Problem: DVD-R Recording with Motorola QIP6416-2 DVR FiOS TV Box

[Plarocks]

Hey there,

I am trying to get a 16x9 video image out in 480i through the S-VHS output on the Motorola QIP6416-2 DVR FiOS TV DVR Box. This box simply will NOT output ANYTHING but 4:3 "Letterbox" through the S-VHS output no matter what setting I have it on. Unfortunately, my Pioneer DVR-7000 DVD recorder does not have a "Component Video Input".

However, I WAS able to record a 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen DVD-R from the HD Channels when I was using my DirecTV box and current recorder. I was able to set both the Direct TV box and the DVD Recorder on 16:9 format. The discs would come out perfectly and play in Letterbox on a 4:3 television, and then display properly on a 16:9 television as well.

Now with this stupid Fios Box, I get the top and bottom black bars on the Widescreen TV now... and short people on the 4:3 TV.
I even tried that "Hidden" menu where you unplug and plug the box then hit menu before turning it on. Still everything stays the same through the S-Video output.

Is there a "Trick" with getting this damn box to output a 16:9 image through the S-VHS output so I can record my DVD-R's properly?

Or am I stuck with purchasing either an HD Downconverter box for $500 or a new DVD Recorder with Component Video Inputs?

Do any newer DVD-R Recorders accept an HD 720p or 1080i 16x9 image and automatically downconvert to 480i and produce an Anamorphic Widescreen DVD-R?

Do either of these HD Downconverter Box's produce the 4:3 "Vertical Stretch" through the S-VHS output when you input a 16x9 HD 1080i or 720p from the above Fios box?

http://www.lenexpo-electronics.com/product.php?productid=17169

http://www.svideo.com/videoscaler.html

Thanks for reading. I am totally stumped here.
(And wish I NEVER switched to Fios!!!)

Plarocks

[Krispy Kritter]

The S-Video issue is common on many recorders. S-Video being older technology, I guess they assume you are using an older 4:3 TV.

Also, most recorders don't have component inputs as they don't want users to record HD content. Not having component inputs prevents the casual users from playing and copying HD content such as HD discs.

[jagabo]

Motorola QIP6416-2 DVR FiOS TV DVR Box... will NOT output ANYTHING but 4:3 "Letterbox" through the S-VHS output

It's the same with my Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8240HDC.

[oldandinthe way]

SVideo is SD

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-Video

You will only get 480i on an SVideo output from the box.

If the image is 16:9 it will be letterboxed.

Not a box flaw
Not a recorder flaw.

[jagabo]

SVideo is SD

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-Video

You will only get 480i on an SVideo output from the box.

If the image is 16:9 it will be letterboxed.

Not a box flaw
Not a recorder flaw.

Yes s-video is 480i, but many devices can output a 16:9 source anamorpically rather than by letterboxing. You can then capture and burn that as a 16:9 anamorphic DVD.

[Krispy Kritter]

SVideo is SD

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-Video

You will only get 480i on an SVideo output from the box.

If the image is 16:9 it will be letterboxed.

Not a box flaw
Not a recorder flaw.

Yes s-video is 480i, but many devices can output a 16:9 source anamorpically rather than by letterboxing. You can then capture and burn that as a 16:9 anamorphic DVD.

Agreed, but it still isn't a flaw. It is an option with some players. Some of the Pioneer units allow 16:9 I believe.

There are other threads here discussing this issue.

Bottom line, you need different hardware.

[jim basler]

More to the point is the fact that the signal coming out of unit's s-video port, during an HD-televised program, is only slightly above VHS quality, not reaching the quality of DV.

[usually_quiet]

Hey there,

I am trying to get a 16x9 video image out in 480i through the S-VHS output on the Motorola QIP6416-2 DVR FiOS TV DVR Box. This box simply will NOT output ANYTHING but 4:3 "Letterbox" through the S-VHS output no matter what setting I have it on. Unfortunately, my Pioneer DVR-7000 DVD recorder does not have a "Component Video Input".

