IEEE 1394 HD Recording Solutions
Dear Gary: I guess everyone has their opinion about what it will take to make a success out of the D-VHS D-Theater format. Here is my two cents worth. I would consider buying one of the JVC units, even at the high first-generation intro price, except for one thing. There is currently no way for me to time-shift an HD program from any of the sources that I have available through my RCA DTC-100 from HBO, Showtime, HDNet and two local stations over the air. I know you have campaigned for recording accessibility via a component video out for early adopters of HDTV, and I do thank you very much for your efforts. Does JVC or the nebulous “Hollywood” really think that people are going to invest this kind of money in a format that doesn’t allow optimum use of equipment we have already invested in so heavily? Please answer a related question for me. Is there any technical or legal barrier to someone creating and marketing a small conversion circuitry box and adapter cord to bridge from the component output (or for that matter the RCA-DTC 100 VGA output) to the IEEE 1394 recording input of the JVC HM-DH30000U? I had to invest in a similar converter/ adapter cord to run the DTC100’s VGA to my Toshiba HDTV. It seems that the scaler manufacturers have shown that any format is convertible to any other.
Richard LeRoy, Hickory Corners, Michigan
Editor-In-Chief Gary Reber Comments:
A number of set-top boxes are available now or are scheduled for first quarter 2003 introduction, which provide for an IEEE 1394 interface for recording HD content on the JVC HM-DH30000U VCR. Samsung has introduced the SIR-T165 ($700) over-the-air (OTA) H/DTV STB model, which features IEEE 1394 and DVI (Digital Visual Interface) connections. Both JVC and EchoStar have announced that they will be releasing a jointly-developed new STB models that combine a DISH Network high-definition receiver with a PVR disk recorder. The models are expected to have a IEEE 1394 connection to interface with the JVC HM-DH30000U. The JVC model is the TU-PVR9000 with a 120 GB PVR hard drive (but no ATSC tuner). The EchoStar model is the DishPVR 921 with a 250 GB hard drive and ATSC tuner. It will feature two IEEE 1394 outputs to be software-enabled via satellite. Also note that there are at least two manufacturers of integrated HDTV sets (built-in ATSC tuners) with a IEEE 1394 interface, including Hitachi and Mitsubishi. A company known as The Sixteen Nine Time Company (www.169time.com), based in Grass Valley, California (tel. 530 268 0190 x169), offers a modification to the RCA-DTC 100 to adapt an IEEE 1394 interface to allow OTA recording on all of the D-VHS VCRs. The company also offers the AVX-1 add-on product. It is the only product that is shipping that allows one to record HBO, Showtime, HDNet, and HD-PPV from DirecTV satellite.
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