Well I am still fiddling with my recently purchased 42" Panasonic SD Plasma with a couple of STBs. I first tried the Hotchip 4000 HD STB @ $272 upon its relatively good user opinions here. It had fantastic PQ and I was happy with everything except for the fact that it had no Timer built in to link to my Pana DVD Recorder! So it got returned.

I am now using a Strong 5005 SD STB @ $150 and it of course has the Timer facility that works great. However, the PQ is rather annoyingly inferior to that of the Hotchip. Now I realise that one is HD and the other SD but watching the same SD FTA TV (I deleted all the HD channels off the Hotchip as the PQ was no better than the standard SD channels) on each box produces very different PQ. Both were connected direct to the plasma via the same component cable so it can't be the connections. Am I correct in thinking that a HD STB will give a superior PQ even on a SD plasma?

Trouble is I need to find another STB with more acceptable PQ with a Timer function so should I stick to just HD for the better PQ but higher cost? Or is the PQ difference down to just the units processing capabilties with the Hotchip able to better process a decent picture?

Lastly, I am considering just selling the DVD Rec and getting a Topfield 5000 PVR @ $750 that has what I want albeit more than I really want to pay. But what really concerns me is that the Topfield is only SD. That wouldn't have bothered me before but now I have seen the big drop in PQ of a SD STB compared to HD, will the Topfield be similar to the current Strong PQ wise or not?

Any assistance would be appreciated as it is starting to drive me crazy!

I love the functionality of my topfield box - I think it adds a lot to TV when you can watch what you want, whenever you want.

What sort of input would you be wanting to use - component, scart, svideo, coposite etc.

Do you have foxtel or anything like that? If so - you will only be able to record that on your dvd recorder.

Most people are able to get great PQ out of their toppies depending upon the type of connection they use.

Cheers

Thanks for your reply. No Foxtel here and not likely to ever get it so I am only concerned about recording TV while at work during night shift. Connection must be via Component which I understand requires a special Scart to Component cable to run Component "over" Scart yeah? I hope that is the same PQ as a straight component to component connection...

Glas you were able to return this, but how did you? Did they tell you it had a timer? Did it not do something you were told it would? Or did you have to lie to return it...?

Yes.

JSmith :ph34r:

Returned the Hotchip and told them I was under the impression it had a timer - refunded no problem.

I have since returned the Strong also at a different store and refunded again no problem just said the PQ was useless as it was anyway.

So now I am using the Topfield 5000 PVR and truely loving it:) Can't say I believe that using a HD stb over a SD one gives better PQ as the Hotchip HD gave the same PQ as the Topfield SD one...