Getting HR10-250 this weekend, couple of Qs

[bclasen]

Hi,

I had enough of local cable - I'm getting D* installed tomorrow w/ an HR10-250 in my newly built media room (with a HD projector). In addition, I'm getting a SD receiver for a different TV. Couple of questions:

1. Since my only DVR will be the HR10, I'll want to record some SD content on the unit but will want to play it back on my SD TV (different room). So can I output the DVR material to a different TV without having to disconnect the current PJ? I am wired to do this, I have multiple cables running in & out of both rooms but I don't want to have to disconnect any hardware to do so. The reason I'm doing this is some of the SD content looks bad on my HD setup, I'm only expecting similar or worse results with D*.

2. I currently don't have a phone line in the room where the DVR is going, however it wouldn't be that difficult to run one there (I will eventually). Should I do this right away? Is it need to 'talk' to D* for setup, upgrades, etc.?

Thanks!
Bob

[cheer]

Not sure about #1 -- never tried it. But I can tell you for #2 that a phone line is required for setup.

[enovak]

#1 - If you are using S-Video for the SD content, then yes, it will work fine while you still have the Component or HDMI going to your projector.

According to most reports, you can't have the HDMI and component in use at the same time. When I had both plugged directly from the HR10 to my TV, only the HDMI would work. However, I now run the HDMI directly to my TV, and the component to my AV receiver. The receiver then goes to a distribution switch, and then to the TV. If I switch the TV between the 2 inputs, they now will both show the output from the HR10. Not sure why it works this way, but it must be all the connections that fool the HR10 into thinking only one of the inputs is being used at a time.

#2- You can string a long phone line to the room for the setup, and then disconnect it. After 30days you'll start getting a reminder to plug in a phone line, but you can ignore this. I find it annoying, so I plug the phone line in once a month, force a call, and then disconnect it again.

[fatcat220]

#2- You can get a wireless phone jack from Radio Shack. Basically, you hook a sender unit in a working jack and the receiver unit into a power receptacle. I did this in my family room and saved the trouble of trying to hide a long run of telephone cable.

[A J Ricaud]

1. Since my only DVR will be the HR10, I'll want to record some SD content on the unit but will want to play it back on my SD TV (different room). So can I output the DVR material to a different TV without having to disconnect the current PJ?

Just remember that you have to switch the HD Tivo's resolution to 480i when you want to watch SD on the other TV.

[bullwinklehdtv]

Just remember that you have to switch the HD Tivo's resolution to 480i when you want to watch SD on the other TV.

This is the one thing, you can't output HD and SD at the same time.

[Runch Machine]

If you need a wireless phone jack, look for them on Ebay. THey are about $10 on Ebay and about $70 at RS or BB etc.

[Runch Machine]

#1 - If you are using S-Video for the SD content, then yes, it will work fine while you still have the Component or HDMI going to your projector.

According to most reports, you can't have the HDMI and component in use at the same time. When I had both plugged directly from the HR10 to my TV, only the HDMI would work. However, I now run the HDMI directly to my TV, and the component to my AV receiver. The receiver then goes to a distribution switch, and then to the TV. If I switch the TV between the 2 inputs, they now will both show the output from the HR10. Not sure why it works this way, but it must be all the connections that fool the HR10 into thinking only one of the inputs is being used at a time.

#2- You can string a long phone line to the room for the setup, and then disconnect it. After 30days you'll start getting a reminder to plug in a phone line, but you can ignore this. I find it annoying, so I plug the phone line in once a month, force a call, and then disconnect it again.

Are you saying that you can get both HDMI and Component to work at the same time this way? Does Component work if the TV is showing the HDMI input?

I suspect that when your TV is showing its component output that it does not activate the HDMI input so HD-Tivo doesn't see it as being in use.

[enovak]

I suspect that when your TV is showing its component output that it does not activate the HDMI input so HD-Tivo doesn't see it as being in use.


I stand corrected. I had forgotten about that part of the testing. Yes, when I change the input on the tv to HDMI, the signal dies on the other TVs that are being fed by the Component switch.

[JRAllas]

Hi,
2. I currently don't have a phone line in the room where the DVR is going, however it wouldn't be that difficult to run one there (I will eventually). Should I do this right away? Is it need to 'talk' to D* for setup, upgrades, etc.?
Bob
On 4/1/06 I picked up a Belkin Wireless phone jack at Circuit City for $59.99. Although I could hear some noise when I plugged my telephone into it, it works great for my Hughes DVR40. :up:

[vertigo235]

My component (not composite) works just fine when I have HDMI hooked up, but you have to drop the output to 480i to get component to work.

I can then watch TV on the HD TV via HDMI and I send the Component output to another TV via a Modulator. You can even watch HD recorded material because the Tivo downsamples it for you.

