U4 text size

[kentdorf72]

is there a way to change the size of the text on the U4 - make it larger?

[prl]

is there a way to change the size of the text on the U4 - make it larger?

Not easily. And by that, I mean really quite hard.

A few screens have adjustable text size already (e.g. media selection list and EPGs), but in general the text size is fixed.

If you use IanSav's OverlayHD skin, that allows you to change the font (but not the size). Perhaps there is a font that it allows that is more readable than the two builtin skins' fonts, but it won't be appreciably larger.

I find that the FullEtalWizard builtin skin has a more readable font than the default skin (easy-skin-aus-hd).

[prl]

Here are some of the places where font size can be changed (starting from live TV):

Subtitles:
MENU>Setup>TV>Subtitle settings: Subtitle font size, Subtitle border width (controls the width of the dark border around the characters in the subtitle).

Channel selection list:
FAV, MENU>Configuration: Number of rows, Service number font size, Service name font size, Service info font size.

Media selection list:
MEDIA, MENU>Settings: Font size, Number of rows.

EPG:
EPG, MENU: Number of rows, Event font size, Service font size, Service width, Timeline font size.

To see some of the parameters listed, you need to scroll down in the settings page. CH- to scroll down, CH+ to scroll up.

As you move the selection up and down in a settings screen the a short description for the entry in focus is shown in the description box.

Font sizes are expressed in the number of pixels change from the default: so 5 means "5 pixels bigger", -5 means "5 pixels smaller".

Changing the font size in lists doesn't automatically change the number of items in the list. If you increase the font size, you'll usually need to decrease the number of rows. Doing it this way allows you to have more space between rows (by decreasing the number of rows further than is needed just to view the text). Additional blank space between the items may make them more readable.

In the default graphical (grid) EPG settings, changing the View mode from Graphics to Text may (or may not) help with readability. The text mode colours can't be changed in the built-in skins, but they can be changed in IanSav's OverlayHD skin.

The font size, etc, in each of the EPG styles can be changed separately for each EPG style. Different EPG styles have slightly different controls for the font size and number of rows, because some settings aren't applicable in some EPGs.

You can access the other EPGs from live TV with longpress-EPG, then MENU. The EPGs in the list that you get from long-EPG are:
Graphical EPG (the default), Infobar EPG (mini graphical EPG at the bottom of the screen), Multi EPG (scrollable single event for all channels) & Single EPG (all events for a single selectable channel).

Here's a screenshot of the Channel Selection screen with the default number of rows (10), but all three font sizes increased by 10:

[prl]

Topic moved from V2 area, because while it also applies to the V2, the title is about the U4, and the reply is applicable to all T/U/V models.

[sub3R]

is there a way to change the size of the text on the U4 - make it larger?

I asked the same question when we changed from DP-S1s to a T2. I found Ian’s OverlayHD skin was the solution for us.

Below is a comparison of the same menu screen on one of our U4s between OverlayHD & Full-metal-Wizard (taken about 3 minutes apart with OWIF screen capture).

I find the big plus with OverlayHD, in addition to it being easier to read, is the annoying background video can be reduced up to the point of it being completely blanked out. OverlayHD has numerous options that can be very easily user customised, plus it gives me the information on the screen I expect to see.

It is unfortunate that OverlayHD didn’t get to be included as one of the optional skins instead of having to be installed as a plug-in, but it isn't too hard to install.

Use adoxa’s AutoMute plug-in to disable the background audio if you find that annoying like we do. These are two great plug-ins.

OverlayHD skin

Full-metal-wizard skin