Basic Questions

Hi All - Been lurking here for a couple weeks, and have learned a lot from this group. I have a few questions I wanted to clear up. Not familiar with all the venacular yet, so please be gentle.

As a note, after not having a TV for about four years, I've decided to plunge in and get all the bells and whistles. I'm building from scratch a TV and HTPC that will run Windows 7 media center. Video signal will be from Comcast cable.

Questions:
1) To confirm: outputting video to either DVI or HDMI provides the same image quality? the only advantage of hdmi is that it could carry an audio signal?
2) To confirm: if I have a video card with a DVI or HDMI port, than I can transmit up to 1080p to my TV?
3) If I use an HDMI cable to connect my PC to a TV, can the TV then redirect the audio channel to an audio receiver?
4) CableCards: From this forum, it sounds like I will need a cable card for each signal going to the computer. It is not clear to me what these cable cards look like, how to configure them, and how to actually get them into the computer.
5) There is much talk of the native resolution of TVs on the forum. What native resolution should I be looking for? My TV will be between 30 inches to 40 inches.

Thank you all in advance!

Hi All - Been lurking here for a couple weeks, and have learned a lot from this group. I have a few questions I wanted to clear up. Not familiar with all the venacular yet, so please be gentle.

As a note, after not having a TV for about four years, I've decided to plunge in and get all the bells and whistles. I'm building from scratch a TV and HTPC that will run Windows 7 media center. Video signal will be from Comcast cable.

Questions:
1) To confirm: outputting video to either DVI or HDMI provides the same image quality? the only advantage of hdmi is that it could carry an audio signal?
2) To confirm: if I have a video card with a DVI or HDMI port, than I can transmit up to 1080p to my TV?
3) If I use an HDMI cable to connect my PC to a TV, can the TV then redirect the audio channel to an audio receiver?
4) CableCards: From this forum, it sounds like I will need a cable card for each signal going to the computer. It is not clear to me what these cable cards look like, how to configure them, and how to actually get them into the computer.
5) There is much talk of the native resolution of TVs on the forum. What native resolution should I be looking for? My TV will be between 30 inches to 40 inches.

Thank you all in advance!

1) Yes. To be basic and non-technical, DVI is HDMI without audio. There are differences that are deeper, but for the average user, you could say that.

2)That will depend on the video card. The card itself has to be able to output 1080p TV. Most of the HTPC type cards can.

3) yes, but only in 2 channel stereo. You will find that the TV will pass 5.1 digital from the internal tuner built into the TV, but any other input to the TV will be chopped back to 2 channel stereo. You are better off sending the audio signal to the receiver directly.

4)Sorry, not my area. No Clue. I would assume that you will need a separate card for each tuner though.

5) in the 30-40 inch range you are likely talking LCD and you are probably going to find little choice. Might as well go with 1080p unless it costs more than you want to spend.

On the cable card issue. You can get a tuner card with QAM capabilities, but only the un-scrambled channels will be available... no SHO or HBO.

They do make some tuners for PCs that use a cable card, but they seem to only be available if you buy a HTPC with them included. If you wish to build your own HTPC I don't know where to get them separately.

Cable companies generally do not want you to do what you want to do as they want to rent you a cable box. If your idea is to turn your HTPC into a DVR, they particularly do not want you doing that. Some services will not allow you to record some programs on their own DVRs, for example. U-verse PPV, for example, is only good for 4 hours.

What a lot of us do is to go ahead and get the cable box or DVR and for movies and/or programs we would like to record to the HTPC we use the Hauppauge 1212 HD-PVR Video Capture device (http://www.highdefinitionblog.com/?page_id=331) to record the program and that's what I'd recommend.

Your other points were covered by mobiushky.

What a lot of us do is to go ahead and get the cable box or DVR and for movies and/or programs we would like to record to the HTPC we use the Hauppauge 1212 HD-PVR Video Capture device (http://www.highdefinitionblog.com/?page_id=331) to record the program and that's what I'd recommend.

I use a Hauppauge HVR-1600 built into my PC. But yeah, that's the only way I've done it.

rbnick and mobiushky - thanks for the input. very helpful.

since I will be getting comcast, but only subscribing to the public channels, it sounds like I would be able to capture the signal with an HVR-1800. Any issues getting the Hauppauge to work with windows media center 7?

