RS-TX20 and HDTV

[jbutle4]

Hello all,

I've been a regular visitor to these forums, but have never posted. I searched the official rs-tx20 thread for answers to my question, but none have had exactly what I'm looking for.

I just bought a new HDTV for my bedroom (the same room where my Toshiba is) and would like to know the optimal way to hook it up. I also was wondering if it's possible to set the Tivo to record my programs on the HD channels (knowing it will only record in SD) so that I can watch them in HD in real time if I am able to.

My HDTV has two component inputs (one will be used for an xbox360), one HDMI input, a side composite and s-video input, and one back composite input.

Thanks for the help.
-Kirby

p.s.
I will be using the Motorola HD cable box from Cox Communications to receive my cable.

[romeoz]

.

[cassiusdrow]

I have my Pioneer TiVo (similar to your Toshiba) and HD Cablebox hooked up to do just as you described:

Cablebox S-Video and Audio L&R -> TiVo Input for Recording
Cablebox Component -> Receiver TV Input -> TV Component Input
Cablebox Digital Audio -> Receiver TV Input
TiVo S-Video Output -> Receiver TiVo Input -> TV S-Video Input
TiVo Digital Audio and Audio L&R -> Receiver TiVo Inputs

So I watch the TiVo by selecting the Receiver TiVo Input and the TV S-Video Input, and I watch the Cablebox directly by selecting the Receiver TV Input and the TV Component input.

You don't mention that you have a receiver so you may not be able to do this. The key is using the cablebox's analog sound output for TiVo recording and the cablebox's digital sound output for direct live viewing of HD. So if you don't have a receiver, your TV will need a digital sound input. And if you want to use the component output of your TiVo, you'll need a total of 3 component inputs (xbox, cablebox, and TiVo).

[jbutle4]

thanks for the reply. I know I can't record HD shows with the Tivo, but can I watch live HD programming through it?

[cassiusdrow]

Yes, but it won't be HD. Your cablebox should output HD programs downconverted to SD 480i on the S-Video and composite outputs. I started recording the HD network channels because the downconverted HD digital signal looked much better than the analog SD channels on my cable service.

If you want the full HD signal you must use the cablebox component/DVI/HDMI outputs directly.