HT Setup Advice Needed, re Video

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tdgeek

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#115265 19-Mar-2013 20:56

I'm not an HT fiend, so some base help needed. I am re setting up my HT system after EQ repairs, I lost the "this plugs into that" note. Once its all up and running, I expect to find it.

I have a Pioneer VSX 818V or 918V HT, Panny 50 Plasma, Panny DVD/HD Recorder, MySky+, WDTV Live, Apple TV3

The HT manual says to plug the video into the HT then out to the TV for each device. I am sure I read in GZ forums (cannot find it now) that there was a recommendation to connect the video for the devices to the TV and not to the HT passthrough. And only to connect the audio to the HT. Makes perfect sense to me.

Does it matter?

Cheers all

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#784193 20-Mar-2013 07:21

It appears that receiver only has 2 x HDMI in? If so something is going to have to go another way.

Personally I prefer to have everything into HDMI in on my receiver and them one HDMI out to the TV. Control everything from the receiver.

I am assuming you could be using HDMI for all your gear (DVD, MySky, WD TV, Apple TV)?

kiwijunglist

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#784194 20-Mar-2013 07:29

DVD/HD Recorder -> HDMI -> RECEIVER

My Sky -> HDMI -> RECEIVER

WDTV -> HDMI -> TV
WDTV -> Optical Audio Out -> RECEIVER

Apple TV -> HDMI -> TV
Apple TV -> Optical Audio Out -> RECEIVER

RECEIVER -> HDMI -> TV

On the assumption that you use the My Sky + DVD/HD Recorder the most frequently

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tdgeek

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#784275 20-Mar-2013 10:09

Thank you Tukapa1 and Kiwijunglist. And Kiwijunglist for your suggestion for connections

It is a 918V and yes, only 2 HDMI in

Day off today so will get onto it. I have one optical, so I will buy another today. It was in the Audio Out of the DVD/HD Recorder which also used HDMI. Any reason you can think of that I did that? Or not being HT literate I may have connected that cos I can?

DVD/HD Recorder. While I can connect that to the outside aerial that wont get reception soon. Can I record Sky off the TV or off MySkyHDi or from the HT? Will the FTA channels record or are they protected? (TV doesn't have Freeview) Not important but very handy when MySkyHDi is full or I wish to keep something and record to DVD for the kids.

Lastly, (probably not). I use Monster cable for the speakers. They gave marks for each side, does it matter which is which as long as they are consistently L or R when I connect them? Probably a dumb question, I assume it wouldn't matter

I need also to run audio from the TV to the reciever, I think this is to get HT sound off the TV if I wish? Or is that not needed?

I need to run a non digital video to the TV from the HT as HDMI wont display the OSD

Thanks again very much. Very keen to get upskilled in HT now

Tony

tdgeek

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#784315 20-Mar-2013 11:10

Right, next question.
I recall the DVD/HD Recorder only got TV reception as SD, cannot recall how I used the Video IN. There is no HDMI IN or Component IN. I have an old Sommett Freeview STB, that has a very good HD image, I am hoping I can use SCART to SCART to provide output from the FV STB to input on the DVD/HD Recorder. Likely?

kiwijunglist

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#784326 20-Mar-2013 11:28

MySkyHD has a built in recorder
Monster cables are a joke, and it doesnt matter which way around they are.
You don't need to run audio from the TV to the receiver because all of the audio is already going to the receiver.
The receiver will always need to be ON when you use your TV.

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B1GGLZ

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#784472 20-Mar-2013 14:08

tdgeek: Right, next question.
I recall the DVD/HD Recorder only got TV reception as SD, cannot recall how I used the Video IN. There is no HDMI IN or Component IN. I have an old Sommett Freeview STB, that has a very good HD image, I am hoping I can use SCART to SCART to provide output from the FV STB to input on the DVD/HD Recorder. Likely?

