I have an older projection hdtv(1080i) with component inputs and an older pretty much everything. I am currently using directv with tivo. I want to get the new tivo with hd, but each box is $300 and from what i understand, the standard channels won't look any better. And I'd hate to spend $300 plus so much per month just for a few channels to look better. I don't need to upconvert to 1080i , but just to 480p would be superb. What is the best way to do this? Also I remember some years ago, they sold edtv's that was supposed to do that, do they still make them. Is that the best route?
Upconversion question
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Not sure what you mean about the standard channels not looking any better. You're missing at least 50 HD channels - maybe more - and on a 1080i display the difference between 480i and 1080i sources is pretty significant.
What size is your TV?
How do you get local channels - OTA, satellite, or cable?
Which dish do you have now (2 LNB, 3 LNB, 5 LNB)?
Which premium channels do you get from DirecTV?
What size is your TV?
How do you get local channels - OTA, satellite, or cable?
Which dish do you have now (2 LNB, 3 LNB, 5 LNB)?
Which premium channels do you get from DirecTV?
Either of the new HD Tivo's will help. That said, you are on satellite... were you going to change providers? Tivo is cable and OTA only... Even an HD satellite receiver would help similar to the Tivo.
If your only concern is scaling SD to 480p then we need to know the brand and model of TV to insure you would get the expected results.
If your only concern is scaling SD to 480p then we need to know the brand and model of TV to insure you would get the expected results.
I just assumed when the OP said HD Tivo that he was really talking about a DirecTV HR21, but that was probably a bad assumption.
HD Tivos don't do DirecTV (with the exception of the discontinued HR10-250 but that's mpeg2 only). They are cablecard or OTA only for HD. DirecTV has their own HD DVRs (the HR20-700 and HR21). The HR20 has OTA inputs but the HR21 does not. Both require a new 5 LNB dish to receive all HD programming.
HD Tivos don't do DirecTV (with the exception of the discontinued HR10-250 but that's mpeg2 only). They are cablecard or OTA only for HD. DirecTV has their own HD DVRs (the HR20-700 and HR21). The HR20 has OTA inputs but the HR21 does not. Both require a new 5 LNB dish to receive all HD programming.
Until the poster answers we're both just licking our fingers and sticking them in the wind 
tivo box dvr r10 and tv is 56" panasonic pt-56hx41p. I didn't know that the new tivo was cable only. All of my local channels and every other channel is through directv. I'm not sure of which dish I have, it's only a year old and the installer said it was hd capable. I just have the basic package from directv. Thanks for your input, and forgive me for being a dinosaur.
tivo box dvr r10 and tv is 56" panasonic pt-56hx41p. I didn't know that the new tivo was cable only. All of my local channels and every other channel is through directv. I'm not sure of which dish I have, it's only a year old and the installer said it was hd capable. I just have the basic package from directv. Thanks for your input, and forgive me for being a dinosaur.
Just check with DirecTV and see what is required to get a new HD PVR. Assuming DirecTV has your locals in HD then you just need a HR21 PVR and 5 LNB dish (if you don't already have one). They'll probably install it for free and if you've been a long time customer ask them for a credit to offset the cost of the HR21. I got the HR20 for $75 after a $250 credit. You may have to call the retention department directly. Tell them you're considering switching to cable.
You will be astounded at the difference in picture quality. Make sure you hook up the new PVR with either HDMI, DVI or component video cables to get HD resolution.
Just check with DirecTV and see what is required to get a new HD PVR. Assuming DirecTV has your locals in HD then you just need a HR21 PVR and 5 LNB dish (if you don't already have one). They'll probably install it for free and if you've been a long time customer ask them for a credit to offset the cost of the HR21. I got the HR20 for $75 after a $250 credit. You may have to call the retention department directly. Tell them you're considering switching to cable.
You will be astounded at the difference in picture quality. Make sure you hook up the new PVR with either HDMI, DVI or component video cables to get HD resolution.
