HDTV Wannabe

[Feddy]

I've been using Sage v5 and a Hauppauge PVR-350 with an older overhead home theatre projector. I'm about to move to a high definition overhead LCD projector and replace a digital cable box with a high definition digital cable box. This may sound pretty elementary but would my existing Sage v5 and Hauppauge PVR-350 record high definition content and replay it through the S-Video out? Or do I need to upgrade either or both of these items as well? And, if so, any recommendations?

[BFisher]

I don't have the 350 but if memory is right, that won't handle HD signals. You'll need a newer card.

If you are going to get HD signals via a settop box, you'll need one of the new (very soon to be released) HD recording boxes from Hauppauge. Uses the component inputs and sends signal out USB to your server. There are several threads here with more details.

[paulbeers]

Yep BFisher basically captured it all. Svideo will NOT be HD. It can only handle EDTV (480P). You will need a video card capable of component/DVI/HDMI in order to do HDTV output. You will also need a either a QAM / OTA capable tuner OR go to the new HD PVR by Hauppauge which will be out next month with a cable box. The other option is get an STX-HD100 when Sage gets the new "lot" in and move your current Sage box to server dutis only.

Oh and that reminds me that if you are running a 350, I assume your Sage server is pretty weak which that may all have to be upgraded in order to be powerful enough to handle HD. Not just the video card.

[Feddy]

Thanks for the advice. As suggested, I've looked at the STX-HD100. The outputs from that device look simple enough (i.e. HDMI to TV or receiver) but what I'm still unclear on is the connections I make from the HD Digital STB (coaxial cable connection) through to the STX-HD100.

My present setup has an ethernet cable going from my internet router into the only ethernet port on my computer. Do I need some other ethernet card in my computer to take feed (programming) off the hard drive to the STX-HD100? And do I continue to use the Hauppauge PVR-350 to receive the feed from the STB through the coaxial cable or do I need a newer video tuner card, similarly with a coaxial cable receptor?

[matt91]

I think you'll want to do this:

Cable Co. STB (via component connection)--> Hauppauge HD PVR (via USB cable)--> Server (via Cat5 Ethernet)-->HD100 Extender.

The server, connecting via the Hauppauge HD PVR unit, will tune your STB. The HD PVR will stream the recording to your server. The HD 100 extender will then be able to play that file on your TV.

Matt

PS The HD PVR section of this isn't officially supported by Sage yet, but we all expect that in the next month or so.
PPS you'll need a network switch too (or home router, which you should have anyway) to be able to use additional devices like the HD100.

[GKusnick]

Originally Posted by Feddy

My present setup has an ethernet cable going from my internet router into the only ethernet port on my computer. Do I need some other ethernet card in my computer to take feed (programming) off the hard drive to the STX-HD100?

You should not need more than one net card in your PC. If your "router" is really a router and not just a modem, it should have multiple ethernet ports for you to plug additional device into (such as the HD100). If it's just a modem, with only one LAN port and no DHCP or routing capabilities, you'll need to get a real router and reconfigure your network a bit to accommodate the HD100.

[Djc208]

You're going to have to upgrade to Sage V6 too, since the HD-100 is (and the HD-PVR will eventually be) only supported in V6.