[kpfleming]

I've tried every combination of HDTV settings on my HR34, and I cannot seem to get it to lock the output at 1080p, regardless of the format of the show being displayed. I have an external video processor that I can use to zoom shows when necessary, but that won't work when the HR34 outputs 4:3 shows *as* 4:3.

What I don't understand is when I choose "pillar box" format and allow only the 1080p resolution, the HR34 still outputs 480p 4:3 format. Has anyone made this work?

 

[azarby]

I've tried every combination of HDTV settings on my HR34, and I cannot seem to get it to lock the output at 1080p, regardless of the format of the show being displayed. I have an external video processor that I can use to zoom shows when necessary, but that won't work when the HR34 outputs 4:3 shows *as* 4:3.

What I don't understand is when I choose "pillar box" format and allow only the 1080p resolution, the HR34 still outputs 480p 4:3 format. Has anyone made this work?

1080P will only be present if a 1080P program is being transmitted. You can't force non 1080P broadcasts to 1080P. Otherwise it defaults to 1080i or whatever you have selected as permissible output formats.

 

[RACJ2]

If you only want it to output in 1080P, you will have to go into the setups and only check 1080P. Not sure if only having 1080P will let you see the channels, but it might. Go into Menu>Parental..Setup>System Setup>HDTV and the deselect everything except 1080P. If you have already done that, it probably won't work.

 

[kpfleming]

OK, I don't know what I did wrong yesterday, but trying again today appears to have worked. The settings I have now:

HDTV - Video section

Native: Off
Screen Format: Pillar Box
Bar Color: Black

HDTV - TV Resolutions section

Only 1080i and 1080p selected

This does what I want; when the program being shown is not in 16:9 format, the HR34 pillar boxes it and sends out a 1080i signal. If the actual program was shot in widescreen but it being broadcast on an SD channel (and thus has black bars at the top and bottom), I can use my video processor's zoom function to expand the actual useful content of the screen by 30% to fill the screen. This is of course not as good as if the channel was being broadcast in HD, but at least it doesn't waste 25% of my screen with nothingness.

Interestingly, the 'TV Resolutions' section will allow you to disable all the resolutions listed, but when you do, you still get a picture at whatever resolution you were using before you made the changes.

Also, making this change results in much quicker channel changes, since the TV is no longer changing formats between SD and HD channels.

 

[T-Mac]

Good settings kpfleming. I'm trying these now after messing around for the last week to get the best "one size fits all" setting. TV now looks optimal no matter SD or HD channel and there's no extra flickering or guide squeezing.

I'm curious what would happen if a 1080p signal were available (purchase a 1080p PPV movie)? Would the receiver automatically send the 1080p or would you have to remember to change the resolution with the format button on the remote. That could be the only slight drawback to these settings since native is turned off.

 

[azarby]

Good settings kpfleming. I'm trying these now after messing around for the last week to get the best "one size fits all" setting. TV now looks optimal no matter SD or HD channel and there's no extra flickering or guide squeezing.

I'm curious what would happen if a 1080p signal were available (purchase a 1080p PPV movie)? Would the receiver automatically send the 1080p or would you have to remember to change the resolution with the format button on the remote. That could be the only slight drawback to these settings since native is turned off.

As long as 1080P is one of the permissible formats, a 1080P PPV or VOD should automatically switch to 1080P.