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Question:

Hello! I just installed my Samsung HDTV LCD and all seems to be well except for one channel which has a small thin line of light at the very top, like the channel is going into a horizontal roll. The line goes away when a commercial comes on. Is this a cable problem? My TV is connected to the wall which has only basic cable. Do I need a HD cable box?

Answer:

I decided to answer this question from among many other more product-specific questions because the answer relates to every HDTV or standard TV we own.

Let’s get to that annoying “line of light” problem you see at the top of one of your channels. First, let me assure you that this issue is not a fault of your Samsung. It is also not a fault of your signal providers. And, you will be happy to hear, it is not your fault either.

Nope, this is one of those legacy things that got carried forward from a time when manufacturers didn’t know how to make TV sets that all worked the same.

OVERSCAN: "ON" OR "OFF"
In the “old days,” some sets could show more of a picture than others. To address this, the television industry established a viewable area that allowed for as much as 6% of a picture to be missing. Things like mic booms and stage hands often crept into that part of the picture. This area where no important part of the image is carried is called the “overscan.”

On my Sony XBR front projector there is a setting for “Overscan.” When it is set to “ON” it electronically trims or masks the image edges so that any mic booms, stage hands or[visual] noise can not be seen. If I set it to “OFF” there may be no visible difference until there is some unwanted information (mic or stagehand or [visual] noise) in this usually invisible area.

Check your Samsung LCD. If there is an “Overscan” setting, and it is turned off, try turning it on to see if your problem goes away. If it doesn't, you are likely at the mercy of your network provider. If the issue occurs on a locally-broadcast station, you may have some luck contacting the station directly and talking to their engineering or master control areas.

THE TRUE HD EXPERIENCE: DON’T MISS OUT
Additionally, allow me to make a few general recommendations:

First, with only a standard cable hook up, you are among millions of HDTV set owners who do not have the wonderful HDTV experience at home. Connecting your new HDTV to standard cable won't improve the picture that you have had for years with your old set nearly as much as it could.

While you may count the flat screen as the supreme value of your purchase, it is safe to say that without an HD signal source, you will never get your money’s worth. A true HDTV experience is a jaw dropping one (I am still blown away after 25 years at seeing HDTV pictures).

Not only are the popular network programs made stunningly vibrant with HD, but also alternative channels — the Travel, Science, History, and Discovery channels — are transformed much like larva to a butterfly. So don’t stop with local channels if you can afford a bit more. Call your cable or favorite satellite signal supplier and tell them you want to subscribe to their HDTV programming package. You can get far better mileage from your HDTV than you can from any other means of “transportation” and for less than the price of two gallons of gas per month.

YOU DON'T NEED A CABLE BOX, JUST AN ANTENNA
But you don’t necessarily have to subscribe to HD cable service or upgrade your [cable] box to enjoy network prime-time HD programming … it can be had for free! The local channels using over-the-air transmission are receivable with a simple antenna connected to the ATSC tuner port on the back of your LCD. Everything from the morning news to reality TV to racing on Saturday can be seen in vibrant HDTV for the cost of an antenna installation. That cost is frequently no more than a few dollars for rabbit ears, or a few more dollars for a roof- or attic-mount antenna.

Shane and Dale

HDTVMagazine.com