High Def Recording

[FeedingFrenzy]

Currenty have D* standard package with one TV on Tivo. I get my locals in high def with antenna. Not ready to go with high def DVR through D*. Is there a simple cost effective means of recording my locals in high def?

[Mark Strube]

You could get an HDTV tuner card for your PC ($50) : http://cgi.ebay.com/Air2PC-ATSC-Digital-HDTV-Tuner-PCI-Card_W0QQitemZ8759368561QQcategoryZ3761QQssPageNam eZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

But then you'd either have to watch your HD recordings on your computer or figure out a good way to hook it to your HDTV (every HDTV is different when it comes to this).

[FeedingFrenzy]

Thx for the reply Mark!

What are my options for hooking back to TV. I thought HDMI would be my only option for carrying high def content. No pc input to tv either.

[Mark Strube]

I'm no expert on this, but if your video card has a DVI output, you can get a DVI or DVI -> HDMI cable. Also, I THINK there's a way to convert VGA to component or DVI... not sure. Can someone else go into more detail?

[kevbeck122]

I'm pretty sure only certain versions of the ATI Radeon series of cards can output component. Some have a DVI-I to component dongle, and the newer ones have a seperate mini-plug to component output. The newer NVIDIA cards (6600 and up) also have a mini-plug to component output. I don't think any of the NVIDIA cards can use the DVI to component out. Otherwise a DVI to HDMI cable should work.

[FeedingFrenzy]

Ok and then I would also need to run audio as well correct? The DVI/HDMI is video only right?

[Gregg Lengling]

Ok and then I would also need to run audio as well correct? The DVI/HDMI is video only right?

Yes DVI is video only (digital video interface), HDMI is both (high definition multimedia interface).

[Mark Strube]

Keep in mind that at this point HDMI, for whatever reason, only supports 2.0 audio... so I'd recommend getting a sound card that has an optical audio output.

[CrashCamomilli]

I run the Signal and audio into my radeon AIW 800XT, the X800 and newer radeons can do HD, so if your a computer nut like me, you might want to look into it, they function really well,

As long as your not trying to do anything with the computer and have a lot of storage space.

there are various sound cards avaliable with digital inputs and outputs to assist with the sound

[mhz40]

Tuner card + dedicated pc + 250 gig drive + high-priced video card + HDMI cable > $1000. Keep D* and go with a HD-DVR from cable for a lot less headache. You could record all the network off-air you want... and everyone in the house can use it.

[CrashCamomilli]

mhz40 is entirely correct, unless your REALLY, REALLY into computers already the easiest and most cost effective plan, is to go with a HD-DVR from the cable company.

[Joseph S]

the easiest and most cost effective plan, is to go with a HD-DVR from the cable company.
Unless you're doing this for only a few months, Cable is definitely not cost effective. You'll pay for service, plus taxes, plus rental fees every month. OTA PVR is much cheaper.

[Mark Strube]

Unless of course you want cable channels, free hardware upgrades, and no huge up-front purchase... then cable sounds pretty good. ;)

[mhz40]

Unless you're doing this for only a few months, Cable is definitely not cost effective. You'll pay for service, plus taxes, plus rental fees every month. OTA PVR is much cheaper.
Don't just lay your comment out there with nothing to back it up! Give us some numbers so we can compare! :p
Along with the miracle $60 ATSC tuner; please build us a whole system; including an antenna (properly grounded), the aformetioned tuner card, motherboard, power supply, OS, software, memory, hard drive and video card w/HDMI or component out.
$50 antenna
$60 tuner
$75 MB
$200 memory
$200 hard drive
$74 case & ps
$100 OS
$20 software? (not sure)
$200 video card
$979 total
Now teach anyone but yourself how to use it and add some sort of remote control. Hopefully it will last a few years...and assume you do this all on your own.

Oh yeah, add an antenna mount, processor and HDMI cable.

[Joseph S]

You can go as low as G4 systems or P3s with MyHD/Hipix/DVICO for much cheaper, but...

Here's a nice new system that a chimp could run:
MacMini Core Duo - $799 (Remote Included) (Core Solo $599)
EyeTV 500 Refurb - $199 (Addl Remote and FW Cable Included) or $60 ATSC tuner (Add up to 3 EyeTVs or as many tuners as you wish)
ZHDTV1Z Antenna - $20
DVI Cable - Bluejeans or Ebay (Same situation with Cable)

Add addl HD storage via USB2/FW/Gigabit Ethernet as you please. All can be transferred to other HD or D-VHS. Plus, you own it and can sell it and upgrade as you please.

or

D-VHS for $400 or less and ST-182 BQ S-Video tapes from Tapewarehouse.com.

[Doug Mohr]

Don't just lay your comment out there with nothing to back it up! Give us some numbers so we can compare! :p
Along with the miracle $60 ATSC tuner; please build us a whole system; including an antenna (properly grounded), the aforementioned tuner card, motherboard, power supply, OS, software, memory, hard drive and video card w/DIM or component out.
$50 antenna
$60 tuner
$75 MB
$200 memory
$200 hard drive
$74 case & PS
$100 OS
$20 software? (not sure)
$200 video card
$979 total
Now teach anyone but yourself how to use it and add some sort of remote control. Hopefully it will last a few years...and assume you do this all on your own.

