Upgrade to TW Pioneer 3510HD?

[tjjws]

I've been waiting for the dust to settle a little bit before I upgrade from the 3100HD to 3510HD.

Should I or shouldn't I?  :confused:

Recently I haven't seen any comments, good or bad, about the 3510. Are those of you that have them happy?

In many of the threads I've been reading, there were a lot of negative comments about performance, dropouts, etc. But  nothing said about them recently. Did BIOS updates fix those problems?

I'm going to wait until after the Super Bowl, since I know my 3100 will work fine for that, but after that I'd probably switch, unless there are reasons not to.

The biggest problem I have with my 3100 is that my family doesn't get how to switch to widescreen, since the 3100/Panny won't switch automagically. So I'm the only one that watches HD, or am asked to do the switch for them. Seems kind of stupid with all this technology for me to have to do this.

Any ideas and suggestions are welcome - this is a great place to get ideas and have questions answered. Thanks for your help ahead of time. :bow:

Tim

[Snard]

I upgraded from a 3100 to a 3510 a few months ago, and I wish I hadn't waited so long to do so. I haven't experienced any problems with it, and I'm happy with the picture quality and extra features.

One extra feature that I don't remember anyone mentioning is that the 3510 appears to output a digital audio signal for ALL channels, versus the 3100 only sending digital audio for the digital cable channels. This makes things much more convenient for my audio receiver, as it doesn't auto-switch between analog and digital inputs.

[Mrtanner]

The only drawback to the 3510 is that it hesitates a half-second when changing channels.  I find this irritating, but overall prefer the 3510 over the 3100.

[Paul S.]

Originally posted by tjjws
automagically.

 

F'n sweet! New word! lmao

I have the 3150HD, works great.

[gb4fan92]

Paul
        Don't get to excited! 3510HD soon to be obsoleted by the 8100Hd SA model. Due sometime in the next month or two!

[Paul S.]

Originally posted by gb4fan92
Paul
        Don't get to excited! 3510HD soon to be obsoleted by the 8100Hd SA model. Due sometime in the next month or two!

I was excited by the new word, 'automagically' :guitar:

Is there any info on this new box?

[sarusk]

Originally posted by Snard
One extra feature that I don't remember anyone mentioning is that the 3510 appears to output a digital audio signal for ALL channels, versus the 3100 only sending digital audio for the digital cable channels. This makes things much more convenient for my audio receiver, as it doesn't auto-switch between analog and digital inputs.

Snard mentions the 3510 "appears" to output digital audio for all channels. Can anyone confirm that?


/sr

[tjjws]

Ken, ditto Paul's question - any info on the 8100?  Since I've waited this long, I suppose I could wait a little while longer, but that could go on forever...

Hey Paul, I can't take credit for my all time favorite techie term, glad you liked it though.

Thank you all for your comments.

Tim

[Gregg Lengling]

With the ever changing world of technology you would be waiting for one item and see a new better item coming out and you would create an effect where you'd never get a box.  When the XT style Pc's came out...did you wait for the AT's and then the 386's and then 486's and then the Pentiums and so on and so on.

Just the nature of the beast.  I remember my first mobile phone in 1973 called MTS (Mobile telephone service)...pretty crummy but it was a car phone and then the first big cell phones and then the first portable phones (they were the size of WWII walkie talkies).  I think I'm on about the 20th generation of mobile phone after 30 years.  It's all progress....better and better and smaller and smaller with more features.

However I only use my phone as a phone....no camera, no games.  

Now my HDTV I take seriously and I'm on my second generation Big Screen 16:9 and my second HD satellite/OTA receiver.


JMHO

[HDTV Fan]

I did some research on the new Pioneer Voyager 3510HD and the Scientific Atlanta 8100HD.  Although I didn't find the 8100 from SA I found a bunch of others including the 8000 (more of a HD DVR).  That link is at the end of this post.  

They both seem like they correct some of the problems previously noted.  Here are some specifics that I found on the net for both boxes.  I hope this helps.

The Pioneer Voyager 3510HD features:

Graphics Over HD Video -- Pioneer's 3510HD supports full graphics over HD capability with video scaling, allowing cable customers to enjoy uninterrupted HD content while viewing program descriptions or utilizing other capabilities of an interactive program guide.

High Definition Decoding Capabilities -- Decodes all 16 Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) high-definition digital formats supported by the cable industry including 480p, 720p and 1080i and outputs to a variety of devices including plasma, HDTV-ready TVs, and standard TVs.

Aspect Ratio Control -- Allows for the user to determine the video format based on their TV and personal viewing preference for a variety of display options. Setting zoom, stretch or letterbox aspects are effortless through a simple on-screen user interface.

Video Up and Down Conversion -- Customer configurable controls enable the Voyager 3510HD to output screen resolutions optimized for any display type. Incoming video resolutions are detected and up-converted or down-converted automatically based on the configured output.

DVI (HDCP-compliant) and a host of other connections -- Digital Visual Interface when combined with High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection technology provides additional security against recording and creates a protected digital connection for viewing high value digital content.

Advanced dual processing power -- For optimum display of 65,000 colors on HD video simultaneously using an enhanced graphics engine.

Allows for both interlace (1080i) and progressive (720p) scanning for greater flexibility.

Allows both analog and MPEG2 digital channels to be displayed.

Flexible memory configurations up to 32 MB of SDRAM memory -- Increases the number of instructions that the set-top box can perform.

Built-in ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) digital decoder -- Doubles both vertical and horizontal resolution in analog displays.

Supports leading audio standards -- From CD quality, digital sound including Dolby AC3(R).


The info below is for anyone who may have had trouble with the new 3510 using DVI. I found this post on gearbits.

