[PGHammer]

I am experienceing a great deal of frustration in trying to assemble a decently-priced HDPC (HDTV PC). The greatest single issue involves the *tuner*.


Without exception, every single tuner seems geared for OTA (over the air) or OTA/DBS (multiple antenna inputs!), as opposed to OTA/cable, *and* is also more than $350 (if not $400) just for the card and software.


Part of this frustration is due to the lack of effort from a mainstream manufacturer (read: ATI Technologies or Matrox) to create a *true* NTSC/ATSC single-input product based on *existing technology* (Microtune, Oren Semiconductor, even *Philips*, all make single-input ATSC/NTSC solutions that require, at most, two chips. ATI has been characterized as being heavily beholden to the MPAA, but what is Matrox' excuse?


The rest of the frustration is entirely due to the MPAA's actions regarding digital-rights management and the chilling effects of those actions on the HDTV PC tuner marketplace *and* the HD cable marketplace. It is, for all practical purposes, *flatly impossible* to get an HD signal over cable into a PC without investing in not-intended-for-consumer-use hardware (the same applies to digital recording of even OTA content broadcast in HD).


ARRRRRGH!

 

[Gary McCoy]

While I understand your frustration, some of us don't even have anything to complain about. Meaning I have two seperate coax cables coming into my house - but no HDTV signals. I get 70 channels of analog standard definition cable, although a third are in languages I can't speak. I could get another 40 or so digital channels if I rented their decoder box - but those are also standard definition and full of digital compression artifacts. I get no HD feeds whatsoever, in an area where there are twelve HDTV stations on the air.


My only recourse is to put an antenna on the roof. However my Homeowner's Association tries to block everything except "conventional TV antennas" (no satellite dishes, amatuer radio antennas, CBs, etc.). Try explaining that the 120" long UHF Yagi for HDTV is never-the-less a "conventional TV antenna" - they flatly do not believe me.


Gary

 

[ramick]

Gary, check with your association. I have heard this is not legal.

I did it in Nevada - against ass. (pun intended) rules. They fought it and I won due to access rights. Careful, though, CA might be tougher.


PGHammer, I also understand. I am using ADTV and have no garentee that it will even be usable in the near future if the "powers that be" decide to encrypt their signal. Take it from Gary - "I want my HDTV!".