Edited (Topfield-recorded) TV file displaying at 4:3 instead of 16:9 on HDTV

[Neon50]

Hi. I regularly record TV programs (with a 16:9 display aspect ratio) via a Topfield in mpg format. I then edit them in VideoReDo TV Suite V4, and convert them to mp4.
My new 42" LG HDTV has USB inputs so I can play these mp4 files directly from a USB drive, instead of back through the Topfield which I had to do with my old TV.
Problem is all the mp4 files sourced from recorded TV display at 4:3 ratio. There are no options to change this via the TV i.e. they're greyed out. I have no trouble with av file aspect ratios from any other source.
I would appreciate any insights into why this is happening and what I can do about it. Preferably I can avoid having to run files back through the Topfield again.
Thanking you.

 

[Neon50]

Further to my first post I found a way to display recorded, edited and converted files at 16:9 on my TV.
Under "Edit Output Profile" I chose force a recode. Then under "Video" options I selected a resolution that exactly translates to 16:9 (e.g. 1920x1080), and 16:9 as the aspect ratio.
However forced recodes take a long time to process, and I wonder if there isn't a simpler way?

 

[phd]

What about clicking on the profile options when doing a smart recode and simply selecting 16.9 aspect ratio?

 

[Neon50]

Thanks for the advice. It was the first thing I tried and it makes no difference, and doesn't change the file at all.
Media Info shows the following video info:
Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 3 frames
Codec ID : avc1
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
Duration : 40mn 33s
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 6 995 Kbps
Maximum bit rate : 19.2 Mbps
Width : 1 440 pixels
Height : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 25.000 fps
Standard : PAL
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Interlaced
Scan order : Top Field First
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.180
Stream size : 1.98 GiB (97%)
Color primaries : BT.709
Transfer characteristics : BT.709
Matrix coefficients : BT.709

I suspect the TV reads the width and height 1440x1080, which I think is the frame aspect ratio of all the stuff I record off TV, and ignores the display aspect ratio tag.

 

[phd]

Try V5 and see if that helps.

 

[Neon50]

Try V5 and see if that helps.

Okay, maybe version 5 when it is released! I've had quicker success properly displaying recorded TV files by trimming them in VideoReDo and converting them in Handbrake, than the work around I discuss above. Handbrake of course is a free program.