However, I WAS able to record a 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen DVD-R from the HD Channels when I was using my DirecTV box and current recorder. I was able to set both the Direct TV box and the DVD Recorder on 16:9 format. The discs would come out perfectly and play in Letterbox on a 4:3 television, and then display properly on a 16:9 television as well.

Now with this stupid Fios Box, I get the top and bottom black bars on the Widescreen TV now... and short people on the 4:3 TV.
I even tried that "Hidden" menu where you unplug and plug the box then hit menu before turning it on. Still everything stays the same through the S-Video output.

Is there a "Trick" with getting this damn box to output a 16:9 image through the S-VHS output so I can record my DVD-R's properly?

Or am I stuck with purchasing either an HD Downconverter box for $500 or a new DVD Recorder with Component Video Inputs?

Do any newer DVD-R Recorders accept an HD 720p or 1080i 16x9 image and automatically downconvert to 480i and produce an Anamorphic Widescreen DVD-R?

Do either of these HD Downconverter Box's produce the 4:3 "Vertical Stretch" through the S-VHS output when you input a 16x9 HD 1080i or 720p from the above Fios box?

http://www.lenexpo-electronics.com/product.php?productid=17169

http://www.svideo.com/videoscaler.html

Thanks for reading. I am totally stumped here.
(And wish I NEVER switched to Fios!!!)

Plarocks

If computer capture is an option for you, there are these two HD capture devices that can be used with the component outputs of your DVR, assuming your computer meets their hardware and software requirements.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815100049
http://www.avermedia-usa.com//AVerTV/Product/ProductDetail.aspx?Id=482

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815116030
http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hdpvr.html

The Hauppauge HD PVR is in most ways the better product of the two, but since it does H.264 hardware encoding, if you want SD recordings that can be played using a DVD player, the recordings would need to be converted before authoring, and burning to DVD. It is compatible with Windows Media center.

For the Avermedia device, you would use the component video adapter cable. Using HDMI, anything with HDCP encryption cannot be recorded and your cable box output would likely have HDCP encryption. It can be configured to record MPEG-2 video compatible with the DVD standard, but uses software to encode, so it requires a better CPU than the Hauppauge device. It will not work with Windows Media Center, so you must either use the software provided, or find other software that supports it.

[usually_quiet]

More to the point is the fact that the signal coming out of unit's s-video port, during an HD-televised program, is only slightly above VHS quality, not reaching the quality of DV.

Recording with a DVD recorder would have been well worth doing if the OP's DVR supported anamorphic 16:9 from S-Video.

I have a Channel Master CM-7000 coupon-elegible DTA converter box for over-the-air TV. In case you don't know, this type of product is designed to act as an ATSC (over-the-air DTV) tuner for analog TVs. They are required to output HD channels in SD resolution. My model has an S-Video port and can be configured to output anamorphic 16:9 for HD channels.

I bought one to use with my analog tuner DVD recorder. The picture on my DVDs, recorded in SP mode, is not the same quality as a commercial DVD disc, but it is still much better than VHS, especially on a widescreen TV.

[jim basler]

I got it figgured-out. The hidden Configuration menu contains an option for 'tv' aspect ratio (that's the first menu item). What I did was set that TV option to Pan and Scan. That causes the full-height of the s-video screen to be utilized, maximumizing the pixel usage. Problem solved.

[jagabo]

I got it figgured-out. The hidden Configuration menu contains an option for 'tv' aspect ratio (that's the first menu item). What I did was set that TV option to Pan and Scan. That causes the full-height of the s-video screen to be utilized, maximumizing the pixel usage. Problem solved.

Doesn't that crop off the left and right edges? I'd much rather have letterboxed than cropped.

[jim basler]

It doesn't seem to crop off the edges. Since I am recording from HD content it fills out the left and right rather nicely

[jagabo]

Are sure the setting is called pan and scan? Not stretch, 16:9, anamorphic, widescreen, or something like that?