MyHD MDP-130 - Page 8

Since Girder can control the MyHD app, writing a "guide search" program that does TiVo-like stuff (looks for first run-only shows, matches keywords, etc.) and then tells the MyHD app to record at the right time is the correct solution for this.

I have never owned a hardware decoder card, so I ask that you be patient with me while I ask a few basic questions.

1) I understand that there is a pass-through cable that allows you to route the video card material through the 130. How does this work? Is it some sort of VGA-conversion cable to a connector on the card?

2) In pass-through mode, how is the HW decoder utilized? Can all material take advantage of it? How about when not using pass-through?

3) To utilize the HW decoder, are there any limitations? Do you need use a specific video player or codec?

4) My HDTV set does not provide any EDID info, and this is a problem for my older ATI Radeon 7500 (no picture.) If I bought the DVI daughter card for the 130, would it have any issues sending a DVI signal?

Thanks!
Kevin

Kevin--

1) It's just a relay switch. When not viewing the MyHD's output the passthrough wires the signal from the video card to the display device as though the MDP card were not there. There is no "conversion".

2) See #1.

3) Yes. Only the MyHD application can use the MyHD video output port.

4) What is the "it" that is "sending a DVI signal"? If your HDTV works with your DVI video card's output, I would expect it to work with the MDP-130 daughter card but, since nobody's seen one of those yet, who knows?

"4) What is the "it" that is "sending a DVI signal"? If your HDTV works with your DVI video card's output, I would expect it to work with the MDP-130 daughter card but, since nobody's seen one of those yet, who knows?"

I have the MDP-130 with DVI card working in my computer.

Oh. I sit corrected.

Thanks for responsing. A few follow-up questions.


Does the video from the video card go across the PCI bus to the output on the MDP-130? If so, what affect will this have on overall PCI bus performance?


:-(


I am beginning to think that I may have my understanding of the pass-through backwards. I assumed that the video card signal is rerouted through the output on the 130. Is it the opposite? If so, then the DVI daughter card is useless in pass-through mode.

Thanks,
Kevin

Terry,

You got email.

No, it goes through a wire, as I said.

I suggest that you go to the Digital Connection site and read Cliff's Notes on this, so that all will become clear.

Good suggestion. I read this page:

http://digitalconnection.com/Support/cn_myhd8.asp

It makes sense now, but the page doesn't talk about the addition of the DVI daughter card. How does it affect the setup?

Kevin

This is how the daughter card works.
The MYHD card is connected internally to the daughter card by a wire transfering the digital hidef signals to be output by the DVI port. If you notice the 130 has no DVI port. The daughter card has 2 DVI ports, one input, one output. You can hook up any external DVI source that you want to the input. To switch between viewing the 130 and the external source you just push a button on the remote, the daughter card is just a switch that allows the hidef signals to remain digital instead of a analog conversion that the 130 does itself.


peace

Salivating......

The local FOX is not HD yet, BUT they have an agreement with local cable so they can pass the FOX HD. It is the ONLY available outlet for FOX right now in my area and it has been verified by someone with a Fusion card that FOX is available clear QAM.

I know the Super Bowl is out of the question, but is it even slightly possible that they may be ready to ship in time for Daytona 500 on Feb 20th??? (Pre-ordered JUST the MDP-130, no daughtercard)

SIMJEDI,

Thank you for answering the question I asked on page 5 of this thread

Cliff,

After 7/1/2005, in order to avoid the BF, will users of the 130 (or any iteration of the myHD cards since they all use the same software), have to avoid upgrading their software and/or drivers?

Thanks...

No

Cliff, where you are beta testing your 130 card, are there any significant multipath issues? I know the NXT2004 is supposed to "demonstrat[e] superior performance in the presence of multipath, phase noise, impulse noise, adjacent and co-channel interference in terrestrial and cable environments." but how can you count on marketing materials

Great news! I may just order 2 because of this.

My interpretaton of the BF rule is that hardware released to the market before the deadline does not need to be compliant, even after the deadline.

Is that your interpretation also?

Thanks,
Kevin

Correct!

All that works well for me on the MDP-130. I reduced the signal level to the point that MDP-130 SS was 21% and it would lock the signal where MDP-120 indicated only 13% and did not lock.

Very nice, getting myself one for sure. I may have to get one for my parents and brother also.

@Cliff Watson

Did the new MDP-130 is running with 50Hz too and not only at 60Hz?
Would be great if the european user can use it too for showing PAL DVDs.

Regards,
Rolf

What is the BF and where can I read more about it. Is this something that is going to stop the sell HDTV cards after 7/1/2005?

Don

http://www.eff.org/broadcastflag/

Thanks avekevin for your fast reply. I will check it out.

Just read it. It's scary how big money rules in this country and are able to send their lobbyist to Washington to wine and dine the politicians so that they will continue to crush the little people. Sometimes I feel we only elect the politicians so that they can look down above us, unless we have enough money to get their attention. These a**holes sure make it hard to be proud of the American system!

Don

Rolf,

The MDP-130 uses the same Janus decoder/scaler chip as the other models so it can't operate at 50Hz.

According to one HDTV card manufacturer, cards that are manufactured before 7/1/05 do not have to meet BF requirements, even if first sold after 7/1/05.
(http://www.ati.com/products/hdtvwonder/index.html)


"Information regarding Broadcast Flag legislation - According to FCC's Broadcast Flag Order (MB Docket 02-230) adopted November 4, 2003, Digital TV receiver products (like the HDTV WONDER) built on and after July 1, 2005 are required to protect certain digital TV broadcasts. The legislation does not affect HDTV receiver products manufactured before July 1, 2005 (or sold any time after). As such, the HDTV WONDER will continue to function exactly in the same manner it does today past the July 1, 2005 legislation date."

Hopefully, DC will stock up on MyHD cards built before 7/05 so they can be sold without BF restrictions for a long time after that.

Cliff,

Two questions while I await the arrivial of the 130:

1) Do you know the power usage of the card? Does it pull a lot of power or make a lot of heat?

2) Any issue with the card in the same system as a Hauppauge WinTV350?

Thanks,

Andy

Now with the BF rule coming down 7/1/05, I am going to have to be sure I have a second card. I need an upgrade anyways and I want to be sure I have a back up. Any idea to when the 130 will be released and start shipping?

Don

Digital Connection gave me a "two or three weeks" answer to my query on Monday as to when they would have stock. Looks like late Feb to early March if things go well.

I have an MDP-120 hooked up to my TV using the DVI daughter card. I was looking to add another MDP-120 to another computer in my house to be able to record two programs at once, but now that the MDP-130 is coming out, that seems like a better choice, what with the QAM support and all. However, I read in this thread that the DVI daughter cards will not be compatible. So, to avoid buying another daughter card and making my first one essentially useless, will I be able to play files recorded on a MDP-130 on the MDP-120 w/DVI? This way I could just set up the MDP-130 on another computer and access the files over the network, alleviating the need for another DVI card.

On the other hand, would this even be worth it? Considering that the 130 will have timeshifting features built in, it may be the one that I want hooked up to the TV. Should I just bite the bullet and get the new DVI card? Are there any other features that I would be missing out on if I used the 120 as the main card and the 130 simply as a secondary tuner? This would be easily solved if the DVI cards were compatible, but I suppose we'll just have to give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that there was some fundamental change to the board layout because of the QAM tuner that simply couldn't be avoided, so they HAD to move the pins for the DVI. Right?

Yes you can play them back. If you only need 1 daughter card, I'd just stick with the 120 unless Cliff can provide a reason to upgrade it.