X-Card just ordered

[mikejaner]

How is the quality SHS? do the Interlaced fields match up correctly? How is the color/picture compared to NVDVD 3 for example?

[Opus4]

Or, how does it compare to the TV out directly from the Xcard?

- Andy

[SHS]

I give you a run down on that later.

[SHS]

Ok here runing down on PQ
Xcard TV output still has far better quality.
Xcard VIP over Main Monitor and TV output look the same to me
InterVideo codec vs Xcard VIP they look about the same to me on both Main Monitor and TV output.
The only thing I don't like is Windows Decktop on the TV ho my god it look like carp but on other hand SageTV look good in full screen.
Yes mikejaner Interlaced fields match up correctly.
Sorry I don't like nVDVD 3

[LJSSageUser]

Originally Posted by Opus4

Here's a summary of what is going on:

Everything SageTV records is saved directly to a file. When you watch a previously recorded show, you are playing back the recording from a file. When you watch Live TV, you are playing back a recording from a file. The 250 has nothing to do with the output to your TV other than the fact that it is used to save the show to a file.

HOW you play it back depends on your video system.

Video card only: ALL of SageTV's output (video, interface) goes through the video card's TV out by whatever manner a particular card has to be set for TV out. You can also output the Windows desktop to the TV.

Hauppauge 350: (I don't have one, so if I say something wrong, I'm sure it will be corrected by someone else) As of version 2, ALL of SageTV's output can go through the 350 to your TV. The 350 cannot output your Windows desktop. You could also use your video card's TV out to view the desktop, if you have a 2nd input on your TV. You will then need to set your TV to watch the input you wantL 350 or video card. If your video card ONLY goes to your monitor, then it obviously won't display on your TV. Encrypted DVDs will have to be played through your video card.

xcard: (I have one) Currently, ONLY the SageTV video goes out through the xcard to your TV. The SageTV interface and playback-OSD ONLY go through your video card. The Windows desktop does not display through the xcard. You could also connect your video card to your TV, see comments for the 350. DVD playback goes through the xcard, but not using SageTV -- use a separate DVD player.

The xcard & 350 both have their advantages & disadvantages, but if you really want to use a p2-350, I think you will need to use one of them. (Again, I use a p2-400 w/2 tuners, so it all works on a slow system -- but only because of hardware encoding AND decoding.)

Did I miss anything?

Question for SHS: which output card were you referring to regarding the VIP connection? [Edit: duh, xcard. Never mind.]

- Andy

I realize this was a long time ago, but here's what I want to do. Buy a cheap Real Magic Hollywood Plus or Creative DXR3 card, run the output of the video card through the VGA passthrough cable, run the VGA output of the "xcard" through a GrandTec PC-TV cable to the TV.

QUESTION: Will this get me the hardware decoded video with the Sage UI overlayed or have I missed the whole point of this thread?

[awizard4x4]

Read this thread to find the plugin for the XCard

http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9356

ErsatzTom has done an incredible service in getting this to work....
Thanks Tom
Now, has anyone done anything to get the XCard Remote to work with Sage.
I've searched far and wide for a plugin...to no avail

[Penfold]

I have the same question as LJSSageUser does and I didn't seem to find the answer in the thread for the xcard plugin.

Will using the VGA passthrough cable from the video card to the xcard produce hardware decoded video from the xcard's vga out?

Thanks!

[stanger89]

Yes the Xcard VGA output will give you hardware decoded video, however it's just passthrough, and AFIAK, won't give you an OSD.

Further using the Xcard VGA out through a scan converter (GrandTec) defeats 90% of the point of using a hardware decoder, which is to maintain the interlaced nature of the signal.

For an SDTV, the best (Xcard) option is to use the Xcard's native S/Video output with Tom's Xcard plugin.

[ErsatzTom]

I use the VGA out on my development box since there is no TV hooked up to it. That works just fine. You still need to use the plugin to get an OSD on the output, though.

t