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Magnavox 537, 535, 533, 515, 513, 2160A, 2160, 2080 & Philips 3576, 3575 - Page 406

post #12151 of 23784
12/3/10 at 9:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by wajo View Post

The Mags output YPbPr (analog Component) as default, but it can be changed in the HDMI > Format menu to YCbCr (digital component), which is what I use (as described here).

I keep changing my output to YCbCr on my 2160A but after a day or so it switches back to RGB.

Is this is a glitch or am I doing something wrong so it doesn't stick?
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post #12152 of 23784
12/3/10 at 9:47am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Breyean View Post

I keep changing my output to YCbCr on my 2160A but after a day or so it switches back to RGB.

Is this is a glitch or am I doing something wrong so it doesn't stick?

No, if your TV is not YCbCr compatible, it'll auto-switch to RGB.

On RGB is the only time the RGB Range has any effect.

Some HDTVs have their own YCbCr setting, so look for that (Samsung is one I know of). I assume if it has a manual YCbCr setting, that might have to be set to be compatible with a YCbCr external signal???
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post #12153 of 23784
12/3/10 at 9:49am
Both TigerDirect and Newegg are offering the 500GB Western Digital WD5000AADS "Green" SATA drive at $44.99. The power specs are
Read/Write 4.13 Watts
Idle 2.18 Watts
Pretty cool, eh?
Richard
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post #12154 of 23784
12/3/10 at 9:51am
Thread Starter 
Excellent power spec (R/W power is only spec of importance to 216/513/515 users since they're writing "all the time" and hardly ever idling).
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post #12155 of 23784
12/3/10 at 9:52am
To Timtofly
If I cannot record premium channels, then the 513(other than the ability to save to a hdd), is not as good as my dvd recorder/vcr/recorder that does copy premium channels1?! Am I missing something?
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post #12156 of 23784
12/3/10 at 9:54am
Thread Starter 
LOTS of people with these Mag recorders are recording premium channels if they're part of their normal sub. fee. It only gets "iffy" when it comes top PPV/VOD where there's an extra per-view fee involved.

If your old recorder could record them, the Mag will also.
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post #12157 of 23784
12/3/10 at 10:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by wajo View Post

No, if your TV is not YCbCr compatible, it'll auto-switch to RGB.

On RGB is the only time the RGB Range has any effect.

Some HDTVs have their own YCbCr setting, so look for that (Samsung is one I know of). I assume if it has a manual YCbCr setting, that might have to be set to be compatible with a YCbCr external signal???

I'll have to check. I do, in fact, have a Samsung plasma.

Thanks.
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post #12158 of 23784
12/3/10 at 11:20am
Wajo
Thanks for your reply. I am getting prem channels that I pay for(notPPV). What I want to know is if I can run the 513 through the cable box and then to the tv: b). if the 513 will allow the recording of multible events without having to attend to setting the cable box to the channel to record. That is what I currently do with my dvd recorder. I cannot watch another program at the same time either. Thanks
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post #12159 of 23784
12/3/10 at 11:36am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by kevinjts View Post
Wajo
Thanks for your reply. I am getting prem channels that I pay for(notPPV). What I want to know is if I can run the 513 through the cable box and then to the tv: b). if the 513 will allow the recording of multible events without having to attend to setting the cable box to the channel to record. That is what I currently do with my dvd recorder. I cannot watch another program at the same time either. Thanks
Yes, if you run the incoming cable coax to the 513 (515 is superior unit), then coax out to the cable box, scan for channels in the 513, you'll be able to "pick off" (tune) any unscrambled channels you receive. Whatever channels your old DVD recorder can tune are the same as the 513 IF THAT OLD RECORDER HAS A DIGITAL TUNER. If it doesn't, your 513 should tune even more channels... at least the HD versions of all local channels you could receive by antenna (FCC Rule).

I get 61 analog channels and 15 digital/HD channels in my BASIC BORADCAST cable sub., which would not normally include the 15 digitals.

Your 513/515 will then be able to independently timer record any of the channels it tunes. Any channels still scrambled would be tuned by the cable box and can be recorded by the 513/515 thru a "line connection" from the box back to the 513/515. See Sketch 3 in this help file on Connections, which might help.

If you also run coax from the cable box to the TV, and the cable box has coax passthru like the 513/515 you'll be able to record an unscrambled channel on the 513/515 while watching a diff. channel tuned by your TV.

