View Full Version : Elite Pro 510 Advice Needed
Hello,
I have an Elite 510 since 2000 that I've enjoyed a great deal with analog cable and DVD's. Now the time has come for me dump analog cable and go to a satellite dish that is getting installed this Friday. Yes, I know....why did I wait so long. I hear that using component cables is the way to go from the receiver to the TV. However, from what I understand, this will lock into FULL mode without being able to adjust picture size. Is this a problem and what do others suggest? I thought HD wide screen movies would be OK but it might be better to use S-video for SD so the screen size can be adjusted especially with non-widescreen material. Is this the best way to hook up SD and HD from the dish?
I'm just trying to get the cables ready before the dish gets installed. Thanks for any input.
rsh
What Dish receiver are you getting? 811?
When I had Dish, I hooked up s-video and component from my 811 to the TV.
You'll have to have DVI (HDMI) or Component for HD, You probably don't have DVI so it doesn't matter and most people have found that on a CRT based RPTV there is no PQ difference that they can see.
When viewing SD I used the s-video so I could use the TV's stetch modes, and component for HD.
Lee
edit: I didn't look up your TV on the net, I am assuming that its 16X9 HD and has component inputs :)
Lee,
Thanks - looks like you are answering all my questions which I appreciate. Yes, my tv is 16 x 9 HD and has component inputs and I'll be getting the 811 from Dish Network. I went through VMC which I'm not really understanding how the satellite companies play a part since Dish Network or Direct TV can arrange installation.
Does it really matter who you go through when subscribing? Anyway, getting back on the topic, it looks like I'll be hooking up my tv the same way you did when using the same receiver. The S-video will allow me to change picture sizes which is very important to me. I won't care how good the picture is if the people look too fat or stretched the wrong way, I'll be distracted. I'll use the component for HD material. I was just wondering how the HD material looked on your 16 x 9 tv when it was sent in pan & scan format. My tv will lock HD in FULL mode so I bet the people won't look quite right if sent in pan & scan. I guess this is the price you have to pay until HD is the majority and gets sent in widescreen all the time. You can correct me if I'm not thinking through this the right way since I don't have it installed yet.
I wanted to ask what you're currently getting since you mentioned that "when" you had a dish. Are you subscribing to Comcast digital cable or something?
Thanks,
rsh
kevinw
12-27-2004, 09:47 AM
You will probally change your mind after having the 811 hooked up. Sd unpconverted to 1080i looks better than going through the S-Video.
The 811 also has its own stretch modes Only one is acceptable but for me the picture is much better through the components.
HD, true HD, will be 16x9 and everything will look correct. It's when digital SD is sent that the problems with side bars is present.
I'd listen to Kevin, he's been running a 811 longer. I didn't have my 811 that long. I switched to Direct TV to get the HD Tivo. Also in the transition I went to a DLP front projector so side bars became a non issue, no burn-in. I don't use stretch modes anymore.
In fact I still have my 811 sitting in the closet :)
Lee
You will probally change your mind after having the 811 hooked up. Sd unpconverted to 1080i looks better than going through the S-Video.
The 811 also has its own stretch modes Only one is acceptable but for me the picture is much better through the components.
Kevin,
Does this mean that the stretch mode via the 811 will allow me to adjust the SD picture so it looks normal without the side bars present? It sounds like you're saying that the stretch modes on the 811 are only adjustable if a S-video connection is used. Is the picture locked with the side bars if sent in pan & scan via the component connections? Just so I know, what is this stretch mode called that to you is the only one that's acceptable? By curiousity, can you or Lee tell me how much percentage wise is HD sent in pan and scan. I would think this would occur only with some of the local OTA HD broadcasts and not with the 5 HD channels via Dish Network's HD package such as HD TNT, etc.
Appreicate any help you can provide.
Cheers,
rsh
Kevin or Lee,
Can either of you or someone else take a shot at my questions. Lee, I've already ordered the Silver Sensor since I agree that my location looks very good. It should arrive tomorrow. Besides this, I'm just trying to clarify the 811 and the picture adjustments that Kevin says it has. I know you guys have tons of experience and knowledge but you got to remember that newbies like myself need clarification sometimes. Kevin or someone with 811 receiver knowledge would need to answer this. I'm just curious about the mode adjustments. The questions I had are in my previous post.