"When I initially hooked up a DVI cable from the Pionneer STB to my HDTV, it would only output in 480p. The Pioneer STB senses the DVI connection and takes away the menu where you can choose high definition (720/1080). Now, this makes no sense, what's the point of DVI in 480p?

Finally, after a month and a half of working with Time Warner, a manager there found a secret menu for me. To get HD out of the DVI output you have to follow these steps, in order!

1. Hookup a component cable to the TV and STB.
2. Do NOT hookup the DVI cable yet.
3. On the front of the Pioneer STB, hold in the button with the diamond shape icon, tap the (-)volume button once.
4. A menu will pop up on the bottom of the screen, with 720 and 1080. Pick one.
5. Now, attach the DVI cable.
6. Unattach the component cable.
7. You will not be able to get back into the hidden menu, unless you go through the steps again.
8. The signal will now pass directly through to the TV in the resolution it was sent in."


For SA products click this link.
http://www.scientific-atlanta.com/customers/prod_cataloglist.htm

My Equipment...
Panasonic CT-32HXC43 32in HDTV
Denon 2800 mkII DVD player
Yamaha RXV1000 receiver
3510 hopefully soon!

[HDTV Fan]

Here is some more info that I found.  I hope this also is helpfull.  Thanks again for this site!  It's the best for HDTV information!

The Pioneer 3510 has apect ratio adjustments where the 3100 does not. So no black bars when watching 1080i programs. When watching any HD programs and you go to the guide, the program is shown in the small box on the top right in the guide.

On the other hand, the 3100HD has a TV out [RF connector] signal usful for going to your VCR or connecting to the "B" input on your HDTV (if equipped). The 3510 does not.
However, the screen controls on the 3510 are very powerful additions.

[Paul S.]

Originally posted by HDTV Fan

On the other hand, the 3100HD has a TV out [RF connector] signal usful for going to your VCR or connecting to the "B" input on your HDTV (if equipped). The 3510 does not.

The 3510 DOES have old school L-R-Audio hookups that work great with my VCR.

Great info by the way! How would a person know if they are getting 1080/720? -

"4. A menu will pop up on the bottom of the screen, with 720 and 1080. Pick one."

[FreQi]

Originally posted by HDTV Fan
... the 3100HD has a TV out [RF connector] signal usful for going to your VCR or connecting to the "B" input on your HDTV (if equipped). The 3510 does not.

Are you talking about a coax type connection?  And does it actually send the HDTV signals over this in RF ?  Sort of emulating an ATSC OTA broadcast for an HDTV set to "tune in" ?

[tjjws]

I wanted to thank you all for your answers and comments.  :bow:

As I said before, I wasn't going to do anything until after the Super Bowl, but since you all had good things to say, and I  happened to be at Mayfair the other day, and they happened to have a 3510, AND they let me take it without returning the 3100 first - I JUST HAD TO DO IT.

And am I glad I did. It's especially nice to view the on-line guide while still viewing an HD program.

I still haven't figured out all the different settings as far as getting the correct 16:9 setting for my 4:3 RPTV, but I think there are suggestions mentioned in other threads.

Also, and probably the most perterbing:bang:, is that my Panny will not "automagically" switch aspect to 16:9 when viewing Component-In. I have to manually switch it via the Panny menu. From research I've done, 4:3 is the default setting at power-on, so I'll have to figure out how to access the aspect setting via "discrete codes", so I can make it a one-button switch instead of the current 7 or 8.

Anyway, thanks much!
Tim

[HDTV Fan]

I finally got the 3510 last night.  It's awesome!  No bars on regular tv or digital when the tv is in 4:3 mode.  (Panasonic ct-32hxc43)  Only bars on the HD network stations when they are broadcasting in non-hd.  AND i'm not using the stretch mode in the pioneer box.  It was confusing because the manuel that the cable guy brought said "pioneer BD-V3500HD"  I looked on the bottom of the cable box and there it was..3510!  I've had to reload the box a couple times because I'm wasn't getting discovery hd, then they sent a signal, and I had discovery HD, but didn't get the INHD channels (545 and 546).  Then they sent another signal and I got the channels after reboot, but they were pixalated and freezing like the dish would on a rainy day.  So they are sending someone out to check since those are the only two channels that don't work.  All others are amazing.  My house is 10 yrs new and when I moved in 7mos ago, there was a cable amplifier hooked up.  The cable guy measured the signal and found out that I was way high on the charts and said I didn't need it.  Just in case anyone has one.  He said the signal is from -35 to 35 and to get a good signal you should be between -5 and 10.  I'm at 13 without the amplifier and the picture is great!  He had a tool to measure this.  Anyone know how I can measure this on my own?

Regarding the previous post,

""Also, and probably the most perterbing, is that my Panny will not "automagically" switch aspect to 16:9 when viewing Component-In. I have to manually switch it via the Panny menu. From research I've done, 4:3 is the default setting at power-on, so I'll have to figure out how to access the aspect setting via "discrete codes", so I can make it a one-button switch instead of the current 7 or 8.""

This is interesting. My panasonic defaults to the 16:9 mode at turn on.  So if I'm watching HD in 4:3 because I have to manually change it , I turn off the tv, then back on, the tv is back in 16:9 mode with bars on the top and bottom.  This is the same problem that tjjws is having, but the opposite.  I want my tv to default to 4:3 and tjjws wants his to do what mine is doing.  Could it be that the tv locks on the aspect ratio that is present when you plug in the component inputs?  So when mine was set up, it was 16:9 so that's the default, and tjjws set his up in 4:3?  I'll try this when I get home to see if it resets.  I did call panny support and they said you can't change this because the tv recognizes a hd signal and defaults to 16:9.    TJJWS-how do we fix this??  My problem is your solution and vice versa.  Thanks again for everyones help.  Sorry if I rambled on...