Toshiba POP question

[ronzo28]

hello. i'm fairly new to this, but i just purchased a 36HF73. i cannot figure out how to use the POP feature where you get two different stations on the same screen. i do get a split screen, but it's the same channel on both and i can't figure out how to change one of them.
please help! thank you everyone.

ronzo

[57U]

The operating manual probably tells you. You simply go to the "active" picture and change the channel. Sometimes this is done with a "swap" button?

This is assuming you're using the internal tuner. If you're feeding the TV from a STB, then you're only going to see the one channel that the STB is tuned to. You need two different inputs in that case.

[DoubleDAZ]

Ronzo, you need to give us a little more information, like what is your signal source (cable/sat/antenna) and do you have a set-top box (STB) (what model)?

As 57U pointed out, if you are using the TV's tuner, it should be a simple matter of following the instructions in the User's Guide. However, I assume you are using either cable or sat.

If you are using a cable, sat, or OTA STB, then you may be out of luck if the STB itself doesn't have a PIP/POP function. With an STB connected, that becomes your ONLY signal source and that is why both pictures display the same channel.

If you are using a cable STB, you can split the cable from the wall to get partial PIP/POP capability. You run a line from the wall to a splitter. You run a line from the splitter to the STB and then to the TV like you have it connected now. You run the other line from the splitter to another input (CBL IN or something similar) on your TV.

You can then PIP/POP one channel from the STB and another from CBL, though the one from CBL will be limited to analog channels. If you are using sat, you can't do this, but you could connect an antenna to at least be able to PIP/POP local analog channels in a similar manner. I assume you want this mostly for sports in order to follow 2 games at the same time.

[ronzo28]

hi DoubleDAZ...thank you very much for the reply. you are correct, i'm running my motorola STB from comcast cable, so therefore i can only watch the one channel. do most folks in my situation use the splitter method you mentioned? as you guessed, i only need it for sports programming. is your suggestion my best (and only) option?

thanks again for your help, i truly appreciate it.

ronzo

[DoubleDAZ]

AFAIK, short of putting up an antenna (even a cheap indoor one if you can get locals easy enough) to PIP local channels, splitting the cable, or getting a 2-tuner box from Comcast (if they offer one, usually a DVR), are your only options. It's not that big a deal as long as you get a decent splitter (1GHz or better) and have an adequate cable signal. My cableco actually put in a splitter because the early SA boxes did such a lousy job on the analog channels. I haven't taken it out yet because there a 2 nights this season where I record 2 shows in HD and switch to the direct cable line to watch a 3rd in SD.

[57U]

DD, although some of the Motorola DVRs have two tuners (6412), I don't believe the firmware yet allows PiP on them... I could be wrong.

[DoubleDAZ]

Oh yeah, I didn't think of that, thanks. I guess for now then, the only options are the antenna or cable splitter.

[Lobstah]

DD, although some of the Motorola DVRs have two tuners (6412), I don't believe the firmware yet allows PiP on them... I could be wrong.

My SA DVR has it's own "PIP" function, but it's not as beefy as the Toshiba's.

Lob