Hi All -

Wanted to get some advice from HighDefForum on recommended HTPCs.

My plan is to run an HTPC with Windows Media Center 7 and convert it into a DVR. I will subscribe to the most basic Comcast plan (the one that only gives the public channels).

I don't need an expensive system. Just something that could receive input (on something like a HVR-1800 card), and then output it to what will probably be a 720p television.

I already have ordered Windows 7 Pro, so don't need to worry about buying an operating system.

Any favorite pre-built systems from the forum?

Cheers!
-KG

First, I merged the second thread on this subject so all replies will be in a common thread.

rbnick and mobiushky - thanks for the input. very helpful.

since I will be getting comcast, but only subscribing to the public channels, it sounds like I would be able to capture the signal with an HVR-1800. Any issues getting the Hauppauge to work with windows media center 7?
Yes, you would be able to get quite a few of the QAM channels by getting a QAM compatible tuner card. I think the Fusion card may be the best for what you are doing.

I don't know about integrating the Hauppauge with any Media Center. I assume you mean being able to work it with the Media Center remote and integrated into the menus. I don't know how to do that with my Media Center 2005. I doubt it is possible to that extent. That also could apply to some of the tuner cards also.

I have a wireless remote keyboard/trackball that I use to control the Hauppauge myself. Once the movies are recorded, they should play in Media Center.

I use the Hauppauge with my remote. I have to admit I have the HP media center remote and IR receiver, but they are not installed in an HP box. I simply installed them on my PC and they work fine with WMP and the Hauppauge applications. With the right IR remote, it shouldn't really matter which application you use. I have complete control over all the menus in WMP11. Assuming that Windows 7 is going to come with WMP11 and not a completely different version, I'd think it would work fine.

That's interesting mo. So the Hauppauge tuner card is better for integrating into the Media Center for cable service. I use U-verse and so the QAM route it not possible. Nor would it be for satellite users. For those users the 1212 PVR is what will work and that's what I was talking about.

Just to be clear, mo and I were talking about two different Hauppauge devices.

I think the Fusion card may be the best for what you are doing.


First I've heard of the DViCO Fusion. Couldn't find many reviews online (nor for the Hauppauge as well). Why do you think it is better?

Before you settle on just QAM, especially with CoNcast, know that the FCC just ruled to allow cable companies to encrypt locals, so QAM may be a thing of the past, and knowing CoNcast, the customer comes last. The HD-PVR would also give you the option of switching to satellite and recording HD.

First I've heard of the DViCO Fusion. Couldn't find many reviews online (nor for the Hauppauge as well). Why do you think it is better?Because it has a QAM tuner in it and uses the computer's video card for output and as far as I've read also will integrate into Media Center. I use a MyTV card by MTI but it has its own video output and integrates with nothing. Some of the other cards available are ATSC only and require an antenna as they do not receive digital QAM cable signals.

The Hauppauge 1212 HD PVR I gave you a link for more info earlier will come with some IR emitters to control a cable box to make a true PVR with remote internet scheduling even. With Media Center's ability to wake up the computer for schedule recordings, operation close to TiVo can be had.

But pay attention to this also:
Before you settle on just QAM, especially with CoNcast, know that the FCC just ruled to allow cable companies to encrypt locals, so QAM may be a thing of the past, and knowing CoNcast, the customer comes last. The HD-PVR would also give you the option of switching to satellite and recording HD.The HD-PVR talked about is the Hauppauge 1212. There is not a lot of reviews on it that is true. Read the link I supplied, it should describe the box for you, but after that if there are more questions, let me know.

Sometimes people get an idea of what they want to do in their mind and as they look for devices to satifsy that need they assume there must be some device available that will do exactly what they envision. This is rarely the case. What works best is to describe in detail what it is you have envisioned even if you don't think there is any particular scheme in your mind. Describe the source you wish to use and the desired outcome you want. Don't try to describe the device to accomplish the task. Then we can describe what comes closest to what you want to do.

rbinck and lsilvest - much thanks. will look through the information you guys provided. comcast is definitely getting less customer friendly, but i'm hoping to avoid the cable box at all costs (lit. and figuratively).