USB TV Tuner with Component-In

[Baryn]

Can anyone help me? I want to save space by making my laptop "The Screen" where my computing and televised activities happen. I need a USB TV Tuner for the laptop that also has a component input for my DVD Player.

 

[kylebisme]

I don't think such a thing exists for usb or even pci, best you can get is svideo-in.

 

[Baryn]

No way, really? Good god, that's awful.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Baryn
No way, really? Good god, that's awful.

Going from s-video to component doesn't really add much, especially considering you're only going to be looking at a 15"-ish screen. Component gets colors a little better, but on something as low res as DVDs, s-video should be fine.

 

[Baryn]

Thanks, YO, for that clarification. Can S-video display HD signals?

 

[Diogenes2]

Originally posted by: Baryn
Thanks, YO, for that clarification. Can S-video display HD signals?

If the HD device has an S-Video output..

 

[Baryn]

Thanks a lot, Diogenes2. Thanks to the others who responded as well. You have helped give my apartment bedroom a soul.

 

[Diogenes2]

P.S.

I believe these are the HD resolutions available.. ( sorry if I am ignorant about a standard in the U.S. )

The formats used in HDTV are:

720p - 1280x720 pixels progressive
1080i - 1920x1080 pixels interlaced
1080p - 1920x1080 pixels progressive


So, if your display does not support a minimum of 1280 x 720 , you are going to be dealing with some loss of resolution..

 

[Baryn]

1920 x 1200 resolution, my friend, with Dell's Ultrasharp technology (similar to the screens used in Apple's Cinema displays). I was already aware my laptop can display HD (and then some!), but thanks for the addition anyway.

 

[Baryn]

UPDATE: I have learned that S-video can transmit a max of only 480i resolution. HD, or wideband, component cable is required to get up to 1080p on a compatible display.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: Baryn
UPDATE: I have learned that S-video can transmit a max of only 480i resolution. HD, or wideband, component cable is required to get up to 1080p on a compatible display.

Correct. There is currently no way to do what you want.

But if you want the component input for your DVD player, why not use the laptop itself? With some time spent applying postprocessing with FFDshow you can make that look awfully sweet.

- M4H

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: Baryn
UPDATE: I have learned that S-video can transmit a max of only 480i resolution. HD, or wideband, component cable is required to get up to 1080p on a compatible display.

Correct. There is currently no way to do what you want.

Well, there sort of is (but not on a laptop). You have to get an HD component->HD-SDI transcoder (not cheap), then an HD-SDI capture board (not cheap). That's the only way I know of to get HD component feeds into a computer in a more-or-less lossless fashion.

But if you want the component input for your DVD player, why not use the laptop itself? With some time spent applying postprocessing with FFDshow you can make that look awfully sweet.

- M4H

Definitely a *lot* easier. And will probably give better results.

 

[eelw]

If you have a firewire connection, some firewire capturing devices have component inputs.