Vizio GV42L 42" HDTV LCD settings?

Question

I just bought a Vizio GV42L 42" LCD HDTV. Just a few questions:
1) what settings have you used for cable programming and/or movies, as I hear to get good picture you really need to tweak it right.
2) I have my comcast HD DTS box and progressive scan DVD player connected to the Vizio using component cables. When I'm watching an HD channel, it does look HD, and when I'm watching a DVD It does look much higher quality than typical analog cables..However, when I press the info button. It still says resolution coming it at only 480i. Should I be concerned and/or try using HDMI cables instead?
~Gavin Ng

Answer 1

I ran into this problem with my Samsung LCD.. the Cox Cable HD box wasn't automatically converting the signal to 1080i. You'll have to go into the settings of your cable box and manually switch it to 1080i... I ran through a setup process that it displays a bunch of screens and which ever one you can see it programs the box to use ...after that it automatically switched between the 1080i for the HD channels and lower 720/480 for the non HD channels.

Call your cable provider.. thats what i did to figure out the setup program.

Answer 2

I am the one who posted a question before yours. I own a 32" Vizio LCD tv and only 4 days after bringing it home, the tv screen (video) went black, but the audio still worked. I left the tv running for 8 hours over night because I fell asleep, and I woke up, was watching the news, and then the screen blanked out. I looked up this problem on the internet and it looked like a pretty common problem for the Vizio- I mean, this can happen to ANY LCD tv, but Vizio's came up the most. I shouldn't have to replace a tv after 4 days of purchase (although I'm trying to convince myself I just got a lemon). I hear Vizio is one of the best budget tv's, but MAKE SURE you get a good warranty! Through Costco, I have a 90-day in store return policy, and a 3-year extended warranty for NO extra charge. Maybe my Vizio was a lemon...But when I trade my Vizio for another one at the store, what if the same problem comes up after 3 years? when my warranty is up? That's what scares me because I hear Vizio customer service/repair service is CRAP compared to other high-name brands. So if you are going to buy a budget brand tv (Vizio), make sure you have an awesome warranty!!!! Some people tell me Vizios are good, never had a problem, but then here I am with one that came up with video problems 4 days after owning it. So I don't know...

Answer 3

Do you mean your cable signals or your DVD is 480i?

If it's your cable, then I suspect your cable box needs to be set to output 1080i. Your component cables can handle 1080i--mine do from my Comcast box. But, on my Comcast system, there are TWO versions of channels that offer HD content. For example, there are two CBSs; one in SD, and one in HD. And they're no where near each other on the "dial;" the SD CBS channel is channel 6, and the HD CBS channel is channel 212. Perhaps that's the way it is on your system.

If your DVD is displaying 480i, then you need to tell your DVD player to output 480p, or progressive. I had to turn that option on on my DVD player, as that was happening to me, too, on my Vizio 42" LCD (which I love, by the way).