What are advantages of a dual tuner?

JWALKER · 08-18-2006, 12:36 PM

Currently i have the 50'' sony sxrd with an HD box thru my cable company. What would be the main reason for purchasing the dual tuner box? Could i use it to access my twin view feature on my tv? Currently i cannot watch 2 shows at the same time because of the HD box i have . Thanks in advance.

deadhead68 · 08-18-2006, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWALKER

Currently i have the 50'' sony sxrd with an HD box thru my cable company. What would be the main reason for purchasing the dual tuner box? Could i use it to access my twin view feature on my tv? Currently i cannot watch 2 shows at the same time because of the HD box i have . Thanks in advance.

I assume the dual tuner is a DVR also. With a dual tuner, you can record one channel and watch another at the same time. Or record 2 different channels at the same time.

DeadHead68

jjufon · 08-18-2006, 06:59 PM

add a cable card and you can record two and watch one all at the same time!

goober22 · 08-19-2006, 08:35 AM

With a dual tuner dvr, you can:

- record a show while watching another
- record 2 shows and watch a previously recorded one
- use PIP to watch 2 shows

You cannot access the 2 tuners at the same time and output both of them to 2 different tvs (or inputs) at the same time - like the Dish boxes do. The 2nd tuner is just a backup for recording or PIP.

paulc · 08-21-2006, 09:22 AM

Small gotcha, while watching one and recording another, the PIP will only swap the "watched" and the "being recorded" channel.

The "record 2 and watch one playback" thing is really impressive. Means 3 streaming video feeds are being handled at the sametime.

JWALKER · 08-22-2006, 08:52 AM

I got the dual tuner yesterday and i love it. however, i still cant use the PIP feature. One of the screens that comes up is all snow and static. Is there something i am missing?

deadhead68 · 08-22-2006, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWALKER

I got the dual tuner yesterday and i love it. however, i still cant use the PIP feature. One of the screens that comes up is all snow and static. Is there something i am missing?

You're not exactly missing something. This is a very common problem people are now realizing with PIP. On my Toshiba, the only way I can use the PIP with the same input source is through my ANT 1 port. So when I had my OTA antenna hooked up, I was able to use PIP to watch 2 local channels. That is because the ATSC tuner inside the TV was a dual tuner. All other inputs can only display 1 channel at a time. I get around this now by having an HD set top box and a cable card. I can have one side of the PIP be the HDMI from the cable box, and the other side of the PIP be the ANT1 input that has the cable coax connected to it. Now this is how MY tv is, but I believe that is the case with them all. Even though your cable box has a dual tuner, it can only send one channel at a time to your TV. I hope this makes sense.

DeadHead68

goober22 · 08-22-2006, 02:49 PM

Don't understand what you mean "This is a very common problem people are now realizing with PIP"

The STB with built-in dual tuners handles the PIP. The STB outputs it as 1 stream to your tv. You should be able to activate the PIP on the STB and see a 1/4 screen of the other tuner. The SA boxes allow you to move it to one of the 4 corners of the screen. hit swap to swap them. The tv has nothing to do with this other than display the pic.

If you have snow on one tuner, for some reason that tuner is not getting a signal. Can you record 2 shows at once and have them do okay? record 2 30 minutes shows and check the results.

Of course, if you have a Motorola STB, they did not have their PIP functional. Only some of the newest STBs with Moto have functional PIP (another reason I'm glad to have SA).

paulc · 08-22-2006, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deadhead68

Even though your cable box has a dual tuner, it can only send one channel at a time to your TV. I hope this makes sense.
DeadHead68

Not quite... my dual tuner STB (SA 8300HD) has a very large installed base (don't know for sure, but I'd almost put money on it being #1 or 2 in installed base) and absolutely shows 2 different channels at the same time (assuming there's no recording going on at the time), on the same screen via the PIP function.

deadhead68 · 08-22-2006, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulc

Not quite... my dual tuner STB (SA 8300HD) has a very large installed base (don't know for sure, but I'd almost put money on it being #1 or 2 in installed base) and absolutely shows 2 different channels at the same time (assuming there's no recording going on at the time), on the same screen via the PIP function.

Sorry guys, I should have stated that I have the Motorola 6412 and it will only send one of the tuners output to my TV at the same time. Having never had the SA model, I did not know it has this capability.

DeadHead68

paulc · 08-23-2006, 09:30 AM

Ah, so that Moto doesn't support PIP? A shame to have dual tuners but not take advantage of it for PIP...

JWALKER · 08-23-2006, 01:49 PM

I have the Moto STB dual tuner and the PIP still doesnt work. I guess my particular box does not support the PIP fx. All i get is the snowy screen and the channel i am watching. Does the fact that i have it hooked up via HDMI cable effect it? Also about how many hours does this box record in HD and regular cable? anybody know?

deadhead68 · 08-23-2006, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWALKER

I have the Moto STB dual tuner and the PIP still doesnt work. I guess my particular box does not support the PIP fx. All i get is the snowy screen and the channel i am watching. Does the fact that i have it hooked up via HDMI cable effect it? Also about how many hours does this box record in HD and regular cable? anybody know?

I have the Moto 3412 box, and it does not support PIP. You may have the Moto 6412, and I am not sure of it's PIP status. Though from your posts, if you do have the 6412, it most likely doesn't support PIP either. The HDMI cable will have no affect if the box is not capable of PIP. From my calculations, an hour of HD uses approximately 10 gig of the 120 gig hard drive. Now leaving some space for buffering of live TV, you'll get about 11 hours of HD. And a rough estimate of SD is about 1 gig for an hour of SD programming.

