ReplayTV/HDTV

[Gr8movie]

Hi!

Does anyone know if Replay TV is able to record HDTV content (i.e. the HBO HD Channel, or abc HD or any of the HD channels?) I'm looking into getting one as TiVo can NOT record HD content. If, however, Replay can't record any HD content either, I'm gonna have to wait until a device is released that will.

Thanks for all your help!!

[Frank Z]

No.
The only DVR that can record HD content is the DishNetwork 921DVR. The DirecTV/Tivo HD-DVR has been delayed, but i'm not sure for how long. Try WWW.DBSTalk.com for more infor on the delay.

[xenophon]

Yes.

I have been recording HD content from DirecTV and over-the-air with a ReplayTV 5516. It's not pure HD quality, but it's better than a standard satellite picture...and you get the letter-box effect.

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by xenophon

It's not pure HD quality, but it's better than a standard satellite picture...and you get the letter-box effect.

What do you mean by "it's not pure HD quality"?

Peace...

[palebluedot]

Think he means it not at full HDTV resolutions.

[xenophon]

palebluedot has more accurately articulated my point. To further clarify, using a Sony Sat HD300 receiver, its output has to be set to 480p, not the higher resolution settings of the two prevailing HD formats, for the ReplayTV to replicate its quasi-HD playback.

[chlngr1970]

which Replay are you using, and what inputs?

j

[xenophon]

Originally Posted by chlngr1970

which Replay are you using, and what inputs?

j

Replay model 5516 with S-video connected to IN 2. With set up, under Video Out, I use Progressive Out option (YPbPr_ANSI).

By the way, this also worked with an earlier 4000 series model.

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by xenophon

palebluedot has more accurately articulated my point. To further clarify, using a Sony Sat HD300 receiver, its output has to be set to 480p, not the higher resolution settings of the two prevailing HD formats, for the ReplayTV to replicate its quasi-HD playback.

So you're saying HD broadcasts (i.e. 1080i) you watch are downconverted to 480p and output via component video outputs or something?

Peace...

[xenophon]

Originally Posted by tomdkat

So you're saying HD broadcasts (i.e. 1080i) you watch are downconverted to 480p and output via component video outputs or something?

Peace...

The down-conversion to 480p is done via the Sony Sat tuner, not the ReplayTV unit; I daresay each HD tuner out there will have its own output settings idiosyncracies. The wired output from the HD tuner to the Replay unit is S-Video, the best video input available
for my ReplayTV.

The Replay 5516 has one set of component video out jacks which I feed to my HDTV.

[I 8 Piglet]

I didnt realize 480p could pass through svideo. Why cant you than use svideo to output 480p to the television?

[xenophon]

Originally Posted by I 8 Piglet

I didnt realize 480p could pass through svideo. Why cant you than use svideo to output 480p to the television?

I don't see why you can't use the s-video output from the Replay unit; I simply chose the component route.

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by xenophon

The down-conversion to 480p is done via the Sony Sat tuner, not the ReplayTV unit;

Ah, gotcha. I'm not "satellite enabled" so I'm not consciously aware of all the pieces of the puzzle.

I get it now...

I was also under the impression that 480p was sent over component video connections as well. S-Video and Composite video would pass a 480i signal. How can we confirm this?

Peace...

[palebluedot]

From what I've read on AVSForums, ReplayTVs @ High Quality record at 720x480.

Also the only way to get 480p vs. 480i output on a replay is to use the Component video outputs according to the ReplayTV web site.

[xenophon]

Originally Posted by xenophon

palebluedot has more accurately articulated my point. To further clarify, using a Sony Sat HD300 receiver, its output has to be set to 480p, not the higher resolution settings of the two prevailing HD formats, for the ReplayTV to replicate its quasi-HD playback.

A tip if anyone buys the Sony HD 300: Replay has not updated its software to accomodate the serial port connections between the two units, so an IR blaster is required, code 0639 (entered during the Replay on-screen setup process).

[brian]

Originally Posted by tomdkat

I was also under the impression that 480p was sent over component video connections as well. S-Video and Composite video would pass a 480i signal. How can we confirm this?

The way I understand it is -- he's recording the interlaced video that's feed through the S-Video input. His PVR then outputs the signal through its component outputs, in progressive scan. A conversion has to take place in there.