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HD Support: Troubleshooting
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Familiarization with the high definition product is a very powerful troubleshooting tool. The equipment manufacturers are scrambling to provide the high definition product features the customer will want. For instance, Sony has decided that the average consumer is not ready to see a 16:9 aspect ratio screen for all programming. Therefore, Sony offers a 4:3 aspect ratio screen for non-high definition viewing and a four-sided mask to provide the 16:9 aspect ratio screen for high definition viewing. Other manufacturers have decided the consumer will want a 16:9 aspect ratio screen for high definition viewing and offers the consumer the option to "enhance" or stretch the 4:3 aspect of non-high definition programming to fill the 16:9 aspect screen. It may be some time before the manufacturers settle on a standard.
There are several troubleshooting tips that can be offered even at this early date.
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| Video and Audio Connections |
There are several options for non-high definition video connections:
Coaxial - The coaxial connection offers both video and audio in one connection.
S-Video - The S-Video connection offers an improved video connection to the coaxial connection.
Composite Video - The yellow RCA composite video connection offers the best non-high definition connection available.
There are two non-high definition audio connections:
Coaxial - The audio component is carried along with the video on the standard coaxial connection.
Stereo - The standard stereo red/white (left/right) RCA connections offer stereo connections.
There is one standard high definition connection option for the Scientific-Atlanta 3100HD set top converter. This connection is made with the component video cable (RGB).
There are two high definition audio connections:
Stereo - The stereo red/white (left/right) RCA connections offer stereo for those systems that do not have Dolby decoders.
Dolby Digital Decoder 5.1 (AC-3) - The single AC-3 RCA connector is available at the rear of the Scientific-Atlanta 3100HD set top for connection to the customer's Dolby decoder (if available).
While this review of the basic connections may seem elementary. They are important when troubleshooting a no-audio trouble call. For instance, would the customer enjoy audio service on the high definition channels if the technician installing the service used coaxial and component connections? Definitely not! The non-high definition video and audio will be acceptable. However, there will not be any audio for high definition viewing. The technician should have hooked up either AC-3 (if a Dolby decoder was available) or RCA stereo left/right connections for the high definition connection.
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| Video Viewing Options |
In the past, customers relied on the converter remote to turn the TV on and off. The converter would provide the picture. Today, with non-high definition viewing, high definition viewing, VCR input, DVD input, and so on, the television's remote is again an important device. The customer must be able to swap between input sources to receive maximum benefit of their equipment. The customer will look to us for this important instruction.
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| Customer's Owner Manual |
In the days before high definition televisions, hook up options were relatively simple. In general, there were only a handful of standard hook up types regardless of the manufacturer. Because high definition is so new, and there are no set manufacture standards, it is important to review the customer's high definition television owner's manual to learn the specific options and capabilities available.
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| RGB Adapter |
YPbPr is the component video format in which the luminance (Y) is represented separately from the color components (Pb and Pr). The majority of HDTV's today support this format. The Y output on HDTV's and HDTV receivers is provided as a Green jack, the Pb is provided as a Blue jack, and the Pr is provided as the Red jack. The colors themselves are not to be confused as an RGB output.
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*To receive all services, Digital Cable, remote and lease of a Digital set-top box are required. Some services are not available to Cable Card customers. Lease of an HD DVR set-top box is required. HD DVR is an optional service available for an incremental charge. HDTV set required for HD service. Incremental charge applies for HD Premium tier and Movies On Demand service. All services may not be available in all areas. Subject to change without notice. Some restrictions apply. ©2007 Time Warner Cable Inc. | |
