Wauwatosa area TWC HD Equipment

[Mark Strube]

I've been reading thru a lot of the very helpful threads here, and I have only a few quick questions.

We may be getting an HDTV within the next few months, but I've always been interested in getting the locals in digital with 5.1 sound (since I have a 5.1 receiver in my room).

We currently have a standard definition SA8000 DVR and a standard definition Pioneer Voyager box.

Which box do they give you for a non-DVR HDTV box? And does it have active RF and/or S-Video outputs for output to a standard television?

Also, I was reading different techniques for making the SA8000HD DVR work with a SD tv... the way I interpreted this is that when put into SD mode, the box turns the component outputs into composite outputs? Does this also activate the S-Video or RF outputs for SD video? And does this mean it'll tune and record HD content, but then scale it down for viewing on a normal tv? Or will it just not allow you to view HD content when in SD mode??

Sorry if it's too many questions... I don't wanna go and swap boxes and then not be able to watch tv.

Thanks for any help!!

[mhz40]

For non-DVR, go with the Pioneer 3510HD.  It outputs SPD/IF at all times, regardless of channel tuning.  It also down converts HD to the composite and Y/C outputs and has somewhat of a working DVI port as well (but using DVI will shut down your component outputs).  No RF out though, sorry... but in today's high-bandwidth world, RF out does not cut the mustard.
A step up in convenience would be the SA HD-DVR, but it can not simultaneously down convert HD on composite and put out a signal on it's component outputs.  It has a DVI port that is as of yet not supported.  IMO, SD/HD mode switching is somewhat of a hassle.

[Mark Strube]

Thanks for the help!

Here's an interesting bug I discovered...

So I decide to try and go for their HD DVR, hooked up to my SD tv. I do the button trick to switch it to SD mode, and all is well! It even stayed in that mode thru power off and on. I go and run some errands, I come back a few hours later, and the remote isn't working! There's nothing blocking the path, I put new batteries in it, still nothing. I discover it will only work if it's a foot or less from the box. How strange! I call customer service, they say the remote must be faulty. I go and get a replacement. Same problem. Finally I get a tech who knows something on the phone, and he says it must be a result of running the box in SD mode... he said those boxes are extremely buggy in that mode, and that's probably the issue... he also said they should have a firmware update in a month or so that will fix those issues.

So, I went and picked up the Pioneer HD box... much better. Also many good aspect ratio options to configure. Even if someone is never getting an HDTV, I'd still recommend this box just because you get all the locals in digital (with quality surpassing DVD) and 5.1 sound. We also subscribed to the HD channel package.

I'm a bit disappointed we can't use firewire yet, but I have a capture card on my system, so I ran an S-video from the box, and using ATI's software (and setting the box and ATI's software to 16:9) I'm able to make full bitrate anamorphic mpeg2 captures that look quite respectable! So, I'm happy for now. Thanks for the help!