I was looking at the settings of a SA HD cable box and noticed a picture format option. Does anyone know what this setting does. The options are: Fixed, passthrough, upconvert 1, and upconvert 2. The only difference I noticed when I looked at each format was that the passthrough put bars on both sides and the top and bottem.

What is the aspect ratio of the HDTV? Is it widescreen (16X9) or standard (4:3)? And what is the aspect ratio of the image you're watching?

I ask because I had problems using a 4X3 HDTV with a SA HDTV box where it put bars all around a 4X3 HD image and I don't remember those options for picture modes on the box I had.

They just released the HD PVR in my area and I was going to give it another try if it had modes like the ones you're speaking about.

eakf

It was a 50" 16 by 9 Samsung HDTV. The program I was watching,that was cutoff around the edges during my test, was some soap on CBS. It was in HDTV. The comercials reterned to a full screen with no bars on the top and bottem. There were still bars on the sides because the customer doesn't want the box in stretch mode.

With the box off,Press and hold Guide and Info buttons on the box. This will take you to the menu screen.

Follow the prompts for selecting screen size and select all the formats your tv will receive.

When finished turn on SA box and go to the second set of settings(full screen). then you can play with the Picture formatting options.

"pass-through" will let 480i signals pass through the SA's component out jacks,as well as all other formats you selected in the set up screens. (This is useful when you want to use the wide button of your tv.)

"fixed" locks the box on 1080i.

"Upconvert 1 or 2" sets the HD channels to 720p. I haven't had much time to spend on these settings. I usually choose "pass-through".

The cable co added these features one day and neglected to tell any of their installers what this faeture does (the ones I've spoken to) so we are on our own.

If anyone has any more info please share it with us!