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HD DirecTiVo, line doubler for 480p/i? menus widescreen?

1084 Views 13 Replies 11 Participants Last post by  rogo
Does the HD DirecTiVo line double (or is it scale?) 480p/i shows up to 1080i? So when you scan through channels does the output stay at 1080i or switch depending on source format? Anyone know how the quality is compared to a Mits 55807 line doubler for example?


Also, are the TiVo menus actually in widescreen format? On my non-HD DirecTiVo the widescreen setting doesn't seem to do anything. Any photo's /screenshots of the HD TiVo in action (showing menu's etc) online anywhere?
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Currently it is my understanding that you select one output resolution for the unit and everything is output at that resolution (no 'native' pass), so if you selected 1080i everything would be scaled to 1080i, if you select 720p everything would be scaled to 720p.


No idea how the quality is.
The one I saw had menus that were just stretched versions of the SD menus. The only thing setting the system to 16:9 did to the menus was make the TiVo guy appear unstretched.


David
Quote:
Originally posted by davidmin
The only thing setting the system to 16:9 did to the menus was make the TiVo guy appear unstretched.


David


Now that's important :D Good work DirecTV!


Steve
It would be nice when running at higher resolution if it would atually put more info on the screen at once too. For example in 'Now Playing' show 12 recordings per page rather than the normal 6(?).
I anxiously wait to hear how the scaler in these units perform. My SAT520 does a great job of scaling to 1080i. My e86 is not so great, and is made by hughes,.. which scares me.

Do we know if the new Hughes box was created from the ground up, or does it have an e86 (bad) chassis or the new LG based Hughes chassis.
" Do we know if the new Hughes box was created from the ground up, or does it have an e86 (bad) chassis or the new LG based Hughes chassis."


I think it uses a "Tivo-based" chassis, which was doubtless assisted by Hughes if help was required. I think....
You select one res and it converts all? I hope it's good at it. I was hoping that it would pass 'native' through component.


A little OT, but my 6208 cable HD DVR changes output resolutions when it switches from an HD channel to a SD channel. Kind of handy b/c I can adjust the screen width/stretch modes on my 16:9 tv only then. Of course when I'm on ESPN HD, I'm stuck watching it pre-stretched at 16:9.


The menu/guide is setup for 4:3 so I get pillars when on HD channels - and the guide ain't no tivo guide (old guide or new tv guide, guide). Bad enough to make me think about the HD Direct Tivo! Extra $$ or not.
Quote:
Originally posted by davidmin
The one I saw had menus that were just stretched versions of the SD menus. The only thing setting the system to 16:9 did to the menus was make the TiVo guy appear unstretched.


David
You gotta be kidding me!!! It would be absolutely unreal to me if this HD Tivo simply gave you a stretched version of a 4:3 guide. This thing is supposed to be DESIGNED for HD!!!! C'mon, tell me it aint so. Between this and the stretch modes I'm beginning to get a little worried. :rolleyes:
Why does the guide being stretched matter that much? I can understand about the stretch mode and the non-simultaneous HD/SD outputs, but that's just a menu.


And it's not "designed" for HD. That's what you were hoping. It is known fact that the HD Tivo branched from their 3.x software. It is more like HD was "added" to the exisiting system.


Hong.
I seriously don't get all the carping.


This box is going to record any two HD programs at once. It's going to do it reliably (by and large), with the same Tivo user-friendliness some of us have relied on now for, literally, years.


Is it going to be perfect? No.


Use the aspect ratio controls on your TV; that's what they are there for. Hook up both outputs to your TV so you can solve any reasonable problem.


Would "simultaneous output" of HD and SD be nice? Yes. The hardware lacks it. Alas.


Would "native pass through" be nice? Yes. Look for it in an update of the sofrware; it seems trivial to do when I think about it.


Would better stretch modes be nice? I dunno. In 3+ years of HD, my STB has never been asked to stretch anything. Why is yours being asked that? Hook up the S-video, switch to 480i, whatever.


Please explain to me where, at this stage of the game, you are getting something better? Does Scientific Atlanta offer name-based recording, increasingly essential in this day and age? Does Motorola offer a 2-tuner box? Does anything approach the reliability and user friendliness of a Tivo (maybe Replay?!?)?


??!?!?!?


Mark
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5
In high-pitched, frightened voice:


TIVO:
"Help, help! I'm being attacked and no one even has me yet!"


In manly, superhero voice:


ROGO:
"Have no fear. I will defend you!"


TIVO:
"My hero!!!"


ROGO:
"All in a day's work, ma'am."
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turt,


Are you allowed to post rogo's picture without his permission!? I always pictured him a little taller myself.


:D
"Are you allowed to post rogo's picture without his permission!? I always pictured him a little taller myself."


I've been taking HGH since that pic. I'm much taller -- and much bigger. So watch out. :)
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