Hauppauge WinTV HD PVR (H.264) screenshot and pre-order link

[mikejaner]

Originally Posted by jlindborg

I archive stuff on DVD and play it directly with players that handle XVid/DivX (my NAS holds a lot, but I archive much, much more) - they don't handle the 264 codec - my folks have the same DVD player and I often snag content for them to watch on the road as well - just easier all around.

Once players come out that handle the native 264 files, I wont have to bother.

The video size reduces nicely with very little loss in quality - I let it go at about 1300 bit rate and force the aspect ratio to stay the same and such - watching them side by side there's very little difference - I'm sure videophiles will absolutely freak at the thought, but hey...

Gotcha, but I guess you are downsampling to 480p for the DVD's then?

[KavMan]

Originally Posted by jlindborg

Well, I don't feel like quite so much of a bone head now - spent a few hours wandering around forums and newsgroups and converting h264 .TS files has put more than a few folks in the ditch. I did run across a couple sets of rather complicated multiple step instructions that worked, although painful. Most instructions were, not suprisingly, concentrated on converting DVDs using these types of tools and were of little help.

I ended up getting an updated version of SUPER (v2008.build 30) and low-and-behold it handles it all natively - rather nicely. I was able to open the .ts files directly and convert them into MP4 H264s or AVI DivX5 - both worked ok (kinda slow, but I'm not in a hurry) and looked good - compression wasn't bad either. A 30 minutes show at 480p produced a .ts file about 720 meg, crunched into Divx5 AVI with good quality it was a little more than 300 meg. Better than I expected. I'll fiddle with the settings and do some tests to dial in what I like but it's definitely usable.

After getting it into AVI I could just use VirtualDub to do the editing with the "direct stream" option for audio and video - it's not as slick for cleaning up lots of little cuts as VideoRedo, but such is life. There may be other AVI "cutters" out there that are easier to use for this task but VirtualDub is free and works well enough.

Did you try MP4 Creator that came with the HD PVR? I think there is a newer version on their site. It converts to MP$ pretty quick and doesn't reencode the file.

[jlindborg]

Originally Posted by mikejaner

Gotcha, but I guess you are downsampling to 480p for the DVD's then?

No, I actually have my cable box spitting out 480p, not 720. I get 720p off my HDHR for daily stuff (sports, news, trash TV) but record the stuff I intend to archive (mostly documentaries and such) in 480p - looks nice, the aspect ratio is good for 16x9 TVs and my old 480p plasma looks fab - my folks have a 720p plasma and I gotta say, you have to be right up on top of it to tell the difference - it definitely passes the 10 foot test from the couch no problem. And it looks miles and miles better than the old captures with the Hauppauge 250s I had - big improvement.

[kevinlwh]

Originally Posted by Brent

I'm using the USBUIRT (worth the money) as well. It works perfectly so I doubt I'll go back and try the Hauppauge IR blaster again unless just to test it out...

I'm using the Hauppauge IR and it's working fine.

[timnelsonic]

Originally Posted by Brent

I agree - mostly because I've been using my HD-PVR almost non-stop recording 1080i content and it hasn't missed a beat. There has to be something different between the working ones like mine and those that are overheating.

I agree with Brent: there must be something different between the good ones and the bad ones. I've been using mine constantly since the middle of last week with no issues. I hope Hauppauge can look at some of the returned units and figure out what's going on. I love mine and would hate for this product to get derailed because of a production problem.

I just ordered a second unit. I've got my fingers crossed but if it's bad, it's going back in a heartbeat.

[Addict]

Originally Posted by Addict

6/3/2008, 3:09pm PST, received my email notification of shipment.

Estimated delivery date 6/9/2008, still in "Billing Information Received" status.

Order #34717

WHOOP!

LAME...just lost a day, I guess.

INCORRECT ROUTING AT UPS FACILITY / THE PACKAGE WAS MISSORTED AT THE HUB. IT HAS BEEN REROUTED TO THE CORRECT DESTINATION SITE

[BobPhoenix]

Originally Posted by Addict

LAME...just lost a day, I guess.

Ever noticed how it is only the stuff you REALLY REALLY want that gets lost/mis-directed but anything else has no problem?

[jlindborg]

Originally Posted by KavMan

Did you try MP4 Creator that came with the HD PVR? I think there is a newer version on their site. It converts to MP$ pretty quick and doesn't reencode the file.

I didn't have a heck of a lot of luck with their tools as a whole - I haven't gotten updated versions off their site, though.

However SUPER is capable of doing a "stream copy" operation and changing the container without reencoding as well - I'm still testing with is using MEncoder vs. ffpgeg and such - lots of options in here I'm not overly familiar with so I'm just trying a few out and seeing what the results look like.

