PIP

[Barry in KC]

Is there any possibility that DirectTV will have a PIP feature?

[kymikes]

From other comments, the HR chipset will not support PIP.

[Ken_F]

The HR21/HR22/HR23 don't have the hardware necessary to support PIP.

[Stuart Sweet]

The only way you would see PIP would be with all new hardware, and there doesn't seem to be a huge demand for it outside this forum.

[CorpITGuy]

That's the number one thing I miss about Dish Network (don't miss the rain fade so much). :D

I wish I had PiP EVERY... SINGLE... Saturday... during football season. :)

[jdspencer]

Solution = PiP capable TV + two receivers. :)

Or use the recently enabled dual buffers on the HR2x series DVRs.

[BattleZone]

Solution = PiP capable TV + two receivers. :)


And that's the answer.

PiP always rates very low in desirability or "willingness to pay extra for" for the majority of people, which is why it's rare on TVs and even more rare on set-top boxes, compared to 5-10 years ago. Most people rarely or never use it, and since it requires extra hardware, it's one of the first things that manufacturers eliminate.

The Dish "Duo" receivers require that extra output processor in order to allow the single receiver to run 2 TVs independently, so it's no big deal to enable PiP when the receiver is switched into Single Mode. But even Dish didn't spend the money to put a second output processor in their dual-tuner "Solo" Vip612 HD-DVR, because PiP just isn't a high-demand feature.

[Cyber36]

You can always use the tuner in a VCR as a second source also..............

[dodge boy]

If the TV only has one tuner but can do PIP using one of the inputs there is no extra hardware. My old 36" CRT TV did it this way and it was nice

[Barry in KC]

That's the number one thing I miss about Dish Network (don't miss the rain fade so much). :D

I wish I had PiP EVERY... SINGLE... Saturday... during football season. :)
I have 2 DTV receivers. The problem is that most new TV's do not have the PIP feature anymore. Samsung does, but it is not very user friendly. Thanks for the input.

[WestDC]

I have 2 DTV receivers. The problem is that most new TV's do not have the PIP feature anymore. Samsung does, but it is not very user friendly. Thanks for the input.


They do if buy a set that has two tuners

[Doug Brott]

Is there any possibility that DirectTV will have a PIP feature?

The short answer is "No." There are conflicting reports on whether or not it is actually possible with the chipset, but based upon the added complexity, potential performance hit and lack of a remote that could properly control it I'd have to say the chance of PIP is virtually zero on the HR2x Platform.

From a Marketing perspective, I doubt the bang for the buck is there anyway. Sure some people like it and can't live without it, but the cost to make it happen probably way exceeds any good that would come of it .. That's just my humble opinion, though.

[RACJ2]

They do if buy a set that has two tunersTrue, but as his post stated, its hard to find a new TV that has 2 tuners and can do PIP/POP with anymore.

And on his comment about user friendly PIP. My Samsung LCD can do PIP, but only from an RF input with an analog signal. And then you can't even swap the pictures. I can still use it during commercials to monitor an analog channel from cable, while watching the D* feed.

[MSZeta]

Question then, if you have a dual receiver and or two receivers with pip does your television also have to support the function or just the receiver to make it possible on the set?

[dorfd1]

Is there any possibility that DirectTV will have a PIP feature?

watch one of the mix channels

[Barry in KC]

Question then, if you have a dual receiver and or two receivers with pip does your television also have to support the function or just the receiver to make it possible on the set?

I have a Pioneer 43 inch plasma, which has the PIP function. I want to upgrade to a larger set, but Pioneer is out of the plasma business.

[tthunder38]

Barry,

Look for a Pioneer "Kuro". I have a 50" that does PIP with two HR's. Price has come down a lot in the last year or so also.

[Barry in KC]

Barry,

Look for a Pioneer "Kuro". I have a 50" that does PIP with two HR's. Price has come down a lot in the last year or so also.

I tried. Best Buy had a few, but they didn't have the PIP. Pionner only has the 60 inch, and my wife will only allow a 50 inch model in our room.

[mcbeevee]

I have 2 DTV receivers. The problem is that most new TV's do not have the PIP feature anymore. Samsung does, but it is not very user friendly. Thanks for the input.
There is an easy fix for this...2 receivers and 2 tv's! I prefer pbp (picture beside picture) over pip, since pip wastes too much of the display.