If you have to "engage" the cable box to record a scrambled channel, I assume the box might only send that channel down the coax to the TV if the box doesn't have coax passthru, like the 513/515.

If the box doesn't pass the signal thru its coax, like the 513/515, I suppose an option would be to run the coax from the 513/515 (instead of the box) to the TV, which would allow coax passthru so you could watch a TV channel separate from either the 515 or the box?

All TV watching notes assume it also has a digital tuner for tuning the signal coming thru the coax. It also depends on you making the line connection of your choosing from the 513/515 to your TV, as shown in Sketch 3... nothing internal (menus, HDD titles, DVDs, etc.) are sent thru the coax... the coax just passes whatever signal it receives, SD or HD, thru the 513/515, slightly amplified, to downstream components (cable box or TV).

Bottom line: the 513/515 will do what you basically want and you can most likely work out the downstream connections for your best advantage and desires for watching while recording.
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post #12160 of 23784
12/3/10 at 11:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Compubooth View Post
Allow me to outline facts bearing on my 2160A problem. On 11/17/10, I installed a Time Warner Cable box into my "network" configuration of installed daisy-chained 2160A's and other equipment. ...
Did you re-arrange your equipment when you installed the new box?
As I recall, the unit always works for a while when it is turned on after being deprived of power for an extended period. That would make me wonder about heat.
How is the air flow to the unit?
Is there anything blocking air flow to the sides or rear?
Is there anything that generates heat under or on top of the unit?
Does the fan come on when the unit powers up?
Just some thoughts.
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post #12161 of 23784
12/3/10 at 11:51am
I haven't read this whole thread but am wondering if the Magnavox 515 would solve my problem:

The tuner went out in my 50 inch Panasonic Plasma T.V. (I won't discuss this problem that a lot of folks seem to be experiencing). Could I simply hook up the 515 by hdmi cable to the HD cable receiver and then to the T.V. to get the high def channels that I am paying for?

Thanks for anyone's help for this older guy,

Ron
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post #12162 of 23784
12/3/10 at 11:56am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ronscat View Post
I haven't read this whole thread but am wondering if the Magnavox 515 would solve my problem:

The tuner went out in my 50 inch Panasonic Plasma T.V. (I won't discuss this problem that a lot of folks seem to be experiencing). Could I simply hook up the 515 by hdmi cable to the HD cable receiver and then to the T.V. to get the high def channels that I am paying for?

Thanks for anyone's help for this older guy,
Well, for tuning channels, the 515 needs a coax cable input from an antenna or cable TV feed. That supplies the channels the 515 can tune. It can then send those channels to your plasma thru any of four connections: Composite YWR, S-Video+L/R audio, Component+L/R audio, or HDMI. Your plasma would essentially serve as a "monitor" (tunerless display).

However, the 515 is a std def. machine so your incoming HD would be downconverted to 480i (per DVD specs), but you could upconvert the signal altho it would still start as 480i. PQ on digital HD channels can still be outstanding!
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post #12163 of 23784
12/3/10 at 12:01pm
I have a Philips 3575 that is working great, and that I believe I have almost mastered. I have a question about preserving the aspect ratio for some movies that I record. I have the recorder set for 16:9. I have noticed that for certain movies (usually older ones), I can fill the screen by using the TV's various "stretch" modes, e.g., H-Fill, Just, Zoom, etc..., only when watching directly from the STB. However, when I RECORD the same movie to the HDD, I often cannot get rid of the side bars.

Question: I am currently running Composite cables from the STB to the 3575. Would anything change if I replaced the Composites with a Component/S-video adapter cable?
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post #12164 of 23784
12/3/10 at 12:08pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by daniel711 View Post
I have a Philips 3575 that is working great, and that I believe I have almost mastered. I have a question about preserving the aspect ratio for some movies that I record. I have the recorder set for 16:9. I have noticed that for certain movies (usually older ones), I can fill the screen by using the TV's various "stretch" modes, e.g., H-Fill, Just, Zoom, etc..., only when watching directly from the STB. However, when I RECORD the same movie to the HDD, I often cannot get rid of the side bars.

Question: I am currently running Composite cables from the STB to the 3575. Would anything change if I replaced the Composites with a Component/S-video adapter cable?
When I record directly to the HDD with my Aspect set for 16:9 Wide all the time, I'll get true WS from any program/channel that's broadcast in WS. For my analog channels, which are all 4:3, I keep my HDTV on its Wide setting also, so 4:3 program get stretched slightly... I just put my pixel microscope away and enjoy the show!

