4k cable tv box settings


  1. Posts : 215
    Windows 10 Home x64
       #1

    4k cable tv box settings


    I have just set up a 4k cable tv box. In both the box settings and my TV settings for display there is an option for "Zoom: Full or None." Is it best that I leave zoom off and let the picture come in the way the picture should?
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  2. Posts : 10,734
    Windows 11 Workstation x64
       #2

    I'd leave zoom off and keep the picture as it is intended to show.
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  3. Posts : 215
    Windows 10 Home x64
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Okay thank you that is precisely how I explained it to my father when I was messing with settings and he asked. "Let it come in like it should come in without any additional processing." (but I didn't know if I was full of hot air or not)
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  4. Posts : 1,800
    10 Home 64-bit | v22H2 | Build - 19045.3930
       #4

    Hi,

    I agree with z3r010. We have Verizon (Vz) fios and have the STB (set top box) aka your cable box that has your setting and the TV only has an aspect ratio setting like 16:9 or 4:3, I have the STB's zoom set to off and the TV to 16:9.

    Next time your visiting your dad check out the number pad area of the remote to the cable box if there is a # 'hashtag' button try pressing it while the TV is on, even though my setting is off, pressing it will resize the picture.

    There are advantages and disadvantages to running zoom.
    At one time we did have the zoom on because there was one channel that we like that only came in SD 'standard definition' and zoom automatically sized the picture when we viewed that channel, but it zoomed a handful of others to distortion so we went back to no zoom and use that # button to make the adjustment.

    4k cable tv box settings-vz-rc.png

    The TV remote does have a 'p-size' button but that is only a shortcut to change the aspect ratio.
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  5. Posts : 215
    Windows 10 Home x64
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Hi. Thank you! When I set it up, I know I made sure it was at 16:9 and incessantly kept turning zoom on and off. I remember he had both pic size and zoom shortcut on the TV remote.

    He used to often tune to SD channels that were also offered in HD but would use the SD. Thankfully, it now auto-tunes to the better picture. I need to check next time though and make sure that zoom off isn't messing with any SD only channels he watches.

    This has definitely been a learning experience. Why didn't TV manufactures just call it 2160p and save us some confusion. I was shocked that pretty much all broadcast was coming in at 3840x2160 60p. Thought only Netflix and some Amazon Prime specials had content available for exorbitant prices and that broadcast UHD was years away.
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  6. Posts : 1,800
    10 Home 64-bit | v22H2 | Build - 19045.3930
       #6

    You're welcome.

    Does he manually tune or does he use the guide, maybe a mix of both? If you can set his guide to just the HD channels that may help and the auto-tune also helps. We all get used to the channel numbers and punch 'em up and then use the guide to see what shows are next, tag a show with a reminder or for other program information.

    Having the zoom off shouldn't hurt the SD channels as they'll look okay but end up with having that black border all around or on two sides mostly to the left and right of the picture rarely top or bottom. Sometimes I can use the # to make a SD picture a little bigger until it distorts then start over and only go to the limit I found for that show.
    I like watching Turner Classic Movies and I get a kick out of watching 'How the West was Won' that was filmed in panoramic Cinerama on our 43" UHD, there's this small rectangle of a picture with 18" of black on all four sides. I watch it like that for a while until I get tired of it and reach for the remote and the #. I can only go to wide-zoom and there's still some black all around but at least I don't have to squint.

    There's a lot that goes on behind the scenes with resolution standards that the content providers have to follow to ship their product to the broadcaster's, then they, the cable companies massage it to run it on their equipment to finally reach us the consumer. And the learning curve is only getting higher, the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) has finalized plans for a third version of physical layer protocol standards: ATSC 3.0 Recommended Practices

    It's supposed to make over the air (OTA) broadcasting better but it isn't backward compatible with the earlier version's receiver's so if your set doesn't have a receiver that accepts v3.0 you're gonna have to get a converter box like back in the day when all this digital stuff started. I'm happy with the way things are but the viewing public demands it, more people are using the internet for streaming content and gaming an that's what the physical layer protocol standards are about because v3.0 is a hybrid of OTA and broadband.
    Imagine watching your favorite football team on TV and being able to hear the audio normally, while also being able to select and hear either the sideline or crowd noise. Add to that the ability to select alternate video perspectives of the game, perhaps from overhead or either end zone (all with accompanying audio). Along with the audio and video, an ATSC 3.0-capable broadcaster could enable a consumer’s ATSC 3.0 receiver to display any player’s stats, the game clock, or the current score and down at any time via a broadcaster-delivered application.
    What is ATSC 3.0?
    I've seen and watched this done for NASCAR and most recently ESPN had two channels for the 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship game between Clemson and Alabama; One was the game and the other was split into four? different views of the game. In both cases I couldn't watch the split screen channel's because I started getting a skull pain within seconds of trying to take it all in and had to stick with the one view channel.

