Using JVC HM-DH30000 series decks with

DTC100 equipped with HDVR-100-2

Document version 1.5.2 – 20 March 2002

© 2002 Sixteen Nine Time

NOTE: These instructions are specifically for HDVR firmware version 1.5.

1. No matter how many programs (also called sub-channels) are contained within a DTV channel, the JVC will record all of the sub-channels in a channel. The particular channel to be played back is selected at playback time.
2. It does not matter whether the DTC100’s front panel HD indicator lamp is on or off. The entire DTV signal in its full resolution is always recorded. That is, the signal recorded is the exact DTV signal being received. An HDTV transmission will be recorded in true HDTV regardless of whether the HD indicator is lit on the DTC100 front panel.

The channel recorded, start and stop times are all selected using the timers feature of the DTC100 menu. The JVC’s timers are not programmed for DTV recording. Since the JVC deck is controlled by the same single firewire connection that conveys the DTV signal from DTC100, do not use the wired Infrared transmitter feature of the DTC100.

1. Prepare the DTC100 and JVC for recording as explained above
2. Ensure that the time of day and date are set correctly in the DTC100. This is done automatically if a satellite dish and subscription are provided. If a dish is connected and the satellite signal isn’t correctly subscribed, the time of day may be off due to time zone differences.
3. Check that the VCR type in the "Set the VCR Type" control is set to type 000. This is the default for the DTC100.
4. Set the timers in the DTC100 to the channels and times desired. One, some, or all of the DTC’s timers may be used and programmed, as needed. It is necessary to monitor the video output from the DTC in order to view the timer setup on-screen menu.
5. If timers are set such that the stop time of one timer is close to the start time of another timer, either (A) The start and stop times should be set to exactly the same time, or (B) A gap of at least four minutes between the stop time of one timer and the start time of the next timer should be programmed.
6. The start time should be set at least one minute prior to the start of the desired program.
7. The DTV program signal should be "on the air" at the start time, or recording may not be initiated at the start time.
8. After the timer is programmed and the DTC100 and JVC deck are in proper communication, they may be turned off, or left on, as they will be automatically turned on if not already on when the timer recording process automatically starts at the programmed start time.
9. The JVC deck will normally and automatically turn on approximately 15 seconds after the DTC100 automatically turns on. The JVC deck will enter the Recording mode within 15 seconds after when it automatically turns on.
10. There may be one or more momentary losses of signal on the DTC100 outputs at the moment timer recording starts or stops. This is normal.
11. It is suggested to do a test timer recording, setting the timer to run for a few minutes in just a few minutes into the future to ensure that the correct setup it achieved. Play back the test recording to verify it was actually done.
12. Make a check list for timer recording so that all of the necessary settings are done each time.
13. When the automatic recording controlled by the timer is actually taking place, the DTC100 will switch the HD monitor display off so that the composite and S-video outputs are active. This is normal. The DTC100 does this since it does not "know" you are making a digital recording. The DTC100’s design consider that all timer recording are only made using the low definition composite and S-video outputs. Even though the switch to non-HD output mode occurs, it does not interfere with the digital television signal being sent by the 169time adapter over the firewire. That signal is always digital and always the highest definition available from the broadcaster.

Both the JVC deck and the DTC100 have outputs that permit connection of video and audio devices for watching and listening to the program material. These outputs have the flexibility to present signals from various sources. The differences between with regard to the Sixteen Nine Time HDVR recording adapter is discussed below.

The DTC100 outputs work exactly like a DTC100 without the recording adapter except when an ATSC tape is being played on a connected deck. When this playback is sensed and the DTC100 is tuned to an active OTA DTV channel, the tape playback will appear on the DTC100’s outputs. Note that firmware version 1.5 does required that the DTC100 be tuned to an active OTA DTV for the playback through the DTC100 to properly function. It doesn’t matter if the signal tuned to is HD or SD.

NOTE: When the DTC100 is to be used for tape playback, it is suggested that the DTC100 menu function called "ACQUIRE OFF AIR GUIDES" be DISABLED.

The DTC100 on-screen menus are only available on the DTC100’s outputs, and include such information as channel tuning, and timer programming. On-screen menus from the JVC deck do not appear on the DTC100 outputs. Only the tape playback signal sent via the firewire from the JVC deck appears on the DTC100. Note that the tape playback signal for copy protected tapes or tapes that have foreign content, such as Japanese BS tapes, do not appear on the DTC100’s outputs.

When multiple channels (sub-channels) are present, either during a broadcast, or when playing it back from tape, the DTC100’s usual tuning features allow selection of the particular sub-channel that is displayed.

The JVC deck outputs operate in exactly the usual manner in accordance with the particulars of the model type, except that when the DTC100 is selected for input on the JVC’s firewire input and if the DTC100 is tuned to an OTA DTV channel, and the JVC is not in the tape playback mode, the JVC’s outputs will then present the decoded DTV picture and sound that the DTC is sending via the firewire. Note that this signal is displayed on the JVC at any time when it is not in the playback mode. Thus, the JVC functions as a Component-Video HDTV converter and can be used to view DTV on component video displays. In this way, even though the I-link is a digital firewire input, when it is selected the signal immediately appears on the deck’s outputs, in an operational fashion similar to what we’ve come to expect from composite and tuner input selections. Note that after switching channels on the DTC from a non-OTA / DTV channel and back, it may take up to 10 seconds for the JVC deck to recognize the DTV signal and again present it at its outputs.

Although the OTA H/DTV signal from the DTC100 is presented on the JVC deck’s outputs, the on-screen display information from DTC100 does not appear on the JVC deck’s outputs.

