I have a 26av502u 26'' toshiba TV and when I play xbox the resolution stay in 480i, do I need an HDMI cable to get it to 720p?

You don't. The TV has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels; so it's already 1080p. The number of pixels can't be changed.

What you're probably getting mixed up with is the TV showing the resolution of the incoming signal when you change channels or go to a different source. Standard definition from cable might be flagged as 480i. DVD might show either as 480i, or 480p, or maybe 720p or 1080i or 1080p if you have a scaling DVD player and set it appropriately. HDTV on cable or satellite will show as 1080i or possibly 720p. Blu-rays and PS3/XBox 360 or PS4/Xbox One should show as 1080p when your TV is connected.

Whatever the source signal resolution, the TV will scale it up to fill the panel area of 1920x1080 pixels. So the TV is always using all the pixels, regardless of the resolution of the source signal.

No no no!
# 1. You need to connect all your components to your TV via an HDMI cable. For true HD and digital sound this is needed. Your TV (if its an HD TV) should have 3 or 4 HDMI inputs. So your Xbox/PS3 should be connected via HDMI cable. Your HD sat or cable box should also be connected with an HDMI cable. Same for your Blu Ray player.

#2. Now that your components are connect in a way which will enable you to see their media in either 720p, 1080i or 1080p your ready to get the Digital sound to your speakers. On the back of your TV you should (again on most all HD tv's) have a digital audio (optical) out. You need to purchase a digital (optical) audio cable and plug one end into your tv's digital audio out jack. Then plug the other end into your audio receivers digital audio in jack. You may have to go into your receivers menu to select or enable the digital/optical input. Then you should be rocking and rolling with true digital DTS, Pro Logic, Pro Logic 2 in either 5.1 or 7.1...

Think of your TV as the hub. Connect all the components with HDMI cables. And then your TV to your receiver with a digital/optical cable. It's that simple.

Never never use the red and white cables for audio. They were designed for 2 channel stereo sound. They won't deliver 5.1 or 7.1 digital sound.

Also... Don't ever hook up any component using the old "yellow" video cable if you want picture quality better than 480i resolution. They won't do HD period.

Here is a list of the popular video cables and they highest resolution.

Yellow video cables - 480i resolution

S video (super video) cable - 480p

Component video cables (red/blue/green) - up to 720p

HIgh definition multimedia interface HDMI - up to 1080p (full HD) and digital sound.

Hope this helps...

Roku only supports 720P and 1080P along with the Standard Definition. If your TV only supports 720i, then the Roku won't be able to display 720i but instead 480i which is the standard display that Roku can do on a TV that doesn't support 720p or 1080p

A simple work around that could be able to fix it is by turning on the xbox, waiting until the screen showed the logo and the error message "secure hdcp link not found" then unplugging the hdmi cable from the back of the xbox and plugging it back in. Of course having to do this each time you wanted to turn on your Xbox would be annoying. (I have not tested this using VGA cable hookup though)

If you are asking how to change your Xbox to 480i then you will need simply use the red, yellow, and white cable as it defaults to 480i. (not possible with your monitor I don't think)

1. On your console, go to My Xbox, and then select System Settings.
2. Select Console Settings.
3. Select Display.
4. Select HDTV Settings.
5. Select the appropriate screen resolution for your TV or monitor. 480p,720p,1080i,1080p, 1024x768, 1280x1024.

I am assuming from your TV that you are using VGA? With VGA then your system is going to automatically choose the best display for your monitor. You can go into the display settings as described above to adjust your display settings.

Hope this helps.

Your set will automatically be in the correct resolution. If your set is broadcasting in 480, then that is what it is receiving. I would check your cable or satellite box to verify they are putting out the correct resolution.

I would try cleaning the connections to the xbox and the TV. Also you could try connecting with a different type of cable (VGA or use the HDMI cable).
If that doesn't clear things up then you could have a hardward problem with your xbox.

Video Output Settings Adjust the system's video output settings. Select the best output settings for the TV in use.
1.
Check the resolution supported by your TV.
Resolution (video mode) varies depending on the TV type. For details, refer to the instructions supplied with the TV.
2.
Select (Settings) > (Display Settings).
3.
Select [Video Output Settings].
4.
Select the connector type on your TV.
Resolution (video mode) varies depending on the type of connector used.
Input connector on the TV Supported video modes (NTSC region) *1 Supported video modes (PAL region) *1 HDMI 1080p / 1080i / 720p / 480p 1080p / 1080i / 720p / 576p Component / D-Terminal *2 1080p / 1080i / 720p / 480p / 480i 1080p / 1080i / 720p / 576p / 576i Composite / S Video *3 480i 576i AV MULTI / SCART *4 480p / 480i 576p / 576i *1 The video mode options vary depending on the region where the PS3™ system was purchased. In North America, Asia and other NTSC regions, 480i video mode is displayed as [Standard (NTSC)]. In Europe and other PAL regions, 576i video mode is displayed as [Standard (PAL)]. For details, refer to the instructions supplied with the product.
*2 D-terminal is a connector type used mainly in Japan. The resolutions supported by D1-D5 are as follows:
D5: 1080p / 720p / 1080i / 480p / 480i
D4: 1080i / 720p / 480p / 480i
D3: 1080i / 480p / 480i
D2: 480p / 480i
D1: 480i
*3 Composite is the connector used to connect the AV cable that is supplied with the PS3™ system. S VIDEO is a format mainly used in Japan.
*4 AV MULTI is a format mainly used in Japan. SCART is a format mainly used in Europe. If [AV MULTI / SCART] is selected, the screen allowing you to select the type of output signal will be displayed.
5.
Change video output settings.
Change the resolution for the video output. Depending on the connector type selected in step 4, this screen may not be displayed.
6.
Set the resolution.
Select all resolutions supported by the TV in use. Video will automatically be output at the highest resolution possible for the content you are playing from among the selected resolutions.*
* The video resolution is selected in order of priority as follows: 1080p > 1080i > 720p > 480p/576p > Standard (NTSC:480i/PAL:576i).

