HD Satelite service (Canada)

[roxy99]

I have a bit of a dillema and I need you guys' input on what to ask Santa for Xmas.. Please keep in mind Santa still needs money to buy food and pay the mortgage.

In Quebec, Canada, there are essentially 2 television providers for HD: Bell Satelite systems or Videotron cable system.

I am presently with Bell and have 2 tuners receiving SD directly to my dual haupauge PVR 500. Working great for 1 year now.

My friends keep telling me I'm missing out on HD, especially given my 46" Hitachi RPTV. So I want to take the plunge.

Option 1:
I've read that satelite and HD capture is a no go. Is there any way around that limitation? I hate having to switch over to cable and all the hassle if I can avoid it.

Option 2:
Cable HD via QAM is doable I understand. I would need a HD capture card, and would set it up. I would cancel Bell and sign with videotron. I'd subscribe to a package of SD channels and HD channels. Sage would be used for both SD and HD content. I need a HD capture card a new power supply for my PC and another Hard drive since I'm running low on space. Also, forget about HD with my video card - Ti4400 has no hardware VRM support and 1080i is impossible so I need to replace the video card( works great at 720p scaled SD).
Plus I need to learn how to configure the QAM, etc. Lot's of work.

Option 3:
My other option would be to simply keep my Bell Satelite tuners for SD and Sage. No hassle, no change to my Sage PC.

However I would rent an addtional HD-DVR combo tuner from Bell and pay an extra $10/month for HD programming.

I would thereby simply satisfy my HD TV watching with the HD-DVR and still be able to time shift and set up recording schedules for HD stuff on the standalone HD-DVR. Sage will continue as my SD DVR solution.


I'm thinking option 3. Does that make sense? What am I sacrificing really?

Thanks

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by roxy99

I have a bit of a dillema and I need you guys' input on what to ask Santa for Xmas.. Please keep in mind Santa still needs money to buy food and pay the mortgage.

In Quebec, Canada, there are essentially 2 television providers for HD: Bell Satelite systems or Videotron cable system.

I am presently with Bell and have 2 tuners receiving SD directly to my dual haupauge PVR 500. Working great for 1 year now.

My friends keep telling me I'm missing out on HD, especially given my 46" Hitachi RPTV. So I want to take the plunge.

Option 1:
I've read that satelite and HD capture is a no go. Is there any way around that limitation? I hate having to switch over to cable and all the hassle if I can avoid it.

Option 2:
Cable HD via QAM is doable I understand. I would need a HD capture card, and would set it up. I would cancel Bell and sign with videotron. I'd subscribe to a package of SD channels and HD channels. Sage would be used for both SD and HD content. I need a HD capture card a new power supply for my PC and another Hard drive since I'm running low on space. Also, forget about HD with my video card - Ti4400 has no hardware VRM support and 1080i is impossible so I need to replace the video card( works great at 720p scaled SD).
Plus I need to learn how to configure the QAM, etc. Lot's of work.

Option 3:
My other option would be to simply keep my Bell Satelite tuners for SD and Sage. No hassle, no change to my Sage PC.

However I would rent an addtional HD-DVR combo tuner from Bell and pay an extra $10/month for HD programming.

I would thereby simply satisfy my HD TV watching with the HD-DVR and still be able to time shift and set up recording schedules for HD stuff on the standalone HD-DVR. Sage will continue as my SD DVR solution.


I'm thinking option 3. Does that make sense? What am I sacrificing really?

Thanks

Honestly in your situation Option 3 sounds best for you. You get to use Sage just like you are now. With your HD-DVR box not only do you get to time-shift your HD but you would get not only the localHD channels but the encrypted ones (ESPNHD, PBS, UHD, etc.)-of course not the premiums (HBO, Showtime, etc.) unless you paid for them. And now you would get to see if you feel you're missing something with being able to actually see HD on your TV. You said your tv is RPTV but is it actually HDTV resolution?

