Recording from dvr to dvd recorder, tv seems to only play back non-hd

[ItsMikeMazz]

Hi,
I have these components, panasonic hd-tv, toshiba dr-5 table-top dvd recorder and a scientific atlanta 8300hd dvr.

When I copy a high-def dvr recorded show to the dvd recorder, and watch the same show on the high-def tv at the same time, the picture on the tv is not high definition, defaults to standard. Same with watching a live show in high-def at the time of recording to the dvd recorder, defaults to the pic on the tv in standard-non-high-def mode.

High def settings and playback on the tv are working fine when running the dvr and tv together only. Not problems at all with the dvr and tv.

The hookups goes from the dvr to dvd, and the dvd recorder to the tv.

Am I wired up incorrectly, or am I not supposed to be able to watch the high def tv of what is recording and see it as high def at time of the recording?

Appreciate any guidance...thank you!!!!
Mike

[Rich86]

I also have a Scientific Atlanta 8300 dvr in my cable system. My 8300 is connected to my high def tv directly via a hdmi cable. The 8300 has separate output connectors on the box to go out to a vcr or dvd recorder - which is how I have it wired.
According to what I read about our cable box/system, if you put the 8300 into the mode of copying a program out to an external recorder, the output signal to the recorder drops out of high def mode. I expect this is because someone - somewhere - does not want us to be able to preserve the show we recorded on the dvr in any sort of high quality mode. In your hook-up, since you are running the video from the dvr to the dvd recorder - then to the TV, I would not expect you to see high def.

Can you connect your dvr directly to your tv via hdmi or component video cables - and use the other output jacks on the 8300 intended for recording to get the signal to your recorder? To be honest, I expect once you put the 8300 into the mode to run the signal out for recording, it will put out standard definiton video everywhere. I'll try to experiment with it tonight when I get home.

OK - here's an update . . .
Be sure to have the tv connected via hdmi or component video out of the 8300
Have your dvd recorder input connected via the vcr out connections on the 8300
go to "list" - tell it to "copy to vcr" - then if you go to also display the title - it shows up as high def on my tv - but I'm sure the copy on the vcr or dvd recorder is standard def.

[ItsMikeMazz]

Hi Rich, thanks for the tips! Mike

Here's how I am (and have been) currently set up, and I think is how you are suggesting. So, at this point I have not changed this config, and still have the issue that when recording to dvd, the picture is not showing at the same time as high def on a high def tv.
=================================================
On TV, audio input (white) left goes to DVD recorder output (white)
On TV, audio input (red) right goes to DVD recorder output (red)
On TV, video input (yellow) goes to DVD recorder output (yellow) video
=================================================
On DVR, audio output (white) goes to DVD recorder input (white) left
On DVR, audio output (red) goes to DVD recorder input (red) right
On DVR, video output (yellow) goes to DVD recorder video input (yellow)
=================================================
On TV, hdmi cable goes from tv to dvr
Cable service from wall connects to DVR
=================================================

On the 8300hd there is no "copy to vcr" type option, I have to manually press play on the tv remote and record on the dvd remote.

Also, on the dvd recorder, it does have an hdmi socket, but, I am currently not using it. Sure seems like somehow I need to re-arrange how my devices are lined up, but, not real sure.

[theewizard]

even digital HDD set-top recorders to NOT record in HD format, AFAIK to record in HD you need to capture the HD ts stream, using a PC capture card with the ability to capture DVB/DVA input,

I'm sure other people will chime in and set this straight

[ItsMikeMazz]

Thanks! But.... I don't think that's the problem I am having. I want to be able to "watch on tv", the HD program being recorded in HD (which it is an hd channel), as it is actually being recorded.

I believe that the recording ending up on the dvd will not be HD, which is fine, but, I am hoping that I can still watch it in HD, in real time, while recording.

Thanks theewizard, for your info, however, I do appreciate that!!!