That said, crunching 480p into AVI XVid with about 1300 bit stream looks great to me and I'm perfectly happy with it. I'd be a pig in slop if there were a direct video "cutter" capable of trimming the raw .ts files up first, but this is workable for now.

[Taddeusz]

Anyone know whether the HD-PVR encoder uses PAFF or MBAFF for coding 1080i? The reason I ask is that I'm trying to create interlaced H.264 files that are compatible with SageTV but have thus far been unsuccessful. The interlaced option used with x264 creates MBAFF files which SageTV only sees as progressive while any other program sees them as interlaced. I tried to use a different encoder but I get garbled playback with VLC and various results with SageTV and my HD100 depending on what container the stream is in.

[domc]

Ordered mine two days ago (June 7th 2008) and received this email today.

Thank for your order for the HD-PVR. Due to an overwhelming demand for the HD-PVR, we will be shipping the next allocation of units in mid June. You will be receiving UPS tracking information from QuantumView on the evening that your order ships.



We apologize for the wait and we appreciate your patience.

[Flash69]

Originally Posted by domc

Ordered mine two days ago (June 7th 2008) and received this email today.

Thank for your order for the HD-PVR. Due to an overwhelming demand for the HD-PVR, we will be shipping the next allocation of units in mid June. You will be receiving UPS tracking information from QuantumView on the evening that your order ships.

We apologize for the wait and we appreciate your patience.

I received the same email Friday. I posted about the delays in this thread (post #846).

My guess is they are hoping to resolve some of the hardware problems before they ship another batch.

[jakep_82]

Originally Posted by domc

Ordered mine two days ago (June 7th 2008) and received this email today.

Thank for your order for the HD-PVR. Due to an overwhelming demand for the HD-PVR, we will be shipping the next allocation of units in mid June. You will be receiving UPS tracking information from QuantumView on the evening that your order ships.



We apologize for the wait and we appreciate your patience.

It's more than just overwhelming demand. They're also getting a bunch of defective units back that need to be replaced. I shipped mine back today and I'll be upset if they don't replace it quickly.

[JimmyHACK]

with new orders being delayed i sympathise. but i am also glad to see tat my rma that was received today shipped out new unit today... just goes to show they are trying to replace bad units before filling new orders.

Originally Posted by jakep_82

It's more than just overwhelming demand. They're also getting a bunch of defective units back that need to be replaced. I shipped mine back today and I'll be upset if they don't replace it quickly.

ya i kinda appreciated they swapped mine same day and put new orders on hold

[Brent]

Originally Posted by JimmyHACK

with new orders being delayed i sympathise. but i am also glad to see tat my rma that was received today shipped out new unit today... just goes to show they are trying to replace bad units before filling new orders.

For those of you going the RMA route, be sure and post back to let us know if the replacement HD-PVRs are working well for you. I expect they will have been tested, but just sort of curious.

[jakep_82]

The tech support guy I spoke to specifically said they would ship me a unit they tested themselves. Apparently trusting the QC department from the company in Indonesia that assembled them was a bad idea.

[MichaelLAX]

* discussion moved to HD-PVR and Mac *

[JimmyHACK]

Originally Posted by Brent

For those of you going the RMA route, be sure and post back to let us know if the replacement HD-PVRs are working well for you. I expect they will have been tested, but just sort of curious.

will do, and like the other guy said.. in the RMA email he mentioned how they tested it themselves extra ... so we shall see how it works. and will let you know.. honestly if the second one is bad ill prolly just rig up a fan.

[Paranoid666au]

I asked a question before about macrovision and now I'm seriously concerned about it. My pay tv provider uses macrovision to block recording so I'm concerned I wont be able to use the HD PVR with it, which essentially would be a deal breaker for me.

Does anyone know how the HD PVR handle macrovision? I might have to send of an email to Hauppauge. I might have to cancel my order as I can't risk well over $250 on something that might no work.

[mayamaniac]

Originally Posted by Paranoid666au

Does anyone know how the HD PVR handle macrovision? I might have to send of an email to Hauppauge. I might have to cancel my order as I can't risk well over $250 on something that might no work.

My guess is no. I'm assuming the way it works is the STB you are renting from your provider handles the macrovision and removes it, and the video stream it outputs via component cables to the TV no longer contains macrovision.

[JimmyHACK]

hooray.. RMA unit arrived.. will test in a couple hours and see how it works...

tested about 90 minutes no so far no probs at all.. I did notice first thing an additional Q.A. sticke on the bottom of the unit.. I have tested some 1080i tv and 720p ps3 captures.. working well... now i just wish 5.1 drivers were out and i need to find a easy app to split/cut the files. but ya so far so good