Do any Bell receivers do Anamorphic output via s-video & only IR control? - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

ACPewty · 2012-03-29, 10:29 AM

I am considering switching to Bell (from Shaw Direct) for the apparently more reliable PVR with EHD option, and better HD selection. I have been reading lots of posts here but many are older and firmware updates can change functionality. I like to archive movies etc to DVD (for personal use) in anamorphic widescreen format and I would like to continue to do so with Bell without having to add converters that will affect picture quality.

1) Can current Bell receivers (like the 9241 and 6131) output anamorphic widescreen via s-video? (I've seen old posts saying it is only available letterboxed or cropped, but I'm wondering if it still applies as a more recent firmware update could have changed things.)

2) From what I read here I gather the 9241 can be controlled by IR or UHF, and I would prefer to use a programmable universal remote that only has IR. Is it safe to assume I can use strictly IR to control current Bell receivers (eg the 9241) without loss of functionality other than controlling from a different room?

Thanks in advance.

gmd · 2012-03-29, 11:30 AM

Quote:

1) Can current Bell receivers (like the 9241 and 6131) output anamorphic widescreen via s-video? (I've seen old posts saying it is only available letterboxed or cropped, but I'm wondering if it still applies as a more recent firmware update could have changed things.)

No.

And letterboxed or cropped only applies to HD channels.

57 · 2012-03-29, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Is it safe to assume I can use strictly IR to control current Bell receivers (eg the 9241) without loss of functionality other than controlling from a different room?

Affirmative. For example, Harmony remotes work just fine.

ACPewty · 2012-03-29, 04:23 PM

Thank you for the info. Disappointing about #1 but I suppose a component to s-video converter will solve the problem. I was hoping it wouldn't be necessary as it introduces some loss of pq.

Thanks again.

flaminghomer · 2012-03-29, 09:34 PM

I just got Bell last week and I'm controlling a 9241 with a Harmony 659. It works but it's a bit finicky, I have to point the remote directly at the receiver at a 90° angle.

ashtonp · 2012-03-29, 10:01 PM

I'm not sure about either of the "current" models you mentioned, but the 9242 was a "yes" for both of your questions. It's now rather difficult to get hold of one, unless you can find one used (or maybe refurbished...)

For "anamorphic" output over s-video (and composite), you would set TV2 up as 16x9, and the ouput video would be adjusted accordingly. I used to use a video-sender to transmit to the kitchen TV, and it worked nicely. (Of course, I had to tell the kitchen TV to "stretch" the video, same as when viewing an anamorphic DVD.)

Although perhaps this doesn't fully qualify as true "anamorphic", since the output on a 4x3 TV's screen would not be rendered as letterboxed, but rather as a squished full-screen picture...

ACPewty · 2012-03-29, 11:52 PM

That's good news about the 9242...thanks. I don't like to buy used equipment, but I guess anything you get from Bell including current models could be refurbished anyway right?

57 · 2012-03-30, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flaminghomer

...I have to point the remote directly at the receiver at a 90° angle...

Something's wrong then. Check out the following thread on IR interference and make sure your batteries are good.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=64463

flaminghomer · 2012-03-30, 11:57 AM

Thanks 57. I looked through that thread but I don't know if anything there applies because:

It's a DLP TV, not LCD
No CFLs, direct sunlight, or other potential sources of IR interference.
The same remote worked fine with the Rogers 8300 we had until recently, and nothing else has changed in the room since then.

Something else curious: the other half was using the Bell remote and it was just as bad if not worse. We swapped it with the remote from our 6131 box in the kitchen and there was a considerable improvement.

I've been a business analyst long enough to know that source of the problem is never obvious, and that just because something should work the same doesn't mean it will, so I'll keep experimenting.

reidw · 2012-04-02, 03:50 PM

@ashtonp: How do you set up TV2 for 16x9 on a 9242? The only 16x9 setting I can find applies to TV1 only. Am I missing something?

2012-03-29, 09:34 PM	#5
flaminghomer Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Aurora, ON Posts: 255	I just got Bell last week and I'm controlling a 9241 with a Harmony 659. It works but it's a bit finicky, I have to point the remote directly at the receiver at a 90° angle. __________________ flaminghomer Samsung 6000 Series LED \| Bell Fibe 2262 \| Pioneer VSX-919AH \| Panasonic DMP-BD75 \| Bose Acoustimass 6

2012-03-30, 11:57 AM	#9
flaminghomer Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Aurora, ON Posts: 255	Thanks 57. I looked through that thread but I don't know if anything there applies because: It's a DLP TV, not LCD No CFLs, direct sunlight, or other potential sources of IR interference. The same remote worked fine with the Rogers 8300 we had until recently, and nothing else has changed in the room since then. Something else curious: the other half was using the Bell remote and it was just as bad if not worse. We swapped it with the remote from our 6131 box in the kitchen and there was a considerable improvement. I've been a business analyst long enough to know that source of the problem is never obvious, and that just because something should work the same doesn't mean it will, so I'll keep experimenting. __________________ flaminghomer Samsung 6000 Series LED \| Bell Fibe 2262 \| Pioneer VSX-919AH \| Panasonic DMP-BD75 \| Bose Acoustimass 6

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2012-03-29, 10:29 AM	#1
ACPewty Rookie Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Peterborough, Ontario Posts: 9	Do any Bell receivers do Anamorphic output via s-video & only IR control? I am considering switching to Bell (from Shaw Direct) for the apparently more reliable PVR with EHD option, and better HD selection. I have been reading lots of posts here but many are older and firmware updates can change functionality. I like to archive movies etc to DVD (for personal use) in anamorphic widescreen format and I would like to continue to do so with Bell without having to add converters that will affect picture quality. 1) Can current Bell receivers (like the 9241 and 6131) output anamorphic widescreen via s-video? (I've seen old posts saying it is only available letterboxed or cropped, but I'm wondering if it still applies as a more recent firmware update could have changed things.) 2) From what I read here I gather the 9241 can be controlled by IR or UHF, and I would prefer to use a programmable universal remote that only has IR. Is it safe to assume I can use strictly IR to control current Bell receivers (eg the 9241) without loss of functionality other than controlling from a different room? Thanks in advance.

2012-03-29, 04:23 PM	#4
ACPewty Rookie Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Peterborough, Ontario Posts: 9	Thank you for the info. Disappointing about #1 but I suppose a component to s-video converter will solve the problem. I was hoping it wouldn't be necessary as it introduces some loss of pq. Thanks again.

2012-03-29, 10:01 PM	#6
ashtonp Join Date: May 2008 Location: near Ashton, ON. Posts: 94	I'm not sure about either of the "current" models you mentioned, but the 9242 was a "yes" for both of your questions. It's now rather difficult to get hold of one, unless you can find one used (or maybe refurbished...) For "anamorphic" output over s-video (and composite), you would set TV2 up as 16x9, and the ouput video would be adjusted accordingly. I used to use a video-sender to transmit to the kitchen TV, and it worked nicely. (Of course, I had to tell the kitchen TV to "stretch" the video, same as when viewing an anamorphic DVD.) Although perhaps this doesn't fully qualify as true "anamorphic", since the output on a 4x3 TV's screen would not be rendered as letterboxed, but rather as a squished full-screen picture...

2012-03-29, 11:52 PM	#7
ACPewty Rookie Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Peterborough, Ontario Posts: 9	That's good news about the 9242...thanks. I don't like to buy used equipment, but I guess anything you get from Bell including current models could be refurbished anyway right?

2012-04-02, 03:50 PM	#10
reidw Veteran Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Stratford, PE. Posts: 2,463	@ashtonp: How do you set up TV2 for 16x9 on a 9242? The only 16x9 setting I can find applies to TV1 only. Am I missing something?