We have not yet determined a method with the JVC deck to select a particular sub-channel for presentation on its outputs when multi-sub-channels are contained in the DTV signal from the firewire input. The implication of this is that during tape recording, the user may not choose a particular sub-channel for display on the JVC deck’s outputs. This is different during tape playback. During tape playback, the channel up and down button allows selecting a particular sub-channel for display on the JVC’s outputs.

Note that when compared, the audio and video outputs of DTC100 may slightly time shifted with respect to each other. This can cause the audio output of the JVC to be slightly out of sync with the video output of the DTC100, and vice-versa. The implication of this is that both the audio and video should be used for presentation from one machine at a time, and not intermixed, or they may appear to be out of synchronization.

It is possible to connect several JVC decks to the DTC100 firewire using the multiple ports, as illustrated in the JVC instructions. Note that the DTV signal from the DTC100 will be simultaneously sent to each deck that has selected the DTC100 as its input source. This means that each deck can display and record the signal in parallel with the other connected decks.

During timer control, the DTC100 will issue the commands to effect recording to only one connected JVC deck via the firewire. To facilitate this, the DTC100 selects the particular deck to record to in a predictable manner. The deck that will be recorded to will be the deck that has only one of its firewire ports used. To illustrate this, suppose there are three connected JVC decks. Deck 1 plugs into one of the DTC100’s firewire jacks, and the other jack on the DTC100 is unused. Deck 2 plugs into the 2^nd firewire port on Deck 1. Deck 3 plugs into the 2^nd firewire port on Deck 2. Deck 3’s 2^nd firewire port is unused. In this example, since Deck 3 has only one of its firewire ports used, it will be selected for timer recording by the DTC100. Note that if there is more than one JVC deck with only one of its firewire ports used, it will be unpredictable which of the decks will be selected for timer recording control.

NOTE: When setting up to record under DTC100 timer control when there are multiple JVC decks connected, make sure the deck to be recorded to is turned off while it has the DTC100 selected as the firewire input. If the DTC100 is turned off or looses signal while the JVC deck is turned on, the JVC deck will attempt to find another I-link firewire source and in doing so will select one of the other JVC decks as its firewire input. This will result in the wrong source being selected by the recording deck.

Since the DTC100 outputs its firewire signal to all connected JVC decks, it is possible to use external timer control devices to record many TV programs on many channels with multiple decks. We have tested this with three decks, although we believe that as many as six decks should also work. The external control in this case would be a programmable remote control. There are many brands and models of these available. The minimum configuration would be one such as the One For All model URC 8780 that provides up to 10 timed macros up to 7 days in advance. This one is mentioned since it is very economical, though more sophisticated units are applicable. Programming them is beyond the scope of these instructions. It is also possible to use one DTC100 with HDVR for each JVC deck, and through the DTC100’s built in timer, avoid the need for an external remote control.

The JVC deck automatically assigns a unique I-number for each firewire device that is connected to it. It does this by reading an electronic serial number, assigning a unique number to a device the first time it senses it, and then remember that serial number and always associating the I-number with that serial number. Unfortunately in systems with multiple decks, this can lead to some confusion as to the identity of a particular unit. For example, the DTC100 may be I-2 on one JVC deck, and I-3 on another deck. For those people that would find it more desirable to have the each firewire device referred to as the same number on each machine, JVC does provide for a method to edit the I-numbers. Please refer to the JVC instruction manual for this procedure. To determine the number the currently corresponds to the DTC100 on each particular deck, use the JVC deck channel up/down and make a note of all the I-numbers the deck senses. Then unplug the DTC100, and note which of the I-numbers no longer appears when using the channel up/down button on the deck.

Deck to Deck H/DTV dubbing with the HDRV / DTC100 operates in the same manner as the usual deck to deck dubbing. To avoid contention between decks and the DTC100 outputting a DTV signal simultaneously, it is suggested that during dubbing the DTC100 not be selected as the firewire source by any connected deck. Through this, the DTC100 will display the playback signal of any connected deck when that signal is detected.

Occasionally the playback signal presented by the DTC100 or JVC deck will have glitches, distortions, loss of audio, loss of audio / video synchronization, or picture break up and pixel blocking. This is sometimes due to data errors in the tape playback signal. When it appears that the audio and / or video are not automatically corrected, the user may need to force the equipment to return to a known state of operation through such means as pressing the HD button, waiting, and then pressing it again, or pressing stop on the deck and then play, or by powering down the deck through its front panel switch, or by unplugging and re-plugging the firewire connector at either end, or by removing AC power for a minimum of ten seconds from the DTC100 and then reapplying power. This is an unusual occurrence. When these type of errors occur often, it may be due to bad tape media, or equipment may need servicing.

It is recommended that a Panasonic TU-DST50 or 51 series STB not be connected into the daisy chain firewire connection while the JVC deck is in that chain. Other 169Time equipped STB devices may be connected in the firewire daisy chain. If other connected 169Time STBs also have version 1.5 firmware, they may be selected using the input select feature of the JVC deck. To avoid contention, it is suggest that only one 169Time device be selected as the source at an one moment by all JVC decks. When an ATSC compatible DTV data stream is present on the firewire, whether from a deck output or from another 169Time equipped STB, other 169Time equipped DTC100(s) sharing the firewire connection will present the decoded DTV signal on its outputs. For example, if a DTC100 and a UM STB, both equipped with the HDVR are simultaneously connected to a JVC deck, the DTC100 can display the data stream output by either its own DTV turner, or the JVC deck, or from the UM depending on the input selection and playback mode of the JVC deck.

Sixteen Nine Time does not guarantee compatibility with any product. However, we strive to make our product compatible with other devices when practical.