Attn Newbies: You Cannot Record in Hi-Def Resolution on Current DVD Recorders - Page 14

Are you able to physically swap the EA-18 and ES-25 to verify both STB are indeed outputting 16:9 to S-video?
Another option would be to run the s-video cable directly to your TV and see if that is indeed 16:9. I'm assuming the STBs are different and not all STBs output WS to anything other than component or Digital outputs.
Your correct that the ES-25 and EA-18 should both record the WS if fed that type of signal. Just make sure you have the EA-18 setup for 16:9 output. I know on the EZ-28 anyway having the output set for 4:3 it will not record in WS. Not positive about the tunerless EA-18.

Thanks for the reply. After further experimenting it appears that the problem is that the cable box's output doesn't allow displaying the HD programs in a widescreen format, or more accurately to fill up the screen on a 16:9 TV, when you use non-HD cables. The exact same setup in the other room does. The only differences are the TVs, but that doesn't seem to be the problem, and the sources (DirecTV receiver vs. Insight Cable box).

If this doesn't make sense to anyone and they think they know what the real problem is, I am all ears. Thanks again.

I have consistently used my Panny VHS/DVD Recorder connected to my DirecTV HD DVR thru S-Video to digitize widescreen and 4:3 content to a DVD-RW.

I then rip the DVD-RW to my Mac, use MPEG Streamclip to trim, edit & chop the content, as desired and Export it to H.264 for archival in my video library and playback on my AppleTV (speeding up the process with the Elgato Turbo.264 USB hardware encoding stick).

I just recorded 3 more shows this morning. I erase and reuse the DVD-RW until it fails and then I just replace it with another.

Note: the DirecTV HD DVR has a Format button with 3 modes, one of which is perfect to zoom a SD letterboxed program out to full widescreen for subsequent digitization which will not require cropping on the other end.

silentsaregolden, then I'm sure that's it. Many people run into that problem where their STB doesn't output WS over S-video or composite. I'm not sure what to tell you other than double check that their isn't a setting on your STB to enable WS over those outputs or else try and get another STB that does.
Their were a few DVDRs that had component inputs but most weren't that great quality and they're all quite old now. Their was also a thread a while back where someone was using a Apple TV device to convert component to S-video but I'm not sure if that's still a valid option.

Sure is, here, plus according to Nextoo's tests (esp. posts 3,4 5), it strips CP!

Don't most modern receivers convert component to s-video these days?

Yes, but most/many also letterbox WS programs when sent thru Composite or S-Video outputs... the converter preserves that WS aspect. It does this w/o requiring the receiving DVDR to have Component input, of which there are virtually none.

Silents: You may want to reconsider your programming archival strategy. Discs are so yesterday.

The future and it's already here, is network storage of programming and streaming to your various HDTVs.

Many people use HTPCs; I personally prefer the AppleTV. I own two of them and they are "upgraded" to play all of my video collection from the 1T Maxtor external hard disc connected to my desktop computer and networked all over the house. One of them has a 160G internal hard disk and my wife travels with it so that she can keep up with her watching needs.

It sure beats trying to find a DVD when the moment of interest strikes, and I don't miss all of that burning, either.

That being said: of course you need the ability to output in widescreen aspect ratio, so as to keep that ability for file creation. As I mostly use my DirecTV HD receiver as a source, as you already know, its S-Video output maintains the widescreen aspect ratio. Also for SD Letterboxed content, the Format button on the DirecTV remote has a format that zooms the program into full widescreen for proper capture.

For your cable box, see if they offer a different cable box. If not, and if the component to S-Video adapter solution suggested by others does not do the trick, you can always digitize in letterboxed mode and then "crop" out the black bars later (which, by the way, is what I have to do to letterboxed 12" LaserDiscs that I convert to my video library).

silents, I agree with jjeff. It seems few STBs will output a 16x9 picture squeezed to 4x3 over their S-Vid outs, but I am not familiar with either of your boxes. My Comcast Moto will not let me make anamorphic discs, so just be glad that you have one STB that will!

I'm not so sure that m. zillch is right. I know my Denon 3805 doesn't down-convert component to S-Vid. It only upconverts. I think that is the case for most receivers.

I checked your owner's manual. You are right that it doesn't, but the AVR-3808CI that I guess replaced yours does, at least with a 480i signal. Maybe such conversion is only common on very recent units or ones that also have HDMI switching (kind of the same as recent units in a sense). I wonder if they all unsqueeze though. In the setup pages of such units do they ask what is your display's aspect ratio? If they do I would think they should intelligently know that you don't want your component 480i converted to s-vid letter boxed if you respond that your display is 16x9.

THat would be a good reason to buy a new AVR, if I could then make anamorphic DVDs using the component out from my Moto, to the AVR, then to the DVDR with S-Vid. But, I'm not sure what you mean by "at least with a 480i signal?"

I'm 99% sure they mean if the receiver's incoming component signal is 720p or 1080i/p it will not down convert to s-video. This means you would have to have the source device (cable box, sat box etc) down convert any HD signals to SD (480i) so as to have the receiver then convert them to s-vid for you. Not a big deal, but not ideal. Ideally it would be nice to at least be able to watch the show in HD resolution as you were dubbing it to DVD, which you can't with the AVR-3808CI.

Before you go buying a new receiver to do this we need to verify two things:

A) The Moto box itself doesn't change the squeezed form of its component out when set to 480i out. (I'm not too worried about it though)
B) The receiver one is considering also doesn't unsqueeze and letter box the signal when converting 480i component to s-video. (wajo writes in post #397 that many/most do)

So, the new ones don't really down-convert. And, I don't believe that my Moto box will let me output 1080i, or 720p, as 480i, over component. So, still no anamorphic DVDs for me.

