[jamesbender]

Hey everyone,


I'm relatively new to the HTPC. I have one 3 years ago, but stopped and have lost sight of integration. But I've recently got the desire once again.


Here is my setup.


Comcast Digital Cable + Hi Def Pack

Motorola DCT2000

SnapStream BeyondTV3

Hitachi CMP4201U 42" Plasma


I want to be able to input the component output of my comcast Motorola box into my PC. I will control the channel selection through snapstream and a serial cable to my motorola box.


I need the component input to support standard digital cable, as well as, high definition programing.


What input card should I use?


The second part is. I want to output the video to my 42" plasma, which supports component inputs and VGA input to 1024x1024. Would it be best to use the VGA? or should I use component? Which Video card would produce the best clarity for my use with the Hitachi.


Thanks for your advice!!


-James

 

[madpoet]

You can't for less than about $5000 and a lot of hassle. There is no consumer method of inputting HD component.

 

[jamesbender]

The only thing I see weird about the application is the fact that the resolution would change based upon the channel you select.


Wouldn't a device like the Pinnacle DC2000 work?

http://reviews.cnet.com/Pinnacle_DC2...-30206651.html


I mean after all, the comcast box is handling the tuner portion, Im just trying to accept the component feed.


What do you think?


-JB

 

[Gary McCoy]

mp is right about the HD input. The two most affordable ways to input component video (Holo3D card and PDI Deluxe card) are for SD not HD. To sample and digitize HD analog requires a high performance workstation and a very expensive capture card.


All is not lost if your cable box has a Firewire output - many do for use with the cable company DVR or (sometimes) D-VHS. If you have Firewire, check out the "HDTV Recorders" Forum here at AVS and get advice from those that have the same cable box.


The 1024X1024 output resolution is a non-standard mode that is best implemented with Powerstrip software, see the HTPC software thread titled "Free killer apps for your HTPC.....".


The various Radeon and GeForce video boards are popular here....lots of threads about those. On an entirely new machine, consider using the new PCIe form factor instead of AGP.


Gary

 

[madpoet]

James.. do a search. This question is asked repeatedly (this is the second time today even) and you will get all the answers you seek.

 

[jamesbender]

Thanks for the info. would appreciate a link, but I guess I'll try and find it myself.


-JB

 

[jamesbender]

I'm guessing your link in question was this

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...hreadid=460571


Where you gave the same detailed answer you gave me.


Help an idiot out. I mean, heck if a component input device can input component video resolutions of 720p, why can't my HTPC recognize it.


Open my mind please.


And Gary- YES my comcast box has firewire and usb and network ports. The model is Motorola DCT6200. It also has DVI output.


Any clues??


-JB

 

[Gary McCoy]

JB, the HTPC will capture only in 480i video mode. This is 1/6th the data rate needed for HD and it'll be very busy. No HD capture, it's not gonna happen soon, too many CPU cycles needed for compression of sound and picture. The only scheme that will work is to process the digital bitstream, already captured and compressed.


As for the cable box - I don't like to give advice on hardware I do not have. Try the recorders forum. The fact that you want to watch live rather than record is not really relevent, the process is similar. Best advice is from somebody who has succeeded already.


Gary

 

[jamesbender]

Yea- after poking around a bit last night I found this article. Very informative, almost too informative.


http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...hreadid=403695


Basically it seems doable, but it is not supported at all from Motorola or Comcast. And the fact that 5C copyright protection is now being added to channels on a individual show basis will make it harder and harder in the future.


Which brings up the question, how can Comcast provide a DVR system, with 5C in place? Seems like they'd have to remove 5C to make their DVR work.

 

[madpoet]

The internal hard drives ignore 5c. It's only applied over a firewire stream. Realistically you will need a DVHS deck and lots of tapes if you want to archive 5c material. It does work quite well however.

 

[jamesbender]

But wouldn't the DVHS deck still suffer the same fate if the 5C flag is set to 1??


Unless a DVHS deck is capable of decrypting the 5C encryption, which if that is the case- there should be a way to decrypt on the PC, which I'm sure is illegal in the DTCP eyes, but just about kills any hopes and dreams of cable HD through the HTPC.


Man- there has just gotta be a way to do this. obviously the realistic solution is via firewire. especially since cable companies are required by law to provide a 1394 compliant cable box to consumers.


I guess the digital recording of the content is not such a big thing for me, especially in HD stuff. I really only like to record NBC, FOX, or WB.


I guess my last question would be, can I use the firewire technique to watch video through my PC and into my plasma, even the HD and Digital channels? Can I use a program like Meedio or Snapstream BeyondTV?


If I can at least watch, then I'll be happy with it.


-JB

 

[madpoet]

No... you can archive 5c content set to 1 onto a DVHS deck because it is 5c compliant. But that's the only copy you can make of it. You could only watch non-5c content through your PC.

 

[jamesbender]

See the above article.


Took me 15 minutes and I'm recording my Hi-Def channels (Those that are non-5C) and everything else!!


This is PIMP.


I've got Comcast w/motorola DCT6200

Firewire to Dell D800


Now I need to know this.


I want to use a HTPC front end that will allow me to use this imaging device as my video feed, and control channel changing via IrBlaster.


I currently use SnapStream BeyondTV. I don't care about recording and watching different channels. I will mainly use this for watching TV and recording shows when I'm out.


P.S- i've also noticed the sound is kind've low. Anyway to bring up the volume at the source?


YEAAAAAHHHH!!!


-JB

 

[madpoet]

Sure, I do that too for my locals that aren't 5c encrypted. You were talking like you wanted a 5c recording solution. As described in the guide, there's not many ways to view it live. You're likely going to have to dig into some girder commands if you haven't already for channel changing.

 

[jamesbender]

please bear with me, but your answer isn't so clear to me.


You said sure, you do this. Does this mean you use a htpc front end to view your connection live? If so, what are you using?


then you mention, there's not many ways to view it live. Well, what are some of the ways you can. the guide i read didn't make it clear.


I'll figure the girder stuff out later, basically I just want to be able to feed my firewire feed into my PC and back out to my plasma.


thanks in advance.


=JB

 

[madpoet]

They give a method in the guide for using Videolan to watch it live. That's what I do when I want to do that, which really isn't very often. I have a 6412 which has the dual tuners and internal hard drive, so mostly I just use it to archive off a network show that I really want to keep for some reason. For live viewing I just use the box itself, and not firewire. Other than Videolan I'm not sure. Someone in that thread might have other ideas for you. Is it really so important that it run through your PC?

 

[jamesbender]

i see. i really was hoping to get a single solution. 1- for ease of operation


2- consolidation is always good in the av cabinet


3- the wow factor.


at the same time i can see the benefits of judt using it as archival and not live feed.


thanks for the help


-jb

 

[jamesbender]

i see. i really was hoping to get a single solution. 1- for ease of operation


2- consolidation is always good in the av cabinet


3- the wow factor.


at the same time i can see the benefits of judt using it as archival and not live feed.


thanks for the help


-jb