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?