[ScoobyMax]

Firstly please accept my apologies if I'm posting this in the wrong sub-forum.

I've just bought a new Sony Bravia LCD TV (Model KDL32EX403) to replace a Samsung CRT which expired on me.

I'm over the moon with the Sony with one exception that became apparent the first time I tried to watch some DVD movies (Specifically, it seems, actual theatrical movies).

The symptoms are that when I start to play the actual movie, the aspect ratio setting randomly changes during playback. If I open up the menu I can actually see the setting changing from 'SMART' to 'WIDE' to 'ZOOM' etc etc. Choosing any specific setting has no effect, it just carries on changing as it wishes.

Ironically my daughters cartoons (Mr Men, Peppa Pig etc) seem to play fine.

All other inputs seem fine (i.e. my PVR, Wii and the Bravia's own tuner don't change at all unless I choose to change them). The DVD player is an 8 year old JVC Model XV-S302 so obviously not Blu-Ray etc.

I'm presuming that the problem lies with the way the TV interprets the DVD player but I don't have a spare DVD player to try so I'm at a loss to know how to resolve this.

Any help it naturally very much appreciated.

[grahamlthompson]

Try removing pin 8 from one end of the scart cable, this will disable auto scart selection and also auto aspect ratio switching.

[JamesParkin]

Dump the DVD player, get a blu ray player, or an apple tv

[ScoobyMax]

Thanks for your help chaps.

Although it's likely I will go for a blu-ray player in the future I'll certainly try modding pin 8 first. Are you able to confirm that this is something likely to be caused by the DVD player for some reason and therefore corrected by the replacement of the same (i.e. do you think the TV is working as it should?)?

[grahamlthompson]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScoobyMax

Thanks for your help chaps.

Although it's likely I will go for a blu-ray player in the future I'll certainly try modding pin 8 first. Are you able to confirm that this is something likely to be caused by the DVD player for some reason and therefore corrected by the replacement of the same (i.e. do you think the TV is working as it should?)?

It's most likely the dc voltage output to pin 8 by the dvd player is close the 16:9/4:3 switching threshold and is varying slightly.

Pin 8 switching

Pin 8, the switch signal pin, carries a DC voltage from the source that indicates the type of video present.
0 V–2 V means no signal, or internal bypass 4.5 V–7 V (nominal 6 V) means a widescreen (16:9) signal 9.5 V–12 V (nominal 12 V) means a normal (4:3) signal

[ScoobyMax]

Hi Graham,

I've disconnected pin 8 on a scart lead and tried again but to no avail I'm afraid. Problem was unchanged.

For info, I've tried swapping the scarts over so that the DVD ran into AV 1 rather than AV 2 but this made no odds either, PVR continues to run fine while the DVD cycles between ratios.

Would you think it likely that a Blu-Ray player or similar is likely to resolve the issue, or is it more likely to be a TV issue?

Thanks again for your help.

Max

[grahamlthompson]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScoobyMax

Hi Graham,

I've disconnected pin 8 on a scart lead and tried again but to no avail I'm afraid. Problem was unchanged.

For info, I've tried swapping the scarts over so that the DVD ran into AV 1 rather than AV 2 but this made no odds either, PVR continues to run fine while the DVD cycles between ratios.

Would you think it likely that a Blu-Ray player or similar is likely to resolve the issue, or is it more likely to be a TV issue?

Thanks again for your help.

Max

What options does the TV offer in the scart setup menus as to aspect ratio ?

Interesting. First check the DVD player scart output is set to RGB and that the scart socket on the TV is RGB capable.

What socketry have you got on your TV in the way of inputs ?.

If the pvr has a vcr scart try daisy chaining the dvd player to the TV via the pvr. There should be a source button on the pvr remote that routes signals input on the vcr scart to the TV.

Presumably your TV is at the least HD ready, if so then it may work fine with a blu-ray player anyway as you will connect it by hdmi anyway. Assuming your TV is 1080p compliant a blu-ray player will upscale your DVD's to 1080p, my bottom of the range Sony makes ordinary DVD's look great. Even better than my older £300.00 Denon DVD player.

Haven't you any friends with a DVD player you can try on your TV ?

[JulesandSand]

This TV is full HD i.e. 1080p and has 4 HDMI sockets, so a Bluray player will fit the bill perfectly.

I'd be amazed if the aspect problems were replicated with a Bluray player - I've an EX range TV in my games room with a PS3 attached via HDMI and have had no issues with it at all.