An STB complicates things IF it's one of many that won't preserve a WS aspect thru the composite or S-Vid outputs (all Motorola STBs, and some others as described in this chart).

That help file with the chart also describes much about aspect and just under the chart is a list of some "converters" that can preserve a WS signal from an STBs Component RGB output (which never add bars) thru a composite or S-Vid connection to the DVDR.
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post #12165 of 23784
12/3/10 at 12:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kenavs View Post
Did you re-arrange your equipment when you installed the new box?
As I recall, the unit always works for a while when it is turned on after being deprived of power for an extended period. That would make me wonder about heat.
How is the air flow to the unit?
Is there anything blocking air flow to the sides or rear?
Is there anything that generates heat under or on top of the unit?
Does the fan come on when the unit powers up?
Just some thoughts.
I didn't rearrange equipment other than to add the STB on empty shelf of cabinet with 4 shelves & 2 sliding doors, well ventilated). I do not think there is a problem with that. Thanks for your post.

As reported to wajo, "I've isolated when the freeze occurs, that is only after Power/Standby ON is attempted following Power/Standby OFF. Freeze is resolved by unplugging the unit for 30 min or more and then a Soft Reset." Please note, the unit works fine all day long as long as it is not turned off.
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post #12166 of 23784
12/3/10 at 12:30pm
"but you could upconvert the signal altho it would still start as 480i. PQ on digital HD channels can still be outstanding!"

I'm not following you on this - are you saying the 515 only handles 480i even with the hdmi cables that is all I will see on the 720p T.V. thru the hd cable box?

Thanks for the help,

Ron
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post #12167 of 23784
12/3/10 at 12:30pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Compubooth View Post
I didn't rearrange equipment other than to add the STB on empty shelf of cabinet with 4 shelves & 2 sliding doors, well ventilated). I do not think there is a problem with that. Thanks for your post.

As reported to wajo, "I've isolated when the freeze occurs, that is only after Power/Standby ON is attempted following Power/Standby OFF. Freeze is resolved by unplugging the unit for 30 min or more and then a Soft Reset." Please note, the unit works fine all day long as long as it is not turned off.
As mentioned in my "red-line" post, you need to isolate Mag2 to direct cable in and coax out to TV... no VCR or anything else in between, and not on HDMI.
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post #12168 of 23784
12/3/10 at 12:34pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ronscat View Post
"but you could upconvert the signal altho it would still start as 480i. PQ on digital HD channels can still be outstanding!"

I'm not following you on this - are you saying the 515 only handles 480i even with the hdmi cables that is all I will see on the 720p T.V. thru the hd cable box?
No, only the internal signal gets downconverted to 480i to meet DVD specs for recording (which was derived from and built on the old VHS/VCR technology). Once recorded, you can then UPconvert that 480i "image" to 720p, 1080i or 1080p. However, it still started as 480i in the machine, so it's no longer PURE HD.

The Mag does pass thru a true HD signal on its coax, but that's out for you since your HDTV can no longer tune that signal.
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post #12169 of 23784
12/3/10 at 12:47pm
"The Mag does pass thru a true HD signal on its coax, but that's out for you since your HDTV can no longer tune that signal."

Ok, I appreciate your response even though I was hoping the 515 would act as a tuner for the T.V. even though the T.V. tuner is shot. (One TV repairman suggested I just purchase a new T.V. instead of replacing the board even though the T.V. is only 2 years old).

Ron
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post #12170 of 23784
12/3/10 at 12:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Denys Picard View Post
So I really think the problem lies with my TV not being able to pick up the specific Component signal from this MDR. And I am afraid of purchasing a HDMI cable to find out that will have the same problem.
HDMI can be a bane rather than a boon. It is either a poorly defined standard, or a well-defined standard poorly implemented, or a combination of both. Only within the same manufacturers line can you expect consistent behavior. When mixing manufacturers, it is more of a hope for consistent behavior, though things have improved in the last couple of years.

Quote:
That is why I was wondering if there was a setup I could do, which I have not found by myself, to either have the TV pick up the Component or eventually the HDMI.
I wouldn't bother, on a 32" screen you won't be able to tell the difference.
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post #12171 of 23784
12/3/10 at 12:52pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ronscat View Post
"The Mag does pass thru a true HD signal on its coax, but that's out for you since your HDTV can no longer tune that signal."

