SA 8300HD

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

I'm trying to get into the HDTV Setup Wizard as per manual instructions, but
Guide+Info isn't working. Yes, the DVR is powered off. I've read that it
has to do with the software built into the unit -- SARA vs. Passport -- is
this correct? If so, how do I go about finding out which I have? I live in
Westchester County, NY, and my cable provider is Cablevision, if that helps.
And depending on which software this DVR has, how do I ultimately change the
output resolution of the DVR (the main reason I want to get into the HDTV
Setup Wizard in the first place)? It's currently outputting 1080i (as per
the front panel of the DVR), but my TV is the Sony A10 (720p) and I'd like
to experiment with the different resolutions.

In the DVR's General Settings menu, specifically Set: Picture Format, the
options are: Fixed, Upconvert-1, Upconvert-2 and Auto DVI/HDMI. What
exactly are each of these options doing? What would be optimal for my
setup?

Thirdly, regarding my audio setup: I'm outputting from my DVR to my TV via
HDMI. My TV outputs to my receiver via standard RCA stereo audio cables.
Am I correct in assuming that the DVR is capable of outputting Dolby Digital
5.1 via HDMI, but that is getting lost when the TV is outputting via the RCA
cables? If the DVR is outputting DD5.1, using this setup, what exactly is
getting to the receiver? Dolby Surround?

TIA!
--
Charles C. Shyu
http://home.earthlink.net/~shyuc/shyu.html

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 02:52:09 GMT, Mort Guffman
<mortguffman@hotmail.com> wrote:

>On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 00:54:43 GMT, "Charles C. Shyu"
><charles_shyu@nymc.edu> wrote:
>
>>I'm trying to get into the HDTV Setup Wizard as per manual instructions, but
>>Guide+Info isn't working. Yes, the DVR is powered off. I've read that it
>>has to do with the software built into the unit -- SARA vs. Passport -- is
>>this correct? If so, how do I go about finding out which I have? I live in
>>Westchester County, NY, and my cable provider is Cablevision, if that helps.
>>And depending on which software this DVR has, how do I ultimately change the
>>output resolution of the DVR (the main reason I want to get into the HDTV
>>Setup Wizard in the first place)? It's currently outputting 1080i (as per
>>the front panel of the DVR), but my TV is the Sony A10 (720p) and I'd like
>>to experiment with the different resolutions.
>>
>>In the DVR's General Settings menu, specifically Set: Picture Format, the
>>options are: Fixed, Upconvert-1, Upconvert-2 and Auto DVI/HDMI. What
>>exactly are each of these options doing? What would be optimal for my
>>setup?
>>
>>Thirdly, regarding my audio setup: I'm outputting from my DVR to my TV via
>>HDMI. My TV outputs to my receiver via standard RCA stereo audio cables.
>>Am I correct in assuming that the DVR is capable of outputting Dolby Digital
>>5.1 via HDMI, but that is getting lost when the TV is outputting via the RCA
>>cables? If the DVR is outputting DD5.1, using this setup, what exactly is
>>getting to the receiver? Dolby Surround?
>>
>>TIA!
>
>I'm no expert so take what I say with a grain of salt.
>
>First, AVS forum has a great section on the SA8300. Check it out
>http://www.avsforum.com/. The also have a section devoted to the A10
>televisions.
>
>I have almost the same setup as you have. I have the E55A20 TV, and
>the 8300HD STB.
>
>I have heard that the native resolution of our Sony sets is actually
>768P, so it needs to convert either 1080I or 720P anyway. I would be
>interested in what you learn - please post your results either here or
>on AVS Forum.
>
>I haven't hooked up a home theater system yet, but I would think you
>should run HDMI from the 8300 to the A10 for video (which you have
>done). Turn off the speakers in the A10. Run a optical or coaxial
>audio cable from the 8300 to your A/V receiver. Don't run audio from
>the TV to the receiver. I think you are right, you will lose the Dolby
>Digital and just be outputting stereo,
>
>Mort

Take the same grain from me.
You are correct using the above hook up. But now you must get into the
set up menu of the 8300 and your av receiver to get Dolby 5.1
surround.
Go for coaxial (good quality for long runs) instead of optical. In
either case you must "tell" the receiver what it is getting and to
output to what speakers. I see that the new JVC receivers just
need a hand clap to set up room dimensions. Far out!
This set up thing is far too complex. It may be best to enjoy the way
you have it set up now and mess with one or two changes an evening
so not too much gets screwed up.
BTW, auto dvi is how I have mine set up. The 8300 passes the signal
thru and your TV adjusts the display. That should be far better than
letting the 8300 do it.

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

On Wed, 21 Sep 2005 22:03:49 GMT, "Charles C. Shyu"
<charles_shyu@nymc.edu> wrote:

>> I'm no expert so take what I say with a grain of salt.
>>
>> First, AVS forum has a great section on the SA8300. Check it out
>> http://www.avsforum.com/. The also have a section devoted to the A10
>> televisions.
>
>I've actually read the entire A10 thread, which took pretty much all day,
>and it was informative. I couldn't find the section on the SA8300. I saw a
>few posts here and there, but perhaps I'm missing something. Could you
>please provide a link?
>
>> I have almost the same setup as you have. I have the E55A20 TV, and
>> the 8300HD STB.
>>
>> I have heard that the native resolution of our Sony sets is actually
>> 768P, so it needs to convert either 1080I or 720P anyway. I would be
>> interested in what you learn - please post your results either here or
>> on AVS Forum.
>
>Actually, our TVs have different resolutions. The A10 is 1280x720, and the
>A20 is 1366x768.
>
>> I haven't hooked up a home theater system yet, but I would think you
>> should run HDMI from the 8300 to the A10 for video (which you have
>> done). Turn off the speakers in the A10. Run a optical or coaxial
>> audio cable from the 8300 to your A/V receiver. Don't run audio from
>> the TV to the receiver. I think you are right, you will lose the Dolby
>> Digital and just be outputting stereo,
>
>I'm embarrassed to admit that I finally figured out how to enter the
>SA8300's HDTV Setup Wizard. I was pressing Guide+Info on the remote, which
>wasn't working. Apparently, you need to press those buttons on the receiver
>itself. My manual didn't say that. I got in, and set the 8300HD to be able
>to output different resolutions. Previously, it was outputting 1080i but
>not 720p. Now, my setup detects the original picture and outputs that
>format -- on some channels it outputs 1080i and on some it outputs 720p. I
>like having this setup as one quick look at the receiver display tells me
>what the receiver is outputting. I still don't know what those terms
>(fixed, upconvert-1, upconvert-2, auto dvi/hdmi) means.
>
>Thanks for your input.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/for [...] rune=&f=42

This one is very interesting, it discusses adding an external drive to
the 8300

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=516559