HDTV with Replaytv

[michael79t]

I just purchased a Sony 42in plasma, PFM-42x1 and own a replaytv 5540. Cable provider is adelphia and they provide me with a HDTV tuner(Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300 unit). The cable box has HDMI port. I want to connect my HD CAble box directly to my plasma via the HDMI connection(HDMI to DVI). My question is, how to connect replaytv to this setup without sacrifice the HDMI connection????
Thank you...

 

[BMXTRIX]

You don't.

At least as far as I know you don't.

This is one of the reasons why DirecTV and cable companies offer boxes with integrated DVR/Tivo functionality. The ability to record HD must come under a fair amount of copyright protection so things like stand alone Tivo, Replay TV, and DVD recorders can't handle 720p or 1080i inputs, even on component video.

I refuse to buy a DVD recorder because of this lack of ability and am perfectly happy paying 10 bucks a month for DVR service from my local cable company.

If you find something different out, I'll be happy to be wrong.

 

[bigmartyaa]

It depends if your ReplayTv box can still manage standard cable signal for you and the number/type of inputs on your TV. Just use your HDTV tuner through DVI, and watch ReplayTV through a S-video or composite input. Another option if your looking to actually capture, record, and "tivo" HDTV signal is to build an HDTV Home Theatre PC(HTPC). You basically need a fairly powerful computer with an HDTV tuner card and a HTPC front end software packwage and you will be "tivo"ing HD signal in no time

 

[rgriffin25]

I would see if your cable company offers a DVR service. I fired Replay last year after the DVR service was made available here. There are some things about the Replay unit I had that I miss.(commercial Advance to name one) I will say that the greatly improved picture quality, and being able to record HD and Dolby Digital are also a HUGE + for the cable company!

It should be possible to make yours work if the above option is not available to you.

Option A: You will need a high quality splitter (from the cable company) to split the signal before you connect it to your HD box. This may lead to problems with HD playback due to a poor signal. I have done this on several occations when a customer really wants PIP and HD at the same time.
After connecting the Cable Box, connect the other coax cable to the Replay. Another thing to consider is that with this method you will only be recording your basic analog channels.*

Option B: After the HD box is installed, run a set of AV cables or audio cables and a S-video cable from the HD box to your Replay unit. Hopefully your box will output HD and the AV output at the same time. The next step would be to configure the menu settings on the Replay box. You also need to use the IR repeaters so the Replay can contol the HD box. ( change the channels)*

*Both ways you would still connect the HD box to your TV the same way.

Sorry if I left something out / rambled on too long. I have done what you are trying to do quite a while back. Now that I am looking back I am glad my cable company provides the service, because the whole replay set-up was a pain in my a**!