HD XL DVR downconversion?

Once upon a time, David D. <daviddiamond.removeifnotspam RemoveThis @comcast.net> said:
>I may replace my S2 now and my SD TV later.
>
>How does the HD XL DVR handle downconversion form HDTV signals to SDTV?
>
>What does it do to the image? Crop it? Make it skinny? Letter-box it?

If you tell it you have a 4:3 TV, it will letter-box by default IIRC.
There is a button on the remote that will cycle through the three
options (letter-box, cropped, or full). I think SD content is
unchanged. For a 16:9 TV, it will bar the sides (called "panel") for SD
content by default, and the button cycles through panel, zoomed, or
full. HD content is unchanged.

The only thing it doesn't really handle is having both 16:9 and 4:3 TVs
connected to the outputs of the same unit (I have HD 16:9 on the
component and SD 4:3 on the S-video). I configure the TiVo for 16:9,
and if I watch HD on a 4:3 TV, it is squished.

--
Chris Adams <cmadams RemoveThis @hiwaay.net>
Systems and Network Administrator - HiWAAY Internet Services
I don't speak for anybody but myself - that's enough trouble.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Peter H. Coffin" <hellsop.TakeThisOut@ninehells.com>
Newsgroups: alt.video.ptv.tivo
Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2008 12:16 PM
Subject: Re: HD XL DVR downconversion?


> On Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:50:53 -0400, David D. wrote:
>> I may replace my S2 now and my SD TV later.
>>
>> How does the HD XL DVR handle downconversion form HDTV signals to SDTV?
>>
>> What does it do to the image? Crop it? Make it skinny? Letter-box it?
>
> Depends on what you tell it to do.
>


So it gives you a choice of those three options?

"Chris Adams" <cmadams DeleteThis @hiwaay.net> wrote in message
news:rNednVAJtfEI3kzVnZ2dnUVZ_gmdnZ2d@posted.hiwaay2...
> Once upon a time, David D. <daviddiamond.removeifnotspam DeleteThis @comcast.net>
> said:
>>I may replace my S2 now and my SD TV later.
>>
>>How does the HD XL DVR handle downconversion form HDTV signals to SDTV?
>>
>>What does it do to the image? Crop it? Make it skinny? Letter-box it?
>
> If you tell it you have a 4:3 TV, it will letter-box by default IIRC.
> There is a button on the remote that will cycle through the three
> options (letter-box, cropped, or full). I think SD content is
> unchanged. For a 16:9 TV, it will bar the sides (called "panel") for SD
> content by default, and the button cycles through panel, zoomed, or
> full. HD content is unchanged.
>
> The only thing it doesn't really handle is having both 16:9 and 4:3 TVs
> connected to the outputs of the same unit (I have HD 16:9 on the
> component and SD 4:3 on the S-video). I configure the TiVo for 16:9,
> and if I watch HD on a 4:3 TV, it is squished.
>
> --
> Chris Adams <cmadams DeleteThis @hiwaay.net>
> Systems and Network Administrator - HiWAAY Internet Services
> I don't speak for anybody but myself - that's enough trouble.

Thanks, Chris.

I plan to buy the TiVo first, and an HD antenna, and replace the TV
later. The options that you describe are perfect.

Since TiVo can operate as a down-convert, digital-to-analog box, I
wonder if it would qualify for the $40 government rebate?

- David

"David D." <daviddiamond.removeifnotspam.RemoveThis@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:srKdnWd8pv9i0EnVnZ2dnUVZ_rXinZ2d@comcast.com...
> "Chris Adams" <cmadams.RemoveThis@hiwaay.net> wrote in message
> news:rNednVAJtfEI3kzVnZ2dnUVZ_gmdnZ2d@posted.hiwaay2...
>> Once upon a time, David D. <daviddiamond.removeifnotspam.RemoveThis@comcast.net>
>> said:
>>>I may replace my S2 now and my SD TV later.
>>>
>>>How does the HD XL DVR handle downconversion form HDTV signals to SDTV?
>>>
>>>What does it do to the image? Crop it? Make it skinny? Letter-box it?
>>
>> If you tell it you have a 4:3 TV, it will letter-box by default IIRC.
>> There is a button on the remote that will cycle through the three
>> options (letter-box, cropped, or full). I think SD content is
>> unchanged. For a 16:9 TV, it will bar the sides (called "panel") for SD
>> content by default, and the button cycles through panel, zoomed, or
>> full. HD content is unchanged.
>>
>> The only thing it doesn't really handle is having both 16:9 and 4:3 TVs
>> connected to the outputs of the same unit (I have HD 16:9 on the
>> component and SD 4:3 on the S-video). I configure the TiVo for 16:9,
>> and if I watch HD on a 4:3 TV, it is squished.
>>
>> --
>> Chris Adams <cmadams.RemoveThis@hiwaay.net>
>> Systems and Network Administrator - HiWAAY Internet Services
>> I don't speak for anybody but myself - that's enough trouble.
>
> Thanks, Chris.
>
> I plan to buy the TiVo first, and an HD antenna, and replace the TV
> later. The options that you describe are perfect.
>
> Since TiVo can operate as a down-convert, digital-to-analog box, I
> wonder if it would qualify for the $40 government rebate?
>
> - David
>
>

I asked bestbuy. They said no. Circuit city said the same thing.

> Since TiVo can operate as a down-convert, digital-to-analog box, I
>wonder if it would qualify for the $40 government rebate?

No. It has too many features. There are quite a few features ruled
out for the coupon-eligible converter boxes, the biggest being no
outputs with higher resolution than SD (no HDMI or DVI. Maybe not
even component. S-Video and composite are allowed). Record
capability is probably prohibited. And it's probably got too many
indicators on the front panel. Also, I don't think the coupon-eligible
converter boxes are allowed to cost more than $80 (before coupon).

On 2008-09-19 20:12:11 -0500, "David D."
<daviddiamond.removeifnotspam.DeleteThis@comcast.net> said:
>
> I plan to buy the TiVo first, and an HD antenna, and replace the TV
> later. The options that you describe are perfect.
>
> Since TiVo can operate as a down-convert, digital-to-analog box, I
> wonder if it would qualify for the $40 government rebate?
>
> - David

That's almost exactly what I did. First, I bought a settop converter
box and a Winegard Square Shooter (mounted indoors) to make sure I
could receive digital signals, using my old analog TV. I am 40 miles
from the transmitter sites. Worked better than my wildest
expectations. I could never get analog signals, so I was stuck with
satellite. When digital worked so well, I dumped Dish Network, and
bought an HD XL. The composite output from that gave me an excellent
pic, even on the old TV.

Then I just bought a 46" Samsung 650 LCD. Hog Heaven!

An no, the TiVo doesn't qualify for the $40 rebate.

What you're contemplating is exactly what I did. Bought the HD XL with
plans to upgrade the TV later. The HD XL worked great with the SD TV
using composite outputs (R & L audio, video). You can select the image
size on the fly with the "Aspect" button on the TiVo remote that comes
wikth the HD XL.

I ended up replacing the TV sooner rather than later, about 4 months
after I bought the XL. But that's because my wife wanted a bigger
screen. Lucky me.

If you are now a lifetime subscriber, don't forget to get the discount
on the lifetime service because you're already a TiVo subscriber.

On 2008-09-17 10:50:53 -0500, "David D."
<daviddiamond.removeifnotspam RemoveThis @comcast.net> said:

> I may replace my S2 now and my SD TV later.
>
> How does the HD XL DVR handle downconversion form HDTV signals to SDTV?
>
> What does it do to the image? Crop it? Make it skinny? Letter-box it?
>
> - David
>