Question on upgrading from series 2 to HD...

[rodneyremington]

I've been a long-time TiVo user and forum member but not very active here since I got my Comcast HD DVR and relegated my Series 2 with lifetime to the kids playroom.

I just ordered the kids a new 60 inch HDTV from Crutchfield and I'm afraid the good old series 2 connected via S-Video to a 60 inch TV won't look too hot. My kids don't watch any HDTV. Most of the kids channels are still SD.

My question is, will SD on a Series3 via HDMI look significantly better than SD on my series 2 via S-Video, on a 60 inch flatscreen? I wonder if it's worth the upgrade just to watch mostly SD, just for the HDMI connection (and of course not having to use IR blaster connection to a cable box like they are now).

[jenlatham]

I have been amazed by the quality improvement on analog cable channel recordings when I moved my S2 to the basement and now run a TiVoHD on my 65" Mitsubishi. I run at fixed 1080i. I would say it's the tuner quality doing the recording, because if I transfer a recording up from the S2, it is the familiar mediocre quality.

[ewilts]

My question is, will SD on a Series3 via HDMI look significantly better than SD on my series 2 via S-Video, on a 60 inch flatscreen? I wonder if it's worth the upgrade just to watch mostly SD, just for the HDMI connection (and of course not having to use IR blaster connection to a cable box like they are now).

Many cable companies simulcast the digital versions of their broadcasting for the SD channels. For those that do - and they do in my area here - the quality from the digital versions is significantly better. It was *very* obvious on my 42" plasma display. Some of the analog broadcasts were snowy and barely watchable - they're absolutely clear now.

Check with your cable company - if you'll get all the channels <100 as digital instead of analog, then the upgrade is most definitely noticeable.