Gerry

[Keenan]

Star Choice should be available where you're at isn't it? You can get an R5000 mod to the SC STB that will work with Sage, a bit on the expensive side though. I'm using that same setup and it works great with Sage.

http://www.starchoice.com/english/default.asp
Star Choice - 100% Digital Satellite Television

http://www.nextcomwireless.com/r5000/home.htm
Home of the R5000 High-Definition TV PVR

[roxy99]

Originally Posted by Keenan

Star Choice should be available where you're at isn't it? You can get an R5000 mod to the SC STB that will work with Sage, a bit on the expensive side though. I'm using that same setup and it works great with Sage.

http://www.starchoice.com/english/default.asp
Star Choice - 100% Digital Satellite Television

http://www.nextcomwireless.com/r5000/home.htm
Home of the R5000 High-Definition TV PVR

gplasky,

Yes its a HDTV. DVD's look great and its build in upscale is very good. I would imagine HDTV would look awsome. I think I'll do just that- stick with Bell.

Keenan,

Star Choice is available. Sage with Starchoice I would only consider if all HDTV channels are open to me- what's this about encypted HDTV? What does 'Free to Air' mean?

I would consider the switch over to Starchoice if the hardware is less than $600 and all HDTV channels are available. Tell me more. I still like keeping everything in Sage but only if all the HD programs will be open with that same setup of yours.

[roxy99]

Ok I am starting to see what all the buzz is about for this RD 5000. It turns out its compatible with Bell model 6000 HD STB. So you send the company (Nextcom) your STB, they mod it for you and sell the RD 5000 interface. They also sell a Sage DVR network encoder and provide instructions for configuring Sage.

What's nice is it communicates digitally via USB 2.0 (No Capture card needed!!)

Requirements:

New PC power supply & bigger case
A SATA interface card and a couple of hard drives
Upgrade the video card from Ti4400 to ??
The RD5000 and mod, Bell 6000 STB, DVR software for Sage
Sign up for HD with Bell


Note
I'll still keep the haupauge PVR 500 for my two SD tuners and USB-Uirt.

Thanks for the food for thought.

[roxy99]

Originally Posted by roxy99

Ok I am starting to see what all the buzz is about for this RD 5000. It turns out its compatible with Bell model 6000 HD STB. So you send the company (Nextcom) your STB, they mod it for you and sell the RD 5000 interface. They also sell a Sage DVR network encoder and provide instructions for configuring Sage.

What's nice is it communicates digitally via USB 2.0 (No Capture card needed!!)

Requirements:

New PC power supply & bigger case
A SATA interface card and a couple of hard drives
Upgrade the video card from Ti4400 to ??
The RD5000 and mod, Bell 6000 STB, DVR software for Sage
Sign up for HD with Bell


Note
I'll still keep the haupauge PVR 500 for my two SD tuners and USB-Uirt.

Thanks for the food for thought.

Basically $700 Cdn in PC upgrades (new PS, video card, bigger hard drive, SATA controller)
Plus $500 US for the R5000 mod
Plus $200 for Bell 6000
Total amout for r5000 and PC upgrade: $1500

vs

$600 for a Bell 9200 HD-DVR.

Obviously I opted for the $600 solution and am enjoying all HD programming and the benefits of time shifting. I have Sage for SD so I don't miss Sage to much.

[jmiddleton]

If you live in Montreal or Quebec City you can experiment with broadcast HDTV for the price of a tuner card and antenna. More info at http://www.digitalhome.ca/hdtv/idx/0...el_Lineup.html

[roxy99]

Originally Posted by jmiddleton

If you live in Montreal or Quebec City you can experiment with broadcast HDTV for the price of a tuner card and antenna. More info at http://www.digitalhome.ca/hdtv/idx/0...el_Lineup.html

Could be fun to try- given the set up cost is minimal( I already have an antenna on my roof). Too bad only 2 OTA HD channels for me. Oh well may try one of these days just for kicks. Thanks for the link and I am sre it will help other people in Canada too.

