use of a multi switch on dvr-e-80

[bob c]

Just got a new e80. This part I still don't understand. If you can record one channel to the HD of the e-80, (off DTV), and switch the tv to dtv to watch a different channel, (as on my sony), using a dual lnb would you still not have to have a multi switch so if the channel your watching is off an even transponder number, the recorder is on an odd transp number., it will (dtv unit) not wipe out what your trying to record? I still don't understand this.

Also I found this interesting in starting to read the manual. It states "The signal from the antenna passes through this unit and along the 75# coaxial cable to the television even when the unit is turned off. You don't have to connect the antenna to the television." Say what?

[donpedro]

Just got a new e80. This part I still don't understand. If you can record one channel to the HD of the e-80, (off DTV), and switch the tv to dtv to watch a different channel, (as on my sony), using a dual lnb would you still not have to have a multi switch so if the channel your watching is off an even transponder number, the recorder is on an odd transp number., it will (dtv unit) not wipe out what your trying to record? I still don't understand this.

Also I found this interesting in starting to read the manual. It states "The signal from the antenna passes through this unit and along the 75# coaxial cable to the television even when the unit is turned off. You don't have to connect the antenna to the television." Say what?

Too many shortcutc that I don't understand

About last part.... connect cable like this ("->" is coaxial cable).

wall->dvd recorder ON->tv
wall->dvd recorder OFF->tv
wall->tv

same result. You can receive signal from coaxial cable so you can use TV's internal tuner to change channels. In some cases where middle guy is on or off you can't.

[bob c]

1st part. How do you record one program from direct tv, on the e-80, and change the channel to what you are watching on the direct tv unit, (a different channel), without screwing up what the e-80 is recording from direct tv on the 1st channel you programed into it, if it is not running thru some type of multi-switch.

[louthewiz]

You sir are not making any sense whatsoever first of all it is impossible to watch 2 diresct tv programs at the same time without a second box,and finally what you can do is program the e-80 with the timer recording and leave the direct tv on with the channel you want to record the program on. And one more thing the coaxial cable connection is just a pass though for the unit and you cant record off it.. 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

[donpedro]

You are probably refering to this

Watching the television while recording

Switch [DVD, TV] to “TV”.
Press [TV/VIDEO] to change the television’s input mode to “TV”.
Press [^, v, CH] to change channels.
You can also select the channel with the numbered buttons.

This is one big bullshit. You can always switch channels on TV. Even without DVD Recorder. That is what it means. It confused more than one person

If you are not refering to this part of manual, than post what you mean here so I know what are you talking about.

[tider]

And one more thing the coaxial cable connection is just a pass though for the unit and you cant record off it..

Not neccessarily true. I have my antennae (not my direct tv coaxial cable) connected to the rf in on my dvd recorder and I am able to record from my antennae source while I'm watching my DTV Tivo.

Although we are talking about direct tv , this statement in the manual might be referring to an external antennae or cable instead of satellite.

[quote]Also I found this interesting in starting to read the manual. It states "The signal from the antenna passes through this unit and along the 75# coaxial cable to the television even when the unit is turned off. You don't have to connect the antenna to the television." Say what?

[bob c]

louthewiz- what are you smoking-if you have a tivo unit, you have one unit sitting there running direct tv, and can watch one direct tv channel, and be recording a completly different direct tv channel, at the same time, all with one unit, (because of the dual lnb from the dish of the direct tv sat, going thru a multi switch). Let me make this clear- it was my understanding that this e-80 could do that without tivo-I don't think it can. I live in the country of Wa. state. Everything I see comes off direct tv, I can get no antenna signal. OK the cable comes into the direct tv receiver first, then to the E-80, then to my tv. I set the E-80 to record channel 269, coming from direct tv thru the direct tv receiver. If I am then watching my tv, again off the direct tv reciever, and change the channel to 353, which has to be done by the direct tv reciever, ( no antenna signal possible), I have just changed the signal (channel) e-80 is is looking at. Without some type of multi switch, allowing the e-80 to stay locked onto channel 269, as soon as I tell the directv receiver to tune in channel 353, since there is only one cable going into the e-80, the signal to the e-80 has just changed. It's the same way as my vhs works now, the wiring of the coaxe runs the same. If I program the vhs to tape channel 4, and I go and watch channel 5, the signal to the vhs unit has just changed also, because the signal is coming from the dish, to it first, and there is just one cable. Now you understand what I'm getting at.

[louthewiz]

First of all bob c I DONT SMOKE ANYTHING so keep your comments to your self ,all I said is you cant watch 2 direct tv channels at the same time with the same box. So clean your glasses if you cant read my post properly..

[bob c]

Well louthewiz, I can state any comment I want, since they are just a comment of my own, as long as I don't violate "General Rules-You agree not to post any abusive, obscene, vulgar, slanderous, hateful, threatening, sexually-orientated or any other material that may violate any applicable laws", since you kind of put it on a personal note when you said "You sir are not making any sense whatsoever " in stead of just saying, Bob you are not making any sense. The use of the word "sir" in your response denotes an air of being authoritative. As for glasses, I'll send you some, if you can go back and read my first post, no where did I say anything about watching two programs at the same time. Where did you read that. I was talking about recording one thing, changing the channel to watch a different station, without screwing up what the e-80 was recording, if running one feed off a sat. dish, which is my case, no ota antenna. It's impossible for the e-80 to do that, even Panasonic concurs, you cannot do that, the second you change the channel the dtv receiver is looking at that you are going to watch, you also change what the e-80 is looking at trying to reocrd. Re-read my post with your glasses on, sir.

PS from the TIVO forum--about a TIVO unit-for your info.

"you can can record one show while watching and buffering a second live show, or watch one of two shows that are recording, or watch one of two shows being buffered but not recorded, or record two shows while watching a third prerecorded show"

[oldfart13]

Dual tuner unit only it sounds like. Dishnetwork also has one but it's too expensive for my tastes. If I'm going to blow real money on such a thing, I'll wait til it's dual tuner High Definition...

[bob c]

oldfart13--my understanding from visiting the tivo board is that supposedly close to this summer tivo is coming out with a HD tivo unit. From what I saw the price might be, it will be pricey, like in the 900's. The main reason I got the e-80, where I live, the tivo you have to leave on 24/7, you put it in standby, it shuts down the dtv-sat feed. Not good for me. Plus I don't watch that much/tv that way, and you can't do a burn on it if you want to save something, like my wife wanted to save a copy of the garth brooks special the other night. If I had kept the tivo unit I took back, would have had to copy it to the computer some way, not worth it to me. I don't fault those that like there tivo unit though, for them it's the right choice. I've recorded now on the hd of the e-80 several times now in xp mode, (not burned yet, just had couple days), I have been more than pleased with the out put to the ws/tv we have.