Is there a working high quality NTSC TV out yet?

[rak306]

In March 2004, I bought 2 new computers, a PVR-250, a PVR-350, SAGE TV and client, with the idea of using one computer as a server the other as a "low fan noise" client to play to a large screen TV (NTSC S-Video max quality input).

As many of you may know, while it worked, using menues on the PVR-350 would cause freeze ups, making it useless.

After trying for 6 months, I gave up, and just use the PVR-250 for recording, and "copy" to a DVD and play the result on my DVD player connected to the large screen. This is a reasonable VHS replacement, but hardly a TIVO.

I've been away nearly a year and I'm wondering if anything has changed. Is there a reasonable way to record on one platform and play back (high quality) on conventional TV.

Keep in mind, prior to buying the PVR-350, I had looked at many "TV outputs" from computers and concluded they all stink. (I suspect it has to do with conversion to/from progressive scan). But the bottom line was, every computer display I saw, on a conventional TV, looked like "computer video", not TV.

The PVR-350 was not perfect (a bit soft to me), but far exceeded anthing else I'd seen (back in march '04).

So my question is:

Is there a setup today, that can use SAGE TV as intended, that goes out to a conventional TV (NTSC S-Video out), that is high quality?

Thanks in advance.

Rick

[cmaffia]

I've been BEGGING Frey Tech to add native support for the Xcard and for it to output OSD. I can't understand why this card is being overlooked!

Originally Posted by rak306

In March 2004, I bought 2 new computers, a PVR-250, a PVR-350, SAGE TV and client, with the idea of using one computer as a server the other as a "low fan noise" client to play to a large screen TV (NTSC S-Video max quality input).

As many of you may know, while it worked, using menues on the PVR-350 would cause freeze ups, making it useless.

After trying for 6 months, I gave up, and just use the PVR-250 for recording, and "copy" to a DVD and play the result on my DVD player connected to the large screen. This is a reasonable VHS replacement, but hardly a TIVO.

I've been away nearly a year and I'm wondering if anything has changed. Is there a reasonable way to record on one platform and play back (high quality) on conventional TV.

Keep in mind, prior to buying the PVR-350, I had looked at many "TV outputs" from computers and concluded they all stink. (I suspect it has to do with conversion to/from progressive scan). But the bottom line was, every computer display I saw, on a conventional TV, looked like "computer video", not TV.

The PVR-350 was not perfect (a bit soft to me), but far exceeded anthing else I'd seen (back in march '04).

So my question is:

Is there a setup today, that can use SAGE TV as intended, that goes out to a conventional TV (NTSC S-Video out), that is high quality?

Thanks in advance.

Rick

[JasonJoel]

Well, let's see... Here is my guess:

1. Not many people own them (only SMALL percentage of HTPC users)
2. It isn't being actively developed for anymore (no new drivers, no new API support, etc).
3. 256 color interface
4. Limited video format support
5. It is approaching end of life with HD becoming more pervasive

That being said, it would be nice for those it would be useful for if there was full support.

Jason

Originally Posted by cmaffia

I've been BEGGING Frey Tech to add native support for the Xcard and for it to output OSD. I can't understand why this card is being overlooked!

[rak306]

Originally Posted by JasonJoel

Well, let's see... Here is my guess:
...
5. It is approaching end of life with HD becoming more pervasive
Jason

True of all NTSC TVs, not just Xcard. Does SageTV support any HD cards yet?
Rick

[stanger89]

Not yet, but you don't need an HD source to experience the benefits of an HD display

There are options though, namely HDNE, BDA DVB, Firewire (do a search).

[cmaffia]

What HD cards are are supported by SageTV? The vast majority are using the PVR-150, 250 and (ack! gasp! the dreaded 350)

I have to disagree.

If TVideo managed to output it's OSD natively to the Xcard, bypassing the 256 color interface limitation, then why can't sage? If more pvr software including sagetv suppored the Xcard then perhaps more people would own one thus more active development from Sigma.

Originally Posted by JasonJoel

Well, let's see... Here is my guess:

1. Not many people own them (only SMALL percentage of HTPC users)
2. It isn't being actively developed for anymore (no new drivers, no new API support, etc).
3. 256 color interface
4. Limited video format support
5. It is approaching end of life with HD becoming more pervasive

That being said, it would be nice for those it would be useful for if there was full support.

Jason

[JasonJoel]

Chicken and the egg thing. Maybe there would be high sales of the XCard, maybe not. Maybe Sigma would develop the drivers further, likely not.

Based on other products (that DID sell well...) Sigma does not support older products very well. They have a small design and support staff for software. Once new products come out the old chips go into 'maintenance' mode, and do NOT get new features added....

Second, do you see how long Frey is taking on getting software releases out the door (2.0, now 3.0)? They obviously can't support trying to develop a custom interface to one specific device that not that many people own! I think that development will HAVE to come from the end user community in form of a plugin.

But I completely agree that having better hardware decoding solutions would be nice for those that use PCs as their TV connected device. (and not set top boxes [MVP for now]).

Jason

Originally Posted by cmaffia

If more pvr software including sagetv suppored the Xcard then perhaps more people would own one thus more active development from Sigma.

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by cmaffia

What HD cards are are supported by SageTV? The vast majority are using the PVR-150, 250 and (ack! gasp! the dreaded 350)

Theoretically, any card with BDA drivers will work with Stealth's HDNE. Not it's not official support yet though.