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kathann

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Compact picture on standard definition tv

With Scientific Atlantic HD4204C box, that I recently installed, the picture on my old tv does not fill the screen, has bars across the top and bottom on every channel.  No one at Cox has been able to fix it via setting and HDzoom does not work.   I have been told that older receivers are not available.  So what is the solution?   

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DustinP

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kathann,

Did you mean Scientific Atlanta Explorer 4240C, or 4240HDC? Is this receiver connected to a High Definition TV or a Standard Definition TV?

Thank you,



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kathann

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The receiver is a 4240HDC and connected to a Standard Definition TV.   I still can't get the screen to show normal size.   The "techs" on the phone at Cox did not offer anything other than what I had already tried.  thanks.  (Last year I had an 8240HDC and the picture filled the screen, then I tried a contour hd box and returned it and was given the 4240HDC)

thanks for your reply. 

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StephanieA

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What type of cable do you have going from the TV to the receiver? -StephanieA

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kathann

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thanks for inquiry to help.   I still have a picture that doesn't fill the screen, even when set to Standard aspect ration.   


I used the standard cable that came from cox from wall to box to  standard tv.  no ability to change aspect ration or hd zoom to fill the box. 

and  its the same if I run it through my dvd/vcr unit using composite cables from box to vcr to tv.   

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Tecknowhelp

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See article here. Take note of step 2. You will need to set it to either Zoom or Stretch. However, no matter what you do, you will get some sort of distortion. Most TV stations these days are broadcast in 16:9(widescreen) which is like a rectangle, and your TV is 4:3, which is a square. You can't fit a rectangle on a square without either shrinking the rectangle, making the square bigger, or drawing black lines on the top and bottom of rectangle to make it a square. 

PS. This assumes you have a SD TV that is 4:3 and not Widescreen.

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kathann

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Thanks for reply.

I've tried both zoom and stretch and still get reduced screen.  I thought the display would be square as it was when i had the prior Scientific Alantic HD8240HDC.   Would the move of Cox to all digital cause this to happen. 

I could not use the new Contour box as I was unable to read the guide in any aspect.   

If  I could figure out how to use my Sony vcr recorder with the newer flat screen tvs, I would replace the old tv.  

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Tecknowhelp

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What model is the TV? Want to see what aspect and native resolution it is. My guess is it was a TV that came out after SD but before HD was official. 

Also, even if the screen is "reduced" do you still get bars on top and bottom?

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