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Resolved Question

LN52A650A1F...Commercials change aspect ratio

Feb 17, 2012 11:18PM PST

My cable company recently changed to all digital and the previously analog channels are all in aspect ratio 4:3. Many/most of them display with black bars all around, rather than just bars on the side. Selecting P.size ZOOM 1 nicely fills the screen with a properly proportioned picture. One would think they planned it that wayHappy

The problem comes with the commercials. Most of the time (90%+), when it returns to the program, the aspect ratio has changed to 16:9. If I press P.size, it says it is ZOOM 1, but it isn't. If I press P.size then tap the UP or DOWN, it returns to the correct aspect ratio. I can also go to a different channel, then back, and it is correct.

I downloaded the firmware, but when I went to install it, it said the same version was installed; so, I didn't install it.

Help! My remote is very directional making it a hassle, and NASCAR season is almost here.

Discussion is locked

IJ2000 has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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(NT) I agree. The industry goofed this one.
Feb 18, 2012 12:38AM PST
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Hi, Bob.
Feb 18, 2012 1:31AM PST

Reading this forum for a couple days before posting, I've come to respect your opinion.

Are you saying WYSIWYG?

Thanks,
Jim

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What I'm saying is
Feb 18, 2012 1:45AM PST

The industry goofed by moving from 4.3 to the new format while trying to keep content playable on new and old screens.

The result is a mess.

However if this set is changing settings on its own I FORGOT to mention Samsung's Demo or Shop mode.

Be sure to switch it from that to home mode or else it can confuse most of us.
Bob

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It's in Home, not Demo mode...
Feb 18, 2012 3:06PM PST

I tried changing all of the entertainment/picture/size parameters I could find...some in different combinations. Nothing I did affected the problem.

It seems that Samsung is allowing the signal, at the start of a program source change, to modify the aspect ratio without changing it on the menu...the picture appears in 16:9, but the P.size menu still shows it in Zoom 1. Perhaps the default is the signal rather than the menu selection. I don't know enough about digital data format to figure out where the problem is, but I can't imagine a responsible manufacturer accepting this unless the quick and cheap fix causes a less desirable problem...seems like there's always something.

Maybe Samsung will see this Monday and tell the operator what setup option he's overlooking. If not, I guess I'll just keep pushing the Previous Channel button twice after the commercials.

Thanks for your input, Bob.


Jim

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Bob,
Feb 20, 2012 3:25PM PST

Sorry, I don't understand why my inquiry was marked resolved. Are you saying that it is what it is and there's not a configuration or HW/SW/FW with my TV, and that's the solution?

If that's not the case, perhaps you could delete this post and reopen this thread. I did not knowingly mark it resolved and would not until Samsung has a chance to reply to it. Please feel free to contact me by email if you prefer. This is my first experience with c/net, so I'm ignorant of the way these processes work.

Jim

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That's a bug in this forum.
Feb 20, 2012 11:36PM PST

If I delete my first reply, all you need to do is reply to your top post with "bump".

But my thoughts are here and all I can add is to call 1800SAMSUNG and make sure there is nothing wrong with the set. There is something wrong about the transition of 4 by 3 to HD. It was not done well.
Bob

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Answer
LN52A650A1F...Commercials change aspect ratio
Feb 21, 2012 1:37AM PST

IJ2000 -

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I have no cable box.
Feb 21, 2012 3:24AM PST

My setup is just as it was before cable provider switched from analog to digital. The channels are broadcast in 4:3, 480i. Now most of the programs, instead of having bars on the side, have a box around them. Pressing P.size, ZOOM 1 on those fills the screen until a commercial puts the bars at the top and the picture appears stretched sideways.

It can be returned to the correct ratio and filling the screen by 1)pushing P.size until it goes from ZOOM 1 around to ZOOM 1 again, 2) pushing P.size once(displays ZOOM 1) then tapping either the move up or down arrow once, or 3) changing to another channel, then back(I've been pushing PREV CH twice to accomplish this.

It just seems that something is getting past the picture size menu and putting the display in 16:9 without the menu system knowing about it.

Any other ideas?