Ok, I appreciate your response even though I was hoping the 515 would act as a tuner for the T.V. even though the T.V. tuner is shot. (One TV repairman suggested I just purchase a new T.V. instead of replacing the board even though the T.V. is only 2 years old).

Ron
It CAN serve as a tuner for your TV... if you don't mind the upconverted std def signal/picture.

If you have to have pure HD, go to this forum for external HD tuners or HD recorders.
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post #12172 of 23784
12/3/10 at 1:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kevinjts View Post
Hi My tv (LG32) states that it receives digital over the air /cable signals without a set top box. But my set top gives me some premium channels that I normally could record on my old recorder, just that I could not watch anything else at the time. Could I not run the maggie into the cable box to do the same, and hopefully be able to watch something else, or be able to set a record on a different channel without my attending it.
My 513 is connected directly to the cable service coax - bypassing the set top cable box - with coax from the wall to the "Antenna In" connector. I can directly tune in and watch or record any of the cable channels that are not scrambled by my cable company with this connection.

I have the 513 connected to the cable box on the L1 input on the back of the 513 with yellow/red/white composite video cables. When I tune the 513 to channel "L1" I can watch or record anything that is playing on the cable box. Since it's a pain in the butt to make sure the cable box is tuned to the correct channel for timer recordings, I only record from the cable box when the program isn't available on the unscrambled channels.

My cable box is connected to my TV with a HDMI cable on the "HDMI1" input. My 513 is connected to the TV with a HDMI cable on the "HDMI2" input. I also have a coax cable from the 513 "Antenna Out" to the TV "Antenna In" allowing the TV to tune in unscrambled cable channels directly.

This connection method gives me the best option to watch something other than what I'm recording. I can record an unscrambled channel on the 513 internal tuner while watching anything I want on the cable box by selecting the HDMI1 input on the TV. To watch anything on the 513 I select the HDMI2 input on the TV. If I am recording a channel that I can only get on the cable box, I can still use the TV tuner to tune in any unscrambled channel. The only thing that I can't do is record a "cable box only" channel while watching a different "cable box only" channel.

Edit: There's a whole new page of replies that I didn't see before posting this!
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post #12173 of 23784
12/3/10 at 1:37pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken.F View Post

Edit: There's a whole new page of replies that I didn't see before posting this!

No sweat... you supplied good info in a clear and concise manner that can't do anything but help!
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post #12174 of 23784
12/3/10 at 2:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kevinjts View Post

To Timtofly
If I cannot record premium channels, then the 513(other than the ability to save to a hdd), is not as good as my dvd recorder/vcr/recorder that does copy premium channels1?! Am I missing something?

This has already been answered, but since you asked me. Once you start using a hard drive, you will probably kick yourself, and say why have I not been doing this sooner. We are still in the DVD generation and in order to tune things with an HD tuner and record, we are stuck with standard digital quality. Recording premium channels now with the 513/515, would be compared to recording a digitally recorded show onto a VHS tape 10 years ago. Back then it would simply down rez that beautiful digital picture into an analog signal and record it onto a magnetic tape. Now we can at least keep everything in its nice digital format. While I am talking quality here, I understand that you want to be able to "tune" two different shows at the same time.

It is the cable companies fault that you cannot do that. They want you to purchase their equipment and the more you "rent" the more they like. Until the day they are forced to unscramble that content, even if you had HD tuner and equipment, you still will not be able to record those premium shows with out using the cable companies STB. If you have an HD tuner in your TV, then you can already do what you have the capability of doing. If you just have an HD ready TV, then the Maggie will give you what your TV cannot do.

Bottom line: You said your DVD/VCR is dying. You can wait for things to come out just like you want them to be. You may have to wait a long time. I am just saying that yes the hard drive makes all the difference in the world!
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post #12175 of 23784
12/3/10 at 3:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DigaDo View Post

....

Since Magnavox HDD/DVD recorders have an unmodulated RF pass through output, [b]signals generated by the Magnavox itself are not found through the RF output.

OOPS! and double on me! I definitely appreciate the correction - I definitely don't won't to be the source of some good ole mis-information.
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post #12176 of 23784
12/3/10 at 3:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ronscat View Post

"but you could upconvert the signal altho it would still start as 480i. PQ on digital HD channels can still be outstanding!"

I'm not following you on this - are you saying the 515 only handles 480i even with the hdmi cables that is all I will see on the 720p T.V. thru the hd cable box?

