The first HD-DVD units will be available late this year (latest estimate). They will be expensive.

The archiving may be restricted - see the Digital Home FAQ "Recording HD".

I have been interested in archiving some of my recorded shows to DVD and have not been interested in "Copy to VCR" since I do not have any interest in my VCR any longer. I did not know that it is possible to "Copy to DVD" using the "Copy to VCR" function. Will it work when connected via component to the DVD recorder? Wonder why Rogers always told me you cannot copy to DVD???

Andrew.r:

You certainly can hook up your DVD recorder to the "Copy to VCR"-output and copy your content from the HD8x00 to DVD, resolution will be 480i quality and depending on your recording speed. The PVR's menu says "Copy to VCR" but the external device can be a DVD recorder, but the functionality is restricted to RCA-outputs, and S-Video outputs.

I have recorded several "Smart Travel" episodes into my JVC DVHS and the quality of recording is as good as my 8000HD PVR.

I use the S-video output/input connection but choose DVHS in my recording options.

Sam: The S-video connection is only able to handle 480i signals, I have no idea how it can look as good as the HD signal from the SA8000HD to the TV, unless your connection from the STB to the is not HD, or you've got a really poor or small TV.

Okay 57, I exaggerated a bit, but really the DVHS recording is that good viewed from 12-15 feet away on a 42" plasma TV.

In fact I just watched the "Seasoned Traveler" on Rogers' channel 530 and compared the quality of my recording of "Smart Travel" and the latter has better PQ. I don't know the reason to that - perhaps the video source of "Seasoned ..." is not HD?

No wonder, at 4 times screen size, you might as well be watching an SDTV. Like I said "small TV".

This was the logic used by Fox to say that EDTV was "good enough", until they finally saw the light.

Nice plasma you have though...

Hi Folks,
I've been going a bit crazy trying to figure out what I did wrong. For some reason the way I have my system setup when I do a copy to vcr it seems to record the live feed of what I'm watching. It doesn't seem to dump the video from my PVR to the S-video just the audio. I'm using the Out2 for audio and S-video from my PVR to the DVDR/VHS. I know the cable works as I've connected from my computer to my LCD panel and that is OK but now I'm wondering if the S-video is not working on the PVR or my DVDR/VHS.
Is there a way to check? My only issue is that on my Receiver I'm using the Monitor Out (comp video I think) to put the image onto my tube TV.

It's getting late so maybe I'm not just getting the FAQ and all the write-ups. It's not easy getting behind my entertainment unit and playing around with all those cables. This is just weird!:confused:

You may need to use the composite video from the "copy to VCR" portion of the back of the STB.

If you want to use the S-video connection, you may need select the programme you've recorded and hit "play" and do the recording as the item is being played, although several earlier posts seemed to indicate that "Copy to VCR" WOULD work in the background for S-Video as well.

Recheck your connections and make sure that the DVD recorder is set to record the correct video input (S-video, not composite, or channel 3).

I had a similar but "opposite" problem. The S-Video signal was okay , but the audio was wrong. Rebooting my
SA8300HD PVR fixed it. Also, I have confirmed that when
using "record to VCR", one can use either composite or
S-Video.

You may need to use the composite video from the "copy to VCR" portion of the back of the STB.
<snip>

Recheck your connections and make sure that the DVD recorder is set to record the correct video input (S-video, not composite, or channel 3).

I don't see a composite video on my SD STB but on my Samsung DVDR I'm not sure why but I thought when I first hooked it up I could channel up/down to AV1/Super/AV2 but now it just goes Channel 3 and 13 so that might have been my problem.
However, when setting up the whole home theater schema. What component should be setup first?
STB > AV Receiver > TV > DVDR

See the Digital Home FAQs (under help)

- How to connect a VCR/DVD Recorder and Cable STB
- Cables and connections.

Composite is the "yellow" single cable.

First ... I searched and looked at the FAQ threads on copy to vcr and didn't find a answer. If I missed it please excuse this post.

I just bought a cheapo DVD recorded to archive stuff off my 8300HD. When I use the "copy to VCR" function it sends audio and video perfectly to the DVD recorder. My issue is with that I am seeing on my tv screen and hearing on my surround receiver. On the TV I see the picture of what I am sending to the DVD recorder but hearing the audio of the channel the PVR is set to in real time.

The tv is getting SD signal [which I am trying to watch] via S video from the 8300 and the audio is being sent from the 8300 to my receiver.

What am I missing here? How can I get the picture of the "Real time" channel on the tv and NOT the picture of what I am copying? Again .. apologies if I missed this somewhere but for the life of me I couldn't find it and this is REALLY pissin' me off. TIA :)

Post moved to this thread. You may wish to check the posts earlier in this thread for answers to your questions.

Thanks for the merge 57 :). Okay ... maybe I'm totally retarded but I STILL can't find the answer to my question in this thread. The only thing I can take away from it is to reboot the 8300 but I've done that many times with no success. I feel really stupid here folks .... what am I missin'? Sorry for bein' a PITA :(.

If you can't get the copy to VCR to work, simply connect the DVD Recorder as outlined in the Digital Home FAQ (under help) "How to connect a VCR or DVD Recorder and STB". Then hit "play", as though you were going to watch the programme and record the programme as it plays.

You'll need to do this when you don't need the PVR for watching, but it also circumvents some of the problems that people have had when using the copy to VCR function.

The STB will be able to record as usual, but the "two minute warning" may come up on the screen, so it's best to do your copy when you don't have any scheduled recordings.

Boardman, I think the reason for your problem is quite simple, the solution may not be quite so. When you do a "copy to VCR" function on the 8300HD, it sends the archive video and audio to the secondary audio and video outputs (OUT 2). However, I believe the 8300HD treats the S-video out as a secondary video out as well (i.e. same as the composite video of OUT 2), giving you a connection choice for archiving. The 8300HD, being a high def box, outputs the tuned channel only to the primary video out, the HDMI or the component, as default when doing a copy to vcr function. If you are using the S-video as your primary viewing video you will have a problem.

I had a similar but "opposite" problem. The S-Video signal was okay , but the audio was wrong. Rebooting my
SA8300HD PVR fixed it. Also, I have confirmed that when
using "record to VCR", one can use either composite or
S-Video.

I have tried using both composite and s-video for the "Copy to VCR" function to my DVD Recorder...composite works, S-Video does not...just the audio comes through, no video...a reboot didn't solve the problem...do you have to set anything on the 8300HD to activate this...I am using the 8300HD PVR with a SDTV set to 480i Fixed...tried 2 different cables...don't know what else to try...is this a hit and miss thing or are all users having sucess with the "Copy to VCR" through S-video...

Perhaps the S-video out on the PVR or the S-Video in
on the DVD recorder is "broken". Perhaps you could try
to find a different S-Video source to feed into your DVD
recorder to confirm.

Thanks romulus...both are fairly recent additions...but I suppose it could happen...hmmm, what do I have that I can check...will have to see what I can muster up...

You could check by connecting the S-video and appropriate red/white audio cables to your existing TV from the SA8300HD and switch to that TV input to see if you get picture and sound.