVR from my cable box ie YPrPb, another card?

[5lab]

hd is either available through dvi (hdmi) or YPrPb. i guess you'd need one of those inputs to get it into a pc..

[Multimedia Mike]

Hi KIP69,
Can you please clarify what is it you're trying to do and exactly what product do you have?

[KIP69]

The sony is connected with a DVi and I have cable going to my AIW card as well as a s-video and optic from my cable box to my AWI.

I am obviously looking for my best option, pure HD, but realixze that this may not be possible without some major added expence. However I would think that I should be able to size the video that I am receiving into my sony so that the picture will fit the screen. I also realize that I am converting back and forth from digital to analog and will have degradation. However, the HD picture I am receiving looks almost HD I just need to fill the black area on the top and bottom of the screen. Get the HD Channesl to a 16:9.

Sony Wega KV-34HS510, SN:8062988

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name FAMILYROOM
System Manufacturer VIAK8T
System Model AWRDACPI
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 31 Stepping 0 AuthenticAMD ~1838 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Phoenix Technologies, LTD 6.00 PG, 1/19/2005
SMBIOS Version 2.3
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158)"
User Name FAMILYROOM\Eric Kipker
Time Zone US Eastern Standard Time
Total Physical Memory 1,024.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 677.90 MB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 2.40 GB

[FatalSaviour]

So your issues are with the cable box and tv, instead of the graphics card?
If so, you should be able to setup your cable box to output a 16:9 aspect ratio.
If this is already done, your Sony TV should have modes of switching the aspect ratio (normally options like Zoom, Auto, Widescreen, Letterbox etc.).
Try playing around with them and see what happens.

[Multimedia Mike]

Hi KIP69,
So lets get this straightened out. You're capturing S-video from your cable box with the AIW and you have a TV connected to its DVI like a monitor? What TV app are you using to play TV? Also, what resolution do you set for that DVI out? Also keep in mind that AIW X800 can't receive HD (I assume you mean ATSC).

[KIP69]

I am using the ATI mmc 9.03 "TV"and the monitor resolution is set at 800x600.

[Multimedia Mike]

Hi KIP69,
So to clarify, are you trying to get HDTV (ATSC) to work here? As I mentioned in my previous post, AIW X800 doesn't receive ATSC. Whatever you're seeing being captured by the card is SD (NTSC), which is 4:3.

[KIP69]

Ok I am receiving the SD (NTSC) through my s-video and it is giving me about a 13:29 picture live and during playback. So there is no way to tweak the signal to a 16:9. Is this is a hardware or software or both issue.

Are there any other options for the HDTV (ATSC) coaxial,

[Multimedia Mike]

Hi KIP69,
There's no issue so to speak of. SD signals are 4:3 and if you try to stretch them out of those proportions you'll get a picture that looks unnaturally stretched. Have you ever seen analog cable on widescreen TV? It would look like that, but I'm not even sure how you'd go about doing that easily here. If you want to capture ATSC you'll need a card capable of that. Right now we just launched our Theater 650 Pro product and within a month or so you'll be able to buy cards with the Theater 650 Pro and those will allow you to watch NTSC (SD) as well as ATSC (HD). If you're in a desperate hurry, you can buy our existing product the HDTV Wonder, which is available right now. For more information on the Theater 650 Pro check out the thread I started in the TV tuner subforum. Here is the link:

Theater 650 Pro Discussion

There you'll find links to the webpage for the Theater 650 Pro, as well as my answers to some customers' questions.

[KIP69]

Mike,

Thank you for the info

The Theater 650, will or does it have the Flag? That is why I purchsed the X800 before the July 06 deadline line last year.


Kip69

[Multimedia Mike]

Hi KIP69,
I'm not sure what you mean by "Flag". Can you please elaborate?