Progressive Scan

[Tarrasque Wrangler]

Alright, so I've got a Sony DVD player with progressive scan (maybe two years old). On the front of the machine is a progressive scan button that lights up blue when you press it. Here's the thing: all it does is ruin the picture. I mean it goes all grey and fuzzy and shaky, like the v-hold acting up on an old black-and-white television (NOTE: it does this both to DVDs and regular cable). Am I missing something? I thought progressive scan + HDTV = beautiful DVD pictures. I've got a component cable hookup and it works just fine when PS is turned off. What am I doing wrong here?

 

[J-Buzz]

You might have to fiddle with the input, and settings on your HDTV. I believe progressive scan need to set your tv input to component, then in the setup on your tv change the resolution (I think that is the right term) to 720p or 720.

I believe most HDTV can do 480p, 1080i, and 720p but the 720p runs at a higher freq. that should be the same as the progressive scan.

Hope this helps.....

 

[John Crichton]

I have a Sony model with a similar setup as well. I also have a Sony HD TV. When I first set it up I had to fiddle with things just a tad to get the picture quality up. It was a setting on the TV that was the problem. So I would look there first.

Oh, and one more thing: The blue progressive light goes on by itself when a DVD is in there that supports the format. That could also be an issue - if the DVD is not prog-scan it will look bad if you try to run it in that mode.

 

[Tarrasque Wrangler]

Hmm, that light has NEVER gone on of its own accord. What's a DVD that would cause it to do that? I'd imagine I'd have at least one.

I'll check out the TV's settings tonight and get back to you all. I was actually surprised when I looked at the DVD player's settings last night and saw it was set for s-video outputs instead of component. I changed that, but it didn't affect the progressive scan button.

*crosses fingers* Thanks for your help in advance.

 

[Rackhir]

I don't believe that prog scan has anything to do with the format of the DVD. Anamorphic video is a format on dvds can make a big diff if you have a wide screen (16:9) tv. One of my friends has a ws tv that looks like ^%&%&$ if it's not an anamorphic WS picture.

TW, you say that the Prog Scan button screws up both DVDs and cable. Do you have the cable somehow running through the DVD player or both hooked up to some sort of Component video switcher? Because the settings on the DVD player should have no effects on cable input especially if it is on its own input to the TV. Check the settings on the inputs on the TV and see if it has anything on Prog scan. I suspect the problem lies in a mismatch between the settings for the prog scan on the TVs inputs and the DVDs output.

 

[Tarrasque Wrangler]

Rackhir: I have cable running through it because it's a combo VCR/DVD deck. I need the cable for the VCR side. Specifically, the VCR's and TV's cable are running off a switcher.

Crichton and J-Buzz: I've tried dinking around with the TV's menu and can't find anything for altering resolution settings. Nothing remotely like that or for a progressive scan setting. I'm very perturbed.

 

[John Crichton]

Grrr.

That's frustrating. Have you googled around for some Sony/DVD forums that could help? I know they are out there but don't have any links for you.

 

[Rackhir]

There are 5 kinds of Video connections in order from worst to best Video quality.

- Coax : The kind of cable that plugs into a cable box or your cable modem. It is what was used, pre-Component video plugs. RF adaptors convert component video into this kind of connection. This carries both video and audio signals on the same cable.

- Composite Video : Also what's refered to as an RCA (as in the electronics/record company) connector. This carries only video and is usually paired with two of the same kind of connectors for audio (L/R).

- S Video : A single connector with 4 small pins. Separates out the Lumina and chroma signals from the video stream. This carries only video and is usually paired with two of the same kind of connectors for audio (L/R).

- Component Video : Though it sounds similar to the composite video, it is considerably different. Uses 3 RCA style connectors to carry the video signal. Currently the highest quality analog video connection. Usually required for progressive scan output. This carries only video and is usually paired with two of the same kind of connectors for audio (L/R).

- DVI/HDCP/other acronims : A digital connection, basically the same connector used for the connection of LCD displays to computers. Carries both audio and video.

So is the DVD output to the TV using the component video (5 RCA cables - 3 video and 2 Audio). I think you have to be using that for the prog scan to work properly.

Do you think you could detail how what is hooked up to what? I think we are missing some important details with regards to that.

For example.

Cable box - Component video to Pioneer Reciever/Optical fiber Audio to Pioneer Reciever
. - S-video to DVD/Tivo /Stereo Audio to DVD/Tivo
DVD/Tivo - Component video to TV/Optical fiber Audio to Pioneer Reciever
PS2 - Component video to Pioneer Reciever/Stereo Audio to Pioneer Reciever
Pioneer Reciever - Component video to TV/ No Audio out (drives Speakers)

 

[Bobitron]

Some older HD-ready TV's had component inputs that could not handle progressive scan. On a SOny, the particular component input you are connecting the DVD player to should list the formats accepted. If it says 480P, you're golden. If not, switch inputs to one that does.

 

[Bobitron]

Any luck, Tarrasque?