Sony KPFW51M31 RPTV Overscan, Is this normal?

[Rod Falck]

I have a one week old Sony KPFW51M31 RPTV (130cm). I like everything
except:

the 16:9 picture from my STB (Topfield PVR5000t) and DVD player is
missing the top and bottom 1cm, and the left and right .5cm, of the
image when displayed in 16:9 mode. If I set up to use 4:3 mode and use
letterbox then I can see everything, but obviously that isn't why I
bought the TV.

I rang the retailer and they said call Sony. Sony said I could get a
refund/replacement, but gave me a service company to call anyway. The
service guy came and had a look at it and said it was within normal
parameters and wasn't very friendly/helpful and basically said what
was I complaining about.

So, should I get a replacement, or will I just have the same problem
on another unit? Any other owners out there have the same problem or
can say that their TV is ok? Or am I being unreasonable in expecting
the full image?

[tony_h]

Rod Falck wrote:
> I have a one week old Sony KPFW51M31 RPTV (130cm). I like everything
> except:
>
> the 16:9 picture from my STB (Topfield PVR5000t) and DVD player is
> missing the top and bottom 1cm, and the left and right .5cm, of the
> image when displayed in 16:9 mode.
It is a 130cm TV and you are only losing 1cm top/bottom and 0.5cm on the
sides, this is *exceptionally* good (for a Sony). What are you worried
about, overscan is there for a reason. You should not be demanding every
little bit of image, as you will end up with VBI junk creep into some stuff
with any less overscan, and junk can creep in on the sides, plus you can get
distortions if you try and fit the whole image on the screen.
The filming process typically takes into account that there will be overscan
(10%, or 5% top and bottom), and won't have anything important in that very
edge.
Regards
Tony
--�
http://tonyspage.abock.de for some Topfield info including turning
those recordings into DVDs, adding features with the open source TAP
environment etc...

[Samual]

On Mon, 08 Nov 2004 08:45:41 GMT, "tony_h"
<tony_h@REMOVE.bigpond.net.au> wrote:

>Rod Falck wrote:
>> I have a one week old Sony KPFW51M31 RPTV (130cm). I like everything
>> except:
>>
>> the 16:9 picture from my STB (Topfield PVR5000t) and DVD player is
>> missing the top and bottom 1cm, and the left and right .5cm, of the
>> image when displayed in 16:9 mode.
>It is a 130cm TV and you are only losing 1cm top/bottom and 0.5cm on the
>sides, this is *exceptionally* good (for a Sony). What are you worried
>about, overscan is there for a reason. You should not be demanding every
>little bit of image, as you will end up with VBI junk creep into some stuff
>with any less overscan, and junk can creep in on the sides, plus you can get
>distortions if you try and fit the whole image on the screen.
>The filming process typically takes into account that there will be overscan
>(10%, or 5% top and bottom), and won't have anything important in that very

Not really

I watch a lot of TV on my PC with a TV card. I get to see close to
100% of the picture.

And you would be amazed how much of the screen you miss out on. The
vast majority of which is good stuff.

Sam

[tony_h]

Samual wrote:
>> The filming process typically takes into account that there will be
>> overscan (10%, or 5% top and bottom), and won't have anything
>> important in that very
>
> Not really
>
> I watch a lot of TV on my PC with a TV card. I get to see close to
> 100% of the picture.
>
> And you would be amazed how much of the screen you miss out on. The
> vast majority of which is good stuff.

Yeah, but if you knock it back to about 2.5%, you still get enough to avoid
distortions that big TVs can give you, and not lose much of the picture at
all (and don't get yucky VBI junk etc). Sure, I am not saying to make sure
he has minimum of 10% loss, I am just saying that his loss is exceptionally
good out of the box (most are much much worse). He is only losing 0.5cm -
1cm on a 130cm TV!!!

Regards
--�
http://tonyspage.abock.de for some Topfield info including turning
those recordings into DVDs, adding features with the open source TAP
environment etc...

[kbazz]

I have a one week old Sony KPFW51M31 RPTV (130cm). I like everything
except:

the 16:9 picture from my STB (Topfield PVR5000t) and DVD player is
missing the top and bottom 1cm, and the left and right .5cm, of the
image when displayed in 16:9 mode. If I set up to use 4:3 mode and use
letterbox then I can see everything, but obviously that isn't why I
bought the TV.

I rang the retailer and they said call Sony. Sony said I could get a
refund/replacement, but gave me a service company to call anyway. The
service guy came and had a look at it and said it was within normal
parameters and wasn't very friendly/helpful and basically said what
was I complaining about.

So, should I get a replacement, or will I just have the same problem
on another unit? Any other owners out there have the same problem or
can say that their TV is ok? Or am I being unreasonable in expecting
the full image?

I have the same issue with my Sony 116cm Rear projection. Noticed it when watching Channel 7 with the scrolling information at the bottom on the 4.30pm news. Not very happy about it. It does not seem to be an issue on Plasma or LCD.

Called Sony and they rambled on about they way in which DVB is transmitted and there is no exact ratio that is broadcast. Just have to grin and bare it.

[tony_h]

kbazz wrote:
> I have the same issue with my Sony 116cm Rear projection. Noticed it
> when watching Channel 7 with the scrolling information at the bottom
> on the 4.30pm news. Not very happy about it. It does not seem to be an
> issue on Plasma or LCD.
>
> Called Sony and they rambled on about they way in which DVB is
> transmitted and there is no exact ratio that is broadcast. Just have
> to grin and bare it.

You don't have to grin and bare it at all, it just sounds to me like you
have a tad too much overscan setup in the service menu. Work out how to
get into the service menu, write down all the settings, and reduce the
vertical height a bit and the horizontal width.
Don't overdo it, *some* overscan is required to avoid junk creeping in with
some broadcasts.
Regards
Tony

--�
http://tonyspage.abock.de for some Topfield info including turning
those recordings into DVDs, adding features with the open source TAP
environment etc...

[kbazz]

kbazz wrote:
> I have the same issue with my Sony 116cm Rear projection. Noticed it
> when watching Channel 7 with the scrolling information at the bottom
> on the 4.30pm news. Not very happy about it. It does not seem to be an
> issue on Plasma or LCD.
>
> Called Sony and they rambled on about they way in which DVB is
> transmitted and there is no exact ratio that is broadcast. Just have
> to grin and bare it.

You don't have to grin and bare it at all, it just sounds to me like you
have a tad too much overscan setup in the service menu. Work out how to
get into the service menu, write down all the settings, and reduce the
vertical height a bit and the horizontal width.
Don't overdo it, *some* overscan is required to avoid junk creeping in with
some broadcasts.
Regards
Tony

--�
http://tonyspage.abock.de for some Topfield info including turning
those recordings into DVDs, adding features with the open source TAP
environment etc...

Tony,

Would you know how to get into service mode? I have tried various suggestions fom other sites but they don't work... or I am doing it wrong.

[tony_h]

kbazz wrote:
> Tony,
>
> Would you know how to get into service mode? I have tried various
> suggestions fom other sites but they don't work... or I am doing it
> wrong.
No, unless you have a Loewe...
Most (nearly all!) modern TVs would have a service menu to adjust these
parameters, esp a rear projection (given that these things require to be
just about right for making sure the tube/panel hits the optics correctly
etc).
Regards
Tony

--�
http://tonyspage.abock.de for some Topfield info including turning
those recordings into DVDs, adding features with the open source TAP
environment etc...