Just a quick note for people who are plugging a Humax HDR Fox-T2 into a standard def TV via a SCART lead (perhaps like me planning to upgrade to HD TV later!)

The good news is that both SD and HD broadcasts are viewable on a SD TV via the SCART output, but beware that the default (factory setting) SCART output format is set to composite video, which looks pretty awful. You'll want to go to Menu->Settings->Preferences->Video and change "TV SCART" setting from "CVBS" to the "RGB" option for best quality. Providing of course you are using a RGB-capable input on the TV!

matt.

When we get ours I'm planning to use the Scart to go to a DVD recorder for achiving recordings, with the HDMI going to the TV - we'll have to do the same I expect?

Hi,

Does anyone know if the HDR Fox T2 outputs to the SCART and HDMI simultaneously, or do you have to switch between them in the setting somewhere?

In general all Humax boxes service all the outputs at once. The only exception that I know of is when the same pins on a scart lead serve a dual purpose (eg you can't send RGB and s-video at the same time). Also on the Foxsat-HD selecting component out turns off RGB.

Hi,

I bought my Fox HDR T2 yesterday. So far, I must say I'm quite pleased with it although I've still a lot of functions to try out.

Like shanks, I'm using the SCART output for my TV, at the moment. I powered down everything at the wall overnight and, this morning, something peculiar happened. I had set up the SCART for RGB yesterday and was generally happy with the picture quality. Today, however, I noticed that the PQ was poor. Checking on my TV showed it was receiving CVBS rather than RGB via the SCART.

I'm confident that my TV detects RGB reliably. I've had it for several years now and never known it to fail in this area, with several different devices. Checking the HDR T2, however, it showed RGB in the preferences. I switched the HDR T2 to CVBS (no reaction form the TV) then back to RGB at which point the TV detected it and switched to RGB.

I checked the SCART lead was properly plugged in and it seemed to be so I don't think there was a problem in that area. I tried powering everything down again and, after waiting a short while, powered back up and the TV detected the RGB properly so at the moment, I'm hoping it was just a one-time glitch but I'll be keeping an eye on it.

Anyone else noticed anything like this?

e.

Did you switch on your TV before or after the Humax? If after then your TV could have been displaying an analogue signal from it's own tuner rather than the signal from the Humax, it's not clear from your post if you checked this. Generally the TV should be ON before switching on any SCART connected box for the TV to auto switch to that SCART.

Thanks for the suggestion Big-Les.

Unfortunately, analogue TV signals have long since ceased to exist in this part of the country (Granada region).

On top of this, the TV display specifically identified that it was getting CVBS via the SCART socket that was connected to the Humax so there was no doubt about the source of the signal.

Happily, I haven't seen the problem again (so far) so perhaps it was a one-off (but I'll carry on watching out for it, just in case).

Thanks anyway.
e

Like epsilons I've had exactly the same problem with the SCART signal reverting to composite video mode (CVBS) despite the preferences option still saying RGB, and as described found I had to switch it to CVBS and then back to RGB in the menu to fix it.

This has happened several times so far, and seems to occur for me only when the Humax is switched on from standby whilst it is already recording a programme. I've yet to test whether it matters if the TV is switched on before or after the Humax. I also have the standby power saving option disabled on the unit so I can watch TV when it's off.

Anyway, while we wait for a fix, SCART users should watch out for this - it's worth checking if you think the picture looks a bit poor!

matt.

Hi


This is similar to the HDMI coming on as well in active standby which can cause TVs (or HDMI switches) to switch you to blank screen when it comes on to record while you are watching something else, very annoying.

Both HDMI and SCART should be off in active recording mode, apparently all Humax kit does a similar thing and despite lots of complaints it has never been fixed on other boxes, so don't hold your breath!

Regards

Phil

Just an update...

Since my earlier post on this, I've seen the same thing happen a couple more times. In my case, it's definitely not associated with recording but I'm not sure exactly what the sequence of operations was before I noticed it on either occasion (must concentrate harder! ).

I'm sure that I never saw anything like this with the previous box I had plugged into this SCART (a Sony VTXD800U). Perhaps it's associated with different switch-on timings or maybe a slight difference between the SCART implementations (not familiar enough with the details of SCART spec to speculate further).

Only a minor problem but annoying. As shanks says, worth checking if the picture looks a bit poor.

e.