New HDTV and TiVo Series 2DT

[washfan]

I've been gifted a new HDTV for Christmas. Two major questions:

1 - Comments on what HDTV to buy? Money isn't much of an issue. I'm thinking 60" plasma. What's good, in your opinion?

2 - I have a Series 2DT that I love. What's the best way to use it with an HD system? I don't really care about recording in HD, but want to be able to get the best picture possible, and want true HD whenever possible. Ideas?

Thanks for the help! This was a sudden, late gift (today), and I'm a little overwhelmed....

[jfh3]

Can't help you too much with #1 - I'm partial to Sony sets and they don't do plasma.

A Series 2 won't help much with HD; if you really want HD and Tivo, you'll need to get a Series 3 box.

[gastrof]

I've been gifted a new HDTV for Christmas. Two major questions:

1 - Comments on what HDTV to buy? Money isn't much of an issue. I'm thinking 60" plasma. What's good, in your opinion?

2 - I have a Series 2DT that I love. What's the best way to use it with an HD system? I don't really care about recording in HD, but want to be able to get the best picture possible, and want true HD whenever possible. Ideas?

Thanks for the help! This was a sudden, late gift (today), and I'm a little overwhelmed....

1) I'm not an expert on TV's (or much else) so you'd have to ask elsewhere.

2) Your Series 2 Tivo will work with the HDTV, but it's not a high def TV device, and any flaws in the picture may be magnified. Some have found that things like the contrast and sharpness on the TV need to be adjusted to tone down the "crispness" of the picture when using a standard def. device with a high def. set.

Depending on your signal source (cable? satellite? OverTheAir?) and the design of the TV, your HD set should be able to work with the TiVo and a separate signal source that'll give you high def. You want high def, you set the TV to the high def source. You want your TiVo, switch the TV to the TiVo's input.

Since we don't know your signal source, we can't make any suggestions on how to wire up the TV and the TiVo so they both can receive television.

You'd have to give us a little more info.

[washfan]

Sorry, didn't think about source. I have cable and would get HD cable to go with the tv. Right now I use the standard splitter connection for the Series 2DT.

Thanks!

[Doug43232]

1 - My wife and I made the HDTV plunge a year or so ago, and we looked primarily at LCDs and plasma. The guy at the store asked us if we wanted to mount the TV on the wall. When we said "no", he said "then have you considered DLP?" I hadn't really heard much about those, so he showed them to us and everything. Long story short, we purchased a DLP set and are glad we did. No burn-in problems like you occasionally hear about with plasmas, it weighs at least half an equivalent-sized LCD/plasma set, the viewing angle is excellent for us, no matter where in the room we sit, and it has had zero glitches/errors/problems since day one. If it matters, the brand we got was Samsung. I can't remember the model number off the top of my head (although I'm sure they've since come out with newer/cheaper/bigger/better variations), but it's a 50" screen. We also bought a Harmony 880 remote at the same time and it, too, has been nothing but great. I haven't touched any of my other remotes since I first got the Harmony set up.

I don't have a dual-tuner Series 2 (just a plain Series 2 and a Humax DVD-burning Series 2), but the other posters are right...they work fine with the HDTV. They don't pick up HD signals or anything, but other than that they've worked great.

For our HD signal, we did the over-the-air thing for about two weeks, waiting on our cable company to deliver the new HD/DVR box. Both OTA and the HD/DVR box have worked fine, although the HD/DVR box tends to reboot itself every once in a while and is generally deficient in several ways to the usability of the TiVo. I haven't convinced my wife that a Series 3 is worth the purchase yet, or else I'm sure we'd have one of those.

Good luck and, to sum up, don't count out DLP as an option, unless you're wanting to wall-mount the screen...DLPs aren't deep like old CRT screens, but they're a bit deeper than a plasma/LCD, so wall-mounting isn't particularly practical.

- Doug

[btwyx]

You probably can't go wrong with a Panasonic, Pioneer or Fujitsu Plasma display. Panasonics have better blacks and contrast, Pioneers are brighter and more vibrant, Fujitsus are good but expensive (expensive even by Plasma prices). Personally I've never been impressed by other manufacturers, and I prefer Panasonics. There's lots of discussion of this sort of thing over on AVS Forums.

