Hauppauge Colossus HD-PVR

[tvmaster2]

I thought all the press on this said it does both. So do you like it if it Doesn't record mpg2?

[Fuzzy]

That hardware is capable of both. I believe they mentioned that the WinTV app, at least at launch, won't do MPEG-2. No idea if sage will be able to set it to MPEG2 mode either.

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

That hardware is capable of both. I believe they mentioned that the WinTV app, at least at launch, won't do MPEG-2. No idea if sage will be able to set it to MPEG2 mode either.

essentially then, a card version of the HD-PVR with an HDMI out? Don't remember seeing a post that Sage supports it, but I imagine that's just a matter of time? Also, no way to change channels save for IR Blasters of one manufacturer or the other, aka no serial or 1394 control,

[GKusnick]

Originally Posted by tvmaster2

Also, no way to change channels save for IR Blasters of one manufacturer or the other, aka no serial or 1394 control,

I don't follow you. If you can change channels now via serial, FireWire, or Ethernet, you will still be able to do so with this card. Just because the Colossus happens to include an IR blaster doesn't mean that's your only option for channel changing.

[Fuzzy]

While we're on the subject... I know only a single hauppauge blasters will work per system, but is sage able to use it for multiple tuners? I've got Dish network, so I can address them individually, but I still need to get the hauppauge blaster assigned to each with different codes. If not, I'm not against picking up a USB-UIRT, just thinking I might be able to save some dough.

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

While we're on the subject... I know only a single hauppauge blasters will work per system, but is sage able to use it for multiple tuners? I've got Dish network, so I can address them individually, but I still need to get the hauppauge blaster assigned to each with different codes. If not, I'm not against picking up a USB-UIRT, just thinking I might be able to save some dough.

from what I know, you can only have one instance of irremote.ini on a system. Also, as of two days ago, Hauppauge still hadn't created a way to allow different remote code addresses. For example, my sat receiver allows for eight different codes, from 0000 to 0007. Hauppauge only recognizes 0000. Until they fix that, USB-UIRT seems like the only solution.

As for 1394 or serial control, what I meant was that if the STB you're controlling doesn't respond to those protocols, then IR Blaster is your only choice.

[jptheripper]

Correct, you can only set the hauppauge blaster to a single codeset.

I saw a post (apologies for no link) that implicated Hauppauge was working on a version of the blaster config to support multiple devices. My contact with them stated otherwise. Yet to be seen.

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by jptheripper

Correct, you can only set the hauppauge blaster to a single codeset.

I saw a post (apologies for no link) that implicated Hauppauge was working on a version of the blaster config to support multiple devices. My contact with them stated otherwise. Yet to be seen.

I'd be happy if they would do that - I've been asking them for three years now - it's kinda like a "doh" moment for them: allow people to use more receivers, sell more Hauppauge tuners.

[Fuzzy]

I think the linux hauppauge drivers support multiple devices... though the Linux SageTV licence I'd need to buy is more expensive than a USB-UIRT...

[STEVON]

The Colossus uses an on board encoder/decoder/transcoder chip ViXS XCode-3111. The specs for the chip support Mpeg2 compression fo HD streams. Don't know if that will be supported in the Hauppauge bundled software. http://www.vixs.com/briefs/XCode_3111_v2.pdf http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=...IfmRr8P7qiNQ4w
Stephen

[Brent94Z]

Well, dang, I've been working and didn't see this thread and evidently missed the $129 price. Looks like it is now $169 Anybody know if I might be missing something and can still get it cheaper than the $169 price? Thanks!

[Clift]

Originally Posted by cat6man

well, you got a couple of years use, right? and you've finished writing off the depreciation on your 1040? i'd be happy with $50 for mine considering all the use it has gotten

not to mention the intangible joy of a new toy!

$130 on eBay. Cost: recovered =D

Now to get the Colossus soon.

[jptheripper]

ship date (according to facebook) TOMORROW!! yeah! let the games begin.

[cat6man]

never thought of this before, but does anyone know if it is feasible to split a component signal?

could i split the signal from STB with 3 simple RCA splitters and feed both hdpvr and colossus? just thinking about how to bring up the colossus without going out and getting another tuner................plan would be to replace the hdpvr after proving reliability of colossus

[stanger89]

You could pass it through the HD PVR to the Colossus.

[Fuzzy]

Over short distance runs, splitting will probably be just fine.

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by stanger89

You could pass it through the HD PVR to the Colossus.

Or pass through the colossus to the HD-PVR.. they both have Component passthrough connections.

[WellThen]

Wouldn't pass through defeat the purpose? That is, if it went through the HD-PVR first, then the only signal the Colossus could record would be what the HD-PVR was tuned to. Or maybe I don't get why you'd want to split the component at all?

Edit: Oh, nevermind, I see the idea was just to prove out the Colossus before removing the HD-PVR. But still, this isn't fully proving out the Colossus, because you're not testing being able to tune it to the desired channel - the HD-PVR would still be doing that.

[jptheripper]

my guess is tuning doesnt matter and is a separate issue. Yes you can split, and you can even get an optical splitter for like 6 bucks

http://www.amazon.com/Parts-Express-.../dp/B0002MQGR2

good luck!!

[GKusnick]

Originally Posted by WellThen

Wouldn't pass through defeat the purpose? That is, if it went through the HD-PVR first, then the only signal the Colossus could record would be what the HD-PVR was tuned to. Or maybe I don't get why you'd want to split the component at all?

Edit: Oh, nevermind, I see the idea was just to prove out the Colossus before removing the HD-PVR. But still, this isn't fully proving out the Colossus, because you're not testing being able to tune it to the desired channel - the HD-PVR would still be doing that.

These devices aren't tuners. They just encode the video signal presented at the component inputs and also pass that signal through unchanged to the component outputs. So it doesn't matter which order you connect them in; they both still see exactly the same input.

You still need an external STB to actually tune a channel and produce a component video output.