Disabling 16:9 mode on a 4:3 Sony TV

[Brats]

My 21" Sony TV (as with all of them as I understand) goes into 16:9 mode whenever it receives a new RGB signal. This means whenever I turn on a console, change a game or even reset, it changes to 16:9 mode which I have to change back using the remote. It's not the end of the world, but it is a little annoying.

I know how to get into the service menu, but most of the stuff in there is all Greek to me . Is there anyway I can cange one of the settings to stop this?

[vic_viper]

I don't know of a way to change the settings in the service menu, but if you're using a SCART splitter then try changing the consoles into different inputs on there.

My PS2 forces the TV into 16:9 on my KV21LS30U no matter which socket on the splitter i have it connected to, however depending on what i've got plugged into which socket, sometimes everything forces 16:9 and other times only the PS2.

Its not an ideal solution but its better than nothing.

[Brats]

Cheers, I'll try that.

Dunno why the PS2, being a Sony console, causes 16:9 mode to appear on a Sony TV. Wierd .

[Papercut]

you could alternatively snip the widescreen select wire inside the scart plug. would need to insulate the wire afterwards of course.

According to gamesx:

http://www.gamesx.com/hwb/co_Scart.html

its pin 8.

... or maybe try a different scart cable.

note, this might cause problems with rgb switching, but shouldn't.

[demon9k]

The console doesn't send out a signal from my experience. Every time I switch on my PS2 it auto goes to 16:9 mode. Doesn't make any different which RGB cable I use. Really annoying.

[Brats]

Cheers m8, but is that the same pin that tells the TV that an RGB input is connected and switches it to the RGB channel though? If so that is quite useful and it would still mean pressing a button when the TV is switched on or a console switched over.

[choddo]

Pin 16 is RGB control. But as for SCART8, there is another way to force widescreen mode (WSS), that most Sony TVs support, by sending a signal in part of the overscan of the TV signal. The PS2 might be doing that.

[yashiro]

On my 4:3 Sony.

Go into Standby.
On the remote press [i+] [5] [Vol Up] [TV]
The TV comes back on.
Press the Menu button on the remote.
Turn the 16:9 setting off (if it exists)
Press [0][0] to exit Service mode.

This change is remembered by the TV.

[Papercut]

Cheers m8, but is that the same pin that tells the TV that an RGB input is connected and switches it to the RGB channel though?

As Choddo says, it shouldn't be. The RGB switch signal is on pin 16.

Pin 8 wasn't always widescreen switch though, so if you have an old-ish scart cable that might explain why its hooked up when it doesn't need to be.

[choddo]

On my 4:3 Sony.

Go into Standby.
On the remote press [i+] [5] [Vol Up] [TV]
The TV comes back on.
Press the Menu button on the remote.
Turn the 16:9 setting off (if it exists)
Press [0][0] to exit Service mode.

This change is remembered by the TV.

My FQ75 has the same service menu remote keystrokes.

[yashiro]

My FQ75 has the same service menu remote keystrokes.

Most Sony's do mate.

[Hitcher]

I see you've got a PS2 so could it be that it's set to 16:9 in the options?

[Brats]

On my 4:3 Sony.

Go into Standby.
On the remote press [i+] [5] [Vol Up] [TV]
The TV comes back on.
Press the Menu button on the remote.
Turn the 16:9 setting off (if it exists)
Press [0][0] to exit Service mode.

This change is remembered by the TV.

Cheers, but there is nothing in any of the menus that says "16:9 setting" . There are the following menus:

Geometry
Service
Design
Status
Sound
IF Adjust
Error Menu

I would have thought it was in service or design. There's a load of mumbo jumbo of stuff like Mta, ACL, CB, BPS, FCO, etc within these menus which have binary values. One of them may be the widescreen setting, but I'm not going to randomly change stuff to find out.

I wondered if anyone knew?

I see you've got a PS2 so could it be that it's set to 16:9 in the options?

No, definately not. This problem occurs with all my consoles, including the PSone which has no 16:9 setting .

[Papercut]

I see you've got a PS2 so could it be that it's set to 16:9 in the options?

That only affects the system menu (16:9 is just letter boxing). Doesn't affect auto switching of widescreen tvs.

[yashiro]

Brats, search google for the service options on your model of TV.
The web is a great place.