R5000-HD Anyone using it with success?

[lolachampcar]

I got the Hauppauge HD and have been unimpressed with its quality. I am getting ready to make a change to my subscriber service so now is the perfect time to think about a VIP211 with R5000-HD installed.

Can anyone offer their experiences with setting this up and the net result when you were done (especially if you use a Hauppauge HD)?
Thanks,
Bill

[jerryt]

I have both. The R5000 files seem harder to play with most software. Also I can not get any closed captions from the R5000. 5.1 audio works perfectly on the R5000, whereas the HD-PVR has had trouble with 5.1 audio since day one (for me). Both have great picture quality.

All in all, I use the HD-PVR because I need the closed captions.

[lolachampcar]

Jerryt,
I do not use surround sound so that is not a problem. If I hear you right, you see no major difference in video quality betwen the two. (?) Did you do any special set up with the Hauppauge? Which interface do you use between the set top box and the Hauppauge? Do you do a lot with HD content?

[jerryt]

Qualiy is different for each, but both are great. I can not say one is better.

No special setup for me on the HD-PVR, except RCA audio cables (no optical), PCM audio selected in STB (Stereo only), and 1.0.5.301 drivers.

Interface = Component cables R G B

Only HD content

[sic0048]

The quality of the R5000 should be marginally better because it is a fully digital signal. The HD-PVR goes through a digital to analog to digital conversion.

That being said, the HD-PVR provides very good quality recordings. If you are getting sub-par quality recordings, I suspect there are some settings that are incorrect.

For example, I have a HDHR recording digital QAM stations from the cable provider as well as a HD-PVR recording my DishNetwork shows. I cannot tell a difference between them normally. The HDHR is also an all digital stream and the quality is considered excellent by most people.

I think checking your settings with a fine tooth comb may result in catching something that is causing less than stellar quality.

How are you viewing playback? Computer or extender?

[lolachampcar]

Sorry for taking so long to respond.

I was viewing with the TV but am stalled right now trying to address HD200 locking up issues (can not stream more than once before getting errors).

I do have a R5000 mod'ed VIP211 on the way so I will soon have a back to back comparison.

[iammike]

I've got both. The R5000 has a slightly better picture, but it's not a big deal. Dish compresses and down-rezs the signal a lot so the source is kind of so-so anyway. From what I hear, Directv and cable picture quality are about the same.

Both solutions have their quirks. I used to have a lot of problems with my HDPVR and channel changes using the blaster, but it's been working pretty smoothly for me lately. On the other hand, the R5000 used to be pretty solid but either the latest release of Sage or the 3.1c release of the R5000 software seems to have broken it to a degree. There seems to be some signal quality monitoring in Sage that periodically decides to tell the R5000 to stop recording. I downloaded the 3.1d software from the R5000 ftp site a few days ago and I think it's working better now but I haven't used it enough to be sure.