Why are AR's such a problem?

[SageGk]

Let me start out by saying I have tried the auto AR switcher plugins, and they don't work properly on my extenders.
Ok, I prefer to leave my AR on "source" for many reasons. I don't understand why sage displays 4:3 programming so small that you need to change it to "fill." What is happening now is that I need to always toggle AR's when I change a channel from HD, to SD and it is driving me nuts. What do I need to do to make 4:3 programming display normally?

[reggie14]

Can you go into more details about the problem you're experiencing? I don't think I've had any problems like this with the 'source' AR setting.

[SageGk]

Ok. If I leave my AR on "source," any 4:3 programming appears too "skinny" like it was shrunk, so I have to change the AR to "fill" so I can view it as it was intended.
I tried changing the AR setting on the STB, but it ends up stretching everything, including HD, probably because I keep the resolution locked at 1080i.

[jptaz]

I suspect the issue is that your TV Aspect ratio is not set correctly...meaning in sage in setup under detailed setup, under multimedia settings select display aspect ratio and select which ever one makes the box in the circle look square and it should correct issues.

[stanger89]

What's the aspect ratio of your TV? And what resolution are you outputting?

[SageGk]

Ok, I think I narrowed the problem down to my STB.
Check this out:
-Sage's AR is set to 16:9
-Outputting 1080p to the TV's via extenders
-Unencrypted QAM displays properly on "source"
-The only problem I am having is viewing SD content via the STB which is connected to the HVR-1800 via S-Video. I have the STB setting as follows: TV type:16:9, display4:3 content with black bars on the sides.

[stanger89]

Yes, that's your problem, you cable box is pillarboxing 4:3, but since you're recording the SD output, you're recording a 4:3 output, but with pillarboxes. So Sage can't know that the 4:3 recording was already processed for a 16:9 TV so it pillarboxes it again.

You'll need to set your cable box to 4:3 TV type, or set it to not pillarbox 4:3.

[SageGk]

Originally Posted by stanger89

Yes, that's your problem, you cable box is pillarboxing 4:3, but since you're recording the SD output, you're recording a 4:3 output, but with pillarboxes. So Sage can't know that the 4:3 recording was already processed for a 16:9 TV so it pillarboxes it again.

You'll need to set your cable box to 4:3 TV type, or set it to not pillarbox 4:3.

I think I am screwed because I view HD broadcasts in SD with this STB. In other words, instead of tuning to ordinary SD channel 2, I'll have it tune to HD 702. Although it connected via S-Video, the HD702 still looks better and fills the screen. So am I correct in saying that I will always have an AR problem with this box?

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by SageGk

I think I am screwed because I view HD broadcasts in SD with this STB. In other words, instead of tuning to ordinary SD channel 2, I'll have it tune to HD 702. Although it connected via S-Video, the HD702 still looks better and fills the screen.

Originally Posted by SageGk

I have the STB setting as follows: TV type:16:9, display4:3 content with black bars on the sides.

That implies there's a setting for it to not pillarbox 4:3, which would solve your problem.

So am I correct in saying that I will always have an AR problem with this box?

With the way you've got it connected, probably. SD recordings are always 4:3, which means Sage thinks everything that's recorded is 4:3, so the aspect ratio will be off on everything you record that way. Even if you can change the box to not pillarbox SD, your HD will still get pillarboxed by Sage because it's being crammed into a 4:3 frame by your STB.

[SageGk]

Ok, I just remapped everything back to their SD physical adresses...set the box to ouput to a 4:3 TV....Thanks for your help.