[cgi-bin]

I just bought a Series 3 (upgrading from Humax DVD burner model). I currently only have a normal SD tv. Am I going to have any trouble using the S3? I do plan on getting a HD tv relatively soon, but the S3 was on sale so I grabbed it thinking I could use it for the dual tuners and start recording HD content early. Will it down-convert the HD content if I try to play it on my normal tv via s-video ?

 

[MikeyB]

It should work just fine. I haven't setup my S3 yet, but when I do it will be with my SD TV. S-Video is s-video, the S3 won't have any idea what you've got attached to it.

 

[eziemann]

You can. Just set the output to 480i fixed. I have had the same setup for a few months now until the new TV is purchased.
For HD content, you can play it in letterboxed (panel), zoom or stretched (vertically) modes.

 

[Revolutionary]

Just make sure that you have the screen format set to 4:3 (not widescreen). I think you can also set the video output format to 480i Fixed (not at home to look), so you should do that as well.

As for recording HD content, don't bother. You should have analog or SD digital simlucast versions of most of your HD channels (unless it's an HD exclusive channel, like HD Net, Universal HD, Discovery HD Theater, or Mojo). Just record from those. (In fact, if you remove all non-SD channels from your channel list, you can just set the video output format to "native" and you will be fine).

 

[CharlesH]

Just make sure that you have the screen format set to 4:3 (not widescreen). I think you can also set the video output format to 480i Fixed (not at home to look), so you should do that as well.

S-Video is always 480i, so you don't have to change the video output format to 480i fixed. That setting only applies the component and HDMI outputs.

 

[Revolutionary]

S-Video is always 480i, so you don't have to change the video output format to 480i fixed. That setting only applies the component and HDMI outputs.

Duh.

Brain fart.

 

[jtown]

S-Video is always 480i, so you don't have to change the video output format to 480i fixed. That setting only applies the component and HDMI outputs.

To be fair, some SD televisions (like my old sony Wega (or is it VVega?)) have component inputs and the format and aspect ratio settings would be important for those sets.

 

[Maeglin]

To be fair, some SD televisions (like my old sony Wega (or is it VVega?)) have component inputs and the format and aspect ratio settings would be important for those sets.

Are you sure that wasn't an ED set? Those support component video for 480p sources, but not HD.

 

[jtown]

Are you sure that wasn't an ED set? Those support component video for 480p sources, but not HD.

Yes. Unlike most consumers, I know what I own and what the specs mean. Standard 4:3 CRT 480i input. Just for fun, to see if it was an undocumented feature of the TV, I did test it with a progressive scan DVD player at 480p and it didn't work. Component outputs have been common to DVD players for years and component inputs have been present on many mid to high range SD televisions for use with DVD players and game systems.

 

[Saturn]

I have my S3 connected to my SDTV via component and set the output to 480i fixed (the TV doesn't support anything higher.) It works great. I used to have my PS2 hooked up via component similarly (PS2 outputs 480i on component outputs, except for some games that support 480p and possibly even 720p if you hold down a particular button while the game boots.)

For reference it is a 27" Panasonic SDTV circa 2001. EDTVs and HDTVs existed back then but I didn't have the money to get one.

 

[ScratchFury]

As for recording HD content, don't bother. You should have analog or SD digital simlucast versions of most of your HD channels (unless it's an HD exclusive channel, like HD Net, Universal HD, Discovery HD Theater, or Mojo). Just record from those. (In fact, if you remove all non-SD channels from your channel list, you can just set the video output format to "native" and you will be fine).

I would record HD over recording analog because the picture just looks better even on an SD set. The only downside is that it takes a LOT of space, but you can always expand with the eSATA port if that becomes an issue. Also, if you start recording HD now you won't have to redo your entire Season Pass list when you get an HD set.