VERY Confused - Expert Help Needed With Plans for HD Move

[ADG]

One last (I hope) thread asking for help. I've been planning for an upgrade to HD and a move to a series 3, but the more I investigate the more confusing it gets - especially when taking into account a few things I want to be able to do. Please allow me to explain my current setup and the problems I'm running into:

CURRENT SETUP:
Primary set is a 32XBR100 with the following inputs:
Cablevision RF Cable (to main RF input)
DirecTivo with DSS input (DSS is primary source of content for the house)
Series 2 Tivo
DVD recorder/player
VHS

The Cable input serves two purposes: backup to DSS when signal fails and input source for PIP.

Through a couple of A/B switches, I am able to "broadcast" the input from this system to 7 other sets in the house (important to us when watching either a recorded show or a dvd). All "broadcasting" is via cables run through the basement.

Proposed new setup:
Primary set will be an LCD HD (probably Sony 40V2500 or 40XBR2)
Cablevision IO input
Tivo Series3
Series2 Tivo (at least until the "lifetime" subscription expires in a year)
DVD Recorder / Player
VHS

My intention is to get rid of either Cable or Satellite. Since cable has proven more reliable, in the above setup that's what I've indicated. Now here are the problems and question:

--Since the series 3 has no rf out, I will have to get a converter to use it with the A/B switch. Any reason this won't work? Alternatives?

--Cablevision tells me that once I go with IO digital, the only channels we will receive via the RF input will be what they call "broadcast basic" - that is essentially little more than the local stations. No "cable" channels at all. What this means is that none of the other 6 sets in the house will be able to receive "cable" broadcasting unless we use settop boxes with them (right now all are "cable ready"). Extra expense - and obviously inconvenient.

--If we keep DSS as our HD provider, the Series3 Tivo doesn't do any good and I'm told there is no HD DVR I can use.

Am I overcomplicating things here or is there in fact an "easy way out" that I'm missing? I apologize for the lengthy post - hate reading them myself. Thanks very much for any assistance / input.

[Amnesia]

RF = coax?

[ADG]

Sorry - yes, rf = coax

[Jerry_K]

There are DSS HD DVRs they just are not TiVo boxes. You can read lots about those on AVS Forums and DBSTalk.

There is an oddball TiVo solution for HD on DirecTV the HR10 - 250. It is fine if you can receive your locals over the air in High Def. It will not receive the newer MPEG4 formats and will become less useful over time.

[ADG]

Thanks Jerry. I just called Cablevision again and spoke with a different rep. She told me the person I spoke with yesterday was mistaken - we will continue to receive all non-premium cable channels on cable-ready sets. That certainly makes a big difference. Now I'll have to call later and speak with a third person to find out who is right

[wackymann]

The 2nd person is correct - nothing will change on your non-HD televisions. You can continue to use the analog channels on those TVs after you upgrade to HD.

As for distributing DVR recorded content and/or DVD video to the other TVs in the house from your main TV, you could probably take the monitor out from your TV (if it has one), convert it to RF, and distribute that. Ideally you would use the S-Video outputs for best quality. If your HDTV doesn't have an S-video out, you could also use 2 RF modulators and put one each on the outputs of the DVD player and the DVR, and then use an A/B switch to select which unit goes around the house at any given time.

Of course all of that is still SD. If you wanted to distribute HD content around the house, you'd have to do something much more complicated. I'm not sure how people distribute component and/or HDMI video within a house. Here is an article that discusses the distribution of Component video via Coax:

http://www1.electronichouse.com/colu...vice/3536.html

[HD_Dude]

The confusion is understandable. You want to provide a HD picture and digital surround sound in your main viewing room, while providing analog picture and sound to the other rooms.

I think the best solution is using a good A/V receiver...and to run redundant outputs from your components, both digital and analog simultaneously.

Just to take a crack at it...