Thanks for the help,

Ron

If you have DVD player, why don't you connect to your 50" for testing?
If you can enjoy the picture, you can enjoy our DVD recorder.
As our DVD recorder contains upconcert circuit, your 50" can receive better picture than DVD player. But less than HD.

Even movie DVD software playback, our DVD recorder upconvert and feeds better picture to your TV.

P.S. My private opinion, you had better exchange TV tuner board.
Panasonic Plazma picture quality is the best in all flat TV.

234
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post #12177 of 23784
12/3/10 at 3:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DigaDo View Post

"Out of Range" generally appears on computer monitors when there is no signal from the computer.

Check the Acer's setup menu to determine if configuration settings are compatible with the (non RF) output(s) from the Magnavox.

Is this Acer a UK model?

My Acer is a North American Model but they are no setup options for the inputs. I used to have a 37" by acer 1080p, and it had the same problem trying to connect a sattelite receiver where the component input of the Acer did not work and the HDMI input worked fine. I guess it is the same thing. But the 37" got heavy screen degradation very quickly and twice, so I got a partial refund because they are not in the TV business anymore. I guess they did not have much success. I will test my 32" with an HDMI eventually. The Magnavox is really a gem.

Thank you,

Denys
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post #12178 of 23784
12/3/10 at 4:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by wajo View Post

As mentioned in my "red-line" post, you need to isolate Mag2 to direct cable in and coax out to TV... no VCR or anything else in between, and not on HDMI.

I plan to make changes per your red-line suggestions ASAP. BTW, per your red-line advice for changing connectivity, how do I exit both STB with coax to TV and also Mag2 with coax to TV?

Afterward, I plan to execute FW Update BE 718 per your advice.

This may be a day or so due to other personal priorities.
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post #12179 of 23784
12/3/10 at 4:33pm
Dear Compubooth,

Please check if my understanding is correct.

If it is correct, I am sorry but the unit is broken.
The MAG unit is not connected HDMI. Just RCA and RF.
I cannot find any point that I can guess.

Please send it to a retailer for repair.

234

Quote:
Originally Posted by Compubooth View Post

Allow me to outline facts bearing on my 2160A problem. On 11/17/10, I installed a Time Warner Cable box into my "network" configuration of installed daisy-chained 2160A's and other equipment.

The 2160A "freeze" problem developed on 11/28/10 which may or may not be specifically relevant. The following summarizes the revised network" configuration which works well notwithstanding the current freeze problem. Two Maggies are identified as Mag1 and Mag2. Mag2 is the one with the freeze problem.

Cable coax from wall > In Phillips 2-way Cable Splitter (5-900 MHZ)
Splitter Side-1 coax Out > In STB > coax Out > In Mag1
STB Component (Video-Audio) > TV Component-3
Mag1 HDMI > TV HDMI-1
Mag1 Composite/S-Video > TV Video-1
Splitter Side-2 coax Out > In Mag2
Mag2 coax Out > SONY RDRVDR655 (VHS/DVD Combo)
Mag2 Composite > TV Video-3
SONY RDRVDR655 (VHS/DVD Combo) coax Out > In TV
SONY RDRVDR655 (VHS/DVD Combo) HDMI Out > HDMI 3

Electricity is via 2 separate surge protectors: Mag2 and STB by one; all other equipment by another. These 2 surge protectors are plugged into 2-plug AC wall outlet.

Please comment regarding my configuration. Everything seemed fine until the freeze problem started a few days ago.

Which HDMI connections should be unplugged per your suggestion?


LL
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post #12180 of 23784
12/3/10 at 4:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by timtofly View Post

Recording premium channels now with the 513/515, would be compared to recording a digitally recorded show onto a VHS tape 10 years ago. Back then it would simply down rez that beautiful digital picture into an analog signal and record it onto a magnetic tape.

Just think how we would be viewing things if DAT wasn't killed by those afraid of the quality that could be achieved with magnetic tape 10 years ago. Magnetic tape is just the media, not the method. Granted, it's not the random access we are used to, but DAT is still a high quality recording process. But not popular. It just never had a chance to grow up.

As for digital VCR units, I have a JVC and Mitsubishi, and both can do 1080i via firewire. But they both got crushed by DVD and random access. Such is history. I'll do better next time.
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AVS › AVS Forum › Video Components › DVD Recorders (Standard Def) › Magnavox 537, 535, 533, 515, 513, 2160A, 2160, 2080 & Philips 3576, 3575