I don't think any of my locals are broadcast in HD. I have no problem with paying for the hd dvr, but that only clears up the hd channels, i'm wanting to clear up all channels. thanks.
Even an HD satellite receiver would help similar to the Tivo.
richard, are you saying that by getting a hd box, even my sd channels would improve?
Also, i was just looking on bestbuy's website and they have a few stereo receivers with video upconversion for around $500. Would this bring my picture to 480p?
Also, i was just looking on bestbuy's website and they have a few stereo receivers with video upconversion for around $500. Would this bring my picture to 480p?
You'd still be better off getting the HD PVR for $300 (unless you need the receiver anyway). It can output 480p over component video for the SD locals or convert everything to 1080i - and you'd still get 1080i for the HD channels you can get (the box will convert 720p to 1080i - I assume your TV can't take 720p).
Are you sure you don't have HD locals available? What city are you in?
Are you sure you don't have HD locals available? What city are you in?
The improvement for SD will be directly related to how good the internal scaler of your TV is and in most cases sources do a better job. That said, garbage in - garbage out, so the concern is how much extra garbage is your TV scaler inducing...
You have yet to tell us the brand and model of display... still licking our fingers...
You have yet to tell us the brand and model of display... still licking our fingers...
and tv is 56" panasonic pt-56hx41p.
lick no more.
lick no more.
confirmed...directv offers no local channels in my area in hd. Baton rouge, la...but i'm pretty sure we have local broadcasts in hd, but for whatever reason, directv does not offer them, yet. what about one of those indoor tv antanaes or dvd recorder with ntsc tuner or whatever. does my tv need an internal antanae? again sorry for being dinosaur. and yes, tv only supports 1080i, not 720p.
whenever i'm playing a dvd or xbox 360, my picture is awesome..only 480p. so if i could somehow upconvert regular tv to 480p, i'd be a happy camper. thanks again for ya'lls input.
whenever i'm playing a dvd or xbox 360, my picture is awesome..only 480p. so if i could somehow upconvert regular tv to 480p, i'd be a happy camper. thanks again for ya'lls input.
gee you did say that didn't you... 
Yep, it is native 480P and 1080i plus your TV is 4:3 which is just perfect for your SD application. If you are happy with what you have then all you need is an external scaler in the form of, an external scaler or upconverting DVD recorder. I've used some different models of Panasonic with excellent results and the TV is 4:3 so there is nothing for us to discuss about aspect formatting. For external scaling some of the old DVDO product from that time period can be had for cheap along with more current stuff on the used market.
Happy hunting!
Yep, it is native 480P and 1080i plus your TV is 4:3 which is just perfect for your SD application. If you are happy with what you have then all you need is an external scaler in the form of, an external scaler or upconverting DVD recorder. I've used some different models of Panasonic with excellent results and the TV is 4:3 so there is nothing for us to discuss about aspect formatting. For external scaling some of the old DVDO product from that time period can be had for cheap along with more current stuff on the used market.
Happy hunting!
Forgive me for not looking but your Panny may or is a CRT RPTV like my Mits. It also may have two native scan-rates that it's happy with as in 480x and, 1080i. When it sees anything 480i it will attempt to double that (old term) to 480p and from what you say about DVD playback and xbox playback (I assume both are delivering 480p to your Panny) the Panny "likes" 480p because it doesn't have to do anything. Older scanning TVs are infamous for doing an awful job of "doubling" or "de-interlacing" or interlace-to-progressive-scan (i/p) conversion. That's a very difficult job as it turns out and I won't get into it but there are only a few big-boys that do that job well - DVDO/ABT/Silicon Image, Faroudja, a lesser-known National Semiconductor chip related to the boys from Faroudja, Marvell (which also has Faroudja DNA), and Silicon Optics HQV - born of 80s Lockheed Martin satellite video image processing.
