Can I control live HDTV? (1 Viewer)

[Brett Jason]

I have a ReplayTV and I am about to get a Directv HDTV box. Will I be able to hook it up so I can control live TV, via the replay and still enjoy the benefits of the HD?

 

[Robert_J]

No. For that you will need the soon to be released HD DirecTivo.

-Robert

 

[Brett Jason]

So right now, no one that HD has a Tivo or ReplayTV hooked up with it, that seems bizarre. I mean I know I can't record HD with the PVR, but I just want to be able to pause Live TV

 

[Robert_J]

Then you will have to set your HD receiver to output SD via composite or s-video and run that into your Replay. There is no PVR on the market with component, DVI or HDMI inputs for HD.

I have a Hughes E-86 and a DirecTivo. I watch HD on the E-86 if I happen to be in front of the TV and something I want to watch is on in HD. Other than that, I use the DirecTivo.

-Robert

 

[Cindy V]

Is this why my replay shows blue screen/no cable signal when attached to my HD Compast Cable Box? I have my cable box connected to the tv but I also wanted to run a cable out to replay inorder to tape shows.

I knew that I could not pause live HD feeds but I thought while I was sleeping, replay could record any channel I received on the cable box.

I was about to go to the store and buy new cables adn signal boosters to make this work.

 

[Michael Reuben]

I get a blue screen through TiVo when I'm on an HD channel, but all standard channels play normally. I'm not familiar with the Comcast box, though.

M.

 

[Brett Jason]

thank you, this is very helpful

 

[Stephen Tu]

What you can record depends on the STB in question. The Motorola 5100 for example will output downconverted to NTSC on the S-video/composite on the HD channels as well as the regular channels. You can check by connecting S-video to your TV; if you can see it on your TV then your Tivo/Replay can record it.

For the satellite models if you are going this route be sure to get one that has simultaneous s-video output when on HD channels; many older models have it disabled unless you have it set to 480i output. But I question the wisdom of this because in any case it will require lots of manual intervention, setting timers on both boxes (since Replay/Tivo software doesn't know how to deal with OTA digital channels properly). Just pony up the $900 for the HD-DirecTivo and get full capabilities, and record two HD at once, while watching another prerecorded!