Question about HDTV

[chrisv]

Before I ask my question, I wanted to say how much I've enjoyed my new 51hx83! Pictures great and the sound in even better. Monday Night Football was unreal! Anyway, I had my cable company come and install an HDTV cable box. Here's my question, Since the compnent wires are hooked up to input #4, the non HDTV channels have that stretch look and you can not change the picture size. Before they installed the HDTV box, I was able to watch full screen with little or no distortion. Is there a way around this problem? There is no co-ax cable out on the cable box, but there is an s-video out. Can I have two outs from the cable box? I think I may be able to get the screen back to the original picture I had before the HDTV box. All I would have to do is switch the input when I wanted to watch HDTV. Is this true?

I'm sorry for being so long winded, but you guys are the experts. Thank you in advance!

[Paleface]

There is no co-ax cable out on the cable box, but there is an s-video out. Can I have two outs from the cable box?

It depends on the cable box.. but I'm going to guess yes.

I have my box wired via standard RCA cables for the SD channels and then through the component for the HD channels. I get signals from both.

It's a little tedious to switch inputs back and forth.. but, that's the nature of the beast of getting your HD through a cable box at the moment.

You may want to check with your cable company on whether they have a newer box... I know mine has recently started carrying a Pioneer box that has stretch modes built directly into the cable box.

[57U]

Read the FAQ on "Cables & connections". There's also a link in there on how to hook up an SA3100HD. Even if you have a different STB, it should help.