HD Channels with DirectTV

What DirecTV receiver and TiVo models do you have?

 

Interesting question. The way one selects the SD version of a channel sent both ways is to enter the channel number and then press "channel down", but that doesn't help you.

Does it really matter? Are you seeing bad output from the composite or S-Video outputs of the receiver?

 

I'm actually able to get a good quality recording when the Tivo records an HD program even though it is a Series 2 SD DVR. When I record an HD program, the recording is not as good as the original HD broadcast, but it is better than the typical SD recording. I have an AKAI 50" DLP TV.

Actually, I would say that the recording quality is closer to the HD quality than the SD quality. Recording on channels where there is only one channel number is no problem.

The problem comes when DTV duplicates channel numbers. For example, if I want to record something on the history channel, I can request that the History HD channel be recorded, but since both the HD and SD channels have the same number, when the Tivo changes the channel on my HR 20, it defaults to the SD channel 269. I don't know how I can get the "second" 269 that has the History HD channel. I would much rather record the HD version than the SD version even though my Tivo is not HD.

Anybody know any things we can try to work around this glitch?

 

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I guess DirecTV and TiVo didn't expect anybody would be using a stand alone standard definition TiVo to record the DirecTV HD channels. Interesting question and I am going to guess a solution would have to be to have the receiver informed that the SD versions are not in the channels received list. What model DirecTV receiver are you using? Maybe someone here has a fix, if not, hopefully DirecTV can address the issue.

My recommended solution is get a DVR from DirecTV that records the HD channels in HD. I am using the HR20-700 and although I am a big TiVo fan and prefer TiVo, that DVR works so much better for those channels than anything TiVo offers.

Chris

 

When the TiVo causes the channel to change to 269, the HR20 goes by default to the HD version - at least that's what it's supposed to do. You have to use channel-down to get to the SD version.

 

I guess that I have the H20 tuner (no DVR on it). When my Tivo changes channels, it defaults to the SD channel and then I have to hit channel up to get the HD channel.

I tried changing the channel list, but I was only able to figure out how to modify my favorites. When I removed the SD copies of the HD channels, it still went directly to the SD channel, now I just don't get that channel on my guide. I still have to push the channel up button to get to the HD channel.

Is there a way that I can change the default? I'm in the Los Angeles area. I don't know if there is a regional difference.

I was interested in getting a DirecTV HD/DVR, but the I wouldn't be able to transfer programs from my bedroom to my living room. If I want to put a recorded program on DVD, I transfer it from the bedroom Tivo to the living room Tivo--which is connected to the DVD burner. I'm not married to Tivo, but it does allow me to record stuff on which ever TV I'm watching and then transfer it to the Tivo with the burner.

Thanks for all of your responses.

 

I believe that a future update for the H20 will solve the SD v HD channel selection problem. See this forum for info about that.
http://www.dbstalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=78