[ScoobyMax]

What options does the TV offer in the scart setup menus as to aspect ratio ?

Options are:

Smart
4:3
Wide
Zoom
16:9

Interesting. First check the DVD player scart output is set to RGB and that the scart socket on the TV is RGB capable.

The DVD has two switch settings on the back:

#1 is Svideo/video or RGB – The setting is to RGB
#2 is Y/C or Comp/RGB – The setting is to comp/RGB (setting to Y/C completely mucks up the picture making it unviewable)

There's no menu or ability to change any other settings from the DVD that I've been able to find.

The TV is full HD 1080p, it doesn't refer to RGB in the manual or anywhere else on the TV but I've no reason to doubt it is RGB capable.

What socketry have you got on your TV in the way of inputs ?.

1 x LAN
1 x PC IN
4 x HDMI IN
1 x DIGITAL AUDIO OUT (OPTICAL)
1 x (VAR/FIX)
1 x COMPONENT IN
3 x AV (2 x Scart 1 x composite)
Aerial
CAM (Conditional Access Module)
USB

If the pvr has a vcr scart try daisy chaining the dvd player to the TV via the pvr. There should be a source button on the pvr remote that routes signals input on the vcr scart to the TV.

I'll give this a try.

Presumably your TV is at the least HD ready, if so then it may work fine with a blu-ray player anyway as you will connect it by hdmi anyway. Assuming your TV is 1080p compliant a blu-ray player will upscale your DVD's to 1080p, my bottom of the range Sony makes ordinary DVD's look great. Even better than my older £300.00 Denon DVD player.

Haven't you any friends with a DVD player you can try on your TV ?

I do, just not in the immediate term. I will borrow one and try it before I buy anything though.

Hopefully this is just a DVD player compatability issue and changing the DVD player will ultimately correct things, then again I'm currently struggling to make the TV retain my settings such as 'Standard' screen settings rather than choosing to flick to 'Vivid' whenever it feels like it, sigh.

Thanks again chaps.

[zacharysmith]

Firstly check the dvd player is set to 16:9 and not 4:3.
If thats wrong the tv might try and fill the screen on its own.

If the dvd player is set correctly you need to check the ratio options.

Different brands of tv use the same names for different things.

Try each one then either with a dvd or better still a diigtal tv service , switch between a 16:9 source and then one of the channels you know is 4:3 and see if the tv changes correctly.

That way you can see which option does what.

Sounds like the tv is set to SMART which would mean it might stretch 4:3 images or it might zoom images that don't fill the screen.

On some tvs' the WIDE setting will stretch 4:3 and distort them to fill the screen.
On other brands WIDE will allow the tv to display 4:3 as 4:3 - you need to check which does what on your tv.

Once you've done that you can decide if you want your 4:3 images stretched or not.

Any HDMI devices (except Sky boxes) will also have options to get 4:3 as 4:3 .
Again , the terminology differs.
Stretched images will appear from the PS3 if you select FULL.

The Tivo needs to be set to PANEL to get 4:3 correct.

Basically its a minefield but some trial and error should get you there eventually

[ScoobyMax]

I'll believe when I don't see it anymore, but I think I may have figured out what's been occurring. The set I bought was the last one remaining in the shop and was being used as a display model. When I started the TV this morning I noticed an incredibly brief message that the set was in 'store' mode. After about 15 restarts I managed to piece the whole message together and determine that I needed to reset the auto start function into 'home' mode to cancel this.

I presume store mode causes things to periodically return specific settings to a default to account for shoppers playing around with things as, having changed the settings, the problem has yet to re-occur.

Thanks for the suggestions guys, hopefully this will allow me to draw a line under thios and get on with enjoying HD.

[cosmicsoup]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScoobyMax

I'll believe when I don't see it anymore, but I think I may have figured out what's been occurring. The set I bought was the last one remaining in the shop and was being used as a display model. When I started the TV this morning I noticed an incredibly brief message that the set was in 'store' mode. After about 15 restarts I managed to piece the whole message together and determine that I needed to reset the auto start function into 'home' mode to cancel this.

I presume store mode causes things to periodically return specific settings to a default to account for shoppers playing around with things as, having changed the settings, the problem has yet to re-occur.

Thanks for the suggestions guys, hopefully this will allow me to draw a line under thios and get on with enjoying HD.

Cheers for keeping this thread up to date. I always like to get the full story. I do hate it when people suggest things and we never find out if it works or not. I've probably not kept some of my threads up to date