Oh, well. I didn't really want to spend money on a new receiver anyway.

Love your name Squonk and the song as well. Did you see Genesis last year? Saw them in San Jose and in L.A. AWESOME!!!! Hey, I have a Toshiba D-VKR3 which is going on 3 yrs old. Bought at Costco and it was rated highly by consumers at the time. I have Directv HD DVRs as well. I have been having issues lately with shows that I record are breaking up and pixelated (?). It seems it is random at times. I ran a DVD cleaner disc (Costco product) through several times thinking the laser was dirty and the recordings still have pixelation especially the HD shows it seems. Could there be an issue like you mentioned with the Directv connection? It's odd that it just started a few months ago though. Don't know if the unit is just going B/O or if I should take it in to say a Best Buy geek squad for a cleaning? Looking into the Panasonic DMR-EA18K to replace. It has HDMI which should make things a little nicer. Plus with the cost of the cleaning, it might make sense to upgrade. Your thoughts? I am aware that Directv is going back to Tivo in mid 09 and those units will be upgradeable with larger external hard drives. That may be the only way to preserve true HD shows until HD recorders ever make it here in the U.S. I guess???

I would welcome a response from any member on the best way to archive recordings I make on my current Directv HD DVR. Or is there better technology on the near horizon. I am a new member and apologize for asking such a common question it seems.

You can already upgrade your Storage on the Directv DVR's with External Drives. Just plug it into the Esata port.

And just so you know, Squonk was banned from this forum many, many Mad Man Moons ago.

Late March 2006, to be exact.

No promises but there are rumors Panasonic will announce a Blu-ray standalone recorder(s) for the US market at CES which starts in less than a week from today. They already exist in Japan I believe.

Bluray Standalone? Kool but it will cost how much? 1k?
I'd love a 720p recorder at this point.
Use the H.264 codec or whatever it's called. Use it in a standalone with HDMI input and can record on dual layer discs.
voila. get china in gear & make one..

Wow! Own a Panny DMR-E50. Still working I think but had some problems when recording so have not used it in awhile. Was thinking of upgrading as its been years since I first bought the unit and I figured that the capabilities of DVD recording would have progressed greatly by now.

So you people are saying that if I just wanted to record TV shows (mostly golf that could be 8hrs long), uses DVD +/-'s disks and record in 720p/1080i/p, I will not be able to get a recorder that could do this?

Thanks.

Panny 42-PZ80U (1080p)
SA 8300HDC (single HDMI in use to Panny)
Time Warner cable in Hawaii w/HD programing

If disc burning isn't needed, a DVR can do this. Think TiVo or cableco DVR.

Otherwise, no, DVD recording maxed out when you bought your recorder, and as of now no Blu-Ray recorders are available in the US market (except for PC drives.) There are always rumors of BD recorders, but I'll believe it when I actually see it.

DVD Recorders did progress for a time. With the hasty introduction of the digital tuner Panasonic EZ series many bugs and design flaws appeared/reappeared. A number of workarounds became necessary to maintain basic functionality of EZ series machines.

As to recording problems with your good old Panasonic see this post and its links:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...4#post16606154

The best "standard definition" HDD (hard disc drive)/DVD recorders with NTSC/ATSC/QAM tuners and extended hours of continuous recording, the Philips 3575/3576, and Magnavox 2080 and original production runs of the Magnavox 2160, are no longer available. (The problematic Magnavox 2160 "A" version may still be purchased. See wajo's sticky thread for latest updates concerning the 2160 "A" situation:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=940657

Thanks. Already have a DVR but was looking for another dvd burner.


Thanks. Seems like I might as well try to reconnect my Panny and see how it performs. No sense upgrading if I cannot record to DVD's in HD.

Hooked up the Panny DMR-E50. Only problem is that it does not recognize any of my old Panasonic DVD-RAM disks. Used to before.

However, at least it has no problems with Verbatium or TDK DVD -R disks. No other problems yet. Timer recording just came on so that works.

Oh well. Don't plan on using it much only when I tape golf for family/friends or some other show(s) that they do not get.

Thanks all,
Robert

Hello. I am looking to add specific capability to a bedroom system, and hoping for a recomendation. I figure a DVR would kill two birds...

- Want a digital tuner to tune in existing QAM channels (clear) from my comcast cable, and pass it along to my TV, preferably via HDMI.

- Would like to add 5.1 audio out capability to my bedroom system, so this new unit would replace my current DVD player.

- I don't really need to record DVDs in this room.

Many thanks!

J.

Comcast is in the process of scrambling the Extended Basic clear QAM cable networks (excepting local must carry broadcast stations, government and public access, shopping and a few cable networks found below channel 30 or so). This "Network Enhancement" was implemented in my area earlier this month.

If you don't already need a Comcast STB or DTA you soon will, so don't make any future plans based upon clear QAM tuner-equipped devices.

If you have a HDTV, I would recommend the Moxi.

The Moxi is available in dual-tuner and triple-tuner QAM versions. It will allow you to map ClearQAM channels on cable so they have guide data, which is something TiVo cannot do. When your Comcast system encrypts all of your channels except locals -- which they all plan to do -- then you can install a CableCard to tune those channels.

Check out the HDD Recorder comparison table in the HDTV Recorders forum.

DigaDo, I live in the PacNW myself and noticed just this weekend (when trying to tune in the Apple cup) that most of my previous comcast QAM channels had gone black - this on the TV that had the digital tuner. However, upon reprogramming, I was able to find most of them again, but at new locations "on the dial." I haven't checked one-for-one, but it sure looked like almost all were still there, just at the new locales.

That doesn't speak for the future though. Would hate to see them go.

Will check it out. Thanks bf.