Y-A-CC-T

[amol]

I want to get an HDTV Capture Card before the broadcast flag is put into effect

I don't know if I should get a "hardware" (MDP-130) or "software" (HDTV Wonder) card since I don't know if my system would handle a software card :

Athlon 64 3000+ Winchester @ 2000MHz (I might upgrade this soon, I don't know if I will though)
1GB RAM (soon 2GB)
X800XT PCI-Express

My monitor right now is the 2005FPw, but I'm thinking of upgrading to the 2405FPw when the next sale occurs

Basically, I want to get something that will record OTA HDTV and possibly QAM (latter doesn't isn't required, but it would be great to have)

Also, are there any PCI-Express Capture cards (in either x4 or x1)?


TIA

 

[SynthDude2001]

MDP-130 > j00.

That is all.

 

[SynthDude2001]

Oh, and there aren't any PCI-E ones at all (yet) that I know of.

 

[amol]

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
MDP-130 > j00.

That is all.

Only problem is that if I get that and the DVI Daughter Card, I'm out of PCI slots

And I don't even have a sound card yet, I'm working off of onboard

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: Amol

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
MDP-130 > j00.

That is all.

Only problem is that if I get that and the DVI Daughter Card, I'm out of PCI slots

And I don't even have a sound card yet, I'm working off of onboard

lol, how many cards do you have (and how many slots)?

I'm only using three slots now (6800GT, MDP-130, MDP-130-DVI) and I still have two or three free...

 

[amol]

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001

Originally posted by: Amol

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
MDP-130 > j00.

That is all.

Only problem is that if I get that and the DVI Daughter Card, I'm out of PCI slots

And I don't even have a sound card yet, I'm working off of onboard

lol, how many cards do you have (and how many slots)?

I'm only using three slots now (6800GT, MDP-130, MDP-130-DVI) and I still have two or three free...

PCI-Express x4 (empty)

PCI-Express x1 (empty)

PCI-Express x16 (ATI Radeon x800XT)

PCI (empty)

PCI (empty)

PCI (DLink 802.11g Wireless Card)


MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum (nForce 4 Ultra Chipset)

 

[amol]

Mmmmm, the MDP-130 looks WAAAAAY too tempting ...

I think I'll get that and if I feel the need for more, I'll get the Daughter Card later


edit: If I get the MDp-130, do I need an antenna to go along with it, or does it come with one?

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: Amol
Mmmmm, the MDP-130 looks WAAAAAY too tempting ...

I think I'll get that and if I feel the need for more, I'll get the Daughter Card later


edit: If I get the MDp-130, do I need an antenna to go along with it, or does it come with one?

It does not come with an antenna. The Zenith Silver Sensor is a good one, but I just get all my HD locals over the cable (unencrypted QAM) here...

Edit: And yeah, I did the same thing...I had the MDP-130 for two months before I got the DVI card for it. Actually, the DVI card wasn't yet out when the MDP-130 was released, but still..

 

[amol]

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001

Originally posted by: Amol
Mmmmm, the MDP-130 looks WAAAAAY too tempting ...

I think I'll get that and if I feel the need for more, I'll get the Daughter Card later


edit: If I get the MDp-130, do I need an antenna to go along with it, or does it come with one?

It does not come with an antenna. The Zenith Silver Sensor is a good one, but I just get all my HD locals over the cable (unencrypted QAM) here...

Edit: And yeah, I did the same thing...I had the MDP-130 for two months before I got the DVI card for it. Actually, the DVI card wasn't yet out when the MDP-130 was released, but still..

Hmm, I'll have to see how I am going to get the signal ...

We don't have cable right now, but we will be ordering it sometime in the very near future ...

Time Warner offers HDTV, but they charge something like $10/month for the HDTV receiver ... would I need that with this card, considering that I don't have an HDTV, just the computer?

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: Amol

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001

Originally posted by: Amol
Mmmmm, the MDP-130 looks WAAAAAY too tempting ...

