Hello, I was just wondering if it's possible to change a television's screen width and height. There are no options for it in the TV's menu, and no external controls that would do it either. So perhaps there's a different way? I'm asking because my TV screen's width and height extend past the screen edge. This is really annoying when there's text or images on the screen edges and I can only see part of them.

In anycase, can you recommend some relatively cheap TVs that let you adjust the screen width and height?

Thanks.

Your talking about what is called "overscan". it means that the electronics in your TV are trying to make a picture for a TV that is a few % too big for the set it self.

My understanding is that it can be adjusted on virtually every set out there, you just need to know how to get into the calibration menu. it's a defferent process for each TV.

I don't know any of the codes, nor just what to do once you get them, but I wouldn't be suprised if several of the guy's 'round here do have them.

They might even be willing to share.

Good luck!

Just in case anyone's wondering why overscan is so "popular", the overall picture size, the 'raster', is affected by, among other things, the high voltage value.

As TVs age, the voltage drops a little, so manufacturers deliberately set the overscan to pre-compensate, so you won't have black edges as the TV ages.

If anyone here owns an older, fixed-resolution computer monitor, you probably have a similar black border that can't be adjusted away.

Larry
www.fineelectricco.com

Personally, I'd rather have black borders on my TV after years of use than not be able to see the full picture until it shrunk itself to the right size.

But anyway, the TV in question is an Orion, but I'm not sure of the model number. And I don't have the booklet or box because it was a gift from a friend. There's a phone number on top though labeled "operating and installation help line". You think they would know how to fix it?

Overscan is also used because the regulated power supply and picture size can change if AC voltage changes. Some sets will change their horizontal width with brightness and contrast changes. All VCR's are adjusted to switch head output at 7 lines above the bottom of the picture, this causes distortion at that position and overscan covers it up.

Something you may find interesting (or not), in the tv broadcast world (I work for a local affiliate), there is an area called "safe title". It is used by directors, graphic artists, camera ops, etc. Everything you definately want to be seen needs to fall in that "safe title".

However, it can be cheated. We cheat it when we put up school closings, election returns, weather crawls, etc.

Doesn't answer your question by any means, but thought you might find it intersting.

SamG

Additionally,

Overscan is one of those issues that savvy retail people bring up to distinguish between cheap TV's and high quality ones. Your very high end sets will often have overscan ratings of 2-3%, where as cheap sets can overscan to 12-15% or even worse. Seeing as you have one of those "off brand" sets (Orion) you are pretty much stuck with massive overscan. In fact, your question:
"can you recommend some relatively cheap TVs that let you adjust the screen width and height?",
Is very easy to answer. The cheaper the set, the more the overscan, the less you can fix it. Spend a little more money on a recognized brand name (and not the entry level model) and you'll not worry about overscan again.

Jeff