joefrog91

Not sure if this is the right forum for this question. Mods - feel free to move.

I have an Insignia HD tv with a 4:3 screen. I have a cable box with a HD tier. When it was initially set-up, the regular cable channels were set to 480i and HD channels to 1080i settings. I have to change the tv settings to 16:9 in order to view the HD channels correctly.

About four days ago, the HD channels started to look bad. The ratio seems to be off now. Some of the HD channels looked stretched when the tv show is on, but okay when the commercials come on. Some channels look fine during the shows, but the commercials look stretched. Some of the channels look squeezed inwards. Some of the channels look like Vizio's panoramic view settting, but I don't have that setting on my tv.

My cable provider, Grande Communications, suggested I reset the cable box to 480p standard. This seemed to help a little, but the picture didn't seem like I was getting the full HD clarity. Anyone have any suggestions besides, "Buy a better tv"?

Spiky

Get a better cable box? Maybe from DirecTV?

It sounds like you are now watching everything with 480p, which is not HD. What does it look like now if you switch back to 1080i?

gimmepilotwings

Check the zoom features on the remote. Someone probably hit one on accident.

clckworang

I was thinking the same thing. That has happened to me quite a few times.

joefrog91

Okay, I'll check that, but my tv will have an icon in the lower corner if it's on zoom. I'm at my wits end with this issue. I'll probably just buy a new tv on my Besty Buy card.

joefrog91

That's whay I thought. It didn't look like 480p was in full HD. 1080i looks really clear, but the ratio looks off like I said in my original post. The picture seems to change from channel to channel.