[vertigo235]

As I think about it, I might actually watch the HDTV through the composite cables when downsampleing (I have both HDMI and Composite hooked up to the TV)

[mslot]

My component (not composite) works just fine when I have HDMI hooked up, but you have to drop the output to 480i to get component to work.

I can then watch TV on the HD TV via HDMI and I send the Component output to another TV via a Modulator. You can even watch HD recorded material because the Tivo downsamples it for you.

I think you've got your component and composite terms switched. Composite only comes on when you've got the output set to 480i. Composite=1 cable(SD), component=3 cables(HD).

If you've hacked your TiVo, you can force it to turn on both component and HDMI outputs. I haven't done it, as I have nothing else to feed with component.

-maurice

[bclasen]

All,

Thanks for the replies - very helpful. The installer was to come on Saturday, of course it was rescheduled until Tuesday (OK - I'll give them a break - it was raining pretty good). I checked prices on the wireless phone system & decided to run a line myself, which I did to both locations where I'll have receivers.

Regarding using the HR10 to record programming to be played later on my SD set: I'll be using an HDMI-DVI cable between the DVR & my pre-pro (Outlaw 990). I'll try composite, component or SVideo when sending to the SDTV. Question - when you say you need to set the system to 480 to watch on a SD set - does that mean the recording also has to be set to 480 or does it mean during playback only?

Thanks,
Bob

[mslot]

All,

Question - when you say you need to set the system to 480 to watch on a SD set - does that mean the recording also has to be set to 480 or does it mean during playback only?

Thanks,
Bob

Only during playback or when watching live TV through the HR10-250. All recording is done in its native format- there isn't even an option to record in anything else. HD is downconverted to 480i on the fly if you set your output to that. I strongly suggest you set up the "up" command on the remote to switch between 480i and 720p/1080i (whichever looks best on your set). This is done on the Settings menu, then Video, then "UP Arrow Setup". You can also use the button on the front of the Tivo, but then you'd have to get up off the couch. ;)

[A J Ricaud]

Question - when you say you need to set the system to 480 to watch on a SD set - does that mean the recording also has to be set to 480 or does it mean during playback only?

Yes, it is for playback only. The recording is always at the resolution it receives; i.e., if it's a HD program it will record in HD. You can then set the output at whatever resolution you want at the time.

[bclasen]

Cool - i appreciate the tip on the 'up' command as well. Does the remote have a 'fetch beer' command as well?

[mslot]

Cool - i appreciate the tip on the 'up' command as well. Does the remote have a 'fetch beer' command as well?

You need a new remote...

[vertigo235]

I think you've got your component and composite terms switched. Composite only comes on when you've got the output set to 480i. Composite=1 cable(SD), component=3 cables(HD).

If you've hacked your TiVo, you can force it to turn on both component and HDMI outputs. I haven't done it, as I have nothing else to feed with component.

-maurice


Your'e right, I have those terms mixed up.

[Runch Machine]

I think you've got your component and composite terms switched. Composite only comes on when you've got the output set to 480i. Composite=1 cable(SD), component=3 cables(HD).

If you've hacked your TiVo, you can force it to turn on both component and HDMI outputs. I haven't done it, as I have nothing else to feed with component.

-maurice

How can you get HD Tivo to have both HDMI and component on at the same time? I've hacked mine but haven't seen that as a feature.

[tall1]

You need a new remote...I'd reprogram the "-" minus button to the 30 second skip because it would never get used. ;)

[mslot]

How can you get HD Tivo to have both HDMI and component on at the same time? I've hacked mine but haven't seen that as a feature.

From the bash prompt:


si9190test -format 7200 -c 1 -d 1

turns on both component and hdmi (at 720p- use -format 10801 for 1080, etc.)
The following command:

si9190test -help

gives the following info:


usage: si9190test [-help]

-help print this message,
-reset bring chip in and out of reset,
-getedid filename Read EDID from chip & save EDID to a file
-parseedid filename Read from file & parse it
-hdcp Perform HDCP Authentication
-format XXXX 4800=480p, 4801=480i, 7200=720p, 10801=1080i
safe=480i or 480p w/DVI
default=480i or DVI preferred
The -format option is required for any of the following
arguments to take effect
-aspect [0|1|4] 0=16_9 1=4_3 4=FULLSCREEN
must set -format at same time
-bcmrgb Use BCM7037 CSC for YCbCr->RGB
-c 0|1 disable/enable component
-d 0|1 disable/enable DVI


My guess is that you will have to do this every time you change output format.

[Runch Machine]

actually you dont. Once you activate it you can change format using the button on the front of the tivo or the up arrow on the remote and both outputs stay active.