I just got a Motorola DCH6416 , I was using a Motorola DCT 2000 I think, It was a digital cable box so I got the DCH6416 I`m surprised how good this picture is with just using a S-Video plug. The TV I have with this is a Sony 27 and the picture is much better than the Digital Cable Box.'.
Now I have a 50" Panasonic HD TV and I`m using a Motorola DCT6416 in the living room.
Now I`m going to get a LCD or Plasma to replace the Sony, but I want all my channels to look good. On my Sony they all do, not HD of course but better than Digital. My Panasonic the HD is great but the other channels are so-so. Any Ideas? I appreciate them. I`m kind of new here. Thanks Keith

Keith,

Just to clarify, do you have a DCT6416 and now also a DCH3416? The tuners in these Motorola units are good and if fact as you discovered, better than previous generations.

The problem you see is unfortunately a fact of life (for now); widescreen HDTVs aren't that good for SD programming. I too have a Panny 58px600u with a DCT6416. I am pretty happy with most of the SD channels but they certainly are not HD. On the other hand, even a decent 27" CRT looks great with a good cable signal input, especially over S-video.

If I understand correctly that the new cable DVR is a DCH and not a DCT unit, have you tried the DCH with your Panny? As the DCH are digital units, this might make a difference and is probably worth trying. If so, you might want to trade that one out for the newer unit.

The other thing to consider when watching SD channels on your widescreen TV(s) is to watch them in the OAR of 4:3, if you don't already. I usually do watch SD programming in 4:3 stretch mode as I do like it when the screen is filled. However, when watching hockey in SD, I always switch to 4:3 as it is so much sharper. Again, trade-offs. Until (if/when?) all channels are sent in HD resolution, I fear all of us with "big screen" TVs will be less than satisfied in some way.

Now, as far as which TV to get to replace your Sony CRT, that's a tough one. The best advice I can give you is to try and compare the sets you are interested in with the kind of signal you will ultimately be feeding it at home. I know, that's a long order to fill. Depending on the size of your new set and how far you will be seated from it, this will also make a difference on how good or bad the SD channels look to you. BTW, what kind of display is your current Panny?

Kap, thanks for responding. The DCT6416 is in the living room with the Panasonic. And the new DVR I got it a DCH6416 and I`m using with the Sony Trinitron 27".
Is there a differance between the DCT and DCH? You use the term SD, is that channels that aren`t HD?
As I said before, my Sony with the DCH6416 has never looked this good, all the channels and the HD channels even look a bit better even though I`m only using a S-Video plug with it.
I`m going to buy another HD TV but I want to wait for more channel to go to HD.
Kap, this DCH6416 has a Ethernet jack and USB ports , can I use any of this? Thanks Keith

What is confusing me from your post is that the DCH series has a 3412 and a 3416. The DCT series has the 6412 and 6416. 12=120MB hard-drive and the 16=160MB. The DCH is an all digital tuner, while the older DCT is analog and digital. Thus, they are different and picture quality may be different depending on the TV. So I would try the DCH with your Panasonic just to see how non-HD channels look.

SD=standard definition=480i.

Ethernet jack can only be used by the cable company to program these units; no functionality for us consumers. The USB ports supposedly have power, so you can plug in a USB powered fan or light or charge something that has a USB charger, however they have no data function enabled by the cableco. I have never tried to power something with these ports, so I have no personal experience with this and can't see I would ever really use these ports in this way. It is only speculation if data function will ever be enabled for consumer use with any of these boxes. Seems to me there is the potential for an incredible amount of things these units could be programmed to do; who knows if we will ever see any of it.

I hope this is helpful. BTW, there is an excellent thread on these Motorolas here at http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=899801. I would suggest reading through the existing posts, as there is a wealth of info there. Plus, if you have further questions, there are folks who are much more knowledgeable than me!

I too eagerly await MORE HD!

I just got a Motorola DCH6416 , I was using a Motorola DCT 2000 I think, It was a digital cable box so I got the DCH6416 I`m surprised how good this picture is with just using a S-Video plug. The TV I have with this is a Sony 27 and the picture is much better than the Digital Cable Box.'.
Now I have a 50" Panasonic HD TV and I`m using a Motorola DCT6416 in the living room.
Now I`m going to get a LCD or Plasma to replace the Sony, but I want all my channels to look good. On my Sony they all do, not HD of course but better than Digital. My Panasonic the HD is great but the other channels are so-so. Any Ideas? I appreciate them. I`m kind of new here. Thanks Keith

Read this (http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR), especially the Setup section.

Kevin,

Sorry for adding to the confusion! I did not realize there was a 64xx series in the DCH models which incorporated analog and digital tuners as well. Thanks to RockyMountainD for the updated Wiki link; been awhile since I viewed that site.