How can I watch TWCHD in 16x9 on my 4x3 TNN55x81?

[trenchard]

Hi there. Wow that's a lot of acronyms up there in the subject line.


I have a Scientific Atlanta 3100HD Box from Time Warner plugged into the component inputs on my Toshiba TNN56x81 television, which is a 4x3 set.

Is there anyway I can change the aspect ratio so the high definition channels are displayed at 16x9 rather than stretched to fit my 4x3 screen? Hopefully I'm not SOL.

Thanks so much for any help.

[gyoung]

No.  The TWC box outputs only in 16x9 format from the cable box.  So unless your TV can resize the picture then you are out of luck.  Supposedly, the next generation of STB may be able to let you adjust the aspect ratio of the output.

I have the same problem with my set.  We just don't watch the digital channels on TWC (CH. 500-512) unless it is actually HD programming.  Though the picture quality is noticably better with the digital picture (with black bars on all sides) vs. the analog equivalent of the channels.

[trenchard]

Originally posted by gyoung
No.  The TWC box outputs only in 16x9 format from the cable box.  So unless your TV can resize the picture then you are out of luck.  Supposedly, the next generation of STB may be able to let you adjust the aspect ratio of the output.

I have the same problem with my set.  We just don't watch the digital channels on TWC (CH. 500-512) unless it is actually HD programming.  Though the picture quality is noticably better with the digital picture (with black bars on all sides) vs. the analog equivalent of the channels.

--

Thanks for the info. I was googling for some info on this question and came across a post on a message board. A guy made the point that TV's that can't resize the picture probably are like that because whomever made them figured the converter box would be able to do so.

Guess we are out of luck until TW comes out with a new box or we get 16x9s.

Thanks again.