[mythtv-users] Digital antenna question
Mike Perkins
mikep at randomtraveller.org.uk
Mon Jul 9 10:53:06 UTC 2007
Larry Jones wrote:
> Pete Cap wrote:
>> */Billy Macdonald <billymacdonald at gmail.com>/* wrote:
>>
>> On 7/8/07, Pete Cap wrote:
>> > List,
>> >
>> > I recently set up a really lo-fi Myth box. It's in an old dell
>> beige box,
>> > hooked up to a pretty small standard definition TV, and it has
>> one capture
>> > card pulling down analog broadcasts (before the latest move it
>> was recording
>> > S-Video from a cable STB).
>> >
>> > The analog broadcasts are really not all that bad, but all the
>> stations are
>> > simulcast in digital. I understand that with digital, either you
>> get the
>> > signal or you don't--there's no snow or static. It would be a
>> significant
>> > improvement!
>> >
>> > However, I do not understand if I would be "restricted" to HD
>> broadcasts--or
>> > if I need a new capture card. I can play widescreen HD
>> recordings (from
>> > bittorent) and apparently Myth resizes them on the fly to fit
>> the SD 4:3
>> > screen. If this would work with broadcast as well that would be
>> excellent.
>> > But will I need to get a new card to tune in the digital
>> signal--or will
>> > Radio Shack have one with component out?
>> >
>> > Thanks in advance,
>> >
>> > Pete
>> >
>> >
>>
>> Yes you need a different card to tune digital stations. Most digital
>> channels that have any HD content always broadcast in 720p or 1080i,
>> just letterboxed. So your recordings will be much larger in size and
>> will likely show up postage stamped be default in Myth (which you can
>> zoom. But they will be clear.
>>
>> To see if your system has the umph, you need to find some 1080i mpeg2
>> recordings to play. Look in the same places that you found your other
>> ones, but the files will be much much larger. The widescreen HD
>> recordings you download are likely not full resolution and are much
>> easier on the system to decode.
>>
>> To your advantage though, the decoders only decode what's needed. So
>> if your resolution is 800x600, it takes less to decode and play 1080i
>> then on a 1920x1080 resolution.
>>
>> Good luck,
>> Billy
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>>
>>
>> Billy,
>>
>> Thanks!
>> I think the system should decode the MPEGs just fine--I have an nvidia
>> 7 series to do all the heavy lifting. And they'll be playing a
>> ~640x480 so hopefully there won't be too much of a performance hit.
>>
>> I see the new pcHDTV cards are only $130. I'm ordering one of those
>> up today and hopefully get it up and running this week. Thanks again!
>>
>> --Pete
>>
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> Pete,
>
> It wasn't clear what the source of your HD broadcasts will be? Off your
> set top box via QAM or direct over the air via an antenna (8VSB in the
> us). Anyway, pay attention that your card takes the input you have
> available.
>
> You'll love digital TV. I almost refuse to watch an analog broadcast.
>
> Larry
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>
Just to be absolutely clear about this. In the original post you said
you could get digital as well as analog.
Digital is *not* the same as HD.
You can get digital versions of SD broadcasts as well as HD (which will
only be digital). Digital versions of analog will be of a better quality
than the analog. HD versions will be of better quality than the SD.
Usually. Sometimes they are just upsampled.
Mike Perkins
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