panasonic aspect ratio and remote code (1 Viewer)

[Steven Or]

I just had RCN install an HDTV box. It is a Motorola. Same box I had for the 5 days I had Comcast HDTV. The images on the HDTV channel are cropped on the sides. I am viewing on a Panasonic PT53WX52. When I change between aspect ratios it goes between 4:3, zoom, full, and just. All these settings enlarge the image to make 4:3 fill a 16:9 screen. Anyone have any idea on how to view a wide screen program without cropping?

Second question. I have the Atkis RC-8000 remote. Before you bash the remote it came with the Denon-4802 and between the Denon, the HDTV, and the Pioneer DV45 there is no money left for a better remote. As I read about these programable remotes it seems there are codes I can download. Can some one explain how and where I can do this? What I would like to do is program a macro on the remote to switch between inputs on the TV. i.e. I hit play DVD and it automatically switches the TV to component 2. Now I have to toggle between all 7 inputs.

 

[ManW_TheUncool]

Some amount of cropping is inevitable on any CRT-based TV due to overscan. As long as the overscan is reasonable (say ~5% on each side), that's about all you can expect w/out introducing convergence/geometry problems. If you want to get rid of the overscan/cropping effect completely, you will probably need good downscaling/sizing features on your video source device (or external processor).

_Man_

 

[RenoV]

I think what he's trying to say is that the image is getting stretched to fill the entire screen no matter what mode he sets his TV to, which would seem to tell me that his set top box is auto stretching the 4x3 content...not the TV. Check all the settings on the set top box...