If you're springing for a 60" Plasma display, you might as well get an S3 to go with it, you'll hardly notice the extra expense. When you start playing SD at large sizes like that, you start to notice everything that's wrong with it, so it'll need all the help it can get. The advantages of the S3 would help SD, HD will actually look good on a 60" though.

[20TIL6]

:up:

Yes, pair the new HDTV with an S3.

If you have to, spend a little less on the TV and open up budget for the S3. You'll be happier with the whole package.

I think the best (most expensive) plasma with an S2 won't look nearly as good as a moderately priced plasma with an S3.

That said, I think the Pioneer plasmas have the best picture. But only if you feed it an HD signal.

[Rose4uKY]

I messed up and bought a 26 inch flat panel HD TV for my BR.. I originally had two series 2 Tivos. I sold the one in the bedroom since it was the easiest to unhook cause of my entertainment center in my LR I can't move to get back there... My LR TV I have digital cable and in the bedroom all I had was basic 2-99 on my old TV. I bought the Dual Tuner Tivo cause last fall I had a 3 scheduling conflict which so far I haven't had a conflict yet but American Idol starts soon and I might.. Anyway I love Tivo and did not want to get my cable companies HD recording Box.. So I had to get a TV with a cable card slot which not only cost me more but the cable company said cable cards are being phased out. I don't know..

So now with this cable card every digital channel I get out front in my LR with my digital box comes in on my BR flat panel but the Tivo only works with 2-99 which I guess is ok cause that is all I had back there before and If I want to record a digital channel I can do that out front in my LR.. So I cannot record in HD but I make sure if I am off work and a show is on I want to watch I go back in the BR and watch it in real time in HD. So I have 2 inputs when I watch back there. One for Tivo it's 2-99 only the other input is the digital channels but Tivo doesn't work with them and I have no guide since I am using the cable card.. So I screwed up I guess.. I am ok with this set up I guess for now.

But If I was to get the HD Tivo does the cable card from the TV go into the Tivo box or do I get an additional card for the TIvo bo?. How many hours does the HD Tivo record. I know my dads cable HD box does 60 hours but only 10 in HD. I am ok for now but eventually when the price drops more I would like an HD Tivo with a big hard drive. I then would put the dual tuner out in my living room and sell my Series 2 tivo that is out there now. I got the dual tuner Tivo for 99 bucks If I prepaid for a year and then I sold my previous Series 2 Tivo for 99 bucks so I got a deal.. But now I have been reading about the HD Tivo and how it's 5 or 600 and I know it was or still is at some places 800... I would love to be able to records Housewives and Grey's in HD and be able to use my Tivo back there on all the digital channels. I don't know what to do. I have a Sharp 26 inch flat panel back there and I don't know what brand cable card is in there.. I may just keep what I have for now and just watch in HD when I am home and not worry about recording in HD just yet.. But I couldn't live without Tivo and I didn't want my cable companies HD Box.. Can I use there box and Tivo both? That way I get my guide can pause TV with there box on all the digital channels and then still use Tivo just for recording the 2-99? But that would be an extra 10 bucks a month box 13.99 cabel card 2.99. That would be dumb I guess. I should just get the HD Tivo.. I didn't really care about recording in HD but now I am starting to want to after reading some post from here.. I don't know what to do...

Rose

[btwyx]

But If I was to get the HD Tivo does the cable card from the TV go into the Tivo box or do I get an additional card for the TIvo bo?.The Series 3 TiVo takes 2 cable cards. If you got 2 extra for it, you could record everything on the S3 and watch a 3rd program live on the TV. How many hours does the HD Tivo record.The FAQ in the S3 forum covers things like this. It varies depending on the compression the cable company uses. I think the official numbers are 30hours HD or 250 hours SD. In reality it'll probably be more. (Much more if you upgrade the drive.)

[Rose4uKY]

[QUOTE=btwyx]The Series 3 TiVo takes 2 cable cards. If you got 2 extra for it, you could record everything on the S3 and watch a 3rd program live on the TV.

So does that mean the HD Tivo would connect to the HDMI of my TV and I would not use the cable card that is in my TV now? And then I would have to rent one more from my cable company? I think I pay 2 bucks now for the one in my TV now.. Thanks, Rose

[ZeoTiVo]

if you ever want to watch something live while two other shows are being recorded - or just want to watch something live without going through the TiVo then you would need the card in the TV to do that.

