Picture Format Sky + HD (PVR) Box

[ColinSky999]

My kit is Sky Wifi Broadband Router, Sky + HD (PVR) box, and a brand new Samsung QE43Q65A (2021) QLED HDR 4K Ultra HD Smart TV.  They were all installed by real expert Sky engineer around September/October 2021.

Everything worked fine until about 3m ago when the picture format began to display non-full-width on some Sky channels.  I discovered that the non-full-w channels were all HD, and that channels like 101 BBC One South, 104 Channel 4, and 118 ITV 2 were all ok filling the screen at full width – these being SD channels.

After checking and adjusting the picture format values there was no change, so as a temporary measure I just created favourites which used the equivalent programmes in SD so that all my frequently watched programmes were all together in one place.

This has just got worse, apparently because starting in late January this year (2023) the BBC are gradually changing all their SD channels to HD.

Yesterday I did everything as listed below in order to fix the problem but with no success;

ACTION 1 – I checked the picture settings (via Services, Settings, Picture)

The values are:

Scart/RF1 Picture Format = 16.9

RF2 Picture Format = 16.9

Sacrt Control = off

Scart video Output = PAL

HD Resolution Output = automatic (if set to 1080i there was no fix, so went back auto and saved)

HDMI Control = on

ACTION 2 – BBC banner came up saying “check this to if you are affected by the SD/HD changes)

Via Services, settings, the system details …..

My Version number is 4f31eb so no upgrade required says the BBC banner, as my version number is NOT in their affected range list. WELL - I’M NOT SURPRISED FOR HEAVENS SAKE, I HAVE AN HD + BOX ALREADY

ACTION 3 – Reset the Sky + HD box as described in Sky guidance (turn off Sky box at mains, then turn off all other devices eg router and tv) wait a few minutes, then all back on again.  THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM  so onto next action..

ACTION 2 – Update the software on Sky + HD box

While holding down the standby button on the remote, switch off Sky box at mains

Wait a few minutes then ….

Pres and hold the backup button the Sky box itself, and whilst holding it down switch power back on to the Sky box …

Still holding button down ….. wait 30 secs while box boots up

I didn’t see 4 lights on the box as advertised, but the green light was on AND the TV screen showed the updating system software so it was clearly doing it’s stuff.  It didn’t take 15 minutes, more like 3 or 4 mins – then normal TV was accessible

RESULT – sadly no change.

CAN ANY OF THE EXPERTS OUT THERE HELP PLEASE??

[Mark39]

I doubt this is a fault. I think what you're seeing is a 16:9 picture, but with black bars at each side so as to maintain what was originally a 4:3 picture. The alternative,would be to distort the original 4:3 picture, by stretching is laterally to fit a 16:9 screen, thereby giving a squashed appearance.

You may be able to use your TV's picture settings to stretch the picture to fit your screen, if you wish.

[ColinSky999]

Thank you Mark39.  Your guidance was spot on, and pointed me exactly in the right direction.

I've never been into the settings via my Samsung TV remote before so I can only assume that the expert Sky engineer set the picture size.

It was set to 4.3 and there were other values supposedly available to change to (for example "16.9" or "fit to screen" and "autowide" etc but when I tried to change it wouldn't let me, saying service unavailable, to any of these.  In their help (via settings) they offered "go to Samsung.com and support for UK" which i did, and ran through their troubleshooter.  After a few questions and answers this then invited me to go back to the settings on the TV remote and do the "go back to factory settings" option.

So it's now fixed - the picture size is now 16.9 versus 4.3 before the reset.  Whoopee!   It was driving me nuts.

I'm very grateful for your guidance which was extremely prompt too - you're a star! 

ColinSky999 

[Mark39]

Happy to help. I'm glad you were able to set it to your liking.

[oj01]

@ColinSky999 It's possible to (accidentally) change the TV's picture settings using the Sky+ remote by pressing the TV button followed by the Play button. This will cycle through the TV's picture options. 

[ColinSky999]

Thank you oj01.  That's a bit scary and I can see how it's possible that another family member might have accidentally done this sometime.  I think I'll resist the temptation to explore it myself as everything is now all absolutely fine.  I'm guessing that this sort of shortcut has probably been enabled so that Sky engineers can quickly get to the TV's picture settings when the home owner can't find the TV's remote as most of the time it's the Sky + HD remote that people use.  

ColinSky999