Aspect Ratio On A Standard TV

[Ubermonkeys]

Sorry if this has been covered, but everything I found looked to be regarding HDTVs, and this is not.

I have a standard 4:3 tv, but recently, my TiVo started randomly stretching out the picture to what I would assume is 16:9, totally distorting everything. I checked the new aspect ratio options in the settings, and I was still set to 4:3. I tried changing back and forth a few times, but there was no difference. It's odd, because it will just go in and out of doing this, completely at random. I've also noticed a lot of video hiccups lately, usually once or twice an hour. Is this all a weird side effect of a recent software update?

I have a TiVo-brand Series 2, with Comcast Digital Cable, controlled by the serial cable. Thanks in advance to anyone for help or any ideas.

[gastrof]

Sounds to me like your cable box thinks it's working with a widescreen device.

What settings does your cable box allow?

[Ubermonkeys]

What settings does your cable box allow?

Virtually nothing. I'm on an old(er) Motorola box (2500, 2600... 2800???) without HD or a built-in DVR or anything. The only setting even remotely close to having an effect on the video is to position (center) the screen, and that's at a normal setting right now.

I do hope your suspicions are right, and that it's just a crappy cable box doing me wrong instead of my TiVo going all wonky on me. :confused:

[gastrof]

You said you have digital cable.

I'd expect that digital box can be set to operate with either a widescreen set or an oldstyle (4x3 ratio screen) TV.

You're sure the cable box has NO settings to adapt its output, depending on what shape display you're using?

It still sounds like the cable box is outputting a widescreen image, intended for a 16x9 set instead of a letterboxed image meant for a 4x3 TV.

What happens when you bypass the TiVo and feed the cable box directly into your TV? How does the picture look then?

[gastrof]

One other thought...

Have you tried rebooting the TiVo? (Waiting until you have no shows coming up for recordin in the next hour or so, and just UNPLUGGING the TiVo for a full minute, then plugging it back in and letting it reset itself.)

Seems to help with all sorts of weird little problems.

Also see if the machine is running a little too warm.