6 replies to this topic

[Slattery]

This was launched last week. What I want to know is can I record a Foxtel show in HD to this devices HDD and then burn the original HD source program direct to a bluray disc and not lose any picture quality?


http://blogs.panason...om.au/consumer/

[prl]

Slattery, on May 17 2011, 04:41 PM, said:

This was launched last week. What I want to know is can I record a Foxtel show in HD to this devices HDD and then burn the original HD source program direct to a bluray disc and not lose any picture quality?


http://blogs.panason...om.au/consumer/

You will only be able to record free-to-air broadcasts on the unit directly. To do Foxtel, you'd need to take the video output of the Foxtel box and send it to the A/V inputs on the Panasonic. That necessitates some loss in quality, no matter what.

However, the main problem is that the specs page on Panasonic.com.au is a bit of a joke. It just says it has "Video in" and "S-Video in". If by that, they mean "Composite video in" for "Video in", then that necessarily means only SD (576i) quality on the inputs. I.e. no HD recording from external inputs. The product page doesn't even have an image of the rear connectors, so you can't even tell from that. Go to a shop, check whether it has only composite and S-Video in. If that's it, you can't record HD from your Foxtel box on it. Any HD from the Foxtel would have to be downscaled to SD to record from the analog inputs.

The only PVR/DVDR/BRayR that I know of that can record better than 576i is the Topfield 2400, which can do 576p. Which is better, but not all that great.

[Slattery]

I suspected as much. So Nothing has changed since I purchased my DMRE85H 7 years ago LOL.
I guess I'll just have to purchase the Hauppage and burn to bluray with Nero via my PC instead  

http://www.hauppauge...data_hdpvr.html

[diesel]

HD transfers have never been possible from a Foxtel box?

[Slattery]

Nope. The Hauppage is the only unit I know of that will do it albeit a analogue 1080i transfer using component cables. Still looks pretty good though.

The HDMI protection stinks LOL

[TomW]

Like the previous models, you can only copy external HD content onto the unit and burn it to disc if its in AVCHD format, via USB from a hard drive, SD card, or video camera - but as you thought from Foxtel you'd currently have to process it through another system to convert it to AVCHD first, so there's little benefit.
Here's the manual if it helps - http://www.manualson...7c89ac74fc1.pdf

[diesel]

Luckily I downloaded the manual at the time. They no longer have it on that site, and Panasonic still haven't loaded it onto their website either.