DeadHead68

paulc · 08-24-2006, 04:08 PM

I tell ya, this really slays me (even though I have a SA and it works there). There IS a function in the STB to do PIP and it doesn't simultaneously show the output from each tuner?

Do those boxes have ways of hooking up other video sources? If so, that sort of explains it... they wired it like most TVs to only show each source in PIP.

BTW, pretty sure my manual says only the primary channel being viewed in PIP is buffering video. The SA does NOT so side by side so it's clear which one is primary.

JWALKER · 08-24-2006, 04:16 PM

My boxes remote control has a PIP button but i still get snow. It also has numerous video sources I could use (component, s video, ect...) It may be a lost cause. I even split the cable before it goes to the STB and the tv and i still get snow. Oh well.

08-19-2006, 08:35 AM	#4
goober22 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Panama City / Ft Walton Bch, FL. Posts: 702	With a dual tuner dvr, you can: - record a show while watching another - record 2 shows and watch a previously recorded one - use PIP to watch 2 shows You cannot access the 2 tuners at the same time and output both of them to 2 different tvs (or inputs) at the same time - like the Dish boxes do. The 2nd tuner is just a backup for recording or PIP. __________________ DirecTV = HR20-700x2, HR20-100x2, All Networked, R15-500x1, D12-300x2, Zinwell WB616, OTA=17, TVs=9, Knology Cable = Internet & Phone Only, HD=34, Comcast Cable = Not Currently Subbed, HD=32, Hitachi 65S700 65", Sanyo 30" HD, Sony Home Theatre 7.1 Receiver, Sony 7.1 Speaker System , Harmony 686 x3 Last edited by goober22; 08-19-2006 at 08:40 AM.

08-22-2006, 08:52 AM	#6
JWALKER High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 53	I got the dual tuner yesterday and i love it. however, i still cant use the PIP feature. One of the screens that comes up is all snow and static. Is there something i am missing? __________________ Sony 46" XBR2 LCD!!!!!!!!

08-22-2006, 02:49 PM	#8
goober22 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Panama City / Ft Walton Bch, FL. Posts: 702	Don't understand what you mean "This is a very common problem people are now realizing with PIP" The STB with built-in dual tuners handles the PIP. The STB outputs it as 1 stream to your tv. You should be able to activate the PIP on the STB and see a 1/4 screen of the other tuner. The SA boxes allow you to move it to one of the 4 corners of the screen. hit swap to swap them. The tv has nothing to do with this other than display the pic. If you have snow on one tuner, for some reason that tuner is not getting a signal. Can you record 2 shows at once and have them do okay? record 2 30 minutes shows and check the results. Of course, if you have a Motorola STB, they did not have their PIP functional. Only some of the newest STBs with Moto have functional PIP (another reason I'm glad to have SA). __________________ DirecTV = HR20-700x2, HR20-100x2, All Networked, R15-500x1, D12-300x2, Zinwell WB616, OTA=17, TVs=9, Knology Cable = Internet & Phone Only, HD=34, Comcast Cable = Not Currently Subbed, HD=32, Hitachi 65S700 65", Sanyo 30" HD, Sony Home Theatre 7.1 Receiver, Sony 7.1 Speaker System , Harmony 686 x3

08-23-2006, 01:49 PM	#12
JWALKER High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 53	I have the Moto STB dual tuner and the PIP still doesnt work. I guess my particular box does not support the PIP fx. All i get is the snowy screen and the channel i am watching. Does the fact that i have it hooked up via HDMI cable effect it? Also about how many hours does this box record in HD and regular cable? anybody know? __________________ Sony 46" XBR2 LCD!!!!!!!!

08-24-2006, 04:16 PM	#15
JWALKER High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 53	My boxes remote control has a PIP button but i still get snow. It also has numerous video sources I could use (component, s video, ect...) It may be a lost cause. I even split the cable before it goes to the STB and the tv and i still get snow. Oh well. __________________ Sony 46" XBR2 LCD!!!!!!!!

08-18-2006, 12:36 PM	#1
JWALKER High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 53	What are advantages of a dual tuner? Currently i have the 50'' sony sxrd with an HD box thru my cable company. What would be the main reason for purchasing the dual tuner box? Could i use it to access my twin view feature on my tv? Currently i cannot watch 2 shows at the same time because of the HD box i have . Thanks in advance. __________________ Sony 46" XBR2 LCD!!!!!!!!

08-18-2006, 06:59 PM	#3
jjufon CMMS Junkie Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Frisco Tx Posts: 968	add a cable card and you can record two and watch one all at the same time!

08-21-2006, 09:22 AM	#5
paulc Very Grizzled Vet of 1 yr Join Date: May 2006 Location: New York City Posts: 1,764	Small gotcha, while watching one and recording another, the PIP will only swap the "watched" and the "being recorded" channel. The "record 2 and watch one playback" thing is really impressive. Means 3 streaming video feeds are being handled at the sametime.

08-23-2006, 09:30 AM	#11
paulc Very Grizzled Vet of 1 yr Join Date: May 2006 Location: New York City Posts: 1,764	Ah, so that Moto doesn't support PIP? A shame to have dual tuners but not take advantage of it for PIP...

08-24-2006, 04:08 PM	#14
paulc Very Grizzled Vet of 1 yr Join Date: May 2006 Location: New York City Posts: 1,764	I tell ya, this really slays me (even though I have a SA and it works there). There IS a function in the STB to do PIP and it doesn't simultaneously show the output from each tuner? Do those boxes have ways of hooking up other video sources? If so, that sort of explains it... they wired it like most TVs to only show each source in PIP. BTW, pretty sure my manual says only the primary channel being viewed in PIP is buffering video. The SA does NOT so side by side so it's clear which one is primary.

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