I think I'll get that and if I feel the need for more, I'll get the Daughter Card later


edit: If I get the MDp-130, do I need an antenna to go along with it, or does it come with one?

It does not come with an antenna. The Zenith Silver Sensor is a good one, but I just get all my HD locals over the cable (unencrypted QAM) here...

Edit: And yeah, I did the same thing...I had the MDP-130 for two months before I got the DVI card for it. Actually, the DVI card wasn't yet out when the MDP-130 was released, but still..

Hmm, I'll have to see how I am going to get the signal ...

We don't have cable right now, but we will be ordering it sometime in the very near future ...

Time Warner offers HDTV, but they charge something like $10/month for the HDTV receiver ... would I need that with this card, considering that I don't have an HDTV, just the computer?

If you just want to get the local channels, those are supposed to be unencrypted on the cable line (and almost always are), so you wouldn't need an HDTV receiver other than the PCI card. If you want the premium channels, those can't be decoded by the MDP-130 (or any other PC HDTV tuner) anyway, so you'd have to hook up the set-top box separately to your monitor for those.

Check out AntennaWeb to see what stations you should be able to pick up in your area with an antenna. Also, about the cable, if you have cable internet already, you can sometimes (usually?) just split the line and pick up the HD channels that way...

 

[amol]

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001

Originally posted by: Amol

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001

Originally posted by: Amol
Mmmmm, the MDP-130 looks WAAAAAY too tempting ...

I think I'll get that and if I feel the need for more, I'll get the Daughter Card later


edit: If I get the MDp-130, do I need an antenna to go along with it, or does it come with one?

It does not come with an antenna. The Zenith Silver Sensor is a good one, but I just get all my HD locals over the cable (unencrypted QAM) here...

Edit: And yeah, I did the same thing...I had the MDP-130 for two months before I got the DVI card for it. Actually, the DVI card wasn't yet out when the MDP-130 was released, but still..

Hmm, I'll have to see how I am going to get the signal ...

We don't have cable right now, but we will be ordering it sometime in the very near future ...

Time Warner offers HDTV, but they charge something like $10/month for the HDTV receiver ... would I need that with this card, considering that I don't have an HDTV, just the computer?

If you just want to get the local channels, those are supposed to be unencrypted on the cable line (and almost always are), so you wouldn't need an HDTV receiver other than the PCI card. If you want the premium channels, those can't be decoded by the MDP-130 (or any other PC HDTV tuner) anyway, so you'd have to hook up the set-top box separately to your monitor for those.

Check out AntennaWeb to see what stations you should be able to pick up in your area with an antenna. Also, about the cable, if you have cable internet already, you can sometimes (usually?) just split the line and pick up the HD channels that way...

Well, I'm not really interested in HBO, just things like Discovery HD and ESPN HD (and the local channels ... NBC HD, FOX HD, ABC HD, etc)

And I'll test out splicing the line (I have Time Warner Cable Internet) ... but isn't that stealing?

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: Amol

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001

Originally posted by: Amol

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001

Originally posted by: Amol
Mmmmm, the MDP-130 looks WAAAAAY too tempting ...

I think I'll get that and if I feel the need for more, I'll get the Daughter Card later


edit: If I get the MDp-130, do I need an antenna to go along with it, or does it come with one?

It does not come with an antenna. The Zenith Silver Sensor is a good one, but I just get all my HD locals over the cable (unencrypted QAM) here...

Edit: And yeah, I did the same thing...I had the MDP-130 for two months before I got the DVI card for it. Actually, the DVI card wasn't yet out when the MDP-130 was released, but still..

Hmm, I'll have to see how I am going to get the signal ...

We don't have cable right now, but we will be ordering it sometime in the very near future ...

Time Warner offers HDTV, but they charge something like $10/month for the HDTV receiver ... would I need that with this card, considering that I don't have an HDTV, just the computer?

