Is it possible to record HDTV on DVB-T based DVD recorders?

[javelin_]

Is it possible to record HDTV broadcasts at 1080i or 1080p on the present DVD recorders with built in DVB-T tuner, to HDD, like Sony RDR-HXD870, Panasonic DMR-EX77EG and Pioneer DVR-550HX-S? If not, does it mean that in two years, when there will be HDTV only, this recorders will be of no use?
Thanks.

[Gavtech]

I'm not quite sure where to start here because you have so many serious misapprehensions.

Far from there being only HDTV in two years time, the way broadcasting regulation stands at the moment, HDTV may NEVER become the norm [ by which I mean terrestrial public service broadcasting ]... and technically, terrestrial HDTV can never happen at all until 2012 at the earliest in mainland UK - ie not until complete analogue switch-off.

You can currently record HDTV transmissions with the existing machines... but not at HDTV resolution. A degraded output is available from true HDTV sources to make it possible... so no - There is no chance of the current machines becoming useless. They are more likely to be museum pieces before HDTV is the norm.

[javelin_]

Does it mean I can record MPEG4, H.264 broadcast on any of this devices, or do I have to search for a special specification? As I can find they are all noted to record MPEG2 only.

[Gavtech]

Originally Posted by javelin_

Does it mean I can record MPEG4, H.264 broadcast on any of this devices, or do I have to search for a special specification? As I can find they are all noted to record MPEG2 only.

Assuming you mean the H.264 specification as used in HDTV ... It would be technically impossible to record it on anything but an HD device, simply because the data throughput is four times higher than any SD device can cope with.

[javelin_]

If it says that DVD device playback supports MPEG4, does it mean that I can capture HDTV H.264 on a PC, burn it to a DVD media and play it on such a stand alone device?

[JayCee]

What "device" are you referring to?

[javelin_]

Originally Posted by JayCee

What "device" are you referring to?

As a DVD device I refere to either stand alone DVD player or a DVD recorder, as many of the latest models are specified to support MPEG4 and also support 1080p on the HDMI, which mostly corresponds to HDTV standard, so I ask if they can playback HDTV, MPEG4 broadcast, which is captured and burned on a PC, as most PC tuner cards capture H.264 as it is only a matter of software support. So, can I playback such a capture on the latest DVD players and recorders, specified as MPEG4 compliant?

[JayCee]

Originally Posted by javelin_

can I playback such a capture on the latest DVD players and recorders, specified as MPEG4 compliant?

There are HD DVD players available in the UK which I think would be capable.
There are no HD DVDRs in the UK at the moment AFAIK.
You may be better off posing the question on our dedicated HD Forum here.

[javelin_]

Originally Posted by JayCee

There are HD DVD players available in the UK which I think would be capable.
There are no HD DVDRs in the UK at the moment AFAIK.
You may be better off posing the question on our dedicated HD Forum here.

I did not post this to HD forum because I refere my question to standard DVD recorders and DVD players.
As for Blue ray and HD DVD, its main purpose is to support HDTV, so the question fot it is not needed.
Here are some infos I found for MPEG4 support and also noted HDTV, so does it mean that this conventional DVD devices can playback HDTV from a DVD media:
Cambridge audio DVD89 specification:
http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/specif...Specifications
Panasonic DVD-S53EG-K specification:
http://www.produkte.panasonic.de/pro...N&upper=&prop=

Therefore was my question.

[Hal_loe]

Originally Posted by javelin_

Here are some infos I found for MPEG4 support and also noted HDTV, so does it mean that this conventional DVD devices can playback HDTV from a DVD media:
Cambridge audio DVD89 specification:
http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/specif...Specifications
Panasonic DVD-S53EG-K specification:
http://www.produkte.panasonic.de/pro...N&upper=&prop=

Therefore was my question.

Hi

I have the Panasonic DVD-S52EB which also supports MPEG4.

The HDTV and 1080p mentioned mentioned is for the upscaling output on HDMI nothing more.

The S52 won't play HD XviD files, just comes back unsupported. The video resolution has to be lower or equal to SD to play them. I expect the S53 is exactly the same.

So no I expect no SD DVD device can playback HDTV from DVD media.

Hope that helps.

[javelin_]

Originally Posted by Hal_loe

Hi

I have the Panasonic DVD-S52EB which also supports MPEG4.

The HDTV and 1080p mentioned mentioned is for the upscaling output on HDMI nothing more.

The S52 won't play HD XviD files, just comes back unsupported. The video resolution has to be lower or equal to SD to play them. I expect the S53 is exactly the same.

So no I expect no SD DVD device can playback HDTV from DVD media.

Hope that helps.

But Panasonic does not officially support XviD files, as to the specification. Can you try capture HDTV on your PC by a tuner card, burn to DVD and try on your Panasonic. Maybe this could be supported. If it supports MPEG4 and also 1080p resolution, it should display HDTV, as it corresponds to the specification.
It still remains the question for the Cambridge audio, as it specificaly claims in specification it supports HDTV. As it probably does not use some unique system, this could be valid for other models with MPEG4 specification.

[Hal_loe]

Originally Posted by javelin_

But Panasonic does not officially support XviD files, as to the specification. Can you try capture HDTV on your PC by a tuner card, burn to DVD and try on your Panasonic. Maybe this could be supported. If it supports MPEG4 and also 1080p resolution, it should display HDTV, as it corresponds to the specification.
It still remains the question for the Cambridge audio, as it specificaly claims in specification it supports HDTV. As it probably does not use some unique system, this could be valid for other models with MPEG4 specification.

I know they don't officially support XviD but they work fine if SD resolution, DivX don't work if HDTV resolution either....

I don't have any HDTV reception here in the UK, only from downloaded videos.

If it supports MPEG4 and also 1080p resolution, it should display HDTV, as it corresponds to the specification.

From the UK Panasonic website specs it says:-

- Full HD 1080p Up-Conversion

Therefore they don't support playback of 1080p resolution just upscale to it, is how I read that.

[Gavtech]

Let me simplify this.

It does not matter which way you cut it.... which compression system you use... which codec you use.....It is technically impossible to get true HD out of any SD based disc system .. in real time.

The system capacity is just nowhere near enough to supply the necessary data rate for HDTV.

That was why there was a multi-million dollar research investment in Blue-ray / HD.

If ANY system purports to do this then it is using fakery and will not be producing true HD.