S2 DT, Digital Cable, and New HDTV...Questions- Help!

[mrdazzo7]

Ok, i fell into the "black friday" thing and picked up a new LCD HDTV from radio shack...definetly looks nice in my apartment if I do say so myself... Just had some questions on the optimum set-up when using a Tivo S2 Dual Tuner Unit and Cablevision Digital Cable with a Scientific Atlanta 4200 box. I know I need to go exchange it for the HD box, the next thing on my list of things to do. Until then, how should I have this set up? I currently have it:

Cable from the wall to a splitter...One Coax going to the cable box Input, one going directly to the TV...Then I have A/V composites going from the STB's output to the Tivo S2 input, and from the Tivo Output, into the TV's input, using A/V for the audio and S-video for the video.

The thing I'm noticing is that the picture quality on the standard def stuff looks pretty crappy, and it seems on the recordings too...I know I can't record HD or watch HD through my Tivo, but the quality shouldn't be LESS then it was when I had my tube set.

Also, a couple of questions:
Once I don get the HD box with the channels enabled, am I physically able to still record from those channels onto my box, even though it won't be "HD" quality? Or is it not possible to even record them, period? Also, if I'm "surfing" through my Tivo and hit the HD channels, will the be viewed in HD, since the signal is coming from the box?

Any help you guys can give would be great...I surfed through a bunch of threads but couldn't really find anything...

[Lord_Skywalker]

I have a 50" Plasma HDTV with Charter Digital Cable with HD. I run the cable directly to the cable box. Out of the cable box, I have the component cables going directly to the tv so I can get the HD channels. I run regular cables from the cable box to the tivo and then s-video cables from the tivo to the tv. The tivo can control the cable box via the IR blaster made by tivo. I can still record the HD channels with the tivo, but the recording will look like any other tivo recording and not in HD. I like to still record the HD channels just because I think they still look better than the regular channels. I also have a Harmony 628 remote that can control any AV box that I have and can do macros with ease so switching between watching the cable box and the tivo is a breeze.

[PajamaFeet]

Out of the cable box, I have the component cables going directly to the tv so I can get the HD channels. I run regular cables from the cable box to the tivo and then s-video cables from the tivo to the tv. The tivo can control the cable box via the IR blaster made by tivo.


mrdazzo, the only thing that might cause you some problems is that the way I understand it, the Scientific Atlanta HD box allows only one output type at a time. If you want to run S-video input to your TiVo S2, you can still record what is on the HD channels from your cable box, but it will be downgraded to SD.

I would like to do what skywalker is doing and run S-video to TiVo and also component video from the Scientific Atlanta HD box directly to my TV to watch the HD channels live. What I have found though is that only one set of outputs works at a time. The tech that installed the box said that was the case.

Anyone else use a Scientific Atlanta HD box with any advice on getting around the one output at a time issue?

[mrdazzo7]

mrdazzo, the only thing that might cause you some problems is that the way I understand it, the Scientific Atlanta HD box allows only one output type at a time. If you want to run S-video input to your TiVo S2, you can still record what is on the HD channels from your cable box, but it will be downgraded to SD.

I see what you're saying...Is it true that if you record off the HD channels, but it is downgraded, it's actually still somewhat better then recording off the regular channels? Does anyone with cablevision know if they charge an extra fee per month for the HD box (as opposed to the regular box fee, which is an extra $5 a month)...

I would like to do what skywalker is doing and run S-video to TiVo and also component video from the Scientific Atlanta HD box directly to my TV to watch the HD channels live.

Yeah this is what I figured, the only thing is, I very rarely watch live TV (too used to Tivo, plus I'm never home to catch shows when they air)...however, I understand that until I get an Tivo S3 (e.g., not for a long time), I'll have to watch LIve TV when I can to enjoy the benefits of the HD.


Thanks again for your input guys

[mrdazzo7]

:up: Bump

[Johnny Quest]

You can get around the one output issue by trading in your Scientific Atlanta HD box for a Pace HD box with hdmi. I run hdmi for hd content and composite for tivo, both will output.

[mrdazzo7]

That's a good idea... one question though, will they output "seperately"? My SA box now has two composite outputs, but if I run them both, one to the TV and one to the Tivo, they output the exact same thing, so if I cange the channel on one, it changes on the other. If I use the HDMI to the TV, will it act as a "seperate" output?

Thanks again

[gastrof]

Cable boxes generally have only one tuner.

Even those that have two tend to be able to output only what one of those tuners is doing at a time.

This lets the cable company charge you extra for another box if you want to watch two different shows at once.

They ain't crazy.

[PajamaFeet]

You can get around the one output issue by trading in your Scientific Atlanta HD box for a Pace HD box with hdmi. I run hdmi for hd content and composite for tivo, both will output.Which cable provider do you use? I thought I was stuck with Scientific Atlanta from Wide Open West cable.

[mrdazzo7]

I'm gonna try to post this as a seperate topic later, but for now I'll just add it on here, since it seems were are unable to post new topics, and I'm bored at work...

I have Cablevision IO Digital Cable, but I'm assuming the standard goes for all services... my questions is, are HD programs broadcast in "widescreen" to fit most HDTV sets, and if so, when I record shows off these HD channels, I know the quality will be downgraded to SD, but will programs still show in "widescreen"? The reason I ask is because I find watching SD shows on "Stretch" mode to fill up my screen is kind of annoying, because they're broadcast at 4:3. I'm sure this is a stupid question, but any helps is appreciated... Thanks