[jmiddleton]

That's why I said experiment - but hey, it's 2 channels more than we have in Halifax! Seriousy, I think HDCP is going to make life miserable for anyone who wants to watch premium HD content using a computer. We'll know more when Vista ships since HDCP compliance is one of the "features" Microsoft has built in to the new media center. I suspect you'll need end to end HDMI to make it work at all and there wil be severe restrictions on what you can do with your PVR recordings (if they're even possible). I'm not sure how Sage will fit into all this. I am sure that the DRM hassle is too high a price to pay for the extra quality. I reserve the right to change my mind but, for the forseeable future, I'll be sticking with SD.

[roxy99]

Originally Posted by jmiddleton

That's why I said experiment - but hey, it's 2 channels more than we have in Halifax! Seriousy, I think HDCP is going to make life miserable for anyone who wants to watch premium HD content using a computer. We'll know more when Vista ships since HDCP compliance is one of the "features" Microsoft has built in to the new media center. I suspect you'll need end to end HDMI to make it work at all and there wil be severe restrictions on what you can do with your PVR recordings (if they're even possible). I'm not sure how Sage will fit into all this. I am sure that the DRM hassle is too high a price to pay for the extra quality. I reserve the right to change my mind but, for the forseeable future, I'll be sticking with SD.

Jmiddleton,

I think you hit the nail right on the head re- hdcp. I wasn't going to say anything but since you brought it up...
Besides the cost of r5000, I worry that HDCP can restrict R5000's ability in the future. Let's face it, the providers hold the cards whether we like to admit it or not.

If R5000 doesn't support a new HD channel, then who do you complain to? Nextcom? Bell? Starchoice? Afterall it is a hack and no provider is going to care- in fact they're happy if they throw a wrench in it.

PS- I'm loving my bell 9200! treat yourself to one and you won't regret it.

[jmiddleton]

The R5000 does not appear to have a HDCP license - at least there is no obvious mention of it on their site - so it won't be able to decrypt protected content. If they manage to hook into the STB in such a way that the content protection is bypassed, an army of US lawyers will descend to make their life miserable and brief - DMCA will make sure of that. No doubt you will be able to capture the free to air channels but most HD STBs will let you do that using a Firewire cable. Making Firewire work with Sage is possible but not simple - there is a monster thread on the topic here: http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...light=firewire.
Once the retail version of Vista ships there will be a lot of new hardware to make HD on the PC easier - HDMI capture cards, HDMI video cards, etc... because the Vista media center does have a HDCP license. The big question is what will we be allowed to do with the HD content passing through our computers. The probable answer is not much but we'll have to wait and see.

[roxy99]

Originally Posted by jmiddleton

The R5000 does not appear to have a HDCP license - at least there is no obvious mention of it on their site - so it won't be able to decrypt protected content. If they manage to hook into the STB in such a way that the content protection is bypassed, an army of US lawyers will descend to make their life miserable and brief - DMCA will make sure of that. No doubt you will be able to capture the free to air channels but most HD STBs will let you do that using a Firewire cable. Making Firewire work with Sage is possible but not simple - there is a monster thread on the topic here: http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...light=firewire.
Once the retail version of Vista ships there will be a lot of new hardware to make HD on the PC easier - HDMI capture cards, HDMI video cards, etc... because the Vista media center does have a HDCP license. The big question is what will we be allowed to do with the HD content passing through our computers. The probable answer is not much but we'll have to wait and see.

Like I said, they hold the cards. It is wiser to wait and see what unfolds than to jump to quickly into the bandwagon. RE- OTA HD, its worth it only for experimentation, but lets faces it, whose going to care so much in CAnada about firewire and Sage just to get CBC in HD.
Woowho I am so excited CBC in HD. (can you tell I'm being sarcastic?)

Maybe if I had super antena I could get NBC, CBS HD, ABC from the US, then its worth it.