Good news. Its about time Bell went HD receivers only. The 4100 should have been gone 2 years ago. I noticed it said under new features that the 6400 has an updated guide. I wonder how exactly is it updated? As all MPEG4 models currently have the same guide anyway?
Old (dvi only equipped TV's) and new equipement (ie. Projection monitors) will not allow audio to be delivered through HDMI of a device. What does a customer do in this case? FL and FR analog for surround sound?
Most of the time, HDMI Splitters will not resolve these issues either. I've seen brand new projectors disable the audio off HDMI because it cannot use it. The only solution was optical.
Anyway, HDMI still has major handshaking issues, I don't think its a right time to make HDMI the only option for HD Video and surround sound.
Old (dvi only equipped TV's) and new equipement (ie. Projection monitors) will not allow audio to be delivered through HDMI of a device. What does a customer do in this case? FL and FR analog for surround sound?
Pick up extra 6131's while you can before all the existing stock is sold off. Even if they are not activated right away. I made this mistake with the 9242 and only bought 1 when I should have got a few extra.
"Sorry Mr. Customer that HDMI is not working. Please hook up your 60" plasma with the yellow, red and white connectors. Thank you for calling Bell. Is there anything else I can help with?"
If you really need the component or optical outputs I guess you could consider it a downgrade, but other than that it should do everything else the 6131 does. I'm curious to hear what they have in mind for the 2nd USB port for "future functionality".
More and more newer TVs are coming out without component inputs. A lot of them only have a coax input and 3 or 4 HDMI inputs, plus a dongle to use composite or component. But in my experience the dongles are garbage and I usually recommend picking up an HDMI cable instead.
I assume this receiver will be sold at the same price as the 4100, i.e. $99? It seems easier to me just to drop the price of the 6131 ( I would prefer Bell stick with identical hardware to what Dish sells, so bugs get caught and fixed quicker).
I suggested that Bell drop the SD receivers a while ago and got nothing but grief on this board with the idea, so good thinking Bell. Phasing out SD is the future and the less SD receivers kicking around, the less will have to be replaced. Too bad it isn't at a better price point though.
Will this receiver convert HD channels to SD 4:3 screen? If so then those channels that are only HD Hollywood suits those with SD sets can sub to them. Wonder why no Coaxial cable output?
As far as I know, the only info that is known about the 6400 is what has already been posted in here. Until someone manages to get their hands on one (I'm looking at you Pinza...) we won't know for sure.
Not sure about the 4100, but the 3100 had an option to adjust the picture to a 4:3 or 16:9 format. The HD receivers have picture adjustment options for aspect ratio and types.
You could hit the Page Down (or format) button to zoom in on HD channels with a SD TV. Once its zoomed in, its always zoomed in for HD channels. I don't see why it would need to be any different for this box.
Selling this unit at the 6131 price isn't good for one reason.
Loss of BTV new subs.
If I'm individual wanting to get BTV but don't have a HD TV, but want BTV, after that date FEB ?? you will no longer be able to get any SD receivers(asumnig all are gone), you'll be "FORCED" to pay for a HD box, when you in most cases won't sub to HD channels.I can easily go to SD or your cable company and get a SD box cheaper. But then I guess you could always rent one?
@ MCIBUS, do you know the percentage of people with SD TV's that get HD Receivers now from Bell TV.? Well go on, inform us.!!!
I cant begin to guess that figure for Cable or SD, as I have no direct contact with them but with Bell TV I can and that figure is over 75% and rising every single week.
If Bell can provide an HD receiver at, or slightly about the cost of an SD only Receiver, I see no reason for the trend to continue.
Most Customers NOW, will gladly swap out a 4100 for a 6131 for the extra $'s, just to get the option of creating a PVR.
The 4100 will continue for some considerable time, especially in the Commercial world. I am currently involved in projects where I will be overseeing the installation of almost 200 x 4100's, so they are still going to be with us for a long time to come.
There are still a ton of receivers that get hooked up to CRT TV's, and atleast half of them dont even have RCA inputs, or enough to share with other components.
However; most people are atleast trying to upgrade their main TV's, or they eventually do. The main TV is where the HDPVR usually goes anyway, but sales in RF modulators will probably rise, lol.
I don't like the fact that optical audio output is not there
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