Split the cable to the S3 and the S2. From the S3, run the video signal straight to the monitor with either HDMI or component (I don't like any switchers between my source and my screen). And then, also run a composite (analog) video cable to your A/V reciever. That's right...two outputs. One to the TV, one to the receiver. And then-- run the audio, both digital and analog to the A/V receiver.

Why both? because when you listen in your main room, you'll have the cleanest possible picture, and digital audio. The analog outputs will allow you to take the analog signal, and feed your switcher...and the other rooms.

Do the same with your other gear...double it up! Best video available should go straight to the monitor, and both digital and analog audio to the A/V receiver. As well as an analog video line to the A/V receiver as well.

Then...here's the switch part...take a "VCR Out" output from your A/V receiver, and using a RF converter, feed the output into your A/B switch.

Should work fine.

[ADG]

wackymann,

Thanks very much. The sets I'm looking at (Sony 40XBR2 or 40V2500) do not seem to have monitor outputs. I think I'd only need one modulator - for the Tivo Series3. My current dvd player has an rf out and if I go to an upconverting model, all the ones I've looked at have rf outs as well. I'd only be interested in distributing the sd signals. But that raises an interesting point. If I record a program in hd on tivo, I guess I won't be able to see it on the standard sets. Hmmmm. Yet another concern to consider

[ADG]

HD_Dude,

Thanks. Not sure I'd need the receiver if I just use a modulator. I already use double output from the DirecTivo to do as you describe - s-video to the tv and rf to the AB switch. But once I go to hd with the series 3 and I record a show in hd, will the sd sets be able to "see" the show if I distribute it via an analog output?

[HD_Dude]

They sure will!

I have the same kind of setup...except I use one of those 'wireless' video/audio senders. Works great...when I play an HD show from the S3, I see HD in the living room, SD everywhere else.

[ADG]

Good stuff - thanks very much. And thanks to everyone else who has replied in this thread. I've always had good success at TCF.

BTW - are you happy with the reception on the wireless distributors? If so, which one do you use? I tried one years ago and hated it, but perhaps the state of the art has improved.

[ADG]

Also please - does the series 3 have standard rca out which I can run to an rf converter / modulator?

[HD_Dude]

Yes, the S3 has standard RCA video and audio out...a couple of 'em I think.

As for the wireless, I use standard, run-of-the-mill Radio Shack wireless A/V senders. They work great. BUT that's my house...they might not work well in yours. It all depends on internal wiring, spurious interference, etc.

Things that will temporarily ruin your signal?

-2.4 GHz telephone

-Wireless LAN

-Microwave Ovens

I have a 5.8 GHz phone system and a hard-wired network, so no troubles. But when I crank that microwave. head for the hills!

Also, even though the wireless works great at my DC house, with an incredible picture and sound, it doesn't work worth a darn at my vacation place. Something's messing it up.

Very, very hit-or-miss.

[ADG]

Yeah, I also use 5.8 phones and for the most part my LAN is wired (I have a WAP for the laptop, but it's rarely in use). But you're right - I have a Slim Devices Squeezebox Digital Music player and when I first got it I used it with the WAP. Worked great until we nuked something. Ended up running a long cat 5 through the basement

[philinny]

[quote=ADG]
--Since the series 3 has no rf out, I will have to get a converter to use it with the A/B switch. Any reason this won't work? Alternatives?
/QUOTE]


I also have an existing distribution setup in place using (get this) a VCR Rabbit Video Extender, the hard wire version (before 900 mhz), which sends a signal to my bedroom. It works like a charm, but standard definintion only, of course. Cool feature -- the receiver sends the IR signals back to the base, so I just take the remote with me. If I ever dismantle it I might just use it as an IR relay.

So with my purchase of a Series 3 looming (before 12/31) I have the same thought about how to use the existing setup.

But I found an svideo to RF adaptor at svideo daht kom

[I can't post the exact URL since I have <5 posts, what happened to all my posts from the early days fo this board? Not grandfathered, I guess...]

Anybody see a reason it wouldn't work for $26?

[philinny]

Okay, now I have 5 posts here's the link for my post above...


www.svideo.com/svideocoax.html



Phil