i have sky+ connected to my 710 by 3 x Phono (Left + Right + Video) Cable into a scart adaptor. but it records everything in 4:3 that is broadcast in widescreen. i also have a tried it on a sony 1065 which correctly records in widescreen so its not the cables or the scart adaptor fault. is there any setting i could change to get it working right?
sky+ to sony 710 widescreen swich probs
To solve your problem you should connect your SKY+ box via a FULLY WIRED SCART cable to the Line 3 input on your 710 (connect the other end of the SCART lead to the TV output socket on the SKY+ box). Set the SKY+ to output RGB and SCART CONTROL to ON (Services 4,1 from memory).
If you do it like this, the SONY will pick up the widescreen switching signal from the SCART lead (this is not possible when using just a single video cable). Assuming you have your 710 connected to the TV via SCART also (From line 1) then you will see the 710 will be displayed on your TV when it (the SONY) is on. If you put the 710 into STANDBY the SKY+ box will automatically loop through and that will be displayed on the TV instead.
If for whatever reason, your SONY is on but you want to look at the SKY+ box, then you can press TV/DVD on the SONY remote (just under the standby button) to flip over to SKY+ (basically your 710 and SKY+ will share the SCART input on your TV, this should not be a problem as you can only watch one thing at a time).
If you also set the SONY to send RGB on the Line 1 output (done via the set-up menu) then you should get the best picture quality possible on both sources.
I hope this helps
If you do it like this, the SONY will pick up the widescreen switching signal from the SCART lead (this is not possible when using just a single video cable). Assuming you have your 710 connected to the TV via SCART also (From line 1) then you will see the 710 will be displayed on your TV when it (the SONY) is on. If you put the 710 into STANDBY the SKY+ box will automatically loop through and that will be displayed on the TV instead.
If for whatever reason, your SONY is on but you want to look at the SKY+ box, then you can press TV/DVD on the SONY remote (just under the standby button) to flip over to SKY+ (basically your 710 and SKY+ will share the SCART input on your TV, this should not be a problem as you can only watch one thing at a time).
If you also set the SONY to send RGB on the Line 1 output (done via the set-up menu) then you should get the best picture quality possible on both sources.
I hope this helps
The thing is that the widescreen switching is working through the single video cable when connected to the sony 1065. but not the 710. I have tried connecting my archos av500 to the 710 using a single video cable and it switches correctly. so it looks like its not a problem with sky, the video cable or the 710. the 710 is too far away from the sky box to use a propper scart cable. guess this one is going to remain a mystery.
Originally Posted by Sype:
“The thing is that the widescreen switching is working through the single video cable when connected to the sony 1065. but not the 710. I have tried connecting my archos av500 to the 710 using a single video cable and it switches correctly. so it looks like its not a problem with sky, the video cable or the 710. the 710 is too far away from the sky box to use a propper scart cable. guess this one is going to remain a mystery.”
“The thing is that the widescreen switching is working through the single video cable when connected to the sony 1065. but not the 710. I have tried connecting my archos av500 to the 710 using a single video cable and it switches correctly. so it looks like its not a problem with sky, the video cable or the 710. the 710 is too far away from the sky box to use a propper scart cable. guess this one is going to remain a mystery.”
Does the HXD710 have similar software to the RDR HXD860?
By that I mean in the “Options”, > “Record Settings or Rec. Settings”, for the HDD is there a “HDD Rec. Picture Size” option that gives you the choice of Auto, 16:9 and 4:3.
If there is then it’s likely to be set on the default of Auto.
Change Auto to 16:9 and regardless of whether the 710 detects the Sky digital Box’s Widescreen Flag the replay of the recorded programme on the HDD (on the 710 not Sky+) will be displayed on your TV in Widescreen.
(Not the horizontally squashed to 4:3 picture that you have to manually select Widescreen on your TV to correct.)
That’s assuming you were recording a Widescreen programme in the first place.
If you know that you are going to record a 4:3 picture, then you will have to reset the Record Settings to either Auto or 4:3.
This is how I have overcome the Sky Widescreen switching problem using the HXD860 but of course the 710 may be subtlety different.
If so I will shut up, go away quietly and not darken your door again.
I am pleased to have been of assistance.
Although you have not stated what part of the 710 you are recording to, I have assumed that it was the hard disc.
When recording direct from the Sky+ Box to DVD you should have similar settings to adjust.
With the DVD selected go to the “Options”, > “Record Settings or Rec. Settings”. There should be a “DVD Rec. Picture Size” option that gives you the choice of 16:9 and 4:3.
As with the HDD, setting “Rec. Picture Size” to 16:9 when recording a widescreen picture from your Sky+ box, the 710 will automatically add the widescreen flag to the recording.
Having set both the HDD and the DVD’s Picture Size to 16:9, you will need to change it back to 4:3 or auto when you are not recording a widescreen picture.
Although you have not stated what part of the 710 you are recording to, I have assumed that it was the hard disc.
When recording direct from the Sky+ Box to DVD you should have similar settings to adjust.
With the DVD selected go to the “Options”, > “Record Settings or Rec. Settings”. There should be a “DVD Rec. Picture Size” option that gives you the choice of 16:9 and 4:3.
As with the HDD, setting “Rec. Picture Size” to 16:9 when recording a widescreen picture from your Sky+ box, the 710 will automatically add the widescreen flag to the recording.
Having set both the HDD and the DVD’s Picture Size to 16:9, you will need to change it back to 4:3 or auto when you are not recording a widescreen picture.
yes schiziod you assumed correct i did mean recording to the hard drive. i like to edit out the adverts before burning to discs. which brings me to another question. when burning to dvd+r discs it records in 4:3 instead of 16:9 so i stuck with dvd-r discs which work correctly. but dvd+r DL have become affordable. have you any tips on getting +r discs to keep the 16:9 picture?
Originally Posted by Sype:
“question. when burning to dvd+r discs it records in 4:3 instead of 16:9 so i stuck with dvd-r discs which work correctly. but dvd+r DL have become affordable. have you any tips on getting +r discs to keep the 16:9 picture?”
“question. when burning to dvd+r discs it records in 4:3 instead of 16:9 so i stuck with dvd-r discs which work correctly. but dvd+r DL have become affordable. have you any tips on getting +r discs to keep the 16:9 picture?”
I believe that you can record to DVD +R disks in full 16:9 format if you record directly from the source, i.e. from the L3 input and probably the Freeview tuner, but not from the HDD.
Also been trying to get my hands on some DVD+R DL disks to play with but to no avail.
I got a ten cake of Gigatain DVD+R DL 2.4x 8.5GB for £7.50 from gibson computers just to try out. so far they seem to work ok with the sony, but it does not keep 16/9 just like all dvd+rs.
but these disks donk work well with the pc, 5 burns resulted in 5 coasters. the verbatims are reliable but too expensive for everyday use.
but these disks donk work well with the pc, 5 burns resulted in 5 coasters. the verbatims are reliable but too expensive for everyday use.