If you just want to get the local channels, those are supposed to be unencrypted on the cable line (and almost always are), so you wouldn't need an HDTV receiver other than the PCI card. If you want the premium channels, those can't be decoded by the MDP-130 (or any other PC HDTV tuner) anyway, so you'd have to hook up the set-top box separately to your monitor for those.

Check out AntennaWeb to see what stations you should be able to pick up in your area with an antenna. Also, about the cable, if you have cable internet already, you can sometimes (usually?) just split the line and pick up the HD channels that way...

Well, I'm not really interested in HBO, just things like Discovery HD and ESPN HD

And I'll test out splicing the line (I have Time Warner Cable Internet) ... but isn't that stealing?

I'm not really going to get into that. They're free stations that you would (should) be able to pick up over the air anyway, so I'll leave it at that.

But yeah...for ESPN-HD and such, you won't be able to tune those with the MDP-130. That won't be possible until someone releases a CableCard or similar HDTV tuner for the PC so those channels can be decoded, but with the broadcast flag so quickly approaching anyway, I wouldn't count on it. Like I said, for those you'll have to connect the cable box to your monitor separately.

Some of the HD cable boxes have active Firewire ports that you can transfer from (might just be the DVR's, I'm not sure really)...so that is another possible approach.

 

[amol]

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001

Originally posted by: Amol

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001

Originally posted by: Amol

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001

Originally posted by: Amol
Mmmmm, the MDP-130 looks WAAAAAY too tempting ...

I think I'll get that and if I feel the need for more, I'll get the Daughter Card later


edit: If I get the MDp-130, do I need an antenna to go along with it, or does it come with one?

It does not come with an antenna. The Zenith Silver Sensor is a good one, but I just get all my HD locals over the cable (unencrypted QAM) here...

Edit: And yeah, I did the same thing...I had the MDP-130 for two months before I got the DVI card for it. Actually, the DVI card wasn't yet out when the MDP-130 was released, but still..

Hmm, I'll have to see how I am going to get the signal ...

We don't have cable right now, but we will be ordering it sometime in the very near future ...

Time Warner offers HDTV, but they charge something like $10/month for the HDTV receiver ... would I need that with this card, considering that I don't have an HDTV, just the computer?

If you just want to get the local channels, those are supposed to be unencrypted on the cable line (and almost always are), so you wouldn't need an HDTV receiver other than the PCI card. If you want the premium channels, those can't be decoded by the MDP-130 (or any other PC HDTV tuner) anyway, so you'd have to hook up the set-top box separately to your monitor for those.

Check out AntennaWeb to see what stations you should be able to pick up in your area with an antenna. Also, about the cable, if you have cable internet already, you can sometimes (usually?) just split the line and pick up the HD channels that way...

Well, I'm not really interested in HBO, just things like Discovery HD and ESPN HD

And I'll test out splicing the line (I have Time Warner Cable Internet) ... but isn't that stealing?

I'm not really going to get into that. They're free stations that you would (should) be able to pick up over the air anyway, so I'll leave it at that.

But yeah...for ESPN-HD and such, you won't be able to tune those with the MDP-130. That won't be possible until someone releases a CableCard or similar HDTV tuner for the PC so those channels can be decoded, but with the broadcast flag so quickly approaching anyway, I wouldn't count on it. Like I said, for those you'll have to connect the cable box to your monitor separately.

Some of the HD cable boxes have active Firewire ports that you can transfer from (might just be the DVR's, I'm not sure really)...so that is another possible approach.

Ehh, I'll just get the Silver Sensor then ...

It's about $25 ...

 

[amol]

Oh and the HDTV boxes that Time Warner use don't have Firewire on them :/

Only the DVR box

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: Amol
Ehh, I'll just get the Silver Sensor then ...

It's about $25 ...

Yeah, it's a very good little antenna, I have one myself. I don't get much use out of it here since the pathetic three HD channels I do get here, are on the cable in our dorms..but when I'm in San Antonio, it works great. As long as you're in any relatively major city, you should have no problems (though check out AntennaWeb just to be sure, like I said).