Now, for a cheap out-board box that does a heck of a good job of i/p de-interlacing try to find an old DVDO "i-Scan Pro" box. It does/did one thing well and that is, 480i to 480p de-interlacing, some motion-adaptive processing, recognition / correction of film-based 3:2 field cadence vs. 2:2 video-based cadence and the standard range of video quality adjustments. It takes in 480i composite, S-video, or component and outputs clean 480p component or RGB 5. Real simple and small but its old (circa 2002) so might be hard to find. Its chip-set is not near the current finest but it would answer your particular need just fine.
Jim
Now, for a cheap out-board box that does a heck of a good job of i/p de-interlacing try to find an old DVDO "i-Scan Pro" box. It does/did one thing well and that is, 480i to 480p de-interlacing, some motion-adaptive processing, recognition / correction of film-based 3:2 field cadence vs. 2:2 video-based cadence and the standard range of video quality adjustments. It takes in 480i composite, S-video, or component and outputs clean 480p component or RGB 5. Real simple and small but its old (circa 2002) so might be hard to find. Its chip-set is not near the current finest but it would answer your particular need just fine.
Jim
richard, you mentioned dvd recorder. Do i just run my directv through that? And that will upconvert my sd to 480p? Thanks.
yep
Biglag - how is your Tivo connected to the TV? Composite (red/white/yellow rca plugs), S video (svideo connector plus red/white rcas) or RF (a single coaxial cable)?
If you're using anything other than S video, try that first. It should be a big improvement over composite or RF.
I still think you should get the HD PVR. The quality of the SD channels is about as good as it gets, and your jaw will hit the floor when you see an actual HD program on your big screen.
If you're using anything other than S video, try that first. It should be a big improvement over composite or RF.
I still think you should get the HD PVR. The quality of the SD channels is about as good as it gets, and your jaw will hit the floor when you see an actual HD program on your big screen.
kirby, tivo hooked up through s video, i probably will end up getting the hd dvr, i just don't like the interface as much as tivo. i started looking up dvd recorders and the terk hdtva antenna. from what i understand i could pick up quite a few hd channels by doing so...does that sound right? thanks again.
Looks like the HD DVR from DirecTV is now $199. I need to pick one up if I get a new HDTV for the home theater and move the old one upstairs.
I, too, am a power Tivo user and I still watch some shows on the SD Tivo and SD 35" Mits CRT just because it's so much easier to use, especially being able to flip between tuners. Be aware with the DirecTV HD DVRs that while you can record 2 shows at once or watch one while recording the other, you can't flip between tuners. If you want to watch 2 shows at once you have to record both and even then I have problems trying to pause one, then switch to the other and back. It doesn't always return to the paused point - it goes to the end of the buffer. Other than that the interface is tolerable.
As for antennas - don't bother with TERK. Looks like all of your DTV channels in Baton Rouge are UHF except the ABC station which is 13 but most UHF antennas can pick up 13 - so just get a good UHF antenna. If you're in the city or close you can probably get by with a set top antenna. If you're further out then look at a channel master 4224 (4 bowtie) or 4228 (8 bowtie) or similar design. You may need a pre-amp if you're really far out. Roof mounting for the outdoor antennas is preferable but the attic will usually work, too.
I, too, am a power Tivo user and I still watch some shows on the SD Tivo and SD 35" Mits CRT just because it's so much easier to use, especially being able to flip between tuners. Be aware with the DirecTV HD DVRs that while you can record 2 shows at once or watch one while recording the other, you can't flip between tuners. If you want to watch 2 shows at once you have to record both and even then I have problems trying to pause one, then switch to the other and back. It doesn't always return to the paused point - it goes to the end of the buffer. Other than that the interface is tolerable.
As for antennas - don't bother with TERK. Looks like all of your DTV channels in Baton Rouge are UHF except the ABC station which is 13 but most UHF antennas can pick up 13 - so just get a good UHF antenna. If you're in the city or close you can probably get by with a set top antenna. If you're further out then look at a channel master 4224 (4 bowtie) or 4228 (8 bowtie) or similar design. You may need a pre-amp if you're really far out. Roof mounting for the outdoor antennas is preferable but the attic will usually work, too.