As I may have mentioned, I'm soon to be getting a DVD Recorder, when they finally get round to shipping it.  >   However (you'll like this Clive), I read a review of the said machine (Pioneer DVR3100) in Home Cinema Choice magazine, and it said quite specifically that this machine, along with most others of the current generation, will not record in RGB.  Given that most of my recordings will be made from a Digital Set Top Box, which only outputs RGB or Composite, this is a bit of a bugger, as Composite Video is barely better quality than VHS.

The machine will, however, record in S-Video, which I am told is not noticably inferior to RGB, but this will mean replacing my current Freeview set top box with one that outputs S-Video.  I'm uncertain if this will be worthwhile, but I do want to get the best out of the DVDR.

What I want to know is this.  If I record in S-Video, does this mean I have to also set the DVDR to play it back in S-Video, thus losing the advantage of RGB loopthrough from the DigiBox, or can I still play back in RGB, and will it be RGB quality?

I have also been told that the DVDR records in all formats anyway (RGB, S-Video and Composite), and it is the source which makes the difference, so (this is the bit I can't get my head round), if I use the RGB output from the DigiBox to record to the DVDR, but the DVDR will not accept an RGB signal to record, can I then still play it back in RGB, and what will the quality be like?

I hope this is as confusing to most of you as it is to me. I just need it explained in very simple terms, please.

Clive - this is getting complicated and I haven't even got the damned thing yet!  

Trouble is, Hook, I don't think there's that many TV Techies among us.   :'(

Hookstar picks up another book.....this time War & Peace to read waiting on the outcome

Thanks Hook.

See your PM Clive.  The aerial connections are with a coax, like a VCR, but to get the RGB output, thus the best picture quality, you need to use fully pinned scart leads.  Your current DVD must use scarts, as they usually connect that way.  The RGB loopthrough will go from thye DVDR, through your current DVD scart, to the TV scart input.  It's not the connections I was worried about, it's the output and recording modes.

I ordered mine on Dec 28th, and it's still showing as 'Scheduling Delivery' on the website Order Status, which hasn't changed since last week.

My man said Scarts all the way through as you will lose signal strength through coax, apart from that everything should be ok with HQ discs  

Well mine has turned up today and I've taken a quick look inside the box.  It has connections for SCART (not supplied!) s video, optical and RGB output so it appears there are plenty of options.  They didn't include a DVD to record on - how mean is that?    Also, it said in the advert that I was entitled to 3 out of 5 (albeit crappy) DVD films yet there is no mention of them.  Also free plane tickets to God knows where, but where are they??  

I won't actually be setting it up for a week or so as we have decorators in all next week and the home cinema will have to be dismantled for a few days.

That was quick Simon!  You can be guinea pig.  
Question 1.  My DVD players use "DVD video" discs so I presume I have to buy blank DVD video format for my recorder?  Viking, who I buy all that sort of stuff from don't seem to stock them.   :'(