What do I need to record HD TV?

[jayrbrown77]

Ok gentlemen, What hardware do I need to record HD. Can I use a PVR-150?

[ke6guj]

Originally Posted by jayrbrown77

Ok gentlemen, What hardware do I need to record HD. Can I use a PVR-150?

Nope, cant use a PVR-150. That is an analog card, can only record SD.

Your options are either an OTA (over-the-air) Card that will record your local HD TV stations, ie: ABC,NBC,PBS,etc.

Or with a firewire-equipped HD cable box, you should be able to record your local HD channels, and possibly record other digital and analog channels via firewire if your cable company doesn't 5C everything.
http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9288 for the mega-thread on firewire

Or with a modified $$$ HD satellite box, you can record digital and HD from DirecTV and Dish.
http://www.nextcomwireless.com/R5000/home.htm or www.169time.com

[mike1961]

Here's my question though:

Many HD boxes do have an SVideo out so I'm wondering if the HD signal quality will be better going into a PVR-150 or other SD tuner card than a standard cable box. I'm thinking (and I could be wrong here) that the HD source will be a much better source than an SD signal. In other words, if the PVR-150 can encode in 720x480 then that is a higher resolution than an SD cable box can put out (but lower resolution than an HD box can). So, perhaps the PVR-150 being able to encode in a quality in between SD and HD would imply that the HD signal would be downgraded going into the PVR-150 but still be better than encoding from an SD box.

But, on the other hand, perhaps SVideo being analog can't put out that high a resolution anyway so perhaps the signal going from the HD box into the tuner card via SVideo would be downgraded anyway just via going into the SVIDEO. But, if that's the case, then why even allow for 720x480 on an SD tuner card? Is any of this making sense? Can anyone explain?

(almost forgot - with an OTA card do you need an antenna on the roof or something? How does one pick up the signal)?

Thanks,
Mike

[lobosrul]

But, on the other hand, perhaps SVideo being analog can't put out that high a resolution anyway so perhaps the signal going from the HD box into the tuner card via SVideo would be downgraded anyway just via going into the SVIDEO. But, if that's the case, then why even allow for 720x480 on an SD tuner card? Is any of this making sense? Can anyone explain?

The signal will definantly not be HD. And I might be wrong here, but I belive the box will output at 640x480 (not 720). I've used S-video in, and if it were 720x480 the aspect ratio would not be 4x3 (which I know Sage can correct for but I believe it was set to source at the time).

As far as Svideo from an HD source being better than regular SD: You will get a letterboxed picture, meaning the signal is only using about 358 lines. That signal will look as clear as the best digital source, just no where near HD quality. For me anyways, I can barely stand watching TV shows in 4x3, and absolutely cant stand watching movies that are cropped to 4x3, so a widescreen S-video picture is an improvement.

The Firewire solution isnt as complicated as it sounds BTW.

(almost forgot - with an OTA card do you need an antenna on the roof or something? How does one pick up the signal)?

Maybe, it depends on how close you are to the tower, how powerful the broadcast is, and if your getting any interference. As far as pointing in the right direction, I guess I'm spoiled. In Albuquerque all the towers are on top of a mountain. But this site might help you: http://www.checkhd.com/aw/welcome.aspx

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by lobosrul

The signal will definantly not be HD. And I might be wrong here, but I belive the box will output at 640x480 (not 720). I've used S-video in, and if it were 720x480 the aspect ratio would not be 4x3 (which I know Sage can correct for but I believe it was set to source at the time).

SD is normally 720x480 with a 0.9:1 pixel aspect ratio (ie 720/480x0.9 = 4:3).

As far as Svideo from an HD source being better than regular SD: You will get a letterboxed picture, meaning the signal is only using about 358 lines.

Depends on the box, the Dish VIP211 can output anamorphic SD (ie stretched vertically.

Downconverted HD can be better than SD, but basically you're looking at, at best, DVD quality.