[Rose4uKY]

Even if I have the HD Tivo Box hooked up to the HDMI I would still need the card in the TV plus 2 cards in the Tivo box? Sorry for still being a bit confused.. l wonder if my cable company would supply me with 2 more cards cause they don't support Tivo they want you to use there Box? Thanks, Rose

[CharlesH]

Even if I have the HD Tivo Box hooked up to the HDMI I would still need the card in the TV plus 2 cards in the Tivo box? Sorry for still being a bit confused.. l wonder if my cable company would supply me with 2 more cards cause they don't support Tivo they want you to use there Box? Thanks, RoseThe two CableCards go in the Series3 TiVo, not the TV. The TV does not need to support CableCards. By law, cable companies HAVE to support the TiVo, which has the required certification. If they argue with you, you can get TiVo on the line with the cable company representative to "clarify" the matter. Take a look at the Series3 forum for specific information.

[washfan]

Thanks for the info y'all!

After much research, I'm not going with the Series 3....yet. No transfer to my computer? Bummer. I'm moving the Series 2DT into the bedroom and getting an HD/DVR box from the cable company. I know, it sucks, but that's the way it is. When the Series 3 works out the legal issues with transferring and the price drops some, I'll be all over it!

Thanks again!

[virtual_bliss]

Depending on your signal source (cable? satellite? OverTheAir?) and the design of the TV, your HD set should be able to work with the TiVo and a separate signal source that'll give you high def. You want high def, you set the TV to the high def source. You want your TiVo, switch the TV to the TiVo's input.



This is related to a question I was just about to ask and looking for clarification.

I have an HDTV and right now have my Tivo S2 DT hooked up to the TV using basic cable (no cable box) and composite inputs.

I want to get an HD cable box and use with my Tivo and I understand the Tivo does not have component inputs. I understand I cannot record HD programming with my Tivo, but I want to be able to watch crisp HD programming through component or HDMI connections. So, are you saying above that I could:

-Connect component or HDMI out of the HD cable box in to my TV
-Connect composite out of the HD cable box in to my Tivo and then Tivo to composite input on TV.

This way, if I want to watch pristine HDTV, I just select the HD input on my TV. And if I want to use the Tivo to watch SDTV or view recordings, just select the composite input on my TV?

THanks.

[Stylin]

-Connect component or HDMI out of the HD cable box in to my TV
-Connect composite out of the HD cable box in to my Tivo and then Tivo to composite input on TV.

Yes and Yes. (as per my S2 hookup)
This is the way I currently have my S2 and HDTV set up. I also record HD channels in "Best" or "High" quality via the S2.

[virtual_bliss]

Yes and Yes. (as per my S2 hookup)
This is the way I currently have my S2 and HDTV set up. I also record HD channels in "Best" or "High" quality via the S2.

How good do your HD recordings look at those settings compared to watching in actual HD?

[btwyx]

Even if I have the HD Tivo Box hooked up to the HDMI I would still need the card in the TV plus 2 cards in the Tivo box?The card in the TV is optional. Each card enables you to receive one program at once. If you have 2 cards, you can watch 2 programs, if you have 3 you can watch 3. With only one pair of eys, anything more than 1 program is being recorded.

The S3 TiVo takes 2 cards, it can record 2 shows at once (and you can view one of those, or watch something already recorded).

With an optional card in the TV, you can watch a 3rd program at once, or rather watch a live show on the TV, while the S3 records 2 others.

If you only want 2 cards for an S3, and none for the TV, it depends on your cable company whether you can take the card out of the TV and put it in the S3. It may or may not work (it depends on the cable company). They may want a serivce tech to come out (at enormouse expense) to move the card from the TV to an S3 (it depeends on your cable company).

Bottom line, the S3 needs 2 cards. If the TV also has one, that allows you to watch a 3rd program.

[mattack]

Even if I have the HD Tivo Box hooked up to the HDMI I would still need the card in the TV plus 2 cards in the Tivo box?

You could split the cable and plug it directly into the TV, and then be able to watch analog or unencrypted digital (the "network" stations) directly with the TV's tuner, without having to pay for 3 cable cards.

But if you want premium channels on the TV's tuner, you'd need a third cablecard.

