If you have been in the Rants thread recently, you may have noticed my thread about my battles with Comcast over their digital transition and my attempts to get HD to my television.
Well, not to spoil the ending, but I managed to get everything working. Almost.
I have a DVR, a Magnovox H2160MW9 that I have had for about three years. Works perfectly. The cable box I received is a Cisco RGN150.
For inputs, the DVR has a coaxial in, s-video in and composite in. The cable box has composite, component, s-video and HDMI (in-use to the television) outputs.
So there are two major issues. First, there isn't any way to directly connect the box to the DVR to get HD. Second, when I tried to connect via composite cables (which I already had around) all I get on every channel is a message that the cable box's copy protection won't allow the signal through.
So I have two questions.
1) Is there a way to get an HD connection between my cable box and DVR, probably through some kind of converter or adapter (I was hoping component output to coaxial input)?
2) If that is not possible, were I to go purchase an s-video cable would I likely receive the same message as the component cables?
I don't believe you can bring a true HD signal to your TV without an HDMI cable.
I agree with the Godfather.Originally Posted by TonySoprano
No, your DVR with those inputs is not able to receive HD, and even if it could you can't downgrade HD signal through those ports (coax, composite, S-vid).
No, an S-video cable has a SLIGHTLY better picture than composite, but no where near component level.
Basically, your box can upconvert lower quality stuff into HD if it's on disc (most DVD players can these days, that function is in the dvd drive) but it can't record HD because the tuner is only a SD tuner and the rest of the parts can't handle HD. It's kind of a cheat, but you have (what I call) fake HD, and the true HD that your cable box is going to pump out, the DVR can't handle. Even the "1080P" you are going to get isn't going to be close to real 1080P because you can't get that without Blu Ray and your player can't handle that.
Well, you just ruined my day
Seriously though, thanks guys.
How about the other part: am I likely to receive the same message from my cable box using an s-video cable as with the component cables?
An s-video is just that, video. You still need cables to bring in sound as well.
You know what the real solution is, and you may not want to hear it; get an HD DVR. Even better, lose Com-crap all together
Gee, that's a great idea! Oh, and what is this?An s-video is just that, video. You still need cables to bring in sound as well.
You know what the real solution is, and you may not want to hear it; get an HD DVR. Even better, lose Com-crap all together
*reaches down back of pants*
Golly! Look at all this money that's coming out of my wazoo! That will help a lot!
You can get one through Com-crap or you can do what you usually do.....Gee, that's a great idea! Oh, and what is this?
*reaches down back of pants*
Golly! Look at all this money that's coming out of my wazoo! That will help a lot!
ask Mom & Dad for the money
Sorry man, I know it's not great to hear. The S-cables will be just about the same as composite, so not good signal at all.Well, you just ruined my day
Seriously though, thanks guys.
How about the other part: am I likely to receive the same message from my cable box using an s-video cable as with the component cables?
If you have a PC close by, especially one with Vista or 7, I can teach you how to use one of those as a DVR cheaper than actually buying a new DVR. You could upgrade your set top box with Comcast to an HD DVR, but you won't own that.
For DVR purposes, this is true. HDMI exists partially as a prevention against doing EXACTLY what you're trying to do. It's meant to curb piracy.
Are you sure that's the model of DVR you have? If I follow the link, it says that model has a HDMI input.
EDIT: Oops, maybe it just has an HDMI out. Is that definitely your model, though?
EDIT #2: According to the Amazon reviews, that model doesn't record in HD anyway. So maybe establishing an HD connection between the DVR and TV isn't all that important. Try running composite cables from the Cable box to the DVR to the TV, and HDMI from the Cable box to the TV using another input. That way, you might be able to watch HD programming though your cable box, and also view recorded SD stuff using another input on the TV. Not sure if the Comcast box will simultaneously output both a composite and HDMI signal, though.
Last edited by Nigel Tufnel; 04-18-2011 at 01:08 PM.
You can also get an HD signal using a component cable, just not 1080p (that may be what you mean by True HD). But I'm not sure if anything's actually broadcast in 1080p yet - maybe some PPV stuff - so 1080p isn't that big of a deal for a DVR.
Putting aside the HD part for a moment, how about the second part of my question: getting the copy-protection message while using composite cables, and whether I would get the same thing through an s-video cable into my DVR?
I know I can do that with a PC, and since I'll likely be in the market for one shortly I might make the effort to work it out.
As for upgrading the box, let me just say that it isn't an option on a personal level
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