Mike

[guns1inger]

OTA HD PVRs with HDD grab and store the HD transport stream on the HDD for playback, so it is identical to whatever came over the airways. The issue is generally then, how do I get this off the HDD and onto something useful. Some do have connections (USB2 etc), but many do not, and are effectively enclosed systems except for the analogue outputs.

Looking at your setup, you will only see HD over the HDMI connection to the TV. Unless your HD box is downgrading because it is detecting an analogue connection as well ?

[Rich86]

Hi Mike,
What I described to you was used to copy from a recorded tv show in high def on the dvr - to a vcr/dvd recorder via the appropriate outputs on the dvr. So - record what you want onto the dvr. Then go into "list" and select the show - that is when the option for "copy to vcr" shows up.
Of course - the 8300 also has various firmware types and revisions - and maybe our machines have different firmware implementations?

Update:
OK - on my machine (8300dvr) . . I have the secondary set of output jacks on the 8300 connected to the input jacks on a s-vhs vcr. I recorded a high def program to the 8300 dvr. Then I went to "list" on the remote - and told the dvr to "copy to vcr". Once that started, I went back to the same list and told it to play the program. The machine treats this as 2 separate events - with no problems. You can actually monitor the recording progress/process via PIP from the remote. The program copied to the vcr - and displayed it concurrently just fine in high def on my tv.
Hope that helps.

[ItsMikeMazz]

Guns, thanks for the guidance....I'm still checking.

Rich, thanks.....
I called toshiba, and the person said that i needed two hdmi cables in order for the dvd recorder to handle this. I need one from the tv to the dvr, and a second from the tv to the dvd recorder. So, I'm gonna give that a shot soon and see. I'll report back with the results. Maybe this is it and I should have realized it, but being-new at these hookups, not that easy to figure out. Anyway, I'm gonna pick up the 2nd hdmi and try that.

Mike

[Rich86]

It looks to me like your Toshiba dv-5 has upconversion capabilities via the hdmi cable - which is why Toshiba is advocating you use one to connect the output of the Toshiba - to a hdmi input on your tv. I do not believe this will have much of anything to do with how you record, however.
You should really go to the Scientific Atlanta website and download the manual for the 8300hd and read the connection/operating instructions.
http://www.sciatl.com/products/consumers/new_explorer8300HD.htm
I believe the best quality recording you are going to get is via the secondary output jacks on the 8300 - using the s-video jack instead of composite video - to the inputs on your dv5. Watching material from your Toshiba via the hdmi cable to your tv is probably the best quality you are going to get for viewing dvd's played on the Toshiba.

[Krispy Kritter]

Are you choosing the HDMI/DVR input on the TV while you are recording? Sounds like you are watching the DVD Recorder input and not the DVR input.

[ItsMikeMazz]

Ok, Rich, Krispy, I think I am in business now. Bear with me on my explaination....all new to me.

Here's what I have now...

Have 1st hdmi cable from tv to dvr

Added 2nd hdmi cable from the tv to the dvd recorder

Have red, yellow and white rca's from dvr out to the dvd recorder in

Set the video out setting within the dvd recorder to recognize hdmi #2, and it allows me to change the upconversion resolution up to 1080 (this was a key problem for me in that this capability/setting was not in the dvd recorder setup menu, but only on the actual remote, took a 3rd toshiba tech to figure out I was not making that setting change).

So, now I can record an hd channel from hdmi #2 on the tv, (it doesn't record in hd, since the dvd recorder can't, but I knew that, no problem) while watching the same show (of course not in real-hd) but also toggle on the tv to hdmi #1 to watch the actual hd channel in actual hd at the same time.

So, I think I am all set at this point.

Krispy, thanks for your tips, they were helpful.

Rich, special thanks to you for hanging in with the various suggestions that helped me to get to this. I still want to mull over your S-Video comment, I am not sure if that is something I also need to figure out, unless the hdmi now negates that need. Also, I am using rca wires/jacks from the dvr to the dvd and wondering if there is a better wire to use in place.
UPDATE ===> I am now also using the S-Video cable, so seems I am now all set.

Mike