:)

[RACJ2]

I tried. Best Buy had a few, but they didn't have the PIP. Pioneer only has the 60 inch, and my wife will only allow a 50 inch model in our room.As others have said, its hard to find a TV with PIP/PSP these days. The Pioneer Kuro PDP-5052FD is probably your best bet. Its fairly expensive for a 50" plasma these days @ $3000. Although they have been one of the best plasma TV's and have the PIP/PSP feature you desire (Advanced Picture-In-Picture: 4 Positions, Picture-Side-Picture:3 Positions). There are a couple online retailers still selling it, but I haven't dealt with them [Link1 (http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/pioneer-kuro-pdp-5020fd/4505-6482_7-33002523.html)] [Link2 (http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Products/HomeEntertainment/PlasmaTVs+Monitors/PioneerTVs/ci.PDP-5020FD.Kuro?tab=B)]. I've purchased 2 flat screens from online retailers and it worked out fine, plus saved me quite a bit of money.

[Barry in KC]

As others have said, its hard to find a TV with PIP/PSP these days. The Pioneer Kuro PDP-5052FD is probably your best bet. Its fairly expensive for a 50" plasma these days @ $3000. Although they have been one of the best plasma TV's and have the PIP/PSP feature you desire (Advanced Picture-In-Picture: 4 Positions, Picture-Side-Picture:3 Positions). There are a couple online retailers still selling it, but I haven't dealt with them [Link1 (http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/pioneer-kuro-pdp-5020fd/4505-6482_7-33002523.html)] [Link2 (http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Products/HomeEntertainment/PlasmaTVs+Monitors/PioneerTVs/ci.PDP-5020FD.Kuro?tab=B)]. I've purchased 2 flat screens from online retailers and it worked out fine, plus saved me quite a bit of money.

Thanks.

[carl6]

Question then, if you have a dual receiver and or two receivers with pip does your television also have to support the function or just the receiver to make it possible on the set?

In order to have PIP with two DirecTV receivers/DVRs, your TV set would have to support PIP. The external receivers would not provide the basic function. Most TVs that support PIP typically allow an analog channel and a digital channel to be the PIP pair (as opposed to 2 digital channels). You might have to feed one of the two inputs as a modulated rf (channel 3/4) input, or possibly as an SD composite or s-video input, to actually get functioning PIP with some TV sets.

[RACJ2]

In order to have PIP with two DirecTV receivers/DVRs, your TV set would have to support PIP. The external receivers would not provide the basic function. Most TVs that support PIP typically allow an analog channel and a digital channel to be the PIP pair (as opposed to 2 digital channels). You might have to feed one of the two inputs as a modulated rf (channel 3/4) input, or possibly as an SD composite or s-video input, to actually get functioning PIP with some TV sets.You are correct that most new sets only allow an analog signal in the PIP/PSP window. My Panasonic Plasma, which is 3 years old, does allow two component or composite feeds simultaneously. It doesn't work with the HDMI input though. So there are some TV's that will work for more then an RF feed.

[RACJ2]

As others have said, its hard to find a TV with PIP/PSP these days. The Pioneer Kuro PDP-5052FD is probably your best bet. Its fairly expensive for a 50" plasma these days @ $3000. Although they have been one of the best plasma TV's and have the PIP/PSP feature you desire (Advanced Picture-In-Picture: 4 Positions, Picture-Side-Picture:3 Positions). There are a couple online retailers still selling it, but I haven't dealt with them [Link1 (http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/pioneer-kuro-pdp-5020fd/4505-6482_7-33002523.html)] [Link2 (http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Products/HomeEntertainment/PlasmaTVs+Monitors/PioneerTVs/ci.PDP-5020FD.Kuro?tab=B)]. I've purchased 2 flat screens from online retailers and it worked out fine, plus saved me quite a bit of money.After carl6's post, I was curious about the PIP on the KURO. I looked at the manual [Link (http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/StaticFiles/Manuals/Home/PDP-5020FD_OperatingInstructions0905.pdf)] and in the PIP section, it says "The multi-screen function is unavailable when viewing source from a single input or from two external input sources." If so, it may not work with 2 D* DVRs simultaneously. (Warning, if you click on the link to the manual, it is a large file and may take a while to load)

[tthunder38]

After carl6's post, I was curious about the PIP on the KURO. I looked at the manual [Link (http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/StaticFiles/Manuals/Home/PDP-5020FD_OperatingInstructions0905.pdf)] and in the PIP section, it says "The multi-screen function is unavailable when viewing source from a single input or from two external input sources." If so, it may not work with 2 D* DVRs simultaneously. (Warning, if you click on the link to the manual, it is a large file and may take a while to load)

Not quite sure what the manual means by "two external input sources" but I assure you the PIP on my KURO works just fine with two HR 21's connected to it. One screen is HD while the second screen is SD. Both recievers have to be on so I know the KURO is pulling video from each box.