    While ATSC 3.0 has not yet launched in the U.S., there is major work being done to make this happen soon. There are multiple on-air trials underway, and the hope is that ATSC 3.0 services and receivers will be available to consumers in 2019.
    What is ATSC 3.0?
    I haven't found it yet but I think you'll be okay as long as you're using a cable provider and they should schmooze the signal before it reaches the STB, so the STB should handle the upgrade to v3.0 but if you're grabbing an OTA signal you'll need a converter box or a new v3.0 TV.
    I just thought of something. This would be a perfect time to tell us that our present STB's won't handle the new version and we need to upgrade to a new STB, now wouldn't that be special! SMH. Coming and going, they get ya coming and going...

    Related:
    atsc 3.0 standards (google search)
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  7. Posts : 215
    Windows 10 Home x64
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Hi. I use features such as tagging and notifications, he does not. When I filter for just HD that chops off many channels that are in HD so that is an issue with the cable provider. Auto-tune really helps. I don't think he uses the guide much. It makes things 100000x better but he has about 4 channels memorized that he'll punch in. Voice remote has been a great I didn't think he'd use that at all. I'll see him say "MGM, TCM, BBC" and it takes care of getting him the best channel so if that's what works then fine. After looking over the channels there should really be nothing he ends up getting in SD and even if he does black lines won't bother him. You and I would zoom until it distorts and mess around with it but he won't. As far as using features I'm still trying to hammer home that he can go up and down in the guide by pages and doesn't have to go one by one past each show!

    Okay that's funny you mention TCM I usually reply to posts paragraph by paragraph and don't read them first so that's a coincidence. Same thing. He had something on awhile back that looked very processed and upconverted. Black line on all four sides. It looked fine. Again I would have adjusted zoom/pic size but that's something he's just not going to do. I don't think he touches the actual television remote. I give him 10000% credit for not avoiding tech but it's tough. Like his smartphone, even if I explain, he will regularly turn off WiFi, Bluetooth, turn on do not disturb, safe mode, etc just from accidentally hitting those buttons in the notification area.

    This stuff can be hard to keep up with. If he wants 4k on the other TV with the non-DVR box he'd have to get their wireless "Xi6" box. I don't know how comfortable I am with forgoing coaxial yet. I guess it hooks with the main XG1v4 DVR and the AP for its signal. I need to look over and understand the atsc 3.0 more just for my curiosity. So that will be the next "4k?" That's what confused. 4k encompasses audio/video all the coding technologies into one term. I was lost as to why I could not get One Amazing Day in 1080p with Dolby Atmos to watch on my laptop. Why did I have to get 4k/UHD for Atmos? Then figured out why.

    for streaming content and gaming an that's what the physical layer protocol standards are about because v3.0 is a hybrid of OTA and broadband
    Why is gaming/streaming ushering in these new standards? Do they offer lower latency/higher speeds? Is there more demand for the "broadband" part and less for the "OTA." I think I'm too tired to tackle understanding ATSC right now. I'm with a cable provider so hopefully they "schmooze the signal" as you say if/when this happens. I'm about done changing boxes, ready to go to 480p with a dial and 4 channels.

    They do get you comin' and gong. Same with the cell phone carriers.

    Imagine watching your favorite football team on TV and being able to hear the audio normally, while also being able to select and hear either the sideline or crowd noise. Add to that the ability to select alternate video perspectives of the game, perhaps from overhead or either end zone (all with accompanying audio). Along with the audio and video, an ATSC 3.0-capable broadcaster could enable a consumer’s ATSC 3.0 receiver to display any player’s stats, the game clock, or the current score and down at any time via a broadcaster-delivered application.
    Okay, I have to say this is really, really, really, really, really neat. My issue here would be it's almost too many options and I'd be pressing buttons the whole game because I like to press buttons. I recently watched this "interactive" episode of Black Mirror. It seemed like more work than it did relaxation. Then at the end I'm sitting there analyzing the six different ways the show could have ended. Re. streaming services. I read the other day with the turmoil over the Netflix price hike that many people think they are saving by ditching cable but need to be careful because they can end up overloading on streaming and they're ending up with a monthly bill close to cable.

    Yes saw that with the Clemson/Bama game. I was hooked on the "field pass" for ten minutes (game and two pairs of sideline announcers to the side, I think coaches too) but got tired of it and went to full screen...too much going on. If that were my team I'd be in stress city. I absoutlely missed them cutting MegaCast options that we had had for a couple years. The no commentary just game sounds channel, coaches round-table on ESPNews, Command Center ("bunch of camera angles, ISO cams of Dabo Swinney and Nick Saban, and a variety of statistics and graphics"). Also, years ago as a one-off they had a channel of them operating from the production trailer. Would pass on that to watch the game but would absolutely DVR that because to me it was fascinating plus looks like dream job. Best I can find of it is in 240p.

    I did learn of a bit of a letdown regarding my "shock" that we were getting broadcast in 4k.
    When watching a 4K television over a cable channel you are only seeing an upscaled picture from either 720p or 420p.
    The television must sythesize 92% of it's total pixels from the original 8% real pixels found on a 720p screen. While the final picture may look better than your old television, it is far inferior to a real 4K picture found on "You Tube" if your have the minimum high-speed broadband required to carry the 2160p signal.
    Am on a Netflix trial. Guess I'll try the "true" 4k next time with that or YouTube.
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