[Rose4uKY]

Thanks It's all confusing to me.. But with the S3 you can't transfer one one tivo to the other is that it or just not from the S3 to a computer or both? I'll just keep my set up now and use the Tivo for basic cable and watch the shows I want to watch in HD when I am off on live TV on the other input. I have 2 inputs one for Tivo 2-99 and then I have another input for all my digital channels which come in through the cable card. I just hate not having a guide for those channels and not being able to pause. But I don't watch TV much in my bedroom so it's ok. Only if I am off and want to watch one of my shows in HD then I back there and watch it live. Plus I take my laptop back there and get on Yahoo TV to see what's on.. But thanks for your replied. Rose

[Stylin]

How good do your HD recordings look at those settings compared to watching in actual HD?
Bleh. No comparison, but good enough. It looks better than reg SD, but def not as good as HD.

[DeathRider]

-Connect component or HDMI out of the HD cable box in to my TV
-Connect composite out of the HD cable box in to my Tivo and then Tivo to composite input on TV.

This way, if I want to watch pristine HDTV, I just select the HD input on my TV. And if I want to use the Tivo to watch SDTV or view recordings, just select the composite input on my TV?

THanks.

Check the TV to see if it has S-Video input and use the S-Video output of the TiVo instead of composite.

I use mine this way, even though the cable STB only has composite out or RF out [I have a ST S2]

I found using the RF input (channel 3) or composite really made no difference with IQ on my TV

[btwyx]

But with the S3 you can't transfer one one tivo to the other is that it or just not from the S3 to a computer or both?It doesn't support any transfers as yet. There's hope that it will sometime in the future.

[virtual_bliss]

Check the TV to see if it has S-Video input and use the S-Video output of the TiVo instead of composite.

I use mine this way, even though the cable STB only has composite out or RF out [I have a ST S2]

I found using the RF input (channel 3) or composite really made no difference with IQ on my TV


Yeah, it has S-video input. I'd definitely use that to connect the Tivo to the TV. Thanks.

[Gooter]

(2 - I have a Series 2DT that I love. What's the best way to use it with an HD system? I don't really care about recording in HD, but want to be able to get the best picture possible, and want true HD whenever possible. Ideas?)

I have the same question as the OP's question #2 so rather than starting a new thread I decided to post in this one.

Here are two possible setups: HDTV antenna vs Comcast HD w/cable box (I'm not sure which one I'm going with yet)

1. Comcast cable (no cable box), Tivo S2 DT, HDTV (Sony SXRD KDS50A2000), HDTV antenna, A/V receiver (that I want to use for sound while watching HDTV)

If I understand correctly, this is how I would set up my system...

SD = WALL JACK -> TIVO (coaxial) -> HDTV (S-Video)
HD = ANTENNA -> HDTV (coaxial)
Sound while watching HDTV = HDTV -> A/V Receiver (which inputs to use?)


2. Comcast cable w/cable box for HDTV, Tivo S2 DT, HDTV, A/V receiver (that I want to use for sound while watching HDTV)

If I understand correctly, this is how I would set up my system...

WALL JACK -> Use Y Splitter to split into two sources, Y1 and Y2
SD = Y1 -> TIVO (coaxial) -> HDTV (S-Video)
HD = Y2 -> Cable box (coaxial) -> HDTV (HDMI)
Sound while watching HDTV = HDTV -> A/V Receiver (which inputs to use?)


I hope this makes sense.

Thanks for your help.

[CrispyCritter]

WALL JACK -> Use Y Splitter to split into two sources, Y1 and Y2
SD = Y1 -> TIVO (coaxial) -> HDTV (S-Video)
HD = Y2 -> Cable box (coaxial) -> HDTV (HDMI)
Sound while watching HDTV = HDTV -> A/V Receiver (which inputs to use?)You probably will not be able to get sound from the HDTV to the A/V receiver. Most HDTVs which have optical out sound will only output sound on signals from their OTA tuner; they don't output the audio they get from HDMI. Check the fine print in your TV manual carefully!

I have both my S3 and S2 going in to the A/V receiver, with the S2 being output on S-Video to the TV and the S3 being output on component to the TV. No audio being sent to the TV at all.

[ccoulson]

I also understand that a limitation of using CableCards vs a box is that you CANNOT get Pay-Per-View or On Demand programming from a CableCard. You MUST use a cable box to get these premium services.

[classicsat]

On Demand, no, PPV tyes, if you can order a PPV event outside of cable box controls, ie calling the provider or using a web based ordering app.