If [Composite / S Video] is selected in step 4, the screen for selecting resolutions will not be displayed.
If [HDMI] is selected, you can also select to automatically adjust the resolution (the HDMI device must be turned on). In this case, the screen for selecting resolutions will not be displayed.
7.
Set the TV type.
Select the type of TV in use. Set when only SD resolution (NTSC:480p / 480i, PAL: 576p / 576i) is to be output such as when [Composite / S Video] or [AV MULTI / SCART] is selected in step 4.
8.
Check your settings.
Confirm that the image displayed is at the correct resolution for the TV. You can go back to a previous screen and revise the settings by pressing the button.
9.
Save your settings.
The video output settings are saved on the PS3™ system. You can continue on to set audio output settings. For details on audio output, see (Settings) > (Sound Settings) > [Audio Output Settings] in this guide.



Source: http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps3/current/settings/videooutput.html

This usually happens when you first buy your ps3 and try to use the HDMI connection immediately. The problem is that the ps3's default output resolution is set to 480i out of the box, and when you try to use an HDMI connection first, HDMI can't do that resolution. HDMI only does 480p, 720p 1080i and 1080p.
See :)

This also happens if you move your ps3 a lot. As it is, HDTV's are either 1080p (full HD) or 720p (including 1080i). If, for example, your tv is 1080p, when you set your display settings in the ps3 menu, it will set your XMB, or ps3 main menu to the max resolution of your tv, 1080p in this case. The resolution will automatically adjust when you start a game, and that game has a native resolution output. That's why, most of the time, games will play in 720p, because that's there native, or original, resolution. This is also the reason why sometimes people have no display on there TV, or a black screen, and when they play a game, that will actually display. That's because your tv can ACCEPT that resolution of that game.

• Have your ps3 in standby mode (red light).
• Now, press and hold the power button in the front down. Your ps3 will beep twice. Let it go almost exactly after you heard the second beep.
• Wait 10-15 seconds. A display will show up, and just answer yes to all!

Adjust the system's video output settings. Select the best output settings for the TV in use.

1. Check the resolution supported by your TV.
Resolution (video mode) varies depending on the TV type. For details, refer to the instructions supplied with the TV.

2. Select (Display Settings) under (Settings) in the home menu.

3. Select [Video Output Settings].

4. Select the connector type on your TV.
Resolution (video mode) varies depending on the type of connector used.

Input connector on the TV Supported video modes (NTSC region) *1 Supported video modes (PAL region) *1
HDMI 1080p / 1080i / 720p / 480p 1080p / 1080i / 720p / 576p
Component / D-Terminal *2 1080p / 1080i / 720p / 480p / 480i 1080p / 1080i / 720p / 576p / 576i
Composite / S Video *3 480i 576i
AV MULTI / SCART *4 480p / 480i 576p / 576i
*1 The video mode options vary depending on the region where the PS3™ system was purchased. In North America, Asia and other NTSC regions, 480i video mode is displayed as [Standard (NTSC)]. In Europe and other PAL regions, 576i video mode is displayed as [Standard (PAL)]. For details, refer to the instructions supplied with the product.

*2 D-terminal is a connector type used mainly in Japan. The resolutions supported by D1-D5 are as follows:
D5: 1080p / 720p / 1080i / 480p / 480i
D4: 1080i / 720p / 480p / 480i
D3: 1080i / 480p / 480i
D2: 480p / 480i
D1: 480i

*3 Composite is the connector used to connect the AV cable that is supplied with the PS3™ system. S VIDEO is a format mainly used in Japan.

*4 AV MULTI is a format mainly used in Japan. SCART is a format mainly used in Europe. If [AV MULTI / SCART] is selected, the screen allowing you to select the type of output signal will be displayed.


5. Change video output settings.
Change the resolution for the video output. Depending on the connector type selected in step 4, this screen may not be displayed.

6. Set the resolution.
Select all resolutions supported by the TV in use. Video will automatically be output at the highest resolution possible for the content you are playing from among the selected resolutions.*
* The video resolution is selected in order of priority as follows: 1080p > 1080i > 720p > 480p/576p > Standard (NTSC:480i/PAL:576i).
If [Composite / S Video] is selected in step 4, the screen for selecting resolutions will not be displayed.
If [HDMI] is selected, you can also select to automatically adjust the resolution (the HDMI device must be turned on). In this case, the screen for selecting resolutions will not be displayed.

7. Set the TV type.
Select the type of TV in use. Set when only SD resolution (NTSC:480p / 480i, PAL: 576p / 576i) is to be output such as when [Composite / S Video] or [AV MULTI / SCART] is selected in step 4.

8. Check your settings.
Confirm that the image displayed is at the correct resolution for the TV. You can go back to a previous screen and revise the settings by pressing the button.

9. Save your settings.
The video output settings are saved on the PS3™ system. You can continue on to set audio output settings. For details on audio output, see (Settings) > (Sound Settings) > [Audio Output Settings] in this guide.

Turn off cable box.
Turn on TV.
Hold down media and guide for a few seconds.
On TV pick the resolution you want. Your choices are 480i, 480p, 720p, some wide screen resolutions and 1080i.
Save the results.
You should be good to go.