first my equipment:

samsung 4095D (no 480i via HDMI :( )
DCT6208 (time warner, former adelphia customer)
Philips DVDR3400 for recording
Oppo 981 for playback

I picked up the DVDR3400 at BBY on Monday 2/20 since they were on sale for 129.00 plus I had an extra 12% off with coupon. I bought it for the component input hoping to be able to record 16:9 HD programs at 480i via component from my TWC DCT6208. Of course discovered that the DCT6208 is letterboxed on both component (set to 480i) and Svideo. My test recording for both Svideo and component produced the same aspect ratio.

Good news is that my Oppo 981 played the finalized disks. though the picture has the black island on all sides when displayed on my sammy 4095D. which I can zoom to fill the screen. less than ideal.

My question: Are there any STBs that output true16:9 via component (or even Svideo for that matter)? I looked at the SA3250 which TWC claims they have -- bad feature is that component and DVI are not output simultaneously. But nothing in guide talks about format via component.

In spite of the cons for the DVDR3400 I am so far pleased with it and will keep it if I can get an STB that outputs 16:9 via component -- otherwise I'll return it.

TIA.

If you don't care too much about recording encrypted QAM chs, how about one of the new DVDrs with a QAM tuner? Eliminate the STB and you'll probably be able to record 16:9 stuff.

If you don't care too much about recording encrypted QAM chs, how about one of the new DVDrs with a QAM tuner? Eliminate the STB and you'll probably be able to record 16:9 stuff.

Biker

Thanks for the note. I subscribe to TWC So Cal and also get the HD tier. I presume that the extra HD channels such as HDnet are encrypted, but i don't know.

Is there a thread here that I can peruse on alternatives to the atrocious boxes that TWC (Adelphia). If there is a good priced DVDr that can tune these HD channels off the TWC coax and preserve the AR that would be great. I only have one STB in the house at the moment, rest of the sets feed on straight coax. I would place the DVDr with tuner on one of the other sets.

TIA