TV (HD Tuner) - DVD Recorder (No Tuner).. how do I record programs in HD??..

[Waverley73]

I have a Plasma TV with a HD tuner built in (NEC PXT-50XD2) and want to buy a DVD/HDD recorder. The one I am looking at is the Sony RDR-HX750 (www.sony.com.au/homecine...categoryId=22815) which doesn't have a digital tuner.

Now my question is this:

How do I hook the TV with the DVD Recorder up so I can record TV shows in HD (for those that are transmitted in HD)?

In the booklet for the player (which I downloaded) it shows how to hook everything up if you've got a set-top box but where does the aerial connection go if you have a TV with an inbuilt tuner?

Thanks.

 

[21C]

I don't think you can.

I looked at your TV's manual and it only has AV (composite) output. It also says "only analog TV programs, AV1 and AV2 input sources can be output through the output TV jacks". I would have thought that you could still record the HD picture but with a loss of quality but this suggests otherwise.

If you want to record shows in HD then your best bet is to get a HD PVR. Something like a Topfield TF7000, Beyonwiz DP-P1 or Homecast HT8000. Or wait for the Foxtel IQ+ or Tivo.

 

[Waverley73]

I don't think you can.

I looked at your TV's manual and it only has AV (composite) output. It also says "only analog TV programs, AV1 and AV2 input sources can be output through the output TV jacks". I would have thought that you could still record the HD picture but with a loss of quality but this suggests otherwise.

If you want to record shows in HD then your best bet is to get a HD PVR. Something like a Topfield TF7000, Beyonwiz DP-P1 or Homecast HT8000. Or wait for the Foxtel IQ+ or Tivo.

Thanks for the reply. All the other connections (eg. component x 2, HDMI) are inputs. Does that simply mean as you said it's not possible (record TV in digital)?.... Dang. I was hoping to not have to buy either a STB or a recorder with an inbuilt tuner (and just utilise the tuner in the TV).

 

[21C]

That's the impression I got from your TV's manual.

I have an LCD TV with an analogue tuner, a SD PVR, an HD PVR and a DVD HDD recorder. The only thing I've ever tried to do similar to this is to transfer a show from the SD PVR to the DVD HDD recorder since the SD PVR was getting full. I had to use the composite output to get it to the DVD HDD recorder which made me think that you should be able to do it with your suggested setup.

Keep in mind that, even if you do record the HD show, the recording will not be in HD. For example, a SD digital show uses about 3 GB an hour. An HD show uses about 10 GB an hour. There is no way to transfer an hour of HD to a regular blank DVD. The best you can get is an analogue recording with a loss of quality.

The other option is a Home Theatre PC (HTPC) or a computer with a tuner card. Not what you wanted to hear.

 

[Fwoy]

AFAIK, there is no DVD Recorder on the market with composite or HDMI inputs, at least there wasn't 6 months ago, meaning the best input available is 576i if it has scart input. Likewise no DVD Recorder with in built HD Digital reception. I have the Pioneer DVR 550HX, with in built SD Digital, 1080 upscale and Scart inputs/HDMI outputs. Outside of a HD STB with hard drive, I think that's the best quality picture I can record, until IQ2 is installed, and even then, Foxtel is only doing 5 channels, plus FTA channels in HD.