VIP2250 Aspect Ratio Problem

[Bododio]

My old VIP1225 was giving me the dreaded "Red X" every other day, so I was sent a VIP2250 as a replacement.  I followed the installation instructions, and when I went to set the aspect ratio to 1080i, it gives me the standard 4:3 screen width.  No matter what I try, I can't get the 16:9 aspect ratio.  This was never a problem with the VIP1225.  Part of the Red X solution is to reboot the DVR, then reset the aspect ratio to 1080i, which always resulted in the 16:9 aspect ratio.

Spending an hour on the phone with technical support didn't solve the problem.  The guy basically told me that I needed to have HDMI cable to get the 16:9 aspect ratio with 1080i.  I had the VIP1225 hooked up with the RGB component cables, and the aspect ratio was always 16:9 with 1080i. So I'd be very surprised if all of a sudden the VIP2250 requires HDMI only.

I experimented for awhile and found that if I set the aspect ratio on the TV (it's a Sony XBR HD) to "Wide-Full" I can see the 1080i picture at 16:9 aspect ratio.  But if I turn off the system, then turn it back on, the aspect ratio returns to 4:3.  The Sony TV is also set to automatically recognize the aspect ratio it is receiving.  So at this point I can only think that the VIP2250 is sending out the 1080i signal at 4:3 aspect ratio.

Has anyone else had this problem?  I have a technician visit scheduled for later today, but if there is a simple solution I'm not able to see, I can cancel the service call.

Thanks!!

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

I also have a Sony XBR HD connected to a Motorola VIP 2250.  No issue here with my HD picture.  Here are my settings:

Sony TV

Screen Settings:

          Wide  = Full

          Auto Wide = On

VIP 2250

Aspect Ratio (MENU > Options . System Options > Aspect ratio):  1080i on high-definition screens

Also, you can receive a high definition picture with either an HDMI cable or component cables (red, green, blue).

[Bododio]

Thanks for your reply.  I went to my equipment and turned everything on (I have a Logitech Harmony remote).  The picture was 4:3, and the DVR set to 1080i on high-definition screens.  I set the TV to Wide = Full and Auto = On, and everything looks fine.

If I turn everything off and then back on, the picture reverts to 4:3 and I have to set the TV back to Wide = Full again.  As an experiment, I set the DVR to Wide Screen Standard Definition, then set the DVR to 1080i, and the picture reverted to 4:3 again.  A check of the TV showed that Wide = Normal.

Bottom line seems to be that the DVR, when I set it to 1080i (either when turning it on, or when explicitly setting it to 1080i from another setting), is setting the TV to Wide = Normal.  How can the DVR force a setting on the TV?

[Bododio]

I forgot to mention that I used the Harmony remote to just turn the system on and off.  To make the settings on the TV, I used the Sony remote.  And to make the settings on the DVR, I used the DVR remote.  The fact that the DVR set the TV to Wide = Normal using the DVR remote to go from Wide Screen Standard Definition to 1080i indicates to me that the Harmony remote is not causing the problem.

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

There is no issue with your U-verse system or the VIP2250, and you don't need a visit from a technician.

In your first post, you mentioned "The Sony TV is also set to automatically recognize the aspect ratio it is receiving."  Try disabling that feature on your TV.  Your TV should always be set to Wide = Full.

[Bododio]

Thanks again for your reply.  If I set, as you suggested, Wide = Full and Auto = On (this, BTW, is the setting I always had for the VIP1225, and it worked perfectly), the picture looks fine.  If I turn everything off and then back on again, the picture reverts to 4:3 and the TV has somehow been set to Wide = Normal.  And it also does this if I change the DVR to a different aspect ratio then back to 1080i using the DVR remote.

How is the TV getting set to Wide = Normal?

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

I don't know.  That does not happen with my system, but I use an HDMI cable as opposed to component cables.

[aviewer ACE - Wizard]

Bododio - Sony has a feature that works via HDMI so that when you turn on a device like an STB or DVD it will auto turn on the TV. You want to make sure that is turned off on the tv.

Also, the STB will not let you set to widescreen if the HDMI is not compatible or "clear". To make sure the HDMI detector in the STB is clear do a pull the plug reboot.

While you ar not using HDMI, the problems you are having can be caused by HDMI process within the two devices.

[Bododio]

It seems to me that the DVR is sending a signal that causes the TV to set to Wide = Normal.

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

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Bododio wrote:

It seems to me that the DVR is sending a signal that causes the TV to set to Wide = Normal.

---

Try aviewer's suggestion and unplug the U-verse DVR for abour 30 seconds and then plug it back in.

[Bododio]

I tried both of aviewer's suggestions and still have the same problem.  I unplugged the DVR while the picture showing was 16:9 and the DVR set to 1080i.  The DVR went through all the reboot motions, but when the picture came back it was 4:3.  I checked to see if it was still set to 1080i, and it was.  At this point I have to think that either the DVR is erroneously sending a 4:3 signal, or the TV is misinterpreting the signal as 4:3.  If it is the TV, why would this happen with the VIP2250 and not with the VIP1225?

[aviewer ACE - Wizard]

Bododio - If you have another widescreen you should try swapping STBs.

Did the tech show up? Did you find the problem?

[Bododio]

The tech just left.  He had never seen this problem before.  Despite all his tricks he was unable to solve the problem.  Out of desperation, he "rebooted" the TV, reset everything on the TV to initial settings, then made the appropriate settings, Wide = Full, Auto = On, etc. (just as they were before).  Now finally the problem is solved.  When I turn on the system, I get 16:9 and 1080i right away on the HD channels.  And if I switch to one of the standard definition channels, I get the 4:3 picture, just like it was before.  In the end it was nothing with the DVR, it was with the TV.  That said, installing the new DVR and having it update the firmware during the installation managed to mess with the TV somehow.

None of this is for mere mortals or the faint of heart.  If this happened when my wife was by herself, she'd never be able to deal with it.  That's one of the reasons I got the Harmony remote.  She's able to watch TV, DVD, or one of her exercise tapes, and that's pretty much it.  Troubleshooting or technical setup is definitely not something she's capable of, nor would I suspect are many people.  I'm usually pretty good with technical stuff, but I never would have thought to unplug the TV and reset everything.

[aviewer ACE - Wizard]

Bododio - Glad to hear it is back to normal & thanks for reporting. We can all try to remember to include a TV reboot in the phrase "when in doubt reboot".

[sanderson5074]

I also had this issue. Here is how I fixed it:
1. reset set top box
2. Change ratio to 4:3
3: change back to 16:9

I would guess resetting stb is not necessary, but that's what I did.