Hi all,

If you already have a HD screen, and you don't want PVR funtionality, then of course you get a HD STB. No point watching SD on a HD screen (unless via a HD STB, and there is a point to watching HD on a SD screen)
If you don't
have anything yet, and are considering getting a HD screen with a SD STB or SD PVR then don't, just get a SD screen and buy HD later or better yet go the HD screen, and get a HD STB. HD STB's are pretty cheap for what you get now, and the HD PVR's are bound to be quite a bit cheaper in the coming few years. Sorta sick of people recommending SD to people here, this forum is about HD... we should be encouraging it. I wonder if some of these SD PVR fans work for Topfield When people buy a HD screen and come here to find out which HD STB is good, they shouldn't be recommended any SD equipment, certinley informed about it existing, but the crux of their question should be attended to, i.e. which HD STB is good and goes well with my HD screen...

JSmith :ph34r:

Agree 100%
Agree less so. Yes there is a specific DVD Recorders & Hard Disk Drive Recorders branch but the whole digital TV arena is new to everyone and I suspect are that most people's first point of call is the (badly named as it should just be the HD STB branch) HD/SD STB branch - which is what most neophytes would understand is 'digital TV'. Put simply people just don't understand their options.

While the 'What's a good HD STB' query is oft asked (and always specifically answered by plenty of people) I don't actually think there are many times someone has asked such a specific query and then been bombarded simply with 'Get a SD PVR'. Often the question has been phrased 'Why should I get HiDef', 'Is Hi Def worth it', etc. as (until recently) the querant was looking at spending $500+ on a box. Or TV viewing habits are mentioned flagging ignorance (like Should I get this HiDef STB and this model DVDRecorder?').

Personally, I rarely get into discussions on which is the 'best' solution. I'll try answer as impartially as I can (with a definite PVR bias) to find a solution that fits what I believe the user will most be happy with. We all just provide information (and opinions hopefully well flagged) and people enquiring, obviously skip stuff they have no interest in.

The number of times posters have evinced an interest in a SD PVR after simply assuming that their only option is to get a simple HiDef STB does tend to make me think its worth suggesting. It might be unfortunate that when provided the buy a SD PVR or buy a HD STB many people see more value in the PVR but its a common occurance. Theoretically the discussion should be moved to another branch but it does seem reasonable to continue the conversation where it was started? - esp as people will no doubt be providing pros and cons about the topic as a whole.

When a HiDef PVR hits the market for under $1000 I will be suggesting that as the 'ultimate machine' but till then most viewers will have to make an imperfect choice between HiDef STB and SD PVR (Although I often recomend a HiDef STB and a cheap single tuner PVR as a viable option with the obligitory caution )

Regards

Peter Gillespie

PS Just a last thought. Most people enquiring about STBs (HD or SD) haven't really given much thought to recording digital TV and make incorrect assumptions about how it works. Its unfortunate that after they buy their expensive equipment they have to come back to the forum and do more digging and find out that the STB was probably not what they wanted.

PPS Last last thought (promise) - I don't think anyone ever asks about HiDef on this forum and isn't given plenty of information that 'specifically' addresses there query.

I recently campaigned for a category update as follows:

SD Set-top Boxes
HD Set-top Boxes
SD PVRs
HD PVRs
SD DVD Recorders
HD DVD Recorders (people are already talking about them)
Media Centres / PC Equipment
SD Displays
HD Displays
Integrated Displays
Home Theatre Systems
Product Reviews

pg and jsmith, you guys are experienced, how do we make this happen?

I tend to agree with pg that a great number of the posters here are not experts on the whole dtv issue (a point which applies very well to me . Therefore, to make the categories too specific as discussed above may mean that people do not get the benefit of the different ideas and possibilities. I know that when I purchased a dtv setup, I assumed that a straight HD stb and display was the way to go. It was not till I found this forum that I even realised there was such a thing as a pvr. I then went and purchased a cheap SD pvr (Supernet) as well. I believe I now have the setup that is optimal for me, being able to watch HD for the majority of the time while also having the capability to record when needed, but this was achieved more by fluke than through understanding what is possible. For many people the option of only having an advanced pvr (eg toppy) would be more attractive, as they do more recording than live viewing. If there is not a category for general discussions as outlined by pg, then people will not have the benefit of the open discussions now available.

Another solution may be to have the specific categories as suggested by madmax, but also include a category for general discussion on the various types of dtv setups available. This would be a good place for new users to visit first to benefit from the great experience available here.

No idea really - it might even be technologically difficult. Emailling Coral would be the only way to get it implimented I'd suspect.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

Yeah, I did that already. Haven't received a reply as yet.....maybe it needs some more support!