 

[amol]

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001

Originally posted by: Amol
Ehh, I'll just get the Silver Sensor then ...

It's about $25 ...

Yeah, it's a very good little antenna, I have one myself. I don't get much use out of it here since the pathetic three HD channels I do get here, are on the cable in our dorms..but when I'm in San Antonio, it works great. As long as you're in any relatively major city, you should have no problems (though check out AntennaWeb just to be sure, like I said).

Yeah, I checked out Antenna Web ..

All of the Los Angeles based TV stations setup their antennas on Mt. Wilson, which is less than 8 miles from my house (I'm in Pasadena in case any LA people are reading this thread)

In fact, we have an antenna on our roof that allows us to receive SD stations ... would that work for HD stations?

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: Amol

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001

Originally posted by: Amol
Ehh, I'll just get the Silver Sensor then ...

It's about $25 ...

Yeah, it's a very good little antenna, I have one myself. I don't get much use out of it here since the pathetic three HD channels I do get here, are on the cable in our dorms..but when I'm in San Antonio, it works great. As long as you're in any relatively major city, you should have no problems (though check out AntennaWeb just to be sure, like I said).

Yeah, I checked out Antenna Web ..

All of the Los Angeles based TV stations setup their antennas on Mt. Wilson, which is less than 8 miles from my house (I'm in Pasadena in case any LA people are reading this thread)

In fact, we have an antenna on our roof that allows us to receive SD stations ... would that work for HD stations?

Yeah, that would be ideal actually.

Most OTA HD stations (around here anyway) are broadcast on the UHF spectrum.

 

[amol]

Wait, I'm confused ... would I get the Silver Sensor and point it to my rooftop antenna, or use my rooftop antenna to directly get the signal ...

Because the thing is, there isn't a cable jack in the room where the computer is.

Poorly designed house.

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: Amol
Wait, I'm confused ... would I get the Silver Sensor and point it to my rooftop antenna, or use my rooftop antenna to directly get the signal ...

Because the thing is, there isn't a cable jack in the room where the computer is.

Poorly designed house.

lol...

If you had the Silver Sensor antenna, you'd just point that at whatever broadcasting tower you want to get a signal from. If you wanted to use the rooftop antenna, then you'd somehow have to get a coaxial cable line from it, to the card.

 

[amol]

biz-ump

 

[amol]

bump for the morning crowd

any other opinions?

 

[3chordcharlie]

Your system will handle a software card fine, but I'd go with a hardware card just the same, you'll get more consistent results, and multitasking will be a much more pleasant experience.

As far as PCI slots go, I'd imagine you can get pci-e versions of cards fairly soon, so I wouldn't worry too much about it, especially if your sound is 'good enough for now'.

 

[amol]

Originally posted by: 3chordcharlie
Your system will handle a software card fine, but I'd go with a hardware card just the same, you'll get more consistent results, and multitasking will be a much more pleasant experience.

As far as PCI slots go, I'd imagine you can get pci-e versions of cards fairly soon, so I wouldn't worry too much about it, especially if your sound is 'good enough for now'.

Ok, I've got my eyes set on the MDP-130 and the Silver Sensor.

I have to wait for a check to clear in the bank (so that I make sure I have enough $$) before I buy it, which will probably be next week, after my SAT II and AP tests

Thanks to both of you guys

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: Amol

Originally posted by: 3chordcharlie
Your system will handle a software card fine, but I'd go with a hardware card just the same, you'll get more consistent results, and multitasking will be a much more pleasant experience.

As far as PCI slots go, I'd imagine you can get pci-e versions of cards fairly soon, so I wouldn't worry too much about it, especially if your sound is 'good enough for now'.

Ok, I've got my eyes set on the MDP-130 and the Silver Sensor.

I have to wait for a check to clear in the bank (so that I make sure I have enough $$) before I buy it, which will probably be next week, after my SAT II and AP tests

Thanks to both of you guys

:beer:

You'll enjoy it, no doubt.

 

[dug777]

bah you make me sick

i wish i had a HD-tuner