Outputting at Different Resolutions

[stiffi]

I need some help.

I have DTV, but I'm thinking of switching to Fios, and coming back to Tivo! Well, sort of, I've actually always had a Series 2.

Anyway, I currently am running a DTV HR20 to 2 Tv's. Only one is full HD capable ,the other is 480p. So, whenever I use 480p TV, I have to switch the DVR to 480p mode. It's kind of a pain in the arse, but at least I can watch TV upgraded to 480p. I have 1 TV wired with HDMI, and the other with component.

Is there a way to do this with the Tivo HD or Series 3? Maybe it's even easier with the Tivo (fingers crossed). I know I can make the same connections, but I'm curious what will happen with my smaller (480p) TV, when I feed it the Tivo HD signal. Currently, on the HR20, the TV says "Signal Not Supported" when I turn it on at 720p or 1080i.

Thanks for the help.

[ilh]

You could use SD output of 480i via composite or S-video while at the same time using HD output of 720p or 1080i via HDMI or component, but I don't think you can have 480p and HD simultaneously. I haven't tried what you wish, but I cannot see where the settings you desire in the menus.

[stiffi]

Can't you just use the "format" button. I think my Series 2 has this button.

[RonDawg]

Can't you just use the "format" button. I think my Series 2 has this button.

You can (though I've never heard of an S2 with that button), but as already mentioned you can't have both 480p AND a high definition resolution being output simultaneously using just the TiVo's outputs. The Format button will affect both the HDMI and Component Outputs together.

The composite (yellow jack) and s-video outputs are automatically downrezzed to 480i as these connections won't support anything higher, at least not in the NTSC world. Note too that if your less-capable TV is 4:3 and your HDTV is 16:9, and the TiVo is set primarily for widescreen viewiing, the image on the cheaper TV will come out "tall and skinny" unless it can detect the widescreen flag, which most won't.

If you try to feed a high definition signal to your less-than-HDTV, you will get the same error message.

[stiffi]

You can (though I've never heard of an S2 with that button), but as already mentioned you can't have both 480p AND a high definition resolution being output simultaneously using just the TiVo's outputs. The Format button will affect both the HDMI and Component Outputs together.



This is what I thought (and how the Direct DVR works also).

If you'll humor me...

So, I can dynamically switch Formats with the remote (while understanding both TV's will be affected) ?

[ilh]

Yes, but the format selection is a few levels down in the menus.

[wblynch]

On my Directv HD Tivo (hd10-250), you can press the up-arrow on the large round button to toggle output resolutions. Does the Series-3 not have this feature?

[stiffi]

On my Directv HD Tivo (hd10-250), you can press the up-arrow on the large round button to toggle output resolutions. Does the Series-3 not have this feature?

This is what I was talking about also. I used to use an HR10-250, which uses a peanut remote, but with some Directv logos.

Can anybody confirm weather or not the Series 3 or Tivo HD do this?

[DaveDFW]

This is what I was talking about also. I used to use an HR10-250, which uses a peanut remote, but with some Directv logos.

Can anybody confirm weather or not the Series 3 or Tivo HD do this?

There's no shortcut like that with the S3 or HD.

You can only change the output resolutsion (480i 480p 720p 1080i) by either going through the Tivo UI (several levels deep), or using the "format" button on the front of the unit.

TTYL
David

[stiffi]

Darn,

This may just be a deal breaker for me. Although it's not true HD, having the ability to watch 480p on my 2nd TV has been really nice.

Does anybody have any other suggestions? I know I can run composite from the Tivo.

Is there anything 3rd party that I can put between the Tivo and the 2 TVs, in order to get 1080i to one and 480p to the other?

I'm really anxious about coming back to Tivo!

[wblynch]

Is there anything 3rd party that I can put between the Tivo and the 2 TVs, in order to get 1080i to one and 480p to the other?


If your 480p set can't scale the 1080i input you COULD get a 3rd party scaler.

But by that time it would probably be more cost effective to replace the 480p set.

[RonDawg]

Although it's not true HD, having the ability to watch 480p on my 2nd TV has been really nice.

Is the difference that dramatic? With my Sony CRT-HDTV I can't tell the difference between 480i and 480p using either the TiVoHD or a progressive scan DVD player.

[stiffi]

Is the difference that dramatic? With my Sony CRT-HDTV I can't tell the difference between 480i and 480p using either the TiVoHD or a progressive scan DVD player.

Actually, I think the main difference is HD content. When I look at HD content on the little TV (and connected with component) the difference is staggering. Maybe looking at the same content at 480i wouldn't be much worse, but connecting via composite would definitely look worse.

[aaronwt]

If your set is a 480P TV, it should deinterlace any 480i content. So connect that Svideo cable to it and it will look very good. Remeber the TiVo is downrezzing the 720P and 1080i. Whether it is 480i or 480P it should look the same if your TV is deinterlacing to 480P. So use the Svideo output. It looks very good. Even the composite output looks very good since the source content is so good.
My girlfriends TV in her bedroom is using the composite out from a TiVoHD and the pictures never looked so go. (her TV is almost 20 years old) And the picture from the TiVoHD is as good or better than any DVD feed that's ever been sent to the TV.

[RonDawg]

Actually, I think the main difference is HD content. When I look at HD content on the little TV (and connected with component) the difference is staggering. Maybe looking at the same content at 480i wouldn't be much worse, but connecting via composite would definitely look worse.

I would trying viewing HD programming downrezzed to 480i and see if you can tell the difference on that particular TV vs. 480p. It might put your concerns to rest.