I used SCART to SCART from my Sky Pace box to my old DVD Recorder (Panasonic Analogue) and it worked fine. The other SCART connector on the Pace box goes to Component in on the TV (Sony ex720). So I would guess that SCART from your Somett box to DVD should work OK.
Now I have a Panasonic Freeview recorder and the Pace box is connected by SCART to the A/V in (Red, White, Yellow RCA) which works fine for recording Sky.
Your DVD recorder will only record in SD anyway. Even Freeview recorders will only record SD via external inputs. They only record HD from their internal tuners.

B1GGLZ

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#784475 20-Mar-2013 14:12

Just so we understand your original post. You say it's Panasonic DVD/HD. Do you mean it's an older analogue one with HDD (Hard drive) or a Freeview HD Recorder with Hard Drive?
As you mention no reception via the antenna soon I guess were talking analogue recorder?

tdgeek

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#784512 20-Mar-2013 14:53

The recorder is a DMR-EH57. Last time the TV outdoor aerial reception was jaggies. I guess how I had it connected. But I feel the best option is to replace it with a freeview HD version. That makes a lot of sense

B1GGLZ

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#784609 20-Mar-2013 17:23

tdgeek: The recorder is a DMR-EH57. Last time the TV outdoor aerial reception was jaggies. I guess how I had it connected. But I feel the best option is to replace it with a freeview HD version. That makes a lot of sense

Yeah
Time to update to a Freeview recorder.
Easter sales coming up followed by Queen's Birthday!
Should be some good prices around.

tdgeek

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#784654 20-Mar-2013 18:35

All done, assigning audio was confusing for a newbie, especially the DVD/HD Recorder which was HDMI only to the Receiver, it needed the Receiver to assign the Audio to Coaxial. Odd.

tdgeek

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#784655 20-Mar-2013 18:37

B1GGLZ:
tdgeek: The recorder is a DMR-EH57. Last time the TV outdoor aerial reception was jaggies. I guess how I had it connected. But I feel the best option is to replace it with a freeview HD version. That makes a lot of sense

Yeah
Time to update to a Freeview recorder.
Easter sales coming up followed by Queen's Birthday!
Should be some good prices around.

I will watch that. The Panny one is $500 odd.

B1GGLZ

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#784671 20-Mar-2013 19:14

tdgeek:
B1GGLZ:
tdgeek: The recorder is a DMR-EH57. Last time the TV outdoor aerial reception was jaggies. I guess how I had it connected. But I feel the best option is to replace it with a freeview HD version. That makes a lot of sense

Yeah
Time to update to a Freeview recorder.
Easter sales coming up followed by Queen's Birthday!
Should be some good prices around.

I will watch that. The Panny one is $500 odd.

Keep a watch on Trademe. I sold my BW880 for $340 in excellent condition.
I picked up a new BWT720 3D model for $650 on Sale at end of last year.

tdgeek

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#785303 22-Mar-2013 08:50

B1GGLZ: I picked up a new BWT720 3D model for $650 on Sale at end of last year.

I am very keen on a BWT720. Not that interested in writing to BD or the 3D, but external HDD option is great. I will check tonight, are they still current? Can they play CD?

Dunnersfella

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#785644 22-Mar-2013 19:49

Yup, CD, DVD, BluRay, 3D BluRay, DLNA yadaya...

B1GGLZ

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#785645 22-Mar-2013 19:51

tdgeek:

I am very keen on a BWT720. Not that interested in writing to BD or the 3D, but external HDD option is great. I will check tonight, are they still current? Can they play CD?

Still the current model. They play most discs but they don't play Video CD, Audio DVD, the smaller DVD-RAM and a couple of other oddball ones.
External HDD may be handy but unfortunately any USB HDD has to be registered to the machine in use and can only be used on that machine i.e. can't transfer files to a PC or other machine. Doesn't record to USB but will transfer files from inbuilt HDD to the USB HDD for storage. Therefore it's not really very useful. It's easier to burn HD recordings to Blu Ray disc which will play in other machines. Also won't play all the DVD's I've backed up with DVD Shrink. Those backed up with DVDFab work OK though.

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