HDMI vs Coax Cable?
I bought a Samsung LCD HDTV yesterday. I also bought a HDMI cable that would connect my MediaCom cable box to my TV.
I connected the two together using both the HDMI cable and an existing Coax cable. When I choose the source of HDMI, it is better picture clarity & sound, HOWEVER the picture is shrunk down to approximate 4:3.
When I swithc to the Coax, it fills the entire screen.
Both sources say that they are displaying in 16:9 mode. Am I doing something wrong or will my digital cable only show in the 4:3 mode?
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Check the setup in your MediaCom cable box's on screen menus. It probably defaults to showing in the 4:3 aspect ratio. Since coax cable cannot tell the TV what aspect ratio the source media is, the TV just makes it fit however HDMI is digital and the TV will do whatever the source device tells it to, and if you have it programmed to only show 4:3 then that's all it will do. Go into the menu and look for an aspect ratio setting and see if you can set it to 16:9 or automatic.
You most likely need to go into the menu somewhere and change the aspect mode, from 4:3 to 16:9 true. That when when a 16:9 signal (HD) is being sent you see the entire picture and vice versa. HDMI is way better than coaxial cable by the way.
I believe this is just setting problem in HDMI mode on your TV try to change the screen size setting. Big possibility the setting is in the 4:3
There should also be a "FORMAT" button on the tv remote so you can tell the tv what ratio to view the media in.