Oh yeah, add an antenna mount, processor and DIM cable.

Building an OAT PC recorder... $1000.

Being able to tell TW to stick it... priceless :D

Seriously though, I just happened to order a system the other day so I have the prices handy.

Antic Quiet Case & 350W power supply $68
Abit IC7-G $92
Intel Pentium 4 3.0GHz $171
2GB Dual chennel memory $172
WD 400GB SATA II $174
CDRW/DVD RAM, +/- RW, and whatever the hell other types there are $39
MyHD MDP-130 and Daughter card combo $170
XP Pro $119
Meedio $ 70
iMon remote control $25
Shipping $78

Grand Total $1178. When compared to digital cable which is what? $140/mo? That means you start saving money your ninth month and you have the most coolness points of all your friends plus more if you use the simple link to your home automation system too :rock:

When you friend can connect his iPod to your home theatre and share his work on the big screen, everyone wins! (except maybe him if you have Damon running to copy all his data to your server without introvention :) (( Letts see what Kenny did on his data last night :eek: :eek: :rock:

Doug (Now accepting orders :) )

[StarvingForHDTV]

When compared to digital cable which is what? $140/mo? That means you start saving money your ninth month

I don't think digital cable is quite that expensive. What is the price for the standard digital package + HD pack + monthly HD-DVR fee? That's gotta be less than $140

[CrashCamomilli]

I pay 43.95, which is the digipic 1000

that includes the box

A DVR is $10 a month more and, the HD package is $6.95

I would have the DVR, it I didn't have a High-End Computer. $6.95 for the HD pack is a joke, so from TWC, it would cost

$43.95
$10.00
+$6.95
-------------
=$60.90

This is right off my TWC bill

[kevbeck122]

Are you sure you don't have the digital access package, or do you have some discount? Digipic 1000 is $51.99 a month.. plus $7.95 box... HD DVR service $7.95... HD Package $6.95.. so around $80 a month when you add in taxes and other fees.

Our bill is 120-130ish with Digipic 2000, one box, one cablecard and roadrunner. I record everything OTA on my HTPC.

[mhz40]

You can go as low as G4 systems or P3s with MyHD/Hipix/DVICO for much cheaper, but...

Here's a nice new system that a chimp could run:
MacMini Core Duo - $799 (Remote Included) (Core Solo $599)
EyeTV 500 Refurb - $199 (Addl Remote and FW Cable Included) or $60 ATSC tuner (Add up to 3 EyeTVs or as many tuners as you wish)
ZHDTV1Z Antenna - $20
DVI Cable - Bluejeans or Ebay (Same situation with Cable)

Add addl HD storage via USB2/FW/Gigabit Ethernet as you please. All can be transferred to other HD or D-VHS. Plus, you own it and can sell it and upgrade as you please.

or

D-VHS for $400 or less and ST-182 BQ S-Video tapes from Tapewarehouse.com.

I was closer than I thought...
So a grand gets you how many hours of storage on the Mac?

[Joseph S]

With a core solo and some shopping you could get 400-580GB, plus the ability to edit out commercials, offload, etc. With the Duo you get 80GB and for $115 per 320GB thereafter. Not bad for a new machine. If you go G4, you could have 1.5+TB or so storage/recording.

[CrashCamomilli]

Are you sure you don't have the digital access package, or do you have some discount? Digipic 1000 is $51.99 a month.. plus $7.95 box... HD DVR service $7.95... HD Package $6.95.. so around $80 a month when you add in taxes and other fees.

Our bill is 120-130ish with Digipic 2000, one box, one cablecard and roadrunner. I record everything OTA on my HTPC.


Do you have permium Channels, or anything?

I'll have to get the scoop from the little lady when she comes home

[kevbeck122]

Yeah.. digipic 2000 is $71.99 and includes 2 premiums and the associated premiums on demand. It also drops the price of Road Runner to $40 a month.

[HiDefDon]

Unless of course you want cable channels, ...
If you want cable channels, then you definitely should get cable. :)

With PCs and tuner cards, my wife and I watch way more TV than necessary -- all OTA, all HiDef, and all commercial free. There are many evenings when 2 PCs are busy recording OTA HTDV while we are watching previously recorded HD shows in the TV room. By planning ahead and scheduling the recordings we always have a backlog of HiDef material to watch. Cable/Satellite is the way to go if you need it for live sports or you really need to see more recently released movies. We don't have a problem waiting ~3 years for movies to show up on OTA HDTV. We recently enjoyed movies such as Panic Room, Terminator 3, Daddy Day Car, etc. I use HDTVtoMPEG2 to edit commercials and have two sets of antennas in the attic. I am still using a UHF antenna which was purchased in 1975! It takes some time and effort to set up antennas but once set up they last a long time, especially in the attic. I got one HDTV recorder just by adding a tuner card to the main PC we use for our finances and internet access. One PC is in the den where it is used to play music (MP3s, CDs) and HDTV on our 52" RPTV. I just finished building another PC for the master bedroom which will be used to play MP3s, CDs, and HDTV on the 50" plasma TV. I would rather spend my $'s on these toys and not the $50 - $90 per month for cable/Satellite. Also, PCs provide flexibility for other things such as games and viewing digital photos.
DonP