Bell TV 9242 HD PVR Discussion thread

[project_x]

Tom,
I expect the HD channels to look poor, it is the SD channels that do not fill the screen of my SD set with TV2 and look extraordinarily lousy.

[scrooloose]

I don't think anyone has mentioned the new recording options on the 9242. So far, I've found:

• Under Timers, there is new Manual Timer option, allowing you to set the time & date manually as well as Type, Frequency and duration.
  
• VuPass now has options to 'Set Resolution', 'Set Frequency'. The first one allows you to choose HD Preference, HD only or SD only.
  
• VuPass has a nicer summary screen showing all the settings you've chosen before creating the timer.
  
• There are HD logos over everything that's HD, including your timers.
  
• I'm not sure if this is new, but if you hit the record button, then Options, you can Stop Recording, Extend End Time, Create Recurring Timer, and record entire event. Does the 9200 have that!?
  

Those are the only differences I've noticed so far, well, except that the PVR buttons on the remotes are now colored purple, green, grey, yellow and blue

-Mike

[Stan Dev]

Originally Posted by project_x

Tom,
I expect the HD channels to look poor, it is the SD channels that do not fill the screen of my SD set with TV2 and look extraordinarily lousy.

As Tom said, you just need to hit the "format" or "*" button on remote 2 to correct the aspect ratio and eliminate the pillar-box bars on the SD stations.

[Stan Dev]

Originally Posted by scrooloose

I don't think anyone has mentioned the new recording options on the 9242. So far, I've found:

• Under Timers, there is new Manual Timer option, allowing you to set the time & date manually as well as Type, Frequency and duration.

The 9200 has the same feature.

• I'm not sure if this is new, but if you hit the record button, then Options, you can Stop Recording, Extend End Time, Create Recurring Timer, and record entire event. Does the 9200 have that!?

The 9200 has that too.

[scrooloose]

Funny, I don't recall the Manual Timer option at all.

-Mike

[srivard]

I've gotten a 9242 to replace my rented 9200, switched all my cables from the 9200 to the 9242, but now every once in a while when I watch the second TV (on TV2), there's a constant clicking noise. That never happened to me with the 9200. It's not channel related (it even happens when the screen saver is on). It's not TV related, only that channel has it. Sometimes it's fine, but other time it clicks, it drives me nuts. Anyone ever have this problem? Anyone know what the problem may be? Does not happen on TV1.

[C C]

Originally Posted by Tom.F.1

Yes, HD channels look awful on the TV2 output. You'd need to zoom (format buttom) to get it to fit the screen.
Stick to the SD channels for TV2 and they look just like SD should.

I gave up on TV2 output and got a reciever for each TV.

Funny, I find the picture quality of the HD channels on my TV2 to be nothing short to outstanding. Actually, I am so satisfied that I am not planning on getting a HDTV for the master bedroom anymore. I have never liked the way SD looks on a HDTV.

I mostly watch HD content in the basement (with an HD80 front projector) and now is a big plus to have access to the HD channels (and recordings) on my SDTV in the master bedroom where I watch TV 60% of the time.

I am using a 27" Panasonic Flat Screen CRT TV connected to the composite TV2 output of the 9242. HD channels look as clear as 480p DVD's look via component. SD channels look the same as my old 3100 connected via S-Video.

I am very satisfied with the 9242.

[project_x]

Originally Posted by C C

Funny, I find the picture quality of the HD channels on my TV2 to be nothing short to outstanding. Actually, I am so satisfied that I am not planning on getting a HDTV for the master bedroom anymore. I have never liked the way SD looks on a HDTV.

I mostly watch HD content in the basement (with an HD80 front projector) and now is a big plus to have access to the HD channels (and recordings) on my SDTV in the master bedroom where I watch TV 60% of the time.

I am using a 27" Panasonic Flat Screen CRT TV connected to the composite TV2 output of the 9242. HD channels look as clear as 480p DVD's look via component. SD channels look the same as my old 3100 connected via S-Video.

I am very satisfied with the 9242.

CC, what settings are you using on your SD tV to watch the HD feeds, I find all of them ZOOM, Partial ZOOM, NORMAL, FULL,...alll seem to be distorted too much for my liking. Do you change the output of the recevier to 4:3?

[C C]

Originally Posted by project_x

CC, what settings are you using on your SD tV to watch the HD feeds, I find all of them ZOOM, Partial ZOOM, NORMAL, FULL,...alll seem to be distorted too much for my liking. Do you change the output of the recevier to 4:3?

My SDTV does not have a setting to change aspect ratio. It is just a heavy and bulky 4:3 flat screen CRT TV.

On the receiver, TV2 will always output a 4:3 image, the only changes you can make to the TV2 aspect ratio is when you are watching an HD channel, if you press the "*" button you can select "Normal" or "Letterbox". On a SD channel the "*" button won't do anything.

First time I fired up the TV2 tuner, I tuned up an HD channel and then changed the aspect ratio to "Letterbox". Once you go back to a SD channel it will default back to "Normal" automatically, however the receiver will always switch to "Letterbox" automatically if you select an HD channel.

[project_x]

When I watch SD channels on my HDTV, I choose NORMAL,which supposedly provides a 4:3 image on my 16:9 screen (black bars on the side). When I watch the identical channel (553 Treehouse, I have a 16 month old) on the coax feed of my std. def. tvs, the channel still has black bars and I have to use the '*' button to stretch the image to fit the screen, which stretched the SD imageto full screen on my HDTV.

I'm not sure why there should be a difficulty sending the SD image out on the coax feed

[gfoster]

Has anyone determined how to present recorded shows in a 'folder view', as opposed to the other various sort methods available ? Would like to select the show and then see episodes... possible ?

Greg.

[Stan Dev]

project_x: You have your receiver in Single mode. C C's receiver is in Dual mode. Dual mode would give you the aspect ratio behaviour you apparently seek, but perhaps you have other reasons not to use that mode?

[hugh]

ExpressVu has been kind enough to provide me with a 9242 for the next several months. It's being installed as I type this.

I have not had an ExpressVu receiver for several years (had a 3100,4700, 5100 and 6000) and have been using the Rogers SA 8300HD for the last two years so this will be a very interesting comparision as they will both be hooked up to my 1080p projector.

[supergenius]

Got my 9242 setup yesterday that I picked up during the BB sale (couldn't resist that price point). I didn't think I would like the black finish but now that its sitting next to one of my 9200's I can say that the black definitely blends in better!

Of course I was dreading the activation call to Bell last night, but to my utter shock I had the receiver activated in less than 5 min. I even checked the call timer on my phone to be sure!!

Thank goodness for DPP tech though, as I now have 4 dual tuner receivers in my house. Good luck doing that with legacy hardware.

In all, I am impressed with the unit. As mentioned earlier, I like the HD labeling and the option to only record in HD. I do find my 9200 that I purchased on the first day of release to be a little snappier moving through the guide and tuning channels.

[project_x]

Originally Posted by Stan Dev

project_x: You have your receiver in Single mode. C C's receiver is in Dual mode. Dual mode would give you the aspect ratio behaviour you apparently seek, but perhaps you have other reasons not to use that mode?

Stan_Dev,
i completely understand how we are running these differently, my issue is that I believe that if the output is set to NORMAL, 16:9. The HDTV should show a 4:3 image with vertical side bars, when this is sent to the SD TVs through the Coax, I would think it should fill the 4:3 not have vertical bars, and need to be "stretched" to look proper.
I just though maybe something was wrong in my system, but apparently not.

thanks,
Rob