Looking to go HD, but need Closed Captioning

[byron2008]

Hello everyone,

We're a multi-lingual household who found common ground with tv watching a few years back. We pick a language for audio, and the opposite language for subtitles. Yes, it's a little crazy, but it brings peace.

Now here's the problem. If we upgrade our DVR to any of the service providers we need to utilize the Component or HDMI cables. This prevents the TV from having the CC3 ability. We can watch subtitles via the receiver in English for English programing and Spanish for Spanish programming, but there isn't an option for English audio with Spanish subtitles. We have two very old Tivo units which run off an s-video plug. They provide this option. My family wants to go HD, but you get the idea.

Hopefully, someone else has presented this previously, but I couldn't find an answer searching the boards. I'm trying to be a peace keeper and allow the HD leap, but have my doubts based upon what I've seen thus far.

Thanks so much for your help,
Byron

[Jeremy W]

DirecTV's HD receivers and DVRs allow you to select from six different Closed Captioning "services". I'm no expert on CC, but that seems like what you're looking for.

How much English programming actually has Spanish CC info, though? I would think that would be pretty rare.

[byron2008]

Hey you're right the DTV DVR's do indeed offer closed captioning, but only CC1. My TV's are frequently used in CC3 capacity, but all of the other 5 platforms shown on the DTV DVR menu are essentially blank. I've spoken with Case Mgmt, and they don't have an answer on what the other 5 are for, or when they will/if ever be implemented.

What my family is trying to do is go into the HD format via an hdmi cable without losing the CC3 function. For what it's worth, we're a multi-lingual household trying to maintain peace. We may cut the cord all-together and go with a blu-ray movie rental service (as most dvd's offer multiple language options).

I'm all ears on suggestions.
Thanks

[trainman]

How much English programming actually has Spanish CC info, though? I would think that would be pretty rare.

I've seen it indicated on many of ABC's prime-time shows -- there will be a graphic at the bottom of the screen at the beginning of the show that says "CC disponible en espanol." ("CC available in Spanish")

Maybe on the soap operas, too, trying to attract telenovela viewers -- I know NBC was experimenting with the concept on "Days of Our Lives" a while back, but I'm not sure if they ever made it a regular feature.

[byron2008]

It's all disabled when an hdmi cable is inserted into the back of the tv (component cables too)

[Jeremy W]

It's all disabled when an hdmi cable is inserted into the back of the tv (component cables too)
That's because when you're dealing with digital, the receiver is expected to do the decoding.

[byron2008]

You'd be surprised.... Honestly about 95% of HBO's programming is prepped with English/Spanish audio and cc in any order/combination.
I'm honestly about ready to cut the cord to bring a hd dvd membership into the fold to keep everyone happy.

[Extreme2KEclipse]

When you connect your DVR via HDMI to your receiver, do you still not have the same CC options available to you on your TV?

[Jeremy W]

When you connect your DVR via HDMI to your receiver, do you still not have the same CC options available to you on your TV?
The closed captioning information is not transmitted over HDMI. It has to be decoded and rendered by the receiver.

[houskamp]

Isn't there a "prefered language" in the CC setup?

[Jeremy W]

Isn't there a "prefered language" in the CC setup?
Nope.

[gnahc79]

Connect both the s-video and HDMI/component from the HR2x to your television :). If the CC3 through the component/HDMI isn't working properly, just fallback to the s-video connection with the same CC that you get from SD programming, which doesn't involve the HR21 doing any CC processing/decoding/whatever.

[byron2008]

it defeats the hole purpose of going hdmi for HD viewing. Know what I mean? So, essentially if the family wants the language options, we have to keep ourselves in the SD platform. You're just getting a whiff of what goes on in the household of a multi-lingual group.

Honestly, I think we'll get even better viewing quality with a Blu-Ray subscription. Will not have all the channels hurt? Absolutely, but if the family has a few weeks/months to see how having nothing but DVD's and local over the air HD/signal provides, they may get the whole HD concept a bit better, and decide to remain in SD or simply watch HD offerings through the Blu-Ray.

Again, I'm just trying to be the peace-maker, but it isn't exactly easy.

I genuinely appreciate all the feedback!
Byron

[Jeremy W]

Again, I'm just trying to be the peace-maker, but it isn't exactly easy.
You're doing a lot better than I would. I wouldn't even begin to put up with something like this.

[gnahc79]

Does 100% of programming viewed on your TV must have CC3? Meaning does every single person that watches TV in your home require CC3? If not, then the non-CC3 members of the family get the HD benefit 100% of the time. The CC3-only members can get the HD benefit only sometimes and would have to fallback to SD if necessary...maybe 40-50% of the time?
It's not the best solution, asking DTV to have consistent CC3 support for all channels is a long shot...so the svideo and HDMI/component solution is your only option if you want HD. Good luck!

[dodge boy]

My sister-in-law watches the TV this way (She is Chinese) but all the captions are in English, not a problem, I just think it is because some of the pronunciations of words can throw her a little.....

[byron2008]

I appreciate the open-minded feedback. I just bought an atenna today, and was floored what I could pickup as far as local channels. Next to none of the programming offers CC3, however it gives the family a new perspective, and several of the channels (which are all free by the wasy) are coming in HD quality.

It's far from the convenience of having a Tivo DVR with HBO shows awaiting to be watched, but I guess we'll just wait on the sidelines for the technology to catch up with what we had in SD earlier, and rent Blu-Ray discs until the family compromoises.

For the record, the earlier poster's points are well taken, but have you ever had a member of the family who had serious challenges locating the source button on the tv to switch from s-video to hdmi? Well, we have a few, so..... One primary connection will serve us better for now. It's a shame, because I really like the DVR options on subtitle size/font/color, but again it's all CC1.

Thanks again

[Shades228]

Wouldn't component cables handle it rather then hdmi?

[Telcoguru]

I'm using HDMI with my receiver and I tuned to HBO and the CC3 is working fine. The audio is in English and the subtitles are in Spanish.

[gnahc79]

For the record, the earlier poster's points are well taken, but have you ever had a member of the family who had serious challenges locating the source button on the tv to switch from s-video to hdmi? Well, we have a few, so..... One primary connection will serve us better for now. It's a shame, because I really like the DVR options on subtitle size/font/color, but again it's all CC1.

Thanks again

Yep, whenever the mother in law visits we have to spend a few minutes with her on how to use our Harmony remote. We even have her show us her switching inputs between DTV and our baby video monitor input when she babysits occasionally. It's all new to her every single time :).

[joed32]

Wouldn't component cables handle it rather then hdmi?

That's a good idea. Component video and composite sound.

[byron2008]

Hey Telcoguru, thanks for the info. Please tell me more about your success receiving CC3 via HBO on an hdmi cable. What receiver are you using, and are you just going through the dvr/receiver menu?

Thanks,
Byron

[w3syt]

I wish I could get hearing impaired captions on MGM-HD. I don't think it is directv 's fault , though.