Just picked up a slightly used 640HS ($350 cdn) and want to make sure I wire it properly, as I only get one shot at this without moving a lot of furniture.

I get both Directv and local basic cable (no cable box). I would like to be able to record one channel on DTV and have the option of watching either another DTV channel OR cable while recording. Using the front inputs is not an option (glass door on ent unit). I would like the tuner in the 640 to pick up the channel listing from DTV not cable (I think)

The DTV receiver has 2 A/V outputs and a S-video output. I use one of the audio outs to feed my amp when listening to XM radio.

All this ends up going into my MediaBox for my Pio4360 plasma.

I'm guessing it comes down to can the tuner in the 640 act independantly of the tuner in my DTV receiver?

Am I just wishfully thinking?

BTW, love this site!!!

Does your DTV receiver have two tuners? If not then there's no way your going to be able to record one and watch another at once. I assume your display (or possibly the "Mediabox") allows you to select one of multiple inputs for viewing...

How is your cable hooked up now, does it go directly into the TV? If so, you'll probably want to reroute it from wall -> Pionner, then Pioneer -> TV. The Pioneer can tune analogue channels from the cable, and passes the cable signal on unaltered to the TV. So you can record one analogue channel on the Pioneer while watching another analogue channel on the TV.

Then you'll want to connect the S-Video and Audio outputs from the DTV receiver to one of the Pioneer's line inputs. You'll be able to record digital channels via the Pioneer's line input as long as the DTV box is tuned to the correct channel.

You also need to connect the S-Video and Audio output from the Pioneer to one of your TV's inputs so that you can view recordings or watch real-time shows via the Pioneer's tuner

With this arrangement you'll be able to tune the TV to any analogue channel or (by tuning the DTV receiver and selecting it as the TV input) digital channel while the Pioneer is recording analogue from the cable. If the Pioneer is recording a digital channel from the DTV box, you can watch any other analogue channel on the TV. (The Pioneer also allows you to view recordings or "chase play" the current recording at the same time it's recording.)

Test everything before you put your system back together again to make sure that it works as you expect!

Thanks Sean

Not the answer I was "hoping" for, but makes sense to me.