I have heard that the HDMI handshakes with the unit on the other end and chooses the appropriate signal. If it is a TV you get Dolby 2.0, if it is a new High End receiver with an HDMI input you would get 5.1. I do not know anyone who has such a receiver to test this out though.

Yeah, there's not that many receivers out there that will accept an HDMI cable at this time. The digital coax or optical cable works just fine for me. I don't see any reason to buy a new receiver. (Unless the one you have is not DD enabled.)

My SA3250HD is quite hot. I cannot put anything on top of it (e.g. my wirless router). Just wondering if this Pace unit is cooler. Does it have cooling fan insode?

I am new to HD. I signed up for Rogers HD service at the end of April and got the SA terminal. A couple of weeks later I switched to the Pace box (really, I was just curious about it). So four months later I have to report very little trouble with it. I connect to my TV (DVI) from the Pace HDMI. Sometimes it complains it can't work but the PQ seems fine. I take audio through the RCA connects and play through the TV itself.

I have a secondary audio connection running to a fancy pants stereo (electrostatic speakers, blah, blah) and, when CBC ran Star Wars / Lord of the Rings in true HD I have to admit it was pretty intense (in a good way). And that would only be Dolby 2.

I have had to "reset" the box twice in this time frame (4 months) -- meaning unplug the box, count to 10, and repower.

I don't experience delays switching channels (I did with the SA3100 box I started with) and I like the zoom functions. I have all SD channels automatically appear in wide mode (evenly stretched with no image cut-off -- CP24 shows complete) and all HD channels in whatever the broadcaster is sending.

I also subscribe to the $4.95 HD Specialty Pack although I don't get much use out of it. The two PBS channels run identical programming simultanously (a PBS issue, not Rogers), one in 720 and one in 1080. Spot checking, and blind testing with friends, 1080 is noticeably better.

I'm not sure how the Pace compares to the newer SA boxes (3250?) since I have not "lived" with any of them. Oh yeah, and the Pace does NOT run hot, IMO. I had a couple of magazines completely covering the unit for weeks without causing trouble. Sure, it's warm -- most electronic equipment is -- but definitely not "hot".

The two PBS channels run identical programming simultanously (a PBS issue, not Rogers), one in 720 and one in 1080. Spot checking, and blind testing with friends, 1080 is noticeably better.Although this was the case, both channels are currently identical from Spokane. Detroit may be back once they get their transmission issues ironed out.

Oh yeah, and the Pace does NOT run hot, IMO. I had a couple of magazines completely covering the unit for weeks without causing trouble. Sure, it's warm -- most electronic equipment is -- but definitely not "hot".

Thanks for the info. My SA3250HD is very hot. I cannot put anything on top of it. Maybe I'll go and exchange one.

hello..i'm a newbie to HDTV..i've had my plasmatv (EDTV samsung spr4212)for a week..just got the PACE 551 on friday...when i tune to hdtv channel there are black bars on each end of the picture, almost like a 4:3 picture..not full screen.. even set the tv and pace @ 16:9..info at tv screen shows 1900 X 1080..i know this is an EDTV but manual says it will do 1080.. at 720 it will do full screen..is this "scalling down"..is this normal or the PACE 551 defective..i've used composite cable..will HDMI cable fix this or do the same thing (scale down)..
also the PACE 551 has a usb port..what is it for..no info in the manual..

thanks eh!
;)

A lot of the programming on the HD channels is still upconverted 4:3 material. On that programming the black bars are normal. True HD is 16:9 and should fill your screen.

I assume you meant component video cables, since composite cables cannot carry HD signals.

See the following Digital Home FAQs:

- What's on in HD.
- Black Bars.
- Cables & Connections

On the SA STB, some people have connected a keyboard to the USB port - allows channel changes without the remote. Other than that, I understand it's pretty useless.

Any word on the offical launch of the pace? Will the release of the pace bring down the price of the 3250HD?

The pace launched weeks ago. they are treating them as interchangeable. no price variance.

hi..i have a problem with my rogers pace 551 digital box..while watching hdtv..it will intermittenly black out for 2-3 second every 5 to 15 minutes..through HDMI connection.. switch to component and its fine..anyone have this problem? :confused:

... CSR for a major US cable company, I can tell you, we get more calls about Pace 550 boxes than any other (non-DVR) box. Probably about 5 or 6 times more than we get for Motorola or Scientific Atlanta combined.

We get *a lot* of complaints from people reverting to SA3250 boxes after they connect up their televisions even with HDMI connections. Apparently, the box also really has very poor reception on the analog end of the channel spectrum.

As a CSR, it's also a nasty box when it comes to generating signals to get service back if the box has been off for a while, or even just getting it back after a short outage. No other standard set-top box comes anywhere near as close to being as frustrating as the Pace box.

As for the heat, I can't say, but check into getting a line conditioner. Power companies have a nasty habit of running more than 5 or 6 houses on a single transformer and increasing the voltage to compensate. You might not have 120v; you might have 130v (or even higher).

Is there a Pace HD PVR available or coming soon?

Does anybody know where I can buy the DC551 ?
I called almost all Rogers Video Stores in Mississagua and Toronto. Nobody has them. Where did you guys get yours?

Does anybody know where I can buy the DC551 ?
I called almost all Rogers Video Stores in Mississagua and Toronto. Nobody has them. Where did you guys get yours?

I got mine at Future Shop in Quebec City.

Mike50

This unit has a smart-card slot on the front panel. Do you know what it is intended for?

Mike50

This unit has a smart-card slot on the front panel. Do you know what it is intended for?So do the SA 3200 & 3250HD.

So do the SA 3200 & 3250HD.

So, what is the function of the smart-card slot on the Pace-551?

Mike50

So, what is the function of the smart-card slot on the Pace-551?According to previous posts this would have been used for conditional access to some channels and to debit for PPV or VoD movies. See the following post http://209.171.61.216/forum/showthread.php?t=2279&goto=nextoldest

I would really like one of these new Pace DC551 boxes. If anyone knows of any in Durham or GTA, I would love to know so I can swap my SA 3250 out. I am very interested in the component passthrough as my HDTV has only one component input and one DVI. Also the optical input has me intrigued how does that work. Passthrough as well and if so can you pass audio into the toslink (optical input) and to the rca digital out.