STB Settings are:

Below info is based on DCT set to an DTV channel, being viewed on the DTV input of the Television and the Program is in High Definition

4:3 HDTV	16:9 HDTV

As you can see on the 16:9 side, the picture fills the screen in its OAR (Original Aspect Ratio). In order to keep the OAR on the 4:3 side the TV must "letterbox" the broadcast, so the whole picture can be seen in full widescreen.

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Watching an SD program in HD resolutions on 4:3 & 16:9 HDTV's

STB settings are the Same as Above

Below info is based on DCT set to an DTV channel, being viewed on the DTV input of the Television and the Program is in Standard Definition (Digital but not HD)

4:3 HDTV	16:9 HDTV

This is essentially what most 4:3 HDTV owners complain about. This will result in Black Bars at the Top, Bottom, & Sides of the picture commonly called a "postage stamp". The TV owners wonder why they cannot view these Digital Programs on their TV in Full Screen.

There are many reasons for this, one of them is the equipment manufactures (STB, TV) don't want to be responsible for modifying the digital signal, it is then left in tact in its OAR. Also, the manufactures would have to design a system that sensed when a program was in SD, rather than an HD feed from the broadcaster, but this would only have to happen when connected to a 4:3 TV. This process would have to be  standardized by the broadcasters & equipment manufactures, in order for it to work. But with the 16:9 HD format being the standard, this process will likely, never be implemented.

This is the biggest Downfall to purchasing a 4:3 HDTV. If you are serious about viewing HD, which you should be considering the investment involved in purchasing a new HD Television, A 16:9 Television is a MUST.

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Watching an SD Program in Full Screen on a 4:3 HDTV

Settings are:

Below info is based on DCT tuned to an DTV channel, being viewed on the DTV input of the Television and the Program is in Standard Definition (Digital but not HD)

4:3 HDTV	16:9 HDTV (for reference only, not using above settings, OAR)

As you can see now on the 4:3 side, the picture fills the screen with no loss of proportion. But there are some downfalls to this:

1- There is a minor loss of PQ due to the zooming in, but nothing worth complaining about because of the broadcast being SD anyway.

2- In order to do this you need to change the settings in the Setup Menu of the DCT, which we all know is a project, within itself, to do on a regular basis. 

Note: Some have gotten around this by programming a Macro function into their Universal remotes that make these changes with one button press.

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If you choose to leave the above settings for an HD feed.......

Watching an HD Program in Full Screen on a 4:3 HDTV

Below info is based on DCT set to an DTV channel, being viewed on the DTV input of the Television and the Program is in High Definition

4:3 HDTV	16:9 HDTV (for reference only, not using above settings, OAR)

On the 4:3 side, essentially what happens here is that the broadcast gets zoomed in so that the Top & Bottom of the program are inline with the Top & Bottom of the TV. This allows for Full Screen viewing of an HD feed with no loss of proportion. But, this setup does have its own bigger downfalls:

1- There is a major loss of PQ due to the zooming in, but this loss of PQ is mostly caused by the lower resolution settings of the STB. The STB is scaling the HD feed (720p or 1080i) down to the Y/Pb/Pr setting of 480p.

2- You also lose a portion of the video on the Left & Right side. This is due to the zooming noted above.

There is obvious huge compromises that needs to be made when using this STB with a 4:3 HDTV. Again If you are serious about HDTV then a 16:9 HDTV is the ONLY CHOICE

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