Component inputs?

No S-video output? That would be your best option for most DVD recorders. I have used S-video from the Comcast Motorola 6412 to copy HD programs with excellent results. If the 942 does not have S-video out I would ask Dish if they have another box that does.

sony rdr-gx715/900 and some philips records have component inputs. Note that recorders with component inputs only accept 480i signals through these inputs, so you'd have to have your Dish receiver downres the output to 480i if you're trying to record HD material


There are no VCR/DVD-recorder combos that have component inputs

I found a component to s-video adaptor:
http://store.infocus.com/escalate/st...-ADPT&tab=desc


I assume this will do the trick of transmitting higher quality video from the 942 to a DVD recorder's s-video input since it's an analog video signal on both sides?

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I bought that adapter to find out how it might work. The S-video plug isn't the same as used on DVD recorders. It has more pins. Since it was useless to me anyway, I clipped off the extra pins so I could plug it in. As you might expect, it still didn't work.

Does a component to s-video adaptor exist that would be compatible with a DVD recorder?


And, BTW, thanks for the info! I'm continually impressed with the experience of people on this forum...

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About a year ago I spent awhile searching for such a thing. What I wanted was something that would downrez an HD component signal to 480i S-video, but all I found was one box that claimed it could output 480i S-video from 480i component input. Unfortunately it also stripped copy protection from DVDs and has been chased away from the marketplace. I don't recall the brand, but it sold for over $100. I wrote to some companies that make video switchers and didn't get any replies. There are lots that output via component from an s-video input, but not the other way around.

You'll probably need component inputs on the DVD recorder, (some Sony, Philips, Magnavox models have it). If you use composite out from your Dish it will probably letterbox it.


My older Panny DMR-E80 recorder records the full 16:9 image via S-video from my Sony HGD-HDD500 hi-def recorder, but those are discontinued.

I found the new Sony model mentioned above, but it has received fairly poor reviews.


Which Philips and Magnavox models have component inputs?? And do they work as well or better than the new Panny's as DVD recorders and players?

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That's a pin adaptor for infocus projectors, it doesn't convert component to svideo,or vice versa. A passive adaptor cannot do that.


Converting a component signal to NTSC (composite or s-video) will not improve the image in any way.

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I think that's understood. I believe they're trying to get around the problem where some STB's won't output widescreen content over S-Video or Composite Video without letterboxing it. Since these STB's typically do output unletterboxed widescreen content on their Component Video outputs, such an adapter would allow recording of those signals in recorders with no Component Video inputs.

The Dish 942 does output widescreen content over it's composite output (it has no s-video output). However, I believe that its output via component @480i is higher quality than it's output over composite, and would like to be able to record it's output at the highest possible quality. So, it seems that my choices are:


1) Find a high quality DVD recorder that has component input

2) Find an adaptor (or other device) that will convert the component to s-video without loss of quality

3) Give up and just deal with the composite


Thanks for all the advice!

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The thing is, that is not possible.


S-video and composite are NTSC signals, with all the colour information carried by a phase modulated subcarrier.

Yes, there will be some slight loss of video quality due to S-Video and Composite Video modulating more information onto fewer wires than Component Video. But presumably that loss of quality is preferable over not being able to record the material at all (without letterboxing, which would also be over S-Video or Composite Video).


But for dsm42, who can already get non-letterboxed signals on S-Video or Composite Video, just record from those, since by the time you convert Component Video to one of those you're back to where you are now with the signals coming right out of the box.

I rejected the Dish 942 SAT Box because it did NOT have S-video output to our DVD Recorders- The Dish 811 does and is a better choice. Nuff said.