SA 8300HDC: HDMI and RGB at the Same Time?

[fhdhd]

I have successfully hooked my new HDTV (Samsung LN-T375) up to my new SA 8300HDC box via the HDMI cable. (Actually, I patched a connection with the RGB cables the 1st week while awaiting a software upgrade from Samsumg. In fact, I just needed to select HDMI in the Digital Audio Setting Menu on the cable box! Wish I had known of this forum sooner!)

Anyway, I want to hook my non-HD DVD Player/Recorder up to the RGB output that is available on the SA 8300. This does not seem to work! Nor does the Firewire output! (I even have FW input on the Philips DVD Player/Recorder.)

My search of the forums indicates that this is the way SA (or Time Warner?) wants it! Too bad for me. Can anyone confirm this? Am I SOL?

Luckily, it seems that the S-video out does still work on the cable box, but I am lead to believe that RGB is way better. True? Thanks for any useful feedback!

[57U]

You may be able to connect the firewire output to an HTPC for real time copying of .ts files from the HDD of the SA8300HD, however, you cannot connect the firewire to a DVD recorder - those firewire inputs are limited to non-encrypted files like those on a camcorder and even then are always limited to 480i on consumer devices, as they are for component video inputs.

You will need to use S-video. See:

http://www.hdtvoice.com/voice/showthread.php?t=1330 (Connecting a DVD recorder)

http://www.hdtvoice.com/voice/showthread.php?t=10684 (recording HD.)

If your DVD recorder has a component video input, you could use component video cables, but you'd need to limit the output of the STB to 480i via the setup wizard, which would probably not provide you with any better PQ than S-video and would be a pain to change all the time.

Please realize that the connection is called component video, not RGB (they are different).

[fhdhd]

Thanks for the quick reply.

(BTW: I referred to the component connection as “RGB” because I have a hard time recalling which connection is called "composite" and which is called "component." I do know what the difference is. Also, all the tech support people I have spoken to called it "RGB" even though we all agree that this is not actually accurate.)

I cannot wait to get home and try your suggestion. However, if I recall correctly, it seems that if I have an HDMI cable plugged into the SA 8300HDC, I am NOT able to select 480i in the “choose output” setting on the box. (I recall a message that went something like: This setting is automatic for HDMI.)

Anyway, I wanted to reply without delay and thank you for your effort.