What's the advantage of a digital tuner vs a component input? I'd think component inputs would be better unless a digital tuner is capable of downconverting HD to 480 and can make 16x9 recordings.

My brand of recorder dropped component inputs for a digital tuner, but I don't get it. What's the deal?

My cable box (and I'm betting alot of HD receivers) can downconvert, so what's the advantage. I'd choose component input vs the tuner. Am I missing something?

gp

What's the advantage of a digital tuner vs a component input? I'd think component inputs would be better unless a digital tuner is capable of downconverting HD to 480 and can make 16x9 recordings.

My brand of recorder dropped component inputs for a digital tuner, but I don't get it. What's the deal?

My cable box (and I'm betting alot of HD receivers) can downconvert, so what's the advantage. I'd choose component input vs the tuner. Am I missing something?

gp


The first part of your post is exactly what a digital tuner does for OTA and unencrypted QAM (cable) digital recordings (i.e., downconvert to 480i and make 16x9 recordings)

Problem is you are looking at the issue from the narrow perspective of a digital cable subscriber. There are other scenarios/users where having a digital tuner built into the DVD recorder would be advantageous. Namely, if you are purely recording OTA or if you are desire to record unecrypted digital cable content WITHOUT needing or wanting a set top tuner box.

It's not so much an advantage if you are recording from a cable or sat box using component inputs, but many people are recording OTA or unencrypted QAM (using a direct analog cable input). If one does not have cable/sat then having a cable box does not exactly help one record OTA digital (so that's one advantage if you are recording OTA digital). If you are recording enencryped QAM, then there is an advantage vs. a cable box because 1) you only have to set the timer on the DVD recorder (vs. both a cable box and the recorder) and 2) I would suspect that you get a purer recording because you eliminate the digital/analog conversion step at the output of the cable box to create the component output signal and the subsequent analog/digital conversion at the DVD recorder's analog component inputs. Besides, in the US, based on the law, you cannot legally sell a new DVD recorder without a digital tuner. If you want to record downrez'd encrypted digital content from cable/sat then your only choice for now is to use a box (even if your recorder has a digital tuner).

digital tuner vs. component input???

This is really an apple/orange comparision.

As pointed out above, there are many reasons why someone would want a digital tuner.

But here's a question ... why not have both? An ATSC/NTSC/QAM tuner AND component inputs. Here's why I would love to have both.

I currently subscribe to Extended Basic cable and get all of the standard analog channels. Plus, I get all of the local HD broadcasts using the QAM tuner. A DVD-recorder with NTSC/QAM would work well for me.

Now, I also have a Sony DHG-HDD250 HD-DVR. I would love to be able to archive stuff that I've recorded onto a DVD. My current solution is to connect it to a miniDV camcorder using composite (yuck!), then using my Mac to burn a DVD. The loss of color vibrancy is a total turn off.

I suspect a DVD-recorder with component inputs would result in a much better final product.

So my vote is to have both!

ft

I have two DVD recorders set up to record OTA ditital.

Since buying a recorder with a digital tuner, I rarely use the old recorder. It is much easier just programming the single set than messing with a tuner and recorder seperately.

Recording quality using the seperate tuner versus built in tuner is subtle, I think my new recorder is a little sharper at SP recording level, but I think is is related to a better encoder.

I have experimented recording component versus s-video with the old recorder and really connot see much of a difference.

Thanks, I'm getting it. But, here's a couple more questions.....

Can a digital tuner (in a DVD recorder) pick up any of the digital signals above the standard tier of a cable company? For example, in my area channels 2-77 must be analog because any of my TVs with a coax input can "see" those channels. But, they can't see the ones above 100. The local HD channels are in the 600 range.

If a digital recorder can't see those, I'm guessing I have to buy a HD receiver/antenna? If I do that how much material is typcially available for recording?

Finally, it is my understanding that OTA signals are compressed (MPEG?). Does the digital input device capture/decode that on playback to preserve storage space or do you need firewire?

Thx
gp

The RF chs on cable go to about 135 - the ch 600 you're talking about are mapped chs - not real RF chs. Most QAM chs are in the 100-135 range - but the tuner could map them to just about anything. Visit your local HDTV thread to see what's available in clear QAM. Also read some of the sticky threads to get a general understanding of all the technologies.