[volcom27]

Hello -- n00b to the forum here. I have been browsing a few of the different topics but have not found the specific answer I have been looking for...

Anyway - here is what I have, and I want to know how to hook it up properly (a wiring guide would be ideal)..

Samsung LED DLP HDTV (1080)
Toshiba RS-TX60 TiVo/DVD-R
Comcast HD Box (Motorola)
Sony surround system - about 3 years old (I forget model number, but can get that if necessary) - receiver is 6 disc DVD/CD player, then standard 5.1 surround system

I have had the TiVo hooked up at my previous home for a couple months now, but it was hooked up wrong -- I could not watch OnDemand on Comcast, or switch channels when recording a show (I basically used it as a DVD player for that one TV, and recorded shows that I wanted to watch again)

I want to get the full functionality of the TiVo (being able to switch channels while recording, recording while TV is off, etc) as well as watch OnDemand....

Also...I'm not sure what to make my #1 DVD player - the Toshiba or the Sony 6-Disc A/V unit.

So far, I have purchased an HDMI cable, but have no idea what else I should get or even where to begin to start wiring this....

I really appreciate any help any of you can lend - thanks in advance!

 

[SNJpage1]

I would get a cable splitter and sent one leg to the comcast box and the other to the Tivo. Then use the input switch on the HDTV to switch between the two boxes. I dont see much use in connecting the Tivo directly to the comcast box since the Tivo cant record HD.

 

[volcom27]

thanks for the reply....

quick update that I didn't mention earlier:
My Sony surround system's AV unit is separate from the DVD player/changer. I should have known this but I haven't had it out of my basement for awhile....so I don't have to use that player, I can use the Toshiba which has DVD included in the TiVo unit...

Regardless...neither the AV unit nor the Toshiba TiVo are HD (no HDMI input/outputs) ...they both have component and optical hookups

For the Toshiba TiVo unit, it's no biggie that I can't record HD programs, but I just want to be able to record (non HD) when I'm away, record when watching another channel, etc...

I have a HDMI cable for the Comcast box to the TV, and I have component cables, digital optical audio cable, and stereo cables...

Sorry for the long-winded post, but all of the wiring diagrams I have come across have been for pre-HDMI, and this stuff isn't exactly my forte....but I can perfectly understand a wiring diagram haha

again, thanks in advance!

 

[volcom27]

another update....

Had Comcast HD cable installed yesterday...found out there are no HDMI connections on those cable boxes, so I have to return the cables I bought....

Anyway, here is the wiring as I understand it now, without the Toshiba TiVo/DVD:

Component video from cable box to TV
Optical audio from cable box to AV receiver

Now I just need to hook up the TiVo/DVD player....any ideas?

 

[mchabura]

I assume that you want to connect the HD cable box to the Tivo in order to be able to record the digital channels. But you have to remember that the Tivo will not be able to record the HD channels if you tune to them using your Tivo.

So this is what I would do:

1. Connect the coax from the wall to the cable box.
2. Connect the component cables from the cable box directly to the TV.
3. Connect the optical audio from the cable box to the receiver.
3. Connect composite cables (or S-video) from the cable box to the Tivo.

So whenever watching non-HD channels, you can use your Tivo normally. Whenever you want to watch HD channels or OnDemand, I would chenge the input of your TV to the input that the component cables are connected to.

Does anyone see a problem with this hookup? I don't have this connected now, but I am planning on testing this out in the near future. When watching HD on the TV directly, will the Tivo record black or a downgraded analog signal?

 

[jrm01]

I assume that you want to connect the HD cable box to the Tivo in order to be able to record the digital channels. But you have to remember that the Tivo will not be able to record the HD channels if you tune to them using your Tivo.

So this is what I would do:

1. Connect the coax from the wall to the cable box.
2. Connect the component cables from the cable box directly to the TV.
3. Connect the optical audio from the cable box to the receiver.
3. Connect composite cables (or S-video) from the cable box to the Tivo.

So whenever watching non-HD channels, you can use your Tivo normally. Whenever you want to watch HD channels or OnDemand, I would chenge the input of your TV to the input that the component cables are connected to.

Does anyone see a problem with this hookup? I don't have this connected now, but I am planning on testing this out in the near future. When watching HD on the TV directly, will the Tivo record black or a downgraded analog signal?

The problem is that when you are watching HD TV on the other input, and Tivo wants to record something it will try to change channels on the STB. The only way to eliminate this problem is to not use the STB for Tivo, but then you can only record and/or watch basic cable thru Tivo.

With your setup, when you are watching HD on the other TV input, Tivo is not even in the loop and doesn't know you are doing that.