[elorc]

Hey everyone, this is my first post here. I had this whole thing typed out and then it got cleared when I tried to post it, so here I go again.

I know this is going to end up sounding pretty stupid but I could really use a hand with my setup. Basically, I have a very simple theater system set up in a small computer room at my house. I know this isn't top of the line stuff, and that was my intent when I got it all. What I have:

• TV: Dynex DX-LCD26-09 26" LCD HDTV
• HD Tuner/Cable Box: Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300HDC
• Audio: Pioneer SX-218 5.1ch receiver
• Xbox 360

Originally I had the 8300HDC connected to my TV using the HDMI connection, but I experienced a problem where the picture would briefly and intermittently go blank. I called Time Warner Cable about this and they advised me that there is a "known glitch" with the HDMI on their HD tuners which causes this behavior, and advised me to connect the tuner to the TV using component cables instead.

Currently I have it set up like that: the tuner connects to the TV using the component cables, and I am running the tuner's audio output to the Pioneer receiver. This presents a problem with inputs for my Xbox, however. The TV only has a single component input on it, and the 8300HDC only has a single composite (not component) input. I have the Xbox connected to the 8300HDC using the front composite aux-in, so when I want to use the xbox I switch the video source using the 8300HDC's remote.

When I'm watching HD programming, the picture looks great. It properly fills the screen and the quality is very good (especially given what I paid for the TV). When I'm watching standard definition television, it fills a 4:3 section in the middle of the screen (as expected). The picture mode on the 8300HDC is set to 1080i.

When I turned on my Xbox, I noticed it was only filling that same 4:3 area in the center of the screen. Other than that, the picture looked good. So I went into the Xbox's configuration, and set the picture format to Widescreen. The only thing that changed is that it "squished" the wide picture into the same 4:3 area, so the picture ends up looking really weird.

I guess the root issue here is that I'm not sure how to utilize the HD (and widescreen!) capability of the Xbox given the other equipment I have. I'm really not that knowledgeable with home theater equipment and terminology, so if I've got anything wrong here please let me know. I apologize for the stupid question but I really appreciate any help you can give me!

FYI, some information on the TV and tuner:

8300HDC tuner connections (on page 9): http://www.scientificatlanta.com/pro...fs/4013171.pdf

CNET review of the TV (specifications): Dynex DX-LCD26-09 specs and Flat-panel TV specifications - CNET Reviews

[RottenFox]

dont connect your 360 through your cable box, thats your problem.
connect it directly to the tv,either with hdmi,or component.

as i guess you are in America, you might want to post on avsforum.com,as this is avforums.com, a site based in the UK,so your kit,and specs regarding your cable box/amp/tv arent the same as PAL specs.

i guess what you need is either to connect like i mention above,or by buying something like this :
Amazon.com: JoyTech Control Center 540C: Video Games