Thanks -- Come on now, there's got to be folks out there with the 811 receiver that could set me straight and answer my questions.
Thanks,
rsh
Painter
12-30-2004, 12:11 PM
check the directions to the 810. I have the 6000 hi def and on the remote pad I have a star button that will change the aspect ratio in the reciever, so I can use component video all the time. So when I go to a hi def channels it is in its normal wide screen and analog it is stretched. Also my reciever remembers the settings, so I can bet yours will too.
check the directions to the 810. I have the 6000 hi def and on the remote pad I have a star button that will change the aspect ratio in the reciever, so I can use component video all the time. So when I go to a hi def channels it is in its normal wide screen and analog it is stretched. Also my reciever remembers the settings, so I can bet yours will too.
Thanks -- Hopefully that will work for me which would be great. The hardware is getting installed tomorrow ...........or make that today since it's after midnight here.
rsh
rsh,
Been away a bit. I went to a HD front projector and from that point I didn't concern myself with 'stretch' modes in the 811 and with my RPTV I used the TVs stretch through the s-video. I think I must have been one of the few that didn't have the 'dark s-video problem'.
Same goes with my HD Tivo, don't use stretch.
I know what you are looking for is in the 811 manual and I'll have to dig it out unless Kevin jumps back in.
Lee
Well, the manual isn't really a big help. :(
Screen Format: page 63. I won't reproduce it here since you have or will have you manual today.
Also page 21.
Also says the Format/Star button on the remote to toggle the display modes, Normal/Zoom.
I can see why everyone gets frustrated with these manuals, my HD Tivo manual isn't much better.
Lee
kevinw
12-31-2004, 10:23 AM
Kevin,
Does this mean that the stretch mode via the 811 will allow me to adjust the SD picture so it looks normal without the side bars present? It sounds like you're saying that the stretch modes on the 811 are only adjustable if a S-video connection is used.
Appreicate any help you can provide.
Cheers,
rsh
The 811 stretches both SD and HD. For 4:3 programming ubpconverted to 1080i, I can zoom/stretch and only loos a bit of info but end up with a better picture sometimes YMMV
Well, I got my dish and receivers installed. Picture looks better than expected. I was surprised to find that the 811 receiver has a menu setting for 480p, 720p or 1080i to be sent to the TV and actually goes through the component cables. I hooked up an S-video cable so I could stretch the picture through my tv especially since my tv locks in FULL mode with 480p or 1080i through the component connections. Even though I could stretch it, the picture quality was clearly not as good through the S-video as it was through the component connections. Picture quality dropped enough that it wasn't worth me leaving S-video connected. So, I basically leave it on 480p through the component connections and get a full screen with just barely seen side bars. The picture quality via 1080i is better but not tons compared to 480p. I have to go back and forth to see the difference and look closely. 480p and 1080i on SD was clearly a much smaller difference compared with 480p through component and 480i w/ S-video. It's easy for me to go to 1080i on the 811 if HDTV is being sent widescreen. The first time I changed it from 480p to 1080i, my picture went black with audio only. I had to unplug the receiver for 30+ seconds and reset the system. After that, I was able to go between 480p and 1080i with no problem until it did the same thing w/ my picture going black and needing reset again last night. I hope this isn't common. I definitely prefer to watch a widescreen picture on SD with 480p than getting the thicker black bars w/ 1080i. I believe that HD is sharper with 1080i sent than it is compared to 480p. Has anyone ever compared this on their HDTV? The Pioneer Elite does an awesome job with picture quality. To be truthful, I believe my S-video picture would be better if I had a better cable. I have a very common brand of S-video cable that has never impressed me -- I'll leave it at that. My component cable is a much better brand cable.
Is there any reason the picture goes black when switching the 811 between 480p and 1080i